What do these apps do?

Click here for A "New Users" Guide to Applying Skins

Desktop Gadgets

Is like a clock, etc.

Gadgets - DesktopX widgets can be exported as stand-alone programs (.EXEs) called gadgets that require no additional files or run-times to be installed.

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ObjectBar

ObjectBar has everything you need to build your own unique Windows desktop environment. Every OS has its own way of accessing programs, tasks, and information, ObjectBar takes the best from those OSes and gives you the power to build your own.

ObjectBar also comes with a set of very high quality, easy to use interfaces that can take your Windows desktop to the next level. It is completely customizable.

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ObjectDock Plus

is a program that enables users to organize their shortcuts, programs and running tasks into an attractive and fun animated Dock. By allowing users to have more control over how they organize their desktop, users can take control of their desktop icons and shortcuts to have them be available when where and how they need them. With ObjectDock, you can make your computer more usable, and more fun at the same time!

ObjectDock Plus 2

same as OD plus but right now it is in Beta

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Theme Manager

Theme Manager is a program that changes the look and feel of the entire Windows environment. It works by talking to existing desktop enhancement programs and then applying a MyColors or Suite file. In short, Theme Manager is a front-end to other desktop enhancement programs to simplify the user experience.

Theme Manager supports:

• Wallpapers
• Visual Styles (WindowBlinds)
• Animated Wallpaper (Deskscapes format)
• MP3 Players (Windows Media Player, Cool Player)
• Sounds (SoundPackager format)
• Mouse cursors (both Windows and CursorFX)
• Logon Screens (LogonStudio Vista format)
• Boot Screens (BootSkin Vista format)
• Icons (IconPackager themes)
• Widgets (DesktopX Widgets)
• Screen Savers (Windows format)
• Launchers (ObjectDock, WorkShelf)
• and more

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DesktopX

DesktopX is a program that lets users build their own desktops. It does this by giving users access to desktop objects. These objects can come in all sizes and shapes. They can have scripts attached to them, they can be combined together to form mini applications or turned into an entire desktop.

Objects - DesktopX supports desktop objects. Objects can be live data or just images. They run as part of the DesktopX environment.

Widgets - DesktopX objects can be exported as mini-applications called widgets. Widgets are similar to objects except they are actual programs (.EXEs) that run in their own memory space.

Gadgets - DesktopX widgets can be exported as stand-alone programs (.EXEs) called gadgets that require no additional files or run-times to be installed.

Note ObjectDock / (2) is not part of ObjectDeskTop

But where did those descriptions come from?  There are others I'm wondering about too and I was hoping I wouldn't have to do 10 google easter egg hunts to find them.    It would be nice if we could just right click on these things, select "info" and have it actually go to correct links for each item (as well as filtering ones we don't need).  It seems a simple thing to fix the links or to create html descriptions for these items.

You're welcome

Go to Statdock.com here > https://www.stardock.com/ then LOOK for Popular Software  then click on See all then under Products LOOK for the name you want to know about 

Note easier to right click and open in new tab that way tou don't have to hit the back button and wait for the pager to reload.. 

Okay, I see (read) what Objectbar does but how does that app interface with Windowblinds and Skin Studio?  Does it interface at all?  If I build a bar can I make that part of a new skin?  Does Objectbar change a Windowblind's appearance? 

ObjectBar is a separate program. Windows Vista (and 7) sidebar is very much like it. It is skinned independently of a WindowBlinds skin, and operates independently.

Just look thru the downloads galleries,any skinners that make themes,widgets,objectbar,object dock have screen shots of what the thing will look like

My God some of you people are hostile.  (Can we at least wait until after the thread has come to a conclusion before we make the wrong assumption that a simple "thanks" will not be forthcoming?)  How disappointing.

I'm sorry but a tutorial listing some of the major apps did not really help.  The important question ("Is there some comprehensive list and description of all these things somewhere that I'm missing?") has still not been answered, but I think that IS the answer: no, there is not a comprehensive list.

If you follow the advice to look for "Desktop Gadgets" (for example) on the Stardock products list, and LOOK for "Desktop Gadgets" in the list--it's not there.  Nor does anything useful come up when you click on "Info" within the Impulse context menu--which is where it really should be.  Clicking on "Info" only leads you to an Object desktop page listing 5 major components (with a broken image link at the top, by the way), so that's a fail too.

And that's not a big deal.  I just wanted to know if I have to continue to "hunt" for descriptions for some of these minor things, or if there was an easier way to find them.  It would be nice if there was.

