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Yahoo! Widget Engine User Reviews (185 posts)Write A Review
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Aug 13 2008
***..

JAZZYGUY  WATCH OUT!!! Some irresponsible individual on the developer's staff made the default preference to start Yahoo Widgets on restart or log in. Turn it off in Yahoo Widget preferences.  
(Version 4.5.2)

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Jul 11 2008

PEEDEEBEE  My favorite Yahoo Widget was the Daily Planner, which would show you what's in iCal for today and tomorrow. But it hasn't worked since Leopard. (The Dashboard widget iCal Events can be moved to the desktop, but dashboard widgets always float above everything and won't go into the background.) Yahoo support has been stalling for three months. Today they suggested updating the Widget Engine to version 4.5.2, which, unfortunately, doesn't exist.  
(Version 4.5.1)

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Nov 29 2007

BRENTRN  v4.5 only stays in one Spaces screen. Crashes with some older widgets. Only widget game in town for me as Dashboard is broken when used with parental controls. Limitation to one Spaces screen seriously defeats usefulness. Yahoo also seems to have killed their forum for discussion of issues.  
(Version 4.5)

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Nov 29 2007

BRENTRN  Correction: Widgets can remain on desktop. Just set each widget's Preferences the level as "always on desktop".  
(Version 4.5)

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Dec 14 2007

PETER DA SILVA  Widgets are application windows, and unless windows can be allowed in multiple spaces, Konfabulator can't do anything about it.  
(Version 4.5.1)

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Nov 1 2007

HILTONB  Is a version planned for OS X 10.5?  
(Version 4.0.5)

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Nov 1 2007

MACUPDATE ADMIN  http://widgets.yahoo.net/blog/  
(Version 4.0.5)

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Jul 29 2007
****.

SPACECAT85  The last few updates seem to have fixed most of the major problems I mentioned in my review of version 4.0. YWE will periodically crash (widgets are still running, but the menu item + dock are gone), but I haven't experienced contextual menu or problems with Yahoo's own widgets crashing in awhile.

The design quibbles with 4.x that I described previously are still there, though. I don't expect them to change in a minor point release, so hopefully version 5.x will address some of those.  
(Version 4.0.5)

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Jul 21 2007

EASER  I find it telling that neither MacUpdate nor VersionTracker has a review that goes beyond version 4.0.3. It sounds like abandonware on the part of the users. It also sounds as if the Yahoo folks haven't listened to a word of feedback about their product; none of the updates appears to address any of the issues I've seen cited here. I for one will not use this program, although Version 3 was very nice.  
(Version 4.0.5)

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Apr 20 2007
**...

SPACECAT85  Version 4 has some great new features but has been almost nothing but bugs for me. The idea of a dock with mini-states is great, as is the idea of browsing/installing widgets entirely within YWE.

My biggest problem with YWE 4 is that most of the widgets I've tried, including Yahoo's official set, either won't launch or will crash when I actually try to use them. On a similar note, widget-specific items will randomly stop showing up in the context menu, making it impossible, for instance, to change my location in Yahoo's weather widget. Clearing out all of my preferences and support files, then re-launching YWE doesn't help.

There's also a few small but strange design choices in YWE 4 as well. The developers changed the drop-down menu for widget display modes to something that's less intuitive when you're trying to just show a widget in the Heads Up display.

There are also some options that for some reason weren't included, most notably the ability to only show the dock in the Heads Up Display. It can either be completely closed or open with some portion showing at all times along one edge of the screen (including when it's collapsed).

And this is more of a suggestion than a complaint, but it would be great if there was a way to minimize a widget to the dock so that only the mini-state was visible. Yahoo's weather widget, for instance, would display the current weather in the dock, but the extended forecast wouldn't be visible.

I'm switching back to 3.x (which I'd give 4 stars) until they work out the bugs. 4.x has the potential to be a 5-star app, but the bugs and a few smaller design quirks that I and many others (see the official forums) have experienced hold it back.  
(Version 4.0)

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Mar 23 2007
***..

TOMIS  Still no reason to use this over Dashboard.

I thought the sidebar might be cool, but it has numerous implementation flaws like the rest of the app.

