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RocketDock v1.0

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Skunkie

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RocketDock v1.0.1

A new application launcher has come to contend with the already popular ObjectDock, Y'z Dock, andMobyDock. Punk! Software has released the first official version of RocketDock.

RocketDock-Bottom.png

RocketDock is a smoothly animated, alpha-blended application launcher that is similar to Y'z Dock. RocketDock renders quickly like MobyDock, has the visual sharpness of AquaDock, and the stability that neither seem to possess.

It is compatible with every dock skin format we are aware of. In fact, if you have a skin that doesn't load properly, send it to us, along with a screenshot of what it should look like and we'll see what we can do about integrating the format...

Features:

  • Runs smooth on slower computers
  • Alpha-blended PNG icons
  • Fully customizable
  • True multi-monitor support
  • Simple drag-n-drop interface
  • Compatible with Y'z Dock, Mobydock, ObjectDock, and AquaDock skins

You can downlaod it at Punk! Software.

Changelog:

v1.0.1 (20/6/2005)

  • Fixed CPU draining when moving the mouse
  • Fixed bug preventing real-time preview of some options
  • Fixed missing scrollbars on Icon Folder-View
  • Added AstroLife Skin
  • Replaced foood icons with PSW icons

Edited by Skunkie
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Skunkie

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Ok we have RcketDock v1.0.1 released!

The Change log is in the first post on this thread. You can also find more information on the site. Sorry to everyone for having that unexpected downtime on downloads. Tht was quit annoying I know.

:) Please continue to enjoy RocketDock and post any new bugs and feature requests.

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Zxian

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Glad to see that the random CPU usage is fixed. I'll be putting this on my computer at home tonight.

I'm just wondering about skinning. I found a skin on WinCustomize for ObjectDock, but the configuration ini files look completely different from what the default skins have. When I tried to load it, I ended up with the default skin (the silver one). Any ideas?

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mayamaniac

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.ico files don't seem to work properly, the alpha channel looks jagged, and when the icon is magnified, it is blurry and seems like lower resolution. I'm using the minium .ico icons.

But Rocketdock is very smooth, much more so than objectdock. Docklets support will be biggest addition. Keep up the good work.

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Skunkie

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psychoticpickle, ou can of course change the default skin. We just wanted something original. No other docks have a funny shaped theme. :)

mayamaniac, we are still working on .ico support, one of the reasons why in the features lists we only say alpha blended PNG support. For some reason our code for loading the alpha channel in ico's is giving us a little guff. Not to worry though it will be conquered.

Zxian, if you could please send me a copy of the skin you are trying to load it would really help. :) Or link me to it...which ever works.

image.png

moloko, Unfortunaely it is just easier for us to keep track of one type of release file. The installer does not place anything in your registry. It only unpacks all program files into the "Program Files" directory and creates shortcuts in your Start Menu. RocketDock itself makes the registry entries when it first starts.

Thanks to everyone for your comments and reports! Once again we really appreciate them. Without your support RocketDock could not be possible.

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Skunkie

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This particular skin is using unsupported features right now in RocketDock. Thank you for pointing this out. We will add the features to the next release if possible.

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Skunkie

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Pallab, there are some ObjectDock backgrounds RocketDock does not support. We are working on adding the features found in these themes to the next RocketDock release. It would help also if you could link me to a few of teh skins you are having trouble with.

Jase, thansk for the compliment, you also have a reply.

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#Michael

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I have a sort of ethical question for you that has been raised for other types of software before.

1st off this seems to be a good program that will be a nice competitor to the other docks as it reaches its full potential. Remember though that you compare it to Aquadock but that one is a true known rip of y'z dock and shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as the others let alone in the same thread or board.

That being said my question to you that you say that you want people to bring you backgrounds from other docks that don't work with yours and you will make it work. Those are people's creations, that were made specifically for that program and only for that program. Do you have that right under the IP laws or have the common decency to at least ask the author 1st?

That question will be asked again when and if you add support for docklets in a future version as docklets are native to only y'z and OD at this point. Meaning that somehow you will have to either convert them to your own format or add a hack to your program to get them to work.

