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Desktop Manager 0.5.4r1

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Switch between multiple desktops, Intel only. Free

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Rich Wareham, Carlos A. Leguizamun (Intel Port)

Desktop Manager is a free virtual desktop manager that places an unobtrusive desktop pager in the menubar and allows fast switching of desktops either with hotkeys or by clicking in the pager. It is designed to be fast, lightweight, and Just Works. It is released under the GNU General Public License.

What's New

Version 0.5.4r1:

Fixed Old CoreGraphic Implementations

Requirements
Intel, Mac OS X 10.3-10.4.

Related Links
Download Desktop Manager 0.5.3 for PowerPC Download Source Code for Desktop Manager 0.5.3

VirtueDesktops

+5
Free

Virtual desktop manager (was ...

Desktop Manager User Discussion (Write a Review)

ver. 0.x:

(144)

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(144)

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rsgleason reviewed on 09 Aug 2011

CORRECTION - I think** the creator of Desktop Manager needs to seriously consider dusting off Desktop Manager and make it compatiable for OS 10.7 Lion (Lion needs help). I've always considered Desktop Manager as being superior to Apple's Spaces anyway. In its day it was an excellant program, now is the time to bring it out of retirement and update it for 10.7 Lion.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

rsgleason reviewed on 09 Aug 2011

I the creator of Desktop Manager needs to seriously consider dusting off Desktop Manager and make it compatiable for OS 10.7 Lion (Lion needs help). I've always considered Desktop Manager as being superior to Apple's Spaces anyway. In its day it was an excellant program, now is the time to bring it out of retirement and update it for 10.7 Lion.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

3 Replies

Sikosis replied on 22 Aug 2011

Please consider doing a Lion (Intel x64) version of your Desktop Manager. I am missing Spaces and you're saying it's better than Space, even better for all of us.

+68

Nicolasd replied on 27 Aug 2011

agreed. i'm missing Spaces-like functionality in Lion.

BizKing replied on 08 Nov 2011

I absolutely agree, I am lost without the on-screen indication of where I am. As for using remote machine well, if you are using Spaces, forget it! I need to change spaces remotely and a simple mouse controlled interface is perfect for me.
I am also trying to recover from a stroke, so need to manage my fatigue very carefully!
I miss the Desktop Manager that I have on my old G5s quite badly!

Rick Morales reviewed on 07 Apr 2011

I downloaded the program and tried opening it. I did this several times and I could never get it to open. I did this several times with no luck! I have a brand new 27' iMac OS X (3months old)...why isn't it working? Any suggestions? Once fixed I will increase my rating, but I can't really rate it without it working first, Thanks!

[Version 0.5.4r1]

1 Reply

Gex2501 replied on 21 Jul 2011

Probably because the program hasn't been updated to work beyond 10.4 Apple created Spaces that does things fairly similar in 10.5 - 10.6. The new Lion 10.7 messed up Spaces in my opinion, I'm hoping this program can be updated to work in 10.7

star_antares commented on 20 Apr 2009

I have been using Desktop Manager (for PPC-- 0.5.3) successfully (I LOVE IT!) with Tiger for many months. However, I recently updated the Mac Software (to Java release 8, Security-update-2009-001, Safari 3.2.1, and Quicktime 7.6) and suddenly I am having the same problems that others have reported: pager and window name only showing in Desktop where DM was launched and not being able to move applications to other windows. It seems like the bugs in DM 0.5.4 have been mimicked by these "upgrades". Any ideas? Might this help debug these problems?

[Version 0.5.4r1]

+22

akrobat reviewed on 06 May 2008

I've a Macbook and an eMac. I use Spaces on my Macbook and was looking for a similar app for my eMac.

All I need is the option to allocate the main menu to the middle mouse button (like Spaces).
Click the middle button, choose a desktop and that's it!

Same problem here as in VirtueDesktops.
Doesn't exist in this app either.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

subar reviewed on 10 Apr 2008

This is a terrible program for Leopard. It works so well with Tiger, but in Leopard, you can't switch applications between windows. A total failure.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

1 Reply

+22

akrobat replied on 06 May 2008

Perhaps it was never made for Leopard... after all Leopard has Spaces.

CurranB79 commented on 03 Apr 2008

I used Desktop Manager on OS 10.4 (for PPC) and LOVED it. When I upgraded to Leopard I was very disappointed with "Spaces" (it was hard to stay on the desktop you wanted to be on--apps kept trying to return to the desktop they'd been opened on, if you toggled between apps on your desktop you were suddenly back on another desktop, etc.) so I disabled it and installed Desktop Manager--but found that it had adopted the same functions as Spaces. I believe I was using 0.5.3 (I'm stuck on a PPC) so I don't know if 0.5.4r1 has overcome whatever it is that makes Spaces so unhelpful.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

NoSalt commented on 12 Nov 2007

Has anybody tried this on Leopard yet??? I REALLY don't like "Spaces" and would like to continue using this on Leopard.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

2 Replies

wolfbx replied on 15 Nov 2007

0.5.4r1 works fine with Leopard and Spaces enabled - the only issue still to be fixed is that the"Desktop Pager" only shows up on one of the Desktops.

Anyone knows on how to contact Carlos A. Leguizamoun or how to get the sources code for 0.5.4r1 (Intel version)?

CurranB79 replied on 03 Apr 2008

Is there any hope of seeing Desktop Manager for Leopard on PPC?

Jmark commented on 26 Sep 2007

I love desktop manager but when I use the Apple(key)+tab to switch to another program it does not switch to the desktop when I select the program.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

terryjonesxp commented on 19 Aug 2007

Desktop Manageris a good product. Here is a list of the features that need to be added to make it even better.
1 . The ability to set a different background imge for each desktop.

2. Prefences /Desktop Pager/Location Please add an option of Top Center

3. Prefences /Name Display/ Position .Please add an option of Top Center.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

armatey007 had trouble on 16 Aug 2007

I just downloaded version 0.5.4r1 onto my new macbookb pro and it works alright... but the desktop name only appears on the desktop which desktop manager was launched from AND I can't move a window from one desktop to another via a hotkey (i've changed the hotkey to a number of different combinations). Has anyone else had this problem?

[Version 0.5.4r1]

4 Replies

shaggy420 replied on 09 Sep 2007

I too have the same issue on my Macbook Pro. Label only appears on the desktop the program was started from and the "move window to desktop" doesn't work either.

silasl replied on 14 Sep 2007

Excellent tool! -I couldn't manage without it.
One small bug when running on intel mac with two screens. The pager only shows up on the workspace that I launch DM from.

Interestingly the PPC version works just fine on intel mac. -However the above bug affects both PPC and intel version (when running on intel only)

the party mushroom commented on 13 Dec 2007

yeah i can't move windows to other desktops with hotkeys either on an intel mac mini running 10.4.11.

using to work on my g4 emac with 10.3.

tomberland replied on 27 Feb 2008

same pb with my MacBook 13" and OS 10.4.8...I can't move a window from a window to another

carmenm had trouble on 29 Mar 2007

Seems to be most stable virtual desktops manager.
A little bug, i dont see the bezel when changing desktop, and the move to desktop feature doesnt work.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

2 Replies

jonesmac commented on 09 May 2007

I get the same issues.

10.4.9 and intel mac

the party mushroom commented on 02 Jun 2007

yeah this sounds like the problem i've got. can't move windows to other desktops using hot keys. used to work on my g4 emac but since i got this intel mini it's not happening. i'm also running 10.4.9.

otherwise, awesome.

pepperdanky had trouble on 28 Mar 2007

The display bezel shows up on the previous desktop when switching, not the one you are switching to. Also, the display desktop name only seems to work with the most recent desktop you activate the preference on.

Using a MacBook C2D with 10.4.9.

[Version 0.5.4r1]

Gbredbeck had trouble on 20 Sep 2005

One amusing problem arose as I fell in love with this stunning little beauty: the message that pops up to tell you the widget is done should say "disply widget?" or "open widget?" Now it says, "is widget open?", and I kept clicking "no," which was the correct answer. Considering I am an English professor it took an embarassingly long time for me to clue into what the problem was.

It was a great reminder to me of how dastardly English is for all but the minority of us who were born into it, even for a mind-nature as obvioously brilliant as the one behind this gem. This could be the only widget you'll ever need (or want). The angle rotation is a surpsingly useful feature and really above the call of duty to have developed.

[Version 0.5.3]

phillip 2 had trouble on 26 May 2005

I like the idea, I downloaded and tried it, but none of the transitions work at all, not even one of them. Is there a solution to this problem? My Mac is running on Panther system. Can anybody help?

[Version 0.5.3]

Brett824 had trouble on 26 Sep 2004

the transitions don't work for me. Other than that this is a great app.

[Version 0.5.2-rc2]

1 Reply

Anonymous commented on 09 Nov 2004

I think the app uses hardware accelerated graphics, you if you have an old mac, it probably won't do the cool transitions.

Ericjiannelli had trouble on 05 Apr 2004

I've been having a problem with DM in which a memory leak (I assume) is eating up hundreds and hudreds of MBs of space.

I have just under 1GB free space on my 10GB iBook internal HD. While running DM 0.5.1, I start getting "Startup Disk Full" warnings (

[Version 0.5.1]

+20

Frosty had trouble on 27 Jan 2004

Bug:
Running 10.3.2 with all the latest updates off software update.
Was running Stickies, Mail, Safari and iChat. Launched Desktop Manager 0.5, moved to the second window and by accident launched Mail again. Well, it didn't launch, but it drew a white box where the window would've been. I quit it. Quit DM 0.5 and asked it consolidate all the windows. After that, everything was hosed, Safari's google search was missing. Pieces of windows were left on the screen. I quickly restarted, check disk, and rebooted. Nothing wrong now. Kind of a serious bug though.

1. Either need to prevent multiple launches of same program, or...
2. Figure a way for them to be launched simultaneously. (obviously ; ) )

Great start though

[Version 0.5.0]

1 Reply

Anonymous commented on 29 Jan 2004

On Mac OS X, it's not possible to launch an app more than one time just by clicking on it on the dock or double clicking it somewhere else. I assume you had another problem in that case (maybe or not because of the use of DesktopsManager, can't decide that).

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