Winamp Taskbar "plugin"

mixelz · 21st July 2003, 21:45

Hi,
I don't know if anyone else already coded it (did search the forum but didn't find it).

I'm creating such a program (still early on in development see the screenshot how it looks, everything works already but alot of small things still need to be added.) it has skinning support. I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in it, if so I will create a more user friendly preferences dialog etc.

Just post here if anyone already coded it (or maybe if it's even an option in winamp already :S?) or if someone would be interested in it.

thanks,

Mixelz

mixelz · 21st July 2003, 21:47

Weird :S the image didn't work

indicavia · 22nd July 2003, 00:07

hey, that looks great man!
I would definitly (sp?) be interested!!
keep it up!

sanosuke · 22nd July 2003, 04:31

looks intersting...

Lord Darius · 22nd July 2003, 14:03

Hi,

I actually developed a plugin with such functionality. It's called Winamp Desk Band, and I submitted the first version in October 2001.
You couldn't find it in the plugins section because I have just finished the new version, and it's under publication process, so it's temporarely unavailable.
(I've updated it the 7th of july, how long does it take to be re-tested and re-rated ?)
By the way, my plugin's new version supports customization, skins, etc... if anyone is interested in testing it, just mail me at lord.darius@caramail.com .
I don't know if you saw it, but there's also another plugin doing the same as ours, called Winamp Toolbar Deskband, released in April 2002 (rip ?).
It's a good soft IMHO, although I think the button images are not very sexy, and the configuration utility is not very well integrated.
I'll certainly be interested in keeping in touch with you, mixelz, eventually to give you advice if you need it (I've worked a lot on it lately), or to compare our views on our quite similar products.

Regards,
LD

Mr Jones · 22nd July 2003, 14:32

I am very interested in testing this for you, please check your PM box for my contact details.

Do you have options for triggering the Media Lib/video windows built into yours?

Lord Darius · 22nd July 2003, 15:48

Thanks for your interest,

I'll send you the installer as soon as i'm at home

For now, I have no option to trigger video window neither media lib (come on, come on, ask for features, they will certainly be added in the next version).

bye,
LD

mixelz · 22nd July 2003, 16:17

I just checked the Winamp Toolbar Deskband plugin, which is indeed very limited. I sent you an pm with my email adres.

if you could send your version there? I do have have some ideas that you/me or both

could add.

mixelz

UltraZelda64 · 22nd July 2003, 17:08

I just tried the Toolbar Deskband plug-in too, pretty nice. It has Main Window and Playlist show/hide buttons, but what would be even more useful would be a "Show / Hide All" button, to either show or hide the whole player. Good program. I'll be looking for the new version on Winamp.com. By the way - does the new version have button customization (to show/hide certain buttons you use more or less frequently)?

About the other program, it looks pretty good too... the display looks cool, and skinning sounds good.

UltraZelda64 · 22nd July 2003, 17:43

Whoa, cool. It does have a configuration system. I just noticed that...

Lord Darius · 22nd July 2003, 17:58

Quote:

Originally posted by UltraZelda64
I just tried the Toolbar Deskband plug-in too, pretty nice. It has Main Window and Playlist show/hide buttons, but what would be even more useful would be a "Show / Hide All" button, to either show or hide the whole player. Good program. I'll be looking for the new version on Winamp.com. By the way - does the new version have button customization (to show/hide certain buttons you use more or less frequently)?

About the other program, it looks pretty good too... the display looks cool, and skinning sounds good.

Just to make things clear, Winamp toolbar Deskband is NOT my plugin. If you want me to mail you my plugin, just tell me

mixelz · 22nd July 2003, 18:04

did you check your pm? and sent yours?

Lord Darius · 22nd July 2003, 18:17

yup

Mr_007 · 22nd July 2003, 18:37

Like this idea!

mixelz · 22nd July 2003, 18:45

I sent you an email back

(and I'm on Undernet as mixelz ;p)

UltraZelda64 · 23rd July 2003, 00:22

Oh, yeah, I re-read it. I must've thought they were the same since their names are so similar.