I have to press fn-F7 for the global hotkey to work. Dashboard doesn't need the fn key. I can't drag widgets from the sidebar? Oh, I have to click them to load them. I set the sidebar to auto-hide, yet it still shows a sliver of it on-screen, wtf! How do I configure a widget? By right-clicking... and then messing with a clunky half-baked preferences window.

No-where nearly as elegant as Dashboard.

Still the same clunky interface, a long way to go in my book. And they're already at version 4?  
(Version 4.0)

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Mar 22 2007
****.

TWISTERMC  Works ok on my iMac under 10.3.9 but the calendar widget now only pulls in my main iCal calendar and not all my subscribed to calendars too. So I feel lost. The previous calendar widget worked great. I've also had a few widgets crash. Sad.   
(Version 4.0)

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Mar 22 2007

EASER  Hey, at least it showed in your activity monitor. I can't even get it to do that much. Nothing shows up; nothing happens.   
(Version 4.0)

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Mar 22 2007

SEEKBUS  Installed 4.0x169. App launches, but the menu extra never appears. There is no evidence of the application other than the app in my activity monitor. Tried forcing quit and relaunching with the same results. Tried physically removing the app and reinstalling with the same results. Whatever...  
(Version 4.0)

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May 4 2006
*½...

MAC ALLY  With this update, IMPOSSIBLE to open all my non-official Yahoo widgets! The worst you can download the old ones in the widget section but you cannot open them.

Yahoo probably think that mac users are chinese dissidentscmore control for less freedom.

Time to boycott. :()  
(Version 3.1.2)

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Jan 12 2007

COWPIEBINGO  Why bring race into it?  
(Version 3.1.5)

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May 2 2006

MEGAGRAM  Still no Intel-based Mac support!?! Come on! This is ridiculous.

Really makes you appreciate what a difference in quality you get when a single, independant developer works on your software compared to when a big corporation takes over.

Booooo!  
(Version 3.1.2)

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May 2 2006

LUMPY  As long as Yahoo simply refuses to offer Mac compatibility for the majority of it's services, and the very few that do have any sort of Mac support suffer from being crippled, outdated versions compared to Yahoo's constantly updated glorious versions for Microsoft Windows, as a Mac user I just don't see the reason to support Yahoo.

The only reason the Yahoo widget engine has Mac support isn't due to Yahoo, it's due to the fact that Konfabulator was originally developed for the Mac. If that wasn't the case, we wouldn't even see this software on MacUpdate.

Just take your Windows only/Internet Explorer only stuff and please go away.  
(Version 3.1.2)

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May 2 2006

SAGGIS  Well said!  
(Version 3.1.2)

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May 24 2006

WANDERER  Here, here brother, Amen to that!  
(Version 3.1.4)

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Mar 14 2006
****½

COMPLEX_PERSON  Runs great on my old G4 goose neck iMac running OS 10.3.9

I use Dashboard on my G5 iMac, but I think I still like Konfabulator/Yahoo Widget Engine more.

I spread the widgets out across my desktop and their always there doing their thing and ready to go.

P.S. "Hula Girl" for YWE kicks a--!!!  
(Version 3.0.2)

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Dec 21 2005

RADD  Not sure if I'm alone here... but more than half of my old widgets no longer work right with the "Yahoo" version of Konfabulator... plus, it pops a message to make me verify if I want to run 3rd party widgets... but won't let me approve or disapprove them... so i have to quit the app altogether. If I ever DO get a 3rd party widget running, they display incorrectly or not at all (though still suck up process).

I've tried reinstalling, rebooting, etc.

Having been a Konfabulator user & developer since day one, I must say I am quite disappointed since Yahoo took over. I hope this is not a sign of the kind of support for the Mac we can continue to expect since Yahoo's acquisition of this product.  
(Version 3.0.1)

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Dec 19 2005
***..

TOMIS  It's not as easy to use as Dashboard.

The keyboard shortcuts are crippled, I had to hold down the Fn key to access F-key shortcuts, I don't have to hold down Fn to access Dashboard's F-keys.

There's no list of installed widgets, and no way to open the widgets folder from the menu.

The system for changing individual widget settings is convoluted. You have to hit OK to apply settings, which means a painful loop of; choose settings, hit ok, open prefs again, change settings, hit ok, until you find what you want. If they're going to use a separate prefs window it should apply preferences immediately.

