#237251 - 11/10/2004 22:21
A cool Windows feature
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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No, it's true! Check this out. It's the Windows "Active Desktop (TM)" feature that has been around forever. I always thought the feature was kinda silly and I didn't like the idea of something to slow down my computer. But a friend of mine showed me how he has his setup and I love it! If found a weather map at www.weather.com and some WebCams from around Detroit. A simple "Right Click" to get the url of the .jpg was all it took! Then, copy that url into the Active Desktop setup and tell it to refresh every 15 or 30 minutes. Neato. I might setup my webcam now and have a realtime picture of my backyard or something on my desktop. I'm sure there are some 3rd party solutions that do this, but this is pretty neat out of the box.
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Brad B.
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#237252 - 11/10/2004 22:35
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
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Good lord, that is a scarry screenshot. IE, MS Outlook, Frontpage, and the XP Fisher Price theme all in one go.
*shudders*
Anyhow, yeah, Active Desktop does have some interesting uses. At my old house, we had a Windows box in the living room for web browsing something seen on TV or whatever, and we used AD to load a server status web page that also listed the health of the internet connection. So at a glance of the web station, I knew if something was wrong.
Konfabulator on the Mac is similar, as all the "widgets" are just little web pages with javascripting and such. 10.4 will integrate that technology, called Dashboard.
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#237253 - 11/10/2004 22:39
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: drakino]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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I just have a basic WinXP Home install, so I only have two themes to choose from. I didn't have any luck downloading any.. (do I need Plus?). At least I changed from the default green one! 
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Brad B.
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#237254 - 11/10/2004 22:55
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
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Quote:
do I need Plus?
No, but MS sure would be happy to sell you some themes for $20. Just Google for "xp themes".
But the Win2k theme is still much better than the default XP one, IMO. And Tom's, too, apparently.
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Bitt Faulk
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#237255 - 11/10/2004 23:18
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 27/06/1999
Posts: 7058
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Quote:
I might setup my webcam now and have a realtime picture of my backyard or something on my desktop.
Or, you could *gasp* look outside.
Yeah, Active Desktop isn't bad. I used to use it, but these days, I never even *see* my computer's desktop (which is very analagous to how I never see my real desktop) so it's not very useful. I typically have 20+ windows open and unless I do a "Minimize All," I'll never see my desktop. I even gave up on setting wallpaper for the same reason... I literally never see my desktop once my PC is finished booting.
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#237256 - 11/10/2004 23:49
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: drakino]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
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Here's mine (insert evil laugh):)
And on an off topic note. How come no one cares when apple steals ideas and incorporates them into the OS.
Attachments
236398-untitled.JPG (193 downloads)
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Matt
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#237257 - 12/10/2004 00:07
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: msaeger]
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addict
Registered: 14/01/2002
Posts: 510
Loc: NY
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Here's mine (insert evil laugh):)
EEEK! Teletubbies!
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Heather
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." -Susan B Anthony
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#237258 - 12/10/2004 00:26
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: tonyc]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12341
Loc: Sterling, VA
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Quote:
these days, I never even *see* my computer's desktop
I'd be the same way, except that everything I download goes straight to the desktop, and I figure out where I want it to go from there. My dekstop is my temporary space. I even have a program running that lets me do a quick "minimize all" by dragging the cursor to a corner of the screen that I choose.
And while we're on the subject of desktops, I must recommend that program, Iconoid. I think it was first suggested to me on this board (what's new), but I want to mention it again. It's a fantastic little program. I mave it purely to give me transparent backgrounds on desktop icon text, which IMO is the single cosmetic improvement of XP over 2K. It's nice not having all those uglly boxes of contrasting color over whatever background image I have up.
Anyway, download it here. And just because everyone else is, I'm posting my desktop. Hooray for clichéd BBS activities! (and sorry for the current anime obsession).
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Matt
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#237259 - 12/10/2004 00:47
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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speaking of those boxes... I forgot how to turn mine off! (running xp)
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Brad B.
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#237260 - 12/10/2004 01:10
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: tonyc]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 08/02/2002
Posts: 3411
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Quote:
I never even *see* my computer's desktop (which is very analagous to how I never see my real desktop)
LOL. Chronological filing rocks!
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Mk2a 60GB Blue. Serial 030102962
sig.mp3: File Format not Valid.
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#237261 - 12/10/2004 01:29
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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Someone just asked me how to do this... and damn is my way of doing it a pain in the butt! Right Click on your desktop select properties click on the desktop tab click "customize desktop" click "web" click "new" and add url of .jpg, click "okay" back at the "web" tab, highlight your new additon and click "properties" hit the "schedule" tab click "edit" hit the "schedule" tab click the "advanced" button enter today as the start date check "repeat task" and set your duration. then click "okay" about ten times to get back to your desktop.
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Brad B.
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#237262 - 12/10/2004 01:38
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: msaeger]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
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Quote:
And on an off topic note. How come no one cares when apple steals ideas and incorporates them into the OS.
You mean the Konfabulator - Dashboard issue? Well, lets see. Konfabulator is actually a steaming pile of crap from a programmers prespective. It's overly resource intensive, and provides desktop widgets or accessories.
Apple has webcore in the OS, so the logical step is to do something with it. They had "Desk Accessories" in older Mac OS releases, and now have decided to bring them back, just as they have brought back other features like spring loaded folders. With webcore in the OS, it made sense to make the new versions use web standards instead of a traditional programming language. It is possible Apple was inspired by the work on Konfabulator. It's hard to say though.
