My iTunes Desktop

Skinning for fun

Published on October 17, 2003 By Draginol In OS Customization

For fun, last night I started putting together my own iTunes like desktop. I used Object Desktop. Object Desktop is a suite of several programs that allow you to totally customize Windows. There were 4 programs from Object Desktop that I used together to create this not counting ObjectDock (at the very top).

First, I made use of ObjectBar. ObjectBar is one of the lesser known Object Desktop components. It currently suffers from a severe case of featuritis. Let me explain: Sometimes programs gain so much flexibility and features that they become unwieldly. This is where we are with ObjectBar. ObjectBar can make any kind of desktop UI. Which sounds cool but it means that creating these bars is a pain in the butt. For users, ObjectBar works pretty well but even there, it has the problem of trying to make it "easy" to modify it which only serves to makes it that much more complicated for people who just want to use the finished thing (for example, when I right click on an item I get a huge menu of options). This is something we're working on with ObjectBar 2 which is due out later this year.

That said, ObjectBar is a fantastic piece of technology that can work very well. For one thing, it can automatically use any WindowBlinds visual style. This can save a lot of work. So I downloaded a Longhorn ObjectBar theme from WinCustomize. I modified it up a little bit for my use. Notice how ObjectBar (it's the bar part on the left) displays my most frequently used programs, my system tray, and tasks seamlessly together. Only ObjectBar can do this anywhere nearly this well.

Then I used WindowBlinds to handle skinning the Windows GUI. I found a skin that looks something like iTunes and used that. I also used DesktopX to provide the enhanced Windows icons (I'm using icons made by Foood applied via IconPackager which is also part of Object Desktop). And then used WindowFX to provide the shadows to my windows. I have mine set to only show when I'm not dragging the window. I'm pretty performance sensitive so I don't want this stuff slowing me down.

And then I used the freeware program, ObjectDock. ObjectDock is really just a program launcher. But you can download skins and themes and icons for it to dress it up and make it look and behave however you want (I usually have mine dressed up to look and act like my OS/2 program launcher).

So there you have it, my iTunes desktop. Have fun!

I really think Apple has a winner with iTunes. Going around the office today, Apple made over a $100 in the first day just from Stardock employees via iTunes. I also think that iTunes is going to make people take a serious look at the Mac. Its sleek interface is both polished and well designed. I've used it on my Mac for over a year but on Windows, its good UI just stands out immensely when compared to its competitors.

Comments

Mr Meistro

on Oct 17, 2003

I'm not sure what's with the fascination with iTunes...it's bulky and the songs are expensive.
Again, try www.allofmp3.com for a good selection and great prices. You can select the format and quality of most songs and simply download them to your hard drive without any bulky, CPU intensive software.

Seems that iTunes is the new toy on the block that everyone wants to try...but in the end it's going to be places like allofmp3.com that last. Why pay $10 per album when you can get them for less than a buck? I suppose iTunes is popular with youngsters who haven't really developed any taste in music but even allofmp3.com has bubblegum and rap-crap.

Draginol

on Oct 17, 2003

I don't think I agree with you.

First, there is simply no substitute for built in integration with the media player.

Second, allofmp3.com defaults to Russian for goodness sakes. 99 cents for a song is not a barrier to entry.

Third, iTunes is really fast and comes with a very sleak interface that makes checking out tunes fun.

There are only two ways you can possibly challenge iTunes:

1) Build music purchasing into Media Player with similar ease of use that's in iTune.
or
2) Build an entire desktop environment where purchasing music, videos, etc. is a fundamental part of the UI.

Mr Meistro

on Oct 17, 2003

Have it your way. I prefer to spend maybe 5-10 cents a song at the Russian site and not have to download some massive software program to do so. It defaults to Russian, heck it's IN Russia, but the english page is right there and they do a nice job adding new albums every day of the week.

Draginol

on Oct 17, 2003

That's the point: The "massive software program" is half the attraction.

I don't want to wade through some website. I also don't appreciate being forced to create an account just to look at the prices.

Convenience matters a lot to people. I somehow doubt that the typical new popular song is a nickel on this site (not legally anyway). How much, for example, does "White Flag" by "Dido" cost on that site? I found it there but there was no price tag. But let's say it's 50 cents (half as much, if it's less than that then I suspect there's some gray market stuff going on which I don't want to deal with). The convenience factor of iTunes is worth 50 cents. Now, maybe if I was planning to buy say 50 songs per month, that might be different. But people like me, who buy maybe 5 songs per month, saving a couple bucks but having to wade through much slower web pages is a pain.