I'm sure it's glorious on windows, but on the mac, it feels like a really good beta. Just not quite there yet.  
(Version 3.0.1)

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Dec 19 2005

MARCIN KRZYZANOWSKI  AD1. Customizable. I have to press Fn to access dasboard on my laptop, and don't have to press fn to access konfabulator by default.

AD2. Simply choose "Open Widget.."

AD3. Don't know what are you talking about with apply, It's fine with OK

AD4. Konfabulator was the first, and in fact is still better than Dasboard.  
(Version 3.0.1)

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Dec 19 2005

SAGGIS  yay the Yahoo! Widget Engine....  
(Version 3.0.1)

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Dec 14 2005
*****

ROB  Excellent! Much improved!  
(Version 3.0)

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Dec 14 2005
****½

CORPSECORPS  As great as ever.

But Yahoo, what WERE you thinking?

What an incredibly stupid name. What would have been so bad about Yahoo Konfabulator? I agree that the name alone makes it sound like something utterly uninteresting, if not something to be avoided. In fact, if i hadn't noticed where it said "was konfabulator" i wouldn't have downloaded it at all.

Really should have left the name alone, ya bozos.  
(Version 3.0)

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Dec 13 2005
*****

TWISTERMC  Works great, just has a new, worse, name. I like Konfabulator much better.  
(Version 3.0)

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Dec 13 2005

IHEIJOUSHIN  I wish I could be excited about the new name. I guess it shows how much Yahoo!'s PR knows about making something sound about as lame, unexciting, and dorky as possible.

Goodbye Konfabulator. Meet your new master.  
(Version 3.0)

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Dec 13 2005
*****

FRANKP  It sounds like Jamie Genet has some severe system problems that have nothing to do with Konfabulator. I've been using multiple widgets almost since Konfabulator came out and have never experienced any of these problems. Currently on 10.4.3 and still works fine.

For me Konfabulator is a better solution than Apple's knock-off, Dashboard. With the wide variety of widgets available I can select the ones that are most useful to me and keep them on the desktop.

It'll be interesting to see what the changes are in the current version.   
(Version 3.0)

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Oct 11 2005
**½..

JAMIE KAHN GENET  This is one severly buggy piece of software…

Well, I thought I'd give Konfabulator another try now it's owned by Yahoo. Last time I tried it I was unimpressed with it's slow speed on my G3 iMacs, and the CPU meter, rather ironically, had a memory leak

This time around bad things began happening from the word go. The Digital Clock widget refused to display, and if I tried accessing it's prefs from the Konfab menu I got a dialogue box saying no prefs were available. Worse - that dialogue refused to accept input - it would not close till I quit the Konfabulator app from it's menu.

Then I tried seeing what the simple background pref looked like when I pressed F8. After setting that Konfabulator no longer responded to F8. Not until I quit and restarted it, and set it back to the default background would F8 show the Konfabulator screen.

Then I tried accessing the PIM widget (which I _thought_ I'd seen pop up briefly the first time I ran Konfabulator after installing it). Nada - nothing. No preference access either. Not even a dialogue that wouldn't close. Nothing.

Still, just in case I thought things couldn't get any worse I tried accessing iChat Bezel widget's prefs. Once again - nada, nothing, no response.

I next tried setting the Weather widget to my closest town - Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand. Miracle of miracles it worked… until I later quit and restarted Konfabulator. Now it refuses to show my weather, yet Palo Alto and another city(that's NOT close to me) in NZ - Auckland - displays fine, weather wise.

Lastly the CPU meter's LED style red numbers show nothing. But as there's ZERO useful documentation or info I have no clue what might usually display there, anyway.

In short, Konfabulator used to work a year ago on this G3 iMac. Now it's so broken I'm put off trying any third party widgets. I can't believe there was so little testing done

Oh, and maybe some user out there can help me with a query of mine (cause there's ZERO help provided with Konfabulator): with utterly useless broken widgets like PIM - how can I quit them? I know I can quit the non-functional Digital Clock with a control click of it's name in the gear menu, but that doesn't work with the useless PIM. As it doesn't display, and won't respond, how the heck can I quit the damn thing? Do I need to delete my prefs EVERY time I run into a poorly written and poorly tested widget? I suppose I could just delete it from my HD, but given how poorly Konfabulator is doing so far, I'm not sure I want to add to it's troubles.

