(10)
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WindowShade X provides an exciting and useful way of organizing your work on Mac OS X. With this handy tool, you can assign the following actions to the minimize button and a double-click on the window title:
- Minimize the window to the Dock, like always;
- "Windowshade" the window into a tiny strip to quickly peek below or get it out of the way;
- Minimize-In-Place the window so it becomes really small so you can move it out of the way yet still see what is going on;
- Make the window transparent so you can continue working in it while seeing things under it;
- Make
What's New
Version 5.0.7:
- You may have to restart after installing WSX for the first time.
- Addresses many parent-child relationship problems.
- If a window is minimized (collapsed) and it suddenly gets a child window, the window will expand automatically. For example, collapse Safari then press Command L (to go to the location bar). Safari will expand itself.
- No longer attempts to make a child float on top.
- Lots of other parent-child relationship fixes.
- Removed some spurious logging errors when EyeTV's setup assistant was closed.
Version 5.0.7:
- You may have to restart after installing WSX for the first time.
- Addresses many parent-child relationship problems.
- If a window is minimized (collapsed) and it suddenly gets a child window, the window will expand automatically. For example, collapse Safari then press Command L (to go to the location bar). Safari will expand itself.
- No longer attempts to more...
Requirements
- Intel
- Mac OS X 10.6 or later.
- Rosetta.
WindowShade X User Discussion (Write a Review)
Overall:
(78)
(78)
Displaying 1-10 of 208
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WindowShade X provides an exciting and useful way of organizing your work on Mac OS X. With this handy tool, you can assign the following actions to the minimize button and a double-click on the window title:
- Minimize the window to the Dock, like always;
- "Windowshade" the window into a tiny strip to quickly peek below or get it out of the way;
- Minimize-In-Place the window so it becomes really small so you can move it out of the way yet still see what is going on;
- Make the window transparent so you can continue working in it while seeing things under it;
- Make window float on top;
- Hide the application quickly;
- Do nothing and ignore the action (sometimes it is quite useful as well).
Copyright © 2012 MacUpdate LLC
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Check out Deskovery. http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/36082/deskovery
No, it is not as full-featured as Unsanity's program. Yes, it is more costly. No, I do not work for them or get kickbacks. I've ripped on them as much as I've praised them.
But they are, at least, responding to comments and e-mails, and they are, at least, actually working on their product. Their latest alpha release is mostly good; they're working with me on some programs that have a few problems.
For the most part, their program will do basic windowhading. (It has other features that might well interest others.) I find windowshading critical to the way I work, so I was willing to pay the higher price. But I'm optimistic.
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I'm a long time MTR user, gifted to the developer and very happy with 4.x and the progress on it. I will say the developer should go ahead and make it Shareware rather than all the back-door and secret society member only forums to delve into. :-) Never had to gift any money without having some version to receive, unlike Unsanity's recent email.
I'm also a recent user of Deskovery and with Lion it has problems. I do see the try recent alpha and will get that next. Thanks for your comments there as well.
I've tried replacements for FruitMenu (X-Assit is the closest but not updated since Feb-2008 and I've begun testing Butler today).
A few days after my 9-Nov-2011 post I went through the pre-pay steps and after their discount determine I would go ahead and pay $18 up front for WindowShade, FruitMenu and Menu Master. WS and FM I live by (when they work). If I lose $18 it won't break me.
But if these apps return once again then for the next 18 months I'll be very happy again. Until 10.8 comes out and breaks them all over. First and for most I am an OS X lover so I will alway be on the cutting edge as an Apple Developer beta testing their newest OS and then as a fast adopter of the golden release. Just wish Unsanity would get working with betas of OS releases.
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I already own licenses for WindowShade and MenuMaster. I'm not sure what else they might want me to buy; I see no need to buy another license from them. None of their other programs are of interest to me. And as I mentioned, I don't see why they want money up front on the promise that they might, maybe, consider doing the project. I don't see many other software developers out there doing that sort of thing.
I haven't been involved with the MTR project; I've seen some complaints about it and have a friend who said he's not had a good experience. But that's limited evidence; I might have spoken out of turn about that one. I definitely stand behind what I said with regard to Synergy Advance, however. That was pure sham.
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Well the really odd thing is the email says Lion version will be worked on but to encourage development they want us to purchase the current version of our favorite Haxies NOW (at a discount) even though those still won't work. Give them $$$ in advance and then not had to "pay again" for the updated version. (Last time we got "donation nags.")
Seems rather shady / risky to me. The old "take the money and run" or as I often wonder about the developer "take the money and die again never to be heard from."
I really have depended on WindowShade and FruitMenu for many years and many versions but I have no respect for Unsanity as developers or their lack of support.
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The developer makes their proposal and sets the funding level they need to meet. They can offer different levels of support that can be pledged, with a variety of "rewards" for pledging if the target funding level is met.
This way the developers can get a reliable estimate of the true interest in their project, and potential supporters don't risk throwing money at an untenable proposal, paying only if the project meets its pledge level and is approved.
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They should use something like Kickstarter.
