desktop pets

[sandyrepope]

I've recently discovered something new (new to me, at least). I downloaded a couple of programs called desktop pets. I must admit that I sometimes have to turn them off while I'm working because I tend to watch them instead of getting anything done.

I bet that they are one of the hardest things to program. I've decided to search the web until I find out how this is done.

Does anyone else on the forum run this type of program?

Thanks
Sandy

[kryton9]

I played with one a couple of years ago, it was with dogs, it might have been named dogz, can't recall, but it was lost of fun that is for sure.

[Petr Schreiber]

Hi,

I am not sure what desktop pet is :-[
Years ago on my super powerful 486SX25 notebook with windows 3.1 I had some proggie, which painted animated cat on desktop. This cat was doing nothing when cursor was stable, but once you moved it, cat started to chase that. It was fun to watch ( very good animation ) but it started to bother soon :)

I presume you mean something more tamagotchish ?


Bye,
Petr

[Michael Hartlef]

Is it the same like Widgets on VISTA or these little apps that are part of the APPLE OS since ages?

Sandy, Can you provide a link?

[sandyrepope]

Here is one link that has a bunch:

http://www.kylyria.net/desktop_pets.htm

There is also:

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Way/9096/index2.htm


Is it the same like Widgets on VISTA or these little apps that are part of the APPLE OS since ages?

I don't know what a widget is and I don't know anything about APPLE OS so I can't say whether they are like either one.

Thanks
Sandy

PS: I'm wondering if maybe the pets could be just bmps that are switched at a rate so that they appear to be animated? If so, then it wouldn't be too hard to make one of these programs.

[Michael Hartlef]

Thanks Sandy,

no they are not like widgets. Widgets are little helper programs, like a clock, an alarm, postit, somethign small but very handy.

[sandyrepope]

Can widgets be used or made by thinbasic?

Thanks
Sandy

PS: where can I get some widgets?

[Michael Hartlef]

Try here:

http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?libid=34&c=1

[kryton9]

This is probably the best free ones you can get for the PC.
http://widgets.yahoo.com/gallery/

Yahoo bought out Konfabulator, a pay for program and offer it for free now. Can't beat that!!
There is tons of info at that site as well as lots of widgets.

[sandyrepope]

The program sounds nice but when I checked it out it said it needs about 512 mb ram. That's quite a lot. My system only has 256 mb ram so I don't think it would run on my system.

Is anyone on the forum running konfabulator?

Thanks
Sandy