Lord Darius · 23rd July 2003, 08:31

I know, that fact has annoyed me a bit, because mine was the first to be released... I believe the 2nd one was made without having knowledge that mine existed, otherwise it would mean that it's a rip...

VooDoo` · 23rd July 2003, 14:34

thats cool!!!

here is a new skin for you

VooDoo` · 23rd July 2003, 14:35

it's media player styled

download:

Lord Darius · 23rd July 2003, 15:01

Thanxx

this skin roxx !

Will be included in next version

(and put on the WDB site when up)

If you people continue doing such great things, wooow, I hope my plugin shall become popular soon.

btw, I'm looking for someone named Michael Bergström (credited for the xp skin), whose mailbox is totally full, so i can't contact him...
if you ever reads this, please make us know you're alive !!

VooDoo` · 23rd July 2003, 15:05

I hope the site is up soon, and we can see more features

btw: there is a bug with the dividing line if you make the taskbar twice as highly

(what a bad english

)

Lord Darius · 23rd July 2003, 15:38

i didn't really understand the bug, could you please post a screenshot ?

VooDoo` · 23rd July 2003, 16:03

1. see the wmp skin screenshot, if you click the little black arrow ("<<") the systemtray opens and covered the WDB menu

2. see screenshot

VooDoo` · 23rd July 2003, 16:06

... AND I have a nice wish, it can be a useful feature, see screen

my english is to bad to post words

,
I post screens for you

Paparazzi · 23rd July 2003, 17:53

Certainly hope that a download link will appear on the site that Lord Darius has or that both Lord Darius and Mixelz together can come up with something that beats the one WMP has.... U know... would be nice if the Vis could pop up and down as well.

Tried the Winamp Toolbar Deskband and did not like the fact that it does not come in as a pure plugin that falls into the Winamp folder!

Cheerios

Lord Darius · 23rd July 2003, 19:44

VOODOO :
- this bug is caused by a design choice. The toolbar can be put vertically, which causes a separator to appear horrizontaly in this case if buttons cannot be displayed on one line AND a separator exists between two groups. This is a standard windows toolbar behaviour. (I chose that so people can dock the desk band on the right or left of the desktop).
- the feature may be nice yes, but that would imply controlling the band in itself (while i only control the toolbar, ie. the buttons). The problem is it's Windows that controls the bands, which are like the rebars in Internet explorer, which contain toolbars. So it would mean i'd have to mess with explorer's event handling. To be studied...

Paparazzi:
i have no site yet :P, but i'm hoping my plugin to be updated soon in the winamp 2.x site. I'll try to listen to what people request, and add a few buttons for all usages

and after, with Mixelz's help, doing a quite more advanced version.
The problem with a desk band is that it's a COM object loaded at Windows startup, so it's a standalone dll. By the way, mine is also a winamp plugin, so u can install it in the winamp plugin dir, and u'll have the satisfaction to see it appear in the plugins list and see a nice about box when pushing the configure button

VooDoo` · 23rd July 2003, 20:14

can you make somethink like this

we have a old discussion about this here: http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....threadid=95820

Lord Darius · 24th July 2003, 00:37

ok, after reading that wa3 thread, and all the posts here, I realize a lot of people would like to have something looking like WMP9 desk band (which manages to disappear when not needed, wow

i'm gonna hack this i guess, lemme find the WM_XXX sent and the WS_EX_XX that change !!!)
features wanted :
- control buttons with customization
- playback info
- skin support
- vis display
- an access to winamp contextual menu (that's an idea of mine)
- winamp 2 & 3 compatibility

That would deserve a kinda new core for my plugin... mixelz ? we have lines of code to write

btw there's smth i hate with WMP9 desk band... it changes the height of the task bar a bit, i guess it was made to be used with XP style and not the classic style... and also it can't be undocked, and it's slow to react to buttons press.......