Regarding some of the comments on never receiving an email from them, I have gotten a couple of email from Rosyna in the past when I emailed about problems.
Hopefully they get them working.
if you have started or not
nothing at all! so at least keep us ALLL updated .... for all we now you off having a long holiday?
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I like Unsanity's version better. Sigh.
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I 'm working on Leopard (cutback/customization) for two years up today and yes, nothing can beat WindowShadeX (even un-stable).
How funny it is to see people rushing toward new OS version, smashing up all those piece of software gems just for the sake of the latest thing...
More is less (see for yourself).
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It's also interesting that most of the Lion freeware and shareware seems designed not to augment Lion but to undo those Lion features that are fundamental to its nature.
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And you could generalize that point into every step of life, it works (one can see it every day).
I'm not even sure for that matter to carry on walking with Apple in the future since it appears they seem to choose the "eye candy way" of life to the detriment of efficiency.
Moreover and serious, their OS tends to become more and more of a closed kind source...
Greetings.
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Despite appearances APE does not depend on Rosetta. The site's not written very well there.
Since APE 2.6 all APE modules and hence Windowshade have PPC code , Intel code and 64 bit Intel code in their module. They need to have that otherwise APE won't load their module.
No what's happening is APE is seeing there's a new major point update to the system and is automatically turning itself off. All Unsanity need to do here is update APE with a new key certifying that a module can run an Lion and update Windowshade with that key.
Work of an afternoon IMHO.
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I do agree that Unsanity takes almost a year to update something like this after a new OS X appears. Unbelievably slow programmers.
On the other hand, Apple has incorporated a rather neat feature into LION that is almost as handy as Windowshade X.
Mission Control allows you to have multiple windows open, then with a finger gesture, zoom out and select any window beneath the top one.
Of course, not as quick or efficient as having a window roll up to its title bar -- but it does allow you to access windows beneath one another.
Let's keep our fingers crossed for a fast update to Windowshade X
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http://unsanity.com/products/compatibility
They don't even mention Lion.
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See at the time when APE 2.6 come around you had a mixed split of users on Intel Macs and some still on older PPC macs. So in order to guarantee it will work on both Unsanity issued a directive that all haxies need to have code for all 3 machine architectures - PPC , Intel 32 bit , Intel 64 bit.
This was to provide not only future proofing but also backwards compatibility. Intel code _shouldn't_ attempt to run on a PPC machine and vice versa but to make doubly sure the system wouldn't freak out in interesting ways when encountering machine code it couldn't run Unsanity elected to be a sanity check in there.
Now fast forward to today. Rosetta is gone and Lion will not run on PPC machines. So the Rosetta requirement is rather silly - they could easily remove the sanity check for it and in theory it should run fine on Lion without it.
So far I have not been successfully been able to contact the developers at Unsanitay. They both have active twitter accounts and I did send a twitter their way.
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rsgleason reviewed on 24 Jul 2011
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http://roaringapps.com/apps:table
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The requirement is only listed there as since 2.6 all Application Enchancer modules (which APE is btw) are required to have a PPC binary , Intel Binary , and 64 bit Intel Binary.
They can _very_ easily make Windowshade load on Lion by updating APE so it has a APELionCertified key and putting that key in the info.plist file for Windowshade. Work of a day or so IMHO.
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The Deskovery people also told me that their program is Lion-ready, which is particularly important for a lot of people. That's where the biggest dilemma comes in for me. We know that Unsanity will take forever to come out with a Lion version, if they do it at all. (Lion will lack Rosetta, and I don't anticipate a third-party Rosetta program for some time.)
And it will be too much to even ask Unsanity if they plan to do a Lion version. Their last website blog goes back to 2010. Still, they have had updates to this and their other programs, so they are doing something out there. Guess we'll see.
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Sorry to hear that.
I can't say what is best for you or not.
It's just that it appears Lion lets you zoom in and out of your desktop to immediately switch between all open windows. The downside is that it does appear to be an extra step over just rolling up the window. However, if it's true that they won't be able to release Windowshade for Lion because of lack of Rosetta support, then this will be the only option we have.
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Neartheredrocks reviewed on 05 Jan 2011
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I paid for all Unsanity's Haxies back in the day,
and while I know they regret it - they said 'all future upgrades would be free'
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You may be upset with them for going back on what they said, but if they can't afford to keep working on the software and it dies, an "update for life" doesn't get you anywhere.
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Now for several years, the developper has stopped providing any support, or even any simple answer to emails.
I spent several hours installing and uninstalling the program and ape under Mac OS X 10.5.6, but am still unable to make it "windowshade" at all.
Dont spend your money for nothing!
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It causes MoneyDance to totally crash and not open!! Although I have backup, IT SCARED THE BLOODY S--T OUT OF ME! All my financial data evaporating in front of my eyes, and the thought of reconstructing this started pains in my chest.
Stay with the previous beta version (b1). It worked fine.
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Unsanity, you really need to get out of the software business.
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Went back to 4.1, works fine.
[17" flat panel iMac (PPC) running 10.4.8]
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Aogail rated on 09 Feb 2012
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Johnny K rated on 02 Jun 2011