If your talking about the Sherlock - Watson issue, well, the Watson developer did turn down Apple's offer to hire him. In that case, Watson was simply an evolution of what the old Sherlock did, so Apple refined the idea and implemented it in Sherlock 3.
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#237263 - 12/10/2004 01:46
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: Dignan]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
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I can't resist posting the background.
Resized down from 1600x1200, Windows 95 in all it's glory. Oh, and trusty Winamp 1.55 is probably too old to respond to taskbar Minimize All. Can you guess the version of Microsoft Word?
Attachments
236421-background95.jpg (214 downloads)
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- FireFox31 110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set
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#237264 - 12/10/2004 02:10
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: drakino]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
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I am talking about Konfabulator. Wether it's crap or not if MS does the same kind of thing everyone says they are evil, stealing ideas, and trying to take over the world.
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Matt
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#237265 - 12/10/2004 02:19
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: Dignan]
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addict
Registered: 30/05/2002
Posts: 695
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I find desktop icons rather annoying, and so I'm another fan of Active Desktop. Hooray for clichéd BBS activities! 
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#237266 - 12/10/2004 02:21
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: msaeger]
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addict
Registered: 10/01/2001
Posts: 630
Loc: Windsor, Ontario Canada
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Those Detroit shots look like they came from my balcony! I wonder where those cams are? 
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01001010 01101111 01101000 01101110
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#237267 - 12/10/2004 02:26
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: FireFox31]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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FireFox31: You have more icons than trees!
Deadfire: Sweet wallpaper!
ineedcolor: Actually, the one of the RenCen is from Windsor looking across the river into Detroit... www.clickondetroit.com (I think under weather?)
Edited by SE_Sport_Driver (12/10/2004 02:28)
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Brad B.
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#237269 - 12/10/2004 02:29
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: ineedcolor]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
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Where'd all your stuff go?
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Brad B.
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#237271 - 12/10/2004 03:12
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: msaeger]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
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Quote:
Here's mine (insert evil laugh):)
And on an off topic note. How come no one cares when apple steals ideas and incorporates them into the OS.
In Soviet Russia, idea steals apple.
Apple's gotten ripped for things, but seeing as they're like tiny compared to Microsoft, you couldn't hear the ripping from more than about 20 feet away; The dozen or two people who cared just weren't that loud.
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#237272 - 12/10/2004 04:56
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: msaeger]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
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Quote:
I am talking about Konfabulator.
Here is a good explaination of the situation, basicially proving Konfabulator has no grounds to say Apple ripped them off. Similar products existed as well long before Konfabulator, the only thing it did different is that "it used the advanced features of Quartz". I'm pretty certain Apple programs will do that too...
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#237273 - 12/10/2004 06:16
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: drakino]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
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When your profile is stored on the network it makes sense to have as little as possible on the desktop, so this is mine.
Sadly on Friday I'm getting upgraded to XP...I asked if they'd let me run my corporate install as a VM under Linux, but my IT department got tectchy at me for that one.
Attachments
236442-desktop.jpg (190 downloads)
_________________________
Rory
MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock
MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock
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#237274 - 12/10/2004 07:56
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
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Quote:
I'd be the same way, except that everything I download goes straight to the desktop, and I figure out where I want it to go from there. My dekstop is my temporary space.
Glad I'm not the only one then!
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Cheers,
Andy M
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#237275 - 12/10/2004 08:29
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: andym]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 2009
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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Quote:
Quote:
I'd be the same way, except that everything I download goes straight to the desktop, and I figure out where I want it to go from there. My dekstop is my temporary space.
Glad I'm not the only one then!
There are many of us. Usually it just works out to one per company so we don't ever meet. 
My desktop currently has about 10GB of "stuff" on it. Left hand side is the temp space and just fills top to bottom, left to right. Right hand side is commonly used stuff grouped into lines. Admittedly the temp space side is getting a little cluttered. I usually clean up every few weeks. See attached for a cluttered desktop.
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Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)
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#237276 - 12/10/2004 08:48
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: Shonky]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
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Yup that looks familiar....
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Cheers,
Andy M
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#237277 - 12/10/2004 09:21
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: Dignan]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5916
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
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You knows that just pressing the Windows key and "D" takes you straight to the desktop, right ?
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Remind me to change my signature to something more interesting someday
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#237278 - 12/10/2004 10:40
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: andy]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 2009
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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Windows key does a few things like that. Some others off the top of my head:
Windows + F : Opens a search window (used to be F for Find before MS went all trendy and changed everything to "Search" - didn't change the shortcut though)
Windows + E : Opens an explorer window
Windows + U : Opens Utility Manager - Narrator/Magnifier etc
Windows + R : Opens a run command window
I think there are few others
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Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)
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#237279 - 12/10/2004 10:59
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: frog51]
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addict
Registered: 29/06/2002
Posts: 531
Loc: Triangle, VA
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Well since every one else is posting their desktop here is my work one.
_________________________
-D
Modifying and Tweaking is a journey,
not a destination................................
MKIIa : 60gig - 040103286 - Blue - v2 + PCATS tuner
MKIIa : 20gig - 040103260 - Blue - v3a8 + Mark Lord Special Edition Cherry Dock
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#237280 - 12/10/2004 11:11
Re: A cool Windows feature
[Re: Shonky]
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addict
Registered: 29/06/2002
Posts: 531
Loc: Triangle, VA
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Win+L locks the workstation
_________________________
-D
Modifying and Tweaking is a journey,
not a destination................................
MKIIa : 60gig - 040103286 - Blue - v2 + PCATS tuner
MKIIa : 20gig - 040103260 - Blue - v3a8 + Mark Lord Special Edition Cherry Dock
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