BTW - this absurd trial took place on a 500MHz G3 with 512MB RAM.  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Oct 8 2005
****½

ANONYMOUS  Works well in Tiger.  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Sep 16 2005

ANONYMOUS  I don't know if this can compete with

Dashboard.

I just added a couple of widgets that I would use:

(Thesaurus-Dictionary and a Wikipedia widget)

that do not even work.

I guess I will wait until I get Tiger to start using widgets  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Sep 11 2005
****.

ANONYMOUS  Very nice ap, but a few questions: how do you 'turn' some of them on and not others (if they all start up there's no room for anything else on the screen, once you've chosen a few more). And the preferences file for the entire program is nothing but a control key choice, hardly adequate for such a multi-faceted program. There needs to be a simple way to switch them on and off, other than removed the widgets from the folder permanently. Yahoo may not be used to the Mac standard where users can take control of a program completely, most of these things are intuitive for Mac programs.   
(Version 2.1.1)

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Aug 15 2005
*****

ANONYMOUS  This is what Dashboard has tried to emulate, with only moderate success. The beauty of Konfabulator is that, without any third-party assistance, it runs _on my desktop_! As nice as Dashboard is, having to leave my desktop and run a widget, or simply view one, means leaving my work space. Konfabulator is right there, while I work. No separate overlay. Terrific app!  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Aug 13 2005
*****

ANONYMOUS  Wow - A dashboard for panther users  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Aug 7 2005
*****

PHILLIP 2  Konfabulator 2.2.2 is great! The only problem I have is: how can inactivate an active a widget? Example: I activated the analog clock and then the digital clock. How can I get rid of the analog clock and keep just the digital clock working?

And I have not beein able to create a widget because there is no manual and I don't understand what to do to create one.

Can someone please help me?

Felipe  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Aug 6 2005
*****

ANONYMOUS  Dashboard is dead, konfabulator is perfect: free, fast, stable, little memory consume, and more configurable than dashboard.

Outstanding.  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Aug 6 2005

ANONYMOUS  If you find the gears on the Konspose backdrop distracting, you can get rid of them by replacing Contents/Resources/BackdropGears.png with a fully transparent PNG.  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Aug 6 2005
*****

ANONYMOUS  Pretty freakin' neat. Looks and feels better than the Dashboard, and supported by top-notch developers to boot.  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Aug 5 2005

RB3  Version 2.1.1 as of 8/5:

http://www.widgetgallery.com/dl_item.php?item=Konfabulator_2.1.1.dmg  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 31 2005
*****

ANONYMOUS  Where this trounces Dashboard is in the straightforward fact that you do not have stop what you are doing, go to another screen, and check your Widget. This saves an immense amount time.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 27 2005

SERGE  I put Konfabulator back on my desktop and I'm glad I did. Since, most of the time, I'm only using my computer for surfing and reading my mail, I'm not worried about using too much CPU. A lot of Konfabulator's widgets are greats and it would be a shame not to enjoy them.  
(Version 2.1)

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Aug 6 2005

ANONYMOUS  Not to mention that Konfabulator widgets don't seem to use NEARLY as much CPU as Dashboard widgets under Amnesty.

It's really weird, even in cases where there's equivalent functionality in a straight DHTML web page and a widget, the widget version is more CPU intensive than the DHTML version under Safari.  
(Version 2.1.1)

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Jul 27 2005
****½

TAB  Great toy on Mac!  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 27 2005
*****

ANONYMOUS  As a new Konfab user:

Konfab widgets seem less garish than Dash.

Greater selection and a much easier to browse widget page (where does Apple get their web design team, Yahoo?!?)

Also easier management (menu bar vs. dock+custom, Apple-Interface-Standards-breaking scheme)

Haven't tracked CPU yet, but if it doesn't eat every extra cycle, dashboard could get the boot.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 28 2005

ANONYMOUS  it's funny that you'd make fun of yahoo when yahoo now owns konfabulator.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 26 2005
*****

MIXEL  The blind loyalty on both sides of the widget thing are a bit silly..

Doesn't seem to hog resources or have any impact on performance on Dual G5.. It's a bit funny running two widget layers simultaneously, but it's nice to have access to so many widgets! Can't be bad.