You could try this page--  

https://www.stardock.com/sitemap.asp

It leads to individual software pages which have a brief description, some of which have a "See it in action" piece. Not all of the software listed is included in ObjectDesktop; if you look around, you'll find a list that is in ObjectDesktop. Try YouTube for some demos of this and that.

Impulse generally doesn't let you install incompatible software on your operating system; I'm not certain how complete it is in getting it right all the time, but if you look around Stardock, you can find out which programs are compatible with which operating system. For the most part, everything is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP and will work with 32 and 64 bit systems.

People are trying to help you out.

No. Each application has it's own description. There is no list of what will interact with what and which will change the look of which. It is this simple...and this isn't hostile, just straightforward, each app has it's own description, on it's own page, under it's own category.

If I understand you, you are looking for a listing that has information on all stardock products , all in one place, like cross indexed, or something. I don't believe it exists.

This page used to list everything in ODNT at one glance and listed which OS it was compatible with, but they changed the layout and it kinda sucks now: https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/purchase.asp

It looks like the info is still there, but it takes a whole lot of clicking on everything listed to actually see the descriptions, and then you have to click on the Requirements tab to see what the programs work with. It was way better before (in fact...wasn't that why WC 2k10 was redesigned? To better see everything at once glance without all the clicking? Seems the Stardock site actually did the opposite).

ansury just bite the bloody bullet brother & buy object desktop,take a look in the gallery like i said all the apps are there with what they can look like,then you have peoples screenshots of their desktops in the screenshot section,if that ain't enough redneck dude has a stack of desktopx themes in the desktopx theme gallery makes your desktop look like something out of this world,well they say a picture tells a thousand words,how much reading do you want to continue doing,take the leap everyone else in this thread has

https://www.wincustomize.com/

Edit: just remembered my colors has free themes as part of it's download,it contains windowblinds,icon packager,cursor fx a desktop widget & wallpaper that'll give you some idea of how nice things can look,it's also pretty much theme manager except with that you can mix it up a bit,with object desktop you have full control of the mixing & matching to the point that xp don't look like xp anymore

Ansury's question is fair and legitimate.  If people don't understand what the apps do and how they interact with each other how do they find out if they don't ask?  From what I see, there are a lot of overlapping products.  I didn't buy Object Desktop right away because I didn't fully understand whether I needed it.  I bought a combo package consisting of WB and SKS.  Those are the two most important products to me still although I eventually bought Object Desktop because I am addicted and figured out what the different apps do.

"my colors has free themes as part of it's download,it contains windowblinds,icon packager,cursor fx a desktop widget & wallpaper that'll give you some idea of how nice things can look,it's also pretty much theme manager except with that you can mix it up a bit,with object desktop you have full control of the mixing & matching to the point that xp don't look like xp anymore

My Colors includes all that?  Then why would someone want Object Desktop unless they want Skin Studio?  Why so much overlap?  I could download My Colors but what would be the point if I have Object Desktop?  I thought MY Colors was for folks who just want to use a theme "as is" without the ability or need to edit it.  I think there is a big market for a turnkey product like that. 

JMHO but I am glad to see this thread because I still don't understand what every single app does either and I do not have a reading comprehension problem.  The description of the apps needs work.  Since I am the one "whining" I would be happy to volunteer with a project to expand the product listings and descriptions.   

Exactly....basically MyColors is for people who just want to change the look to a single unified theme, all nice and easy. ObjectDesktop is geared more to the power user who wants to individually pick and apply different themes to suit their tastes. The MyColors themes are at a discount (50% I think) for ODNT subscribers because they already paid for all the software necessary to run the themes (that's why MyColors costs more, it includes the software already, plus all the other overheads costs for the branded stuff).

Actually I already own OD, so I've "bitten the bullet".     Was just wondering what cool stuff I have access to that I don't know about.

Thanks Cameochi (and to the others attempting to assist), but I don't think this is "whining" either!

A user-created list of descriptions would be nice of course but honestly, I feel this is something Stardock should provide us with.  They probably already have the text sitting around somewhere and just need to make it accessible via the "Info" item in Impulse.  I've been doing my share of "research" on these items so far, but I don't think it's lazy to ask for some modest level of customer support on this, our time is valuable too.

Okay, done with the ranting.  If SD wants to take notice and step their sub-product descriptions up a bit that's their call.  Not only would this be more professional, but it would likely improve product marketing.  I was a little surprised by it at first and figured the broken "Info" links were just a temporary problem, or SD was unaware they were broken, but I guess not.  Okay, done with the ranting for real now. (for today)