Mudflap

on Oct 18, 2003

Don't forget one of the best features in iTunes, automatic shared libraries. I can listen to other peoples iTunes libraries without having to bother them. They show up whenever I start it up. For me, that's one of the biggest reasons for using it. Everyone at work has it and my wife is a .Mac head.

Mr Meistro

on Oct 18, 2003

White Flag by Dido (never heard of them but whatever) on allofmp3.com costs between 4 and 11 cents depending on the bitrate you choose. The highest quality which is 384 and is CD quality costs 11 cents. The whole album LIFE FOR RENT can be had for between 50 cents and $1.50 at the highest bitrate (384). I've used this place for about a year now, there is no catch, the prices are exactly what I said they were and the quality is pristine. Is it legal like iTunes? Probably not but there's NO WAY the RIAA can catch you and the price is right. You can choose the format and the bitrate and it's just easier than anything I could imagine.

Draginol

on Oct 18, 2003

Meistro - I suspect there is piracy going on there. There are places in Russia that sell Object Desktop for less than $1 too.

Mr Meistro

on Oct 18, 2003

Draginol -

It may well be piracy but I've developed a comfort level with them and a loyalty.
Maybe one of these days I'll check out iTunes but for now I'm happy w/ allofmp3.com.

Draginol

on Oct 18, 2003

A loyalty? To people who make a profit stealing things? Why not just use Kazaa and then it's totally free. You're still stealing except in this case you're paying a service to make stealing even easier.

Mr. Meistro

on Oct 19, 2003

Draginol,

I don't know that the Russians are stealing at all but I do know that it is unlike Kazaa in that there's no possible way for the RIAA to find anything on me in the chance that it is illegal. So yeah, a loyalty. The problem with Kazaa and likely iTunes is that they're geared to the lowest common denominator and while they have plenty of the new "music" there is a pathetic lack of real music.

Alex T6903

on Oct 19, 2003

I wouldn’t be so confident in saying the RIAA won’t be able to track you down because it’s a foreign website, there’s no technological or legal barriers to prevent them from doing so, the US and Russia have intellectual property protection agreements and the Russians even enforce them occasionally. Just because the RIAA hasn’t yet noticed allofmp3.com doesn’t mean they wont and if your security is based on the idea that the Russians wouldn’t give you up, you might want to rethink your plan.

KarmaGirl

on Oct 23, 2003

Mr. Meistro, have you ever read the terms of use on allofmp3? Here is a little snip that should raise flags with anyone who wants to *legally* acquire music:
"You agree with the fact that you are not able to use and even to download audio and video materials from Allofmp3.com catalogue if it is in the conflict with legislation of your country. Allofmp3.com Administration is unable to control all Allofmp3.com users, therefore the users are responsible for usage of the materials represented on the Site."

What does that paragraph mean? It means that you won't get in trouble in Russia, but what they are doing is illegal in the US. I thoroughly doubt that Dido would give her permission to sell her new album that cheap where everywhere else it is a typical price. I wouldn't be too sure about RIAA not knowing what you are doing. How hard would it be for them to set up a sniffer and track everything that you download from that site? The RIAA might have a hard time going after a site in Russia, but they aren't below going after individuals.

I think I'll stick to iTunes....

thomas

on Nov 07, 2003

napster and itunes are great, and i've bought songs from them. problem is, they use digital rights management and that means i can't play the songs in the player that i want. if i go and buy a new $400 portable music player it's no problem, or if i use their heavy system, but what happens if after a year of buying itunes or napster they decide to get out of the music business and stop developing their software players? then i'm stuck with music i've bought but can't play anymore?

and don't think that just because they are big companies they will be around and in the music business forever. netscape was on top of the world for several years, now where are they? the list goes on and on.

i'll pay for legal mp3's or other open standards, but don't bind me to wma or aac files that are proprietary.

huopa

on Jan 29, 2004

allofmp3 has .ogg files that are open standard and good quality. They are perfectly legal according to Russian laws, but sure you have to have a look at your own country laws. Still, I bet my head that it is next to impossible to begin prosecuting allofmp3.com clients anywhere in the world. I go for the OGG and choosing my own bitrates for the files..

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