Oh, and everyone's complaining about Konfab widgets using up too much screenspace, and dashboard's seperate screen being good (or bad, for that matter) You can use dashboard widgets on the desktop (enable with tinkertool or similar) and you can put konfab widgets on their own screen out of the way too.. There's really little difference between the two systems from an end-user perspective, just with Konfab you get windows compatibility, which is going to lure a lot of developers, I'd think!

More choices isn't a bad thing.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 27 2005

ANONYMOUS  Well, it can be anything if we tend to modify it. But sometimes I feel that we should compare thing on their default features. If you talking about appear and disappear features of Dashboard; Konfabulator no way near. If you talking about widget always appear on desktop or float on top of all program, Dashboard no way near either.

So depends individual need. One thing for sure, it's 2 different experience.

After Yahoo acquired Konfabulator, Konfabulator will serve the purpose.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 26 2005
**...

ANONYMOUS  've tried it again and I hate it. Uses too much CPU, RAM. Apple's version is brighter and stable.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 26 2005
****½

MAC NEW USER  It's a very smart move for both Konfabulator and Yahoo. Win-Win solution. I wonder who bring up this proposal.

1) Konfabulator earn big amount by selling it to Yahoo.

2) Yahoo will earn a big market share with Konfabulator widget in PC and Mac platform.

3) It's free to consumer now.

4) It's available for most of major platform. (Windows and OSX 10.2-10.3)  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 26 2005

NONA  Not Bring, but brought.

And will this mean a Yahoo Toolbar for the Mac? Or annoying spyware? Hmmm...  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 26 2005

MAC NEW USER  Thanks for the correction.

If you use Konfabulator before, you should know how it look like. You can download all sort of widget that provide information from internet, rather than search using web browser. For sure Yahoo will release all sort of widget that using their search engine so that their market share will increase.

Once again, thanks for the correction.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005
***..

MIKE  I still hate it even though it's free. Konfabulator wastes too much screen space and the widgets are always there to get in the way. I prefer how Dashboard stays out of my way until I want it.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  Mike: Konspose does exactly the same thing as Expose, you have to set it from inside each widget though.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  >> Wow more ways to sell me things. No thanks.

>> The guy that mad[e] konf complained apple had

>> ripped him off. He has allowed Yahoo to rip

>> him an new arse. lol

That's your opinion. Mine is you're an idiot. It's FREE, so you're worried about selling you something? Apple decided to do their own widgets for whatever reason. Flowing it to Yahoo! is just dessert and poetic justice for loser-Apple-loyalists to blind to see these guys likely made some nice cash with Yahoo! stock. Go someplace else loser and complain. IU hate %$#-ers like you who do nothing but complain. Go pcomplain about your sorry life.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 26 2005

ANONYMOUS  Are you 12?  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005
*****

THOMAS  Now that it's free it's awesome. Love to have widgets on the desktop not in a separate window. Also works in 10.3 and 10.2!!!!  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  Glad I never paid for this, lol.   
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

FEH...  Agreed... Not only did I never pay for this, I never pirated it nor used it. Never even tried it.

But I like Dashboard as a free toy.

What's that you say? Dashboard is not free because you have to buy 10.4 to have it? Well, 10.4 came with my new PowerBook.

What's that you say? It wasn't free because I bought a PowerBook and therefore I have 10.4 and Dashboard? Nope. The PowerBook was a gift.

"Free as in beer."  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005
*****

ROCK ON KONFABULATOR!  I am all for it. Why? Watson was vastly superior to Sherlock and look at Apple's Sherlock now--pure useless rubbish, that is never added to or developed, and a complete waste of hard disk space. Konfabulator is also vastly superior to Widgets. Also, Yahoo will reach more people that Apple ever will.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  Dream on you clown!  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

MAC NEW USER  Konfabulator consider a very good widget management application for OSX 10.3 and below or Windows platform. But I feel that it's not a necessary for Tiger. I said that because Dashboard capable to fulfill my requirement. That doesn't mean that Konfabulator not that good, but simply not a necessary anymore if already had Dashboard by default in Tiger.

Talking about superior, Apple started with "Widget" idea long before Konfabulator..... and if you comparing the capability of web search power, well, you are doing a wrong comparison... 1) Apple is not a web search engine, it's a computer. It still able to search info using Yahoo or Google. 2) That is not the main purpose of "widget". Widget are referring to small application that normally we want to access to it fast and simple. Both Konfabulator and Dashboard serve the purpose but in different way.

I can't conclude the actual reasons why Yahoo look for Konfabulator but I do feel that Yahoo make a very good move. Imagine if PC user like the idea of Konfabulator widget provide fast and simple way to get the info from internet and Yahoo develop all kind of widgets filter info from internet using their search engine, Yahoo will conquer a huge percentage of web search market share.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

MACZOMBIE  This is my favorite part "Also, Yahoo will reach more people that Apple ever will." Who in their right mind is gonig to use a Yahoo widget? Ever chatted on Yahoo? Enough said!  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

THE VALRUS  Can we just shut up about the Konfabulator vs. Dashboard thing now? Yahoo bought Konfab, just like Arlo Rose or whatever his name is wanted Apple to do. Everyone's happy. There doesn't need to be any more mudslinging from anyone on this topic anymore, ever.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  They still have people bringing it up on the Konfab forums from time to time, though.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ROCK ON KONFABULATOR!  Funny, I've been with Apple since 1984, and I've never met more Mac zealots for all the wrong reasons than now.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  Wow more ways to sell me things. No thanks.

The guy that mad konf complained apple had ripped him off.

He has allowed Yahoo to rip him an new arse. lol.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

THE VALRUS  Hmm, I think the "What's New" list is missing a little something.

• BOUGHT BY YAHOO, NOW FREE, GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE WILL HOLD  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  Konfabulator is superior to dashboard in that it does not consume too much CPU. That's it.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

DAN  Nice plug but completely ridiculous. Dashboard's widgets are hidden so they take no CPU at all when not in use-they simply take up a little bit of memory. Konfabulator on the other hand is NOTORIOUS for sucking CPU. Your comment is so obviously rooted in a blind and deluded allegiance to that software. This in itself is pardonable, but when you falsely put down better software it's unacceptable.   
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

KILLFNORDS  Thanks Dan, glad that someone who has some knowledge on the matter came along to slam dunk the previous poster's preposterous and incorrect nonsense post.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

WAKE UP  Konfabulator doesn't consume CPU???

Are you freaking BLIND??? or simply outta your mind. Get real...this app has been a resource nightmare since the day it came out. Great idea..horrendous implementation. Apple's Dashboard destroys this hog.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  Dashboard does not consume CPU when it is not active.

If you open a terminal and type "top" you will see a listing of CPU usage per application. When you are not in dashboard all widgets show 0% utilization.   
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

KPG  on my mac (dual 1GhZ) dashboard slows things down. while it may not eat cpu cycles when not active, i notice heavy swapping even if ashboard is in the background since startup. after some time i end up with gigs of swapfiles in /var/vm, forcing me to reboot.

this is sick.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  Similar experience when I first install 10.4. This problem no longer exists after update to 10.4.1.   
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

ANONYMOUS  RAM usage issues are much different than CPU issues. Before 10.4.2 I noticed some widgets taking 180MB + of real memory. This memory leak seems to have disappeared.   
(Version 2.1)

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Jun 5 2005

ANONYMOUS  Hi there I have tried to use Konfabulator but it just depresses me that a program like this should charge so much it could of cleaned up the market long before Dashboard showed up.Now I run Dashboard with a flick of the button I can see the weather, see the lyrics of the song I am listening check whats on tv, see notes I have made , system stats trains that are running , god you must be dumb to want all this on your desktop it would be a major hastle I have enough trouble with icons, If you do want it on your desktop stop slagging off dashboad and download Amnesty and you too can have a mess of a desktop. My G5 has no slow downs at all I admit a quit button would be nice when I run games . Enjoy dashboard , Konfabulator have nothing but there stupid greed if they go bust.  
(Version 2.0.1)

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Jul 25 2005

GUARDIAN ARCHON  Quote:

:: My G5 has no slow downs at all I admit a quit button would be nice when I run games . ::

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

Of course your G5 has no slow downs. It's a freakin' G5! However, those who are still using a G4 (such as PowerBook and iBook users, as well as those with Mac Minis, eMacs, or older machines) DO have slow down issues related to Dashboard. Not that Dashboard isn't better, but it still affects the processor, even in the background.

Oh, and the primary purpose for Konfabulator at this point is for people who don't wish to upgrade to 10.4 There are still quite a few people using 10.2 and having no problems whatsoever with not upgrading.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jul 25 2005

SILUS MADUPNAME  Given that you don't get any slowdowns with 0% CPU utilisation in the background, then it has to be said that the claims of slow downs on low end Macs is a complete pile.

I for have observed none on an 800 G4, which is a good bit slower than any mini.  
(Version 2.1)

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Jun 2 2005

ANONYMOUS  I've downloaded Konfab a few times but never kept it installed for more than a few minutes. The usefulness/resource tradeoff just wasn't worth making.

Dashboard is definitely overhyped, but I do use it. That really says it all.  
(Version 2.0.1)

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Jun 1 2005
**½..

NW  K2.0.1 - Oh God this messes up sooo well! I can right click or command click on any widget. How can I kill a widget after it is running. Lots of problems in 10.2.8. I wonder if I have an old install pre 2?  
(Version 2.0.1)

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Jun 1 2005
****.

ANONYMOUS  Konfabulator beats Dashboard on CPU, hands down. I wonder if Apple restricts Dashboard to the "Dashboard Pane" because it's a CPU slob. And, if this is inherent in Dashboard or simply bad widget writers?

K is pretty memory hungry, though.  
(Version 2.0.1)

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Jun 1 2005

MAC NEW USER  Any data of figure to show the different? Thanks.  
(Version 2.0.1)

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Jun 1 2005

ANONYMOUS  this product will die. face it. killed by dashboard. and it is ok. at the pace of new widgets coming dashboard will make konfabulator be forgotten very soon. and especially at older machines konfabulator was never really an option.  
(Version 2.0.1)

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May 23 2005
*****

ANONYMOUS  Konfabulator is original and great.

I will always use Konfabulator.

Great new Widgets!

Dashboard???  
(Version 2.0)

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May 20 2005
****½

RICHO  Konfab's Weather widget works where I am (north Thailand) and every other world city I enter, and also keeps a list of them in the widget. This wipes the floor with the Apple derivative which doesn't do this for me. Imo it's also better to have widgets default to the desktop.

Have to agree they're going to have a hard time getting $25 now, but also have to say I paid a while back and have no regrets, then or now. This version is a real improvement too. I hope they keep it up on the Mac.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 20 2005

ANONYMOUS  The release notes show some really nice new stuff, the developers are very innovative and talented and I wish them every success in their Windows support.

It is a great shame that some Mac users have decided to turn their back on basic right and wrong and actually offer some rather negative comments about Konfabulator; clinging onto FUD created by a 1 or 2 websites in defence of strikingly similar products.

At the end of the day I guess that is a real defect in human nature, but the truth is very clear to me at least; there is absolutely no doubt in my mind at all (having read all the arguments about history, Desk Accessories and similar things) that other strikingly similar products would simply not exist and if not for Konfabulator. And actually if nothing else that is a huge compliment and I really hope the Konfabulator devs enjoy big success on the vast Windows platform for their work and innovative ideas.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Well, Dashboard maybe far from perfect, but I'll use dashboard, cause it's free.

Besides, my daily job required me to open bunches of windows all over the desktop. I'll have one Finder window, two PDF documents, three Terminal, and four BBEdit. I don't need extra floating windows that constantly provide informations I can not handle. I like to press a hot-key to bring them up, and press hot-key to go back to my regular works. Yes, Konfabulator can do that too. But why pay extra fee when Dashboard can do the same thing ?  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Just a comment regarding the Konfabulator vs. Dashboard comments below.

First, I have to say that Dashboard was a big disappointment for me. Maybe it will become a great addition to any system in the future, but as it is now, it is far from being great. The main issues that made it unusable for me are:

1. Widgets do not coexist on the Desktop. To use Dashboard you have to switch in and out of it. I prefer Konfabulator in this sense.

2. Some Widgets (e.g., Weather) will not remember their preferences/settings once they're closed. Again, I prefer Konfabulator.

3. Each open Widget uses 20-30 MB of memory even while they are on the background. I have no preference here, since widgets for both programs use a similar amount of resources.

In terms of having useful widgets, I found quite a few of Konfabulator's widgets to be useful. In many cases I prefer to use regular applications instead, though, since they are less taxing to my system. For example, You Control (which can and should be improved) can substitute at least 6 widgets for me, including Weather, iTunes control, Pasteboard, System Monitor, RSS feeds, and Date/Time/Calendar. All these features are available using less resources than Konfabulator (or Dashboard).

Regarding the comment that Dashboard costs no more, I'm not sure that I agree. While it is included with Tiger, Tiger was not a free upgrade (Microsoft users may be getting more free upgrades than Mac users ;-) ). There may be additional costs that are not evident now. One that comes to mind is the potential cost in the development of Mac software. Will developers have any incentive to keep on making great programs for the Mac? After all, there are many similarities between Dashboard and Konfabulator. And let's not forget Watson (RIP) and Sherlock. And how many Mac users are using an MP3 player that is not iTunes? Audion was great, Unsanity Echo was promising, but they are no more :-( Can something similar happen with web browsers? What about email programs? There are certainly many potential costs worth considering.

By the way, I do believe that Tiger is a worthy update to OS X, but not because of Dashboard (or Spotlight). In addition, while I prefer Konfabulator over Dashboard, neither one is for me. Fortunately people can download Konfabulator, give it a try, and then decide. :-)  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

UMAROMC  "2. Some Widgets (e.g., Weather) will not remember their preferences/settings once they're closed."

...have you run a permission repair after updating to 10.4? All my widgets remember their settings.

Also, the Dashboard Widgets are a lot more straightfoward insofar as getting to their settings- that little "i" is a smooth feature, definitely.

About Dashboard not being integrated with the desktop- that's preference as you stated... I personally would be annoyed at the fact that I could not choose whether or not to hide everything you'd opened and, depending on each widget's settings, they'd overlap on what you were viewing and I'd always be repositioning one or more of them to get them out of my viewing space...

c'est la vie, indeed...  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  "I personally would be annoyed at the fact that I could not choose whether or not to hide everything you'd opened and, depending on each widget's settings, they'd overlap on what you were viewing and I'd always be repositioning one or more of them"

You can have all Konfabulator widgets hidden until you press a hotkey to show them, then press the hotkey again to hide them. Exact same functionality at Dashboard.

You can also have them handled like normal windows, where you drag them about and they are handled by Expose just as a Safari window would be.

You can also have them set to be below normal windows. They disappear when you use Expose, they never overlap normal windows, but they overlay what's on the desktop.

You can also have them set to be at the desktop level. Everything, including folders and documents on the desktop, shows up above them. Essentially they become a dynamic part of your desktop background.

You can also have them set to float above other windows, so nothing will ever obscure them.

Cosidering that options are provided to set each widget as every time of window at every level, I fail to see how they overlap each other and require constant repositioning if you invest a bit of initial time to set some custom preferences.

Konfabulator isn't perfect, but it's far more robust than Dashboard in terms of layout customizability.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 20 2005

ANONYMOUS  I did repair permissions. Always do before and after :-)

Do your widgets remember their settings when you quit them? I don't mean when you switch Dashboard on or off, but actually quitting the widget. Mine didn't, and I did not want to leave them on all the time, since each one uses around 25 MB of memory. I do have 1 GB of memory, but after selecting a few widgets it starts to add up, and I prefer to use the memory with the programs I use to be productive.

I do agree that the little "i" provides a nice approach to configure many of the widgets :-)  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005
***..

JOHN WELLS  Konfabulator is ok I guess, but from what I've seen most all Dashboard widgets are more useful/functional than Konfabulator widgets. I've also found Dashboard widgets are easier to create.

The price is a little too much IMO, considering that Dashboard is free and more or less a Konfabulator equivalent. $10 sounds much more reasonable. The type of app I would pay $25 for is something like Transmit - an extremely useful utility, not just GUI pretties -

Long story short, I'll be using Dashboard.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Konfabulator is well passed it's time. I'm sure Windows users will enjoy the Gee-whiz factor of all the beautiful widgets, but will find the same problem that has been inherent to Konfabulator: few of the widgets are actually useful.

The inherent limitations of Konfabulator are apparent when you see the sheer number of similiar widgets, and the dearth of ones which are actually useful.

This is where Dashboard shines: the flexiblity of combining XML, HTML, CSS2, DOM2, JS, HTML, Flash, QuickTime, and Java; all powered natively from within the OS using WebCore which significantly reduces overhead compared to Konfabulator. This also gives developers so much more flexibility and abilities to make widgets that are actually - dare I say it: useful?

Sorry Konfaboