Stardock fences disappeared11/9/2023 But on Windows, Stardock faced two challenges. In 1997, Stardock began working on Object Desktop for Windows. It also introduced Dynamic Interface Modules (DIMs) which was Stardock's dorky name for "Skins" back then. In Object Desktop 2.0, Stardock combined its original folder design with Microsoft's Explorer design to create a new type of folder window. But Object Desktop Professional was developed in 1995. Today, the idea of having the web as part of the desktop seems straight forward. Object Desktop Pro 1.5 added 3 revolutionary new features:Īs with much of this history, the timing of these innovations is crucial. The result is that IBM's OS/2 Warp 4's desktop was simplified and a close button added (in the position Object Desktop placed it).Īt the same time, Stardock released Object Desktop Professional version 1.5 and then Object Desktop 2.0. IBM asked Stardock's Brad Wardell to come to Austin to discuss what the OS/2 Warp 4 desktop should be. And Stardock had more ideas on where computer operating systems could go. Machines that came with OS/2 already installed typically came with Object Desktop with it. Object Desktop became the most popular non-IBM product on OS/2. A Keyboard LaunchPad to launch programs, links, and groups of programs.Īnd hundreds of enhancements to the OS that were so seamless that many users would come to believe they were part of the OS.Imagine on Windows being able to drag and drop your favorite program into a "package" and having all its registry and class registrations automatically handled seamlessly. A way to package your desktop into a single file or parts of it.ZIP files behaved like any other folder (yes, we were the first to do this). Integrated ZIP into the actual file system.The Tab LaunchPad which made it easy to organize your programs.The ControlCenter with resource monitoring, virtual desktops, and program launching.An enhanced visual look (the term "skinning" had not been coined yet).The more you remember the state of the PC in 1994 the more remarkable Object Desktop becomes. Virtual desktops on DOS/Windows (or OS/2) were largely unknown. File management was the Windows File Manager or Norton Commander. ZIP programs consisted of either very crude GUI programs or PKZIP on DOS. IBM's view with OS/2 was to make it supremely flexible.įor this part of the history, it is important to remember the key year Object Desktop was developed: 1994. In OS/2's case, it was usually used to tame the wild OS/2 desktop (called the workplace shell). What Object Desktop did is allow people to enhance the OS/2 desktop to how they wanted it. And it would go on to be the best selling OS/2-specific shrink wrapped package of all time. In development for 2 years, Object Desktop was truly a remarkable technological achievement. But we do know that in 1995, Stardock, a young up and coming software developer released Object Desktop for OS/2. No one knows who the first to "Skin" something was.
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