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****************************** WarpCast ******************************
Source: Esther Schindler (esther@bitranch.com)
Moderator: Dirk Terrell (admin@os2ss.com)
**********************************************************************
 
Object (Desktop) of my desire

by Esther Schindler

I'm not sure if Stardock Systems' Object Desktop is OS/2's 
top-selling utility, but it must be close to the number-one 
spot on OS/2 software best-seller lists. It's more certain 
that Brad Wardell, Stardock's president, is among the OS/2 
community's most colorful and entertaining characters.

We'll be able to combine the two at the general meeting of 
the Phoenix OS/2 Society on Tuesday, September 8, as Brad 
shows off the brand-new Object Desktop 2.0. The summer's 
over, the weather is cooling down, and we have an 
always-entertaining presenter. How could you miss this?!

What's in Object Desktop 2.0?

The new version of Object Desktop has a completely new 
look, improved performance, and increased compatibility 
with OS/2 Warp 4. Stardock also added features and 
improvements suggested by OS/2 users. New features include 
a revamped Control Center that includes "lay outs" for 
setting up virtual desktops, real-time Internet performance 
monitoring capabilities, and virtual desktop start up 
features (allowing users to launch a program into a 
particular virtual desktop). The Enhanced folder has also 
been, well, enhanced, including a tool bar to bring OS/2's 
GUI features up and beyond what is expected to be available 
on Windows NT 5. 

Object Desktop 2.0 is the result of almost two years of 
effort by Stardock's OS/2 development team. It's the 
culmination of Stardock's advanced user interface 
technologies. 

The simplicity of the user interface hides a great deal of 
effort in bringing OS/2 to the next generation. Starting 
with Object Desktop 2.0, the OS/2 folder window becomes the 
master user interface object on OS/2.

How much more functionality are we talking about? Let's 
examine just one of the new features: enhanced folders.

Enhanced Folders? Cool!

Enhanced Folder 2.0 starts by adding a plethora of 
additional push-button functionality to the base folder 
class. No longer are you forced to dig through folder menus 
to access frequently used commands. The toolbar provides a 
quick means to access folder display options and a 
convenient "open parent directory" button facilitates 
folder navigation. It's especially handy if you browse new 
folders in the existing one. 

However, the most obvious enhancement is a new drop-down 
combo box. From this box, you can launch and connect to 
files, Web sites, ftp sites, network servers, or any 
directory by typing in where you want to go. Object Desktop 
2.0 automatically parses what you've typed and performs the 
appropriate operation. 

Forget about sitting there with a stopwatch and 
guesstimating how fast your downloads are going. Object 
NetScan, a Control Center derivative, interfaces on a low 
level with the TCP/IP components on your system to let you 
know exactly how much information has been transferred both 
into and out of your machine and how quickly it was 
transferred. Windows users have to shell out a pretty chunk 
of change for programs that purport to monitor the speed of 
your Internet connection, but most carry caveats that 
stretch from here to next week. Because of the level Object 
NetScan integrates with your system, it doesn't matter if 
you're connected via the lowliest of analog modems or your 
own personal T3. Object NetScan shows you exactly how your 
Internet connection is performing.

That's just two tiny items. Want more? You'll have to 
attend this meeting!

When and where

The general meeting is held on Tuesday, September 8, at 
7:00pm at the Mountain Preserve Reception Center, 1421 East 
Dunlap. The random access Q&A starts at 6:30pm, and 
arriving early gives you a chance to catch up with your 
friends. For directions and a map -- not to mention plenty 
of other information about the world's largest OS/2 user 
group -- visit http://www.possi.org. While you're there, 
check out the back issues pages for _extended attributes_, 
the Phoenix OS/2 Society's print magazine. You can even 
request a free sample issue... though we warn you that it 
*can* be a habit-forming publication. At least, we hope so!





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