Paparazzi · 24th July 2003, 06:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Lord Darius
i have no site yet :P, but i'm hoping my plugin to be updated soon in the winamp 2.x site.

Oh! I did a search for Winamp Deskband on Google and came up with LordDaimos Domain. Now now... I would have sworn that it was your site until I took a second look at the spelling...

Quote:

By the way, mine is also a winamp plugin, so u can install it in the winamp plugin dir, and u'll have the satisfaction to see it appear in the plugins list and see a nice about box when pushing the configure button

Yeah, sure am looking out for all those features you just mentioned in the post above, but until then and till Winamp updates your neat lil plugin, can you attach it to this thread so that folks like us could have a peek at it?

Cheerios

Lord Darius · 24th July 2003, 08:26

Alas, the file is too big to be attached...

So I've put it on a server, here are links:

Winamp Desk Band 1.0
VooDoo's skin

macross7ra · 24th July 2003, 08:44

http://noirotm.free.fr/wdb.zip
can't download

VooDoo` · 24th July 2003, 08:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Lord Darius
btw there's smth i hate with WMP9 desk band... it changes the height of the task bar a bit, i guess it was made to be used with XP style and not the classic style... and also it can't be undocked, and it's slow to react to buttons press.......

thats true. I hate this, too. because I am working with the classic style

Lord Darius · 24th July 2003, 08:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Paparazzi
[B]Oh! I did a search for Winamp Deskband on Google and came up with LordDaimos Domain. Now now... I would have sworn that it was your site until I took a second look at the spelling...

Oh, i see

if you want to find my plugin on google, type "Winamp Desk Band" with all words separated

Once again, i see people doing the same thing again... tsk tsk tsk, I should copyright my thing, including the name... I had the idea in summer 2001, developed it in september and published it in october the same year (version 0.2)
I would like my work to be acknowledged in some way... I should try to make it Smileware, asking for people to send me smileys to show me their appreciation... or Kissware for girls...
And I see that LordDaimos has developed a photo gallery in ASP... would you believe I did the same in PHP.... tsk tsk tsk tsk... :P

Lord Darius · 24th July 2003, 08:55

Quote:

Originally posted by macross7ra
http://noirotm.free.fr/wdb.zip
can't download

fixed

spib · 24th July 2003, 15:27

Great plugin! What would be great also would be if you could print the currently playing track name into the taskbar - maybe even scroll it?

Lord Darius · 25th July 2003, 09:16

this is a commonly requested feature, i'm thinking about it

mixelz · 25th July 2003, 09:45

My plugin already has this options so it will be in the one me and Lord Darius will create

. You can set the refresh rate of the songtext and current position/totalposition because updating it alot is cpu intensive. (not much but it is

)

Lord Darius · 25th July 2003, 13:30

that's what i was thinking about... i think there are several ways for the CPU not to be too much charged...
1. use an event driven update (gotta see if winamp supports it)
2. use some hardware features to optimize drawing (directx)

i feel there's smth really nice to be done

LD

mixelz · 25th July 2003, 14:09

yeah, event driven would be the best. And with the drawing we need to make sure we don't draw something twice , or something that doesn't need to be updated. (btw you got my last email?)

sebxian · 25th July 2003, 17:41

Hi.

I like the idea of this "plugin".

Are you sure it works under win 98 though? (thats what it says in your documentation).

I'm running win 98 SE w/ IE 6.0, and it doesn't work, I tried everything you wrote in your documentation...

Any ideas?

21st July 2003, 21:45	#1
mixelz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 12	Winamp Taskbar "plugin" Hi, I don't know if anyone else already coded it (did search the forum but didn't find it). I'm creating such a program (still early on in development see the screenshot how it looks, everything works already but alot of small things still need to be added.) it has skinning support. I was just wondering if anyone would be interested in it, if so I will create a more user friendly preferences dialog etc. Just post here if anyone already coded it (or maybe if it's even an option in winamp already :S?) or if someone would be interested in it. thanks, Mixelz

22nd July 2003, 00:07	#3
indicavia Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 412	hey, that looks great man! I would definitly (sp?) be interested!! keep it up! Say NO to software patents! my norwegian blog

22nd July 2003, 04:31	#4
sanosuke Major Dude Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,891	looks intersting... Big-assed signature deleted by errr.. whats his name again??

22nd July 2003, 14:03	#5
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	Hi, I actually developed a plugin with such functionality. It's called Winamp Desk Band, and I submitted the first version in October 2001. You couldn't find it in the plugins section because I have just finished the new version, and it's under publication process, so it's temporarely unavailable. (I've updated it the 7th of july, how long does it take to be re-tested and re-rated ?) By the way, my plugin's new version supports customization, skins, etc... if anyone is interested in testing it, just mail me at lord.darius@caramail.com . I don't know if you saw it, but there's also another plugin doing the same as ours, called Winamp Toolbar Deskband, released in April 2002 (rip ?). It's a good soft IMHO, although I think the button images are not very sexy, and the configuration utility is not very well integrated. I'll certainly be interested in keeping in touch with you, mixelz, eventually to give you advice if you need it (I've worked a lot on it lately), or to compare our views on our quite similar products. Regards, LD - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

22nd July 2003, 15:48	#7
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	Thanks for your interest, I'll send you the installer as soon as i'm at home For now, I have no option to trigger video window neither media lib (come on, come on, ask for features, they will certainly be added in the next version). bye, LD - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

22nd July 2003, 14:32	#6
Mr Jones Nothing to say... Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: UK Posts: 23,102	I am very interested in testing this for you, please check your PM box for my contact details. Do you have options for triggering the Media Lib/video windows built into yours?

22nd July 2003, 16:17	#8
mixelz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 12	I just checked the Winamp Toolbar Deskband plugin, which is indeed very limited. I sent you an pm with my email adres. if you could send your version there? I do have have some ideas that you/me or both could add. mixelz

22nd July 2003, 17:08	#9
UltraZelda64 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alliance, Ohio Posts: 390	I just tried the Toolbar Deskband plug-in too, pretty nice. It has Main Window and Playlist show/hide buttons, but what would be even more useful would be a "Show / Hide All" button, to either show or hide the whole player. Good program. I'll be looking for the new version on Winamp.com. By the way - does the new version have button customization (to show/hide certain buttons you use more or less frequently)? About the other program, it looks pretty good too... the display looks cool, and skinning sounds good.

22nd July 2003, 17:43	#10
UltraZelda64 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alliance, Ohio Posts: 390	Whoa, cool. It does have a configuration system. I just noticed that...

22nd July 2003, 18:04	#12
mixelz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 12	did you check your pm? and sent yours?

22nd July 2003, 18:17	#13
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	yup - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

22nd July 2003, 18:37	#14
Mr_007 Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,838	Like this idea!

22nd July 2003, 18:45	#15
mixelz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 12	I sent you an email back (and I'm on Undernet as mixelz ;p)

23rd July 2003, 00:22	#16
UltraZelda64 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alliance, Ohio Posts: 390	Oh, yeah, I re-read it. I must've thought they were the same since their names are so similar.

23rd July 2003, 08:31	#17
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	I know, that fact has annoyed me a bit, because mine was the first to be released... I believe the 2nd one was made without having knowledge that mine existed, otherwise it would mean that it's a rip... - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

23rd July 2003, 15:01	#20
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	Thanxx this skin roxx ! Will be included in next version (and put on the WDB site when up) If you people continue doing such great things, wooow, I hope my plugin shall become popular soon. btw, I'm looking for someone named Michael Bergström (credited for the xp skin), whose mailbox is totally full, so i can't contact him... if you ever reads this, please make us know you're alive !! - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

23rd July 2003, 15:05	#21
VooDoo` Major Dude Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Germany >> Sax >> Leipzig Posts: 626	I hope the site is up soon, and we can see more features btw: there is a bug with the dividing line if you make the taskbar twice as highly (what a bad english ) o_0

23rd July 2003, 15:38	#22
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	i didn't really understand the bug, could you please post a screenshot ? - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

23rd July 2003, 17:53	#25
Paparazzi Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 358	Certainly hope that a download link will appear on the site that Lord Darius has or that both Lord Darius and Mixelz together can come up with something that beats the one WMP has.... U know... would be nice if the Vis could pop up and down as well. Tried the Winamp Toolbar Deskband and did not like the fact that it does not come in as a pure plugin that falls into the Winamp folder! Cheerios

23rd July 2003, 19:44	#26
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	VOODOO : - this bug is caused by a design choice. The toolbar can be put vertically, which causes a separator to appear horrizontaly in this case if buttons cannot be displayed on one line AND a separator exists between two groups. This is a standard windows toolbar behaviour. (I chose that so people can dock the desk band on the right or left of the desktop). - the feature may be nice yes, but that would imply controlling the band in itself (while i only control the toolbar, ie. the buttons). The problem is it's Windows that controls the bands, which are like the rebars in Internet explorer, which contain toolbars. So it would mean i'd have to mess with explorer's event handling. To be studied... Paparazzi: i have no site yet :P, but i'm hoping my plugin to be updated soon in the winamp 2.x site. I'll try to listen to what people request, and add a few buttons for all usages and after, with Mixelz's help, doing a quite more advanced version. The problem with a desk band is that it's a COM object loaded at Windows startup, so it's a standalone dll. By the way, mine is also a winamp plugin, so u can install it in the winamp plugin dir, and u'll have the satisfaction to see it appear in the plugins list and see a nice about box when pushing the configure button - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

24th July 2003, 00:37	#28
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	ok, after reading that wa3 thread, and all the posts here, I realize a lot of people would like to have something looking like WMP9 desk band (which manages to disappear when not needed, wow i'm gonna hack this i guess, lemme find the WM_XXX sent and the WS_EX_XX that change !!!) features wanted : - control buttons with customization - playback info - skin support - vis display - an access to winamp contextual menu (that's an idea of mine) - winamp 2 & 3 compatibility That would deserve a kinda new core for my plugin... mixelz ? we have lines of code to write btw there's smth i hate with WMP9 desk band... it changes the height of the task bar a bit, i guess it was made to be used with XP style and not the classic style... and also it can't be undocked, and it's slow to react to buttons press....... - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

24th July 2003, 08:26	#30
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	Alas, the file is too big to be attached... So I've put it on a server, here are links: Winamp Desk Band 1.0 VooDoo's skin - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

24th July 2003, 08:44	#31
macross7ra Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1	http://noirotm.free.fr/wdb.zip can't download

24th July 2003, 15:27	#35
spib Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 106	Great plugin! What would be great also would be if you could print the currently playing track name into the taskbar - maybe even scroll it?

25th July 2003, 09:16	#36
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	this is a commonly requested feature, i'm thinking about it - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

25th July 2003, 09:45	#37
mixelz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 12	My plugin already has this options so it will be in the one me and Lord Darius will create . You can set the refresh rate of the songtext and current position/totalposition because updating it alot is cpu intensive. (not much but it is )

25th July 2003, 13:30	#38
Lord Darius Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 248	that's what i was thinking about... i think there are several ways for the CPU not to be too much charged... 1. use an event driven update (gotta see if winamp supports it) 2. use some hardware features to optimize drawing (directx) i feel there's smth really nice to be done LD - Winamp Desk Band 1.2.2-alpha -

25th July 2003, 14:09	#39
mixelz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 12	yeah, event driven would be the best. And with the drawing we need to make sure we don't draw something twice , or something that doesn't need to be updated. (btw you got my last email?)

25th July 2003, 17:41	#40
sebxian Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 11	Hi. I like the idea of this "plugin". Are you sure it works under win 98 though? (thats what it says in your documentation). I'm running win 98 SE w/ IE 6.0, and it doesn't work, I tried everything you wrote in your documentation... Any ideas?

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