I am not saying don't do this, I say just ask and answer this question in the back of your mind and remember this as you continue your development of this program. Remember that in the future someone may use your program as the basis for something and even convert part of it and see how you feel about it.

I feel the same about RKlauncher but never said anything about it only because I really don't use it. I honestly am fan of both y'z dock (although I no longer use it) and OD+ (which is my primary and daily use dock).

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bangbang023 Veteran

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I have a sort of ethical question for you that has been raised for other types of software before.

1st off this seems to be a good program that will be a nice competitor to the other docks as it reaches its full potential.  Remember though that you compare it to Aquadock but that one is a true known rip of y'z dock and shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as the others let alone in the same thread or board.

That being said my question to you that you say that you want people to bring you backgrounds from other docks that don't work with yours and you will make it work.  Those are people's creations, that were made specifically for that program and only for that program.  Do you have that right under the IP laws or have the common decency to at least ask the author 1st?

That question will be asked again when and if you add support for docklets in a future version as docklets are native to only y'z and OD at this point.  Meaning that somehow you will have to either convert them to your own format or add a hack to your program to get them to work.

I am not saying don't do this, I say just ask and answer this question in the back of your mind and remember this as you continue your development of this program.  Remember that in the future someone may use your program as the basis for something and even convert part of it and see how you feel about it.

I feel the same about RKlauncher but never said anything about it only because I really don't use it.  I honestly am fan of both y'z dock (although I no longer use it) and OD+ (which is my primary and daily use dock).

586097298[/snapback]

If he's simply making his program load OD backgrounds and not distributing them himself, it's basically the same as SkinStudio taking someones msstyle and running it as a WB theme.

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#Michael

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If he's simply making his program load OD backgrounds and not distributing them himself, it's basically the same as SkinStudio taking someones msstyle and running it as a WB theme.

586097334[/snapback]

Actually I never that of that. I wonder if since Stardock is a Microsoft certified partner did they get some sort of permission to do that?

Technically though no one can stake a claim to an msstyle since they are all mods of the original luna.msstyle. But that is a conversation for another thread.

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Skunkie

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I agree on the AquaDock mention. It was a rip and should not be considered a full program in anyways. I never really thought about it that way. Most people I talk to do consider AquaDock a legit dock regarless of what I tell them. perhaps I should change around some things.

About skins. I have thought about this fully. We are not riping off people's skins or trying to take credit for anything another author has done. The reason why we have decided to have RocketDock simply read all the available formats is because if you look at the ini's and what they entail carefully you will see they are essentially all the same. Everyone was ripping off everyone else when the formats were created. We thought it was ridiculouse to come out with another format that would just be the same as all the others.

Docklets, now we are going to create our own docklet implimentation because of the way RocketDock is coded. It is done a bit different than all the other docks so trying to have it read the others is kind of hard without compromizing some stability and efficiency. Perhaps sometime it will have a compatability layer for just Y'z Docklets.

No themes/docklets will be redistributed by Punk! Software without the author's full permission.

Las thing is...I am not a "he" but rather a "she" :p

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NienorGT

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It's look very good for a first try...

Pro:

- Fast like a rocket

- Work well even on a P3 920MHz :)

Con:

- No Docklet support... :(

- No Systray...

- Sad to say like this... but the defeault skin (all in fact) suck a lot... :(

But even with all bad points I guess it will go really good since that developpers are finally listing people...

Features that I would really like to get:

- A menu item in the context menu to link to the RocketDock folder whitout to make a dock icon...

- A Start menu button to show the TRUE start menu at the same place that the button is...

- Zoom up to 256Px... Even if it's to big it will be better to have bigger icons...

- A "stealth" option... Well, that the dock (AND ICONS!) become invisible (Opacity at 0%) and when we mouse over it, icons appear in SAME time that they zoom in...

(Would be the nicest feature... :happy: )

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bangbang023 Veteran

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I just want to take a moment to thank you for the hard work Skunkie. Freeware apps often times go unappreciated, but I certaintly appreciate someone putting their time into something of this magnitude. Once I get a lttle less lazy, I'll set up my shortcuts and see how it fits into my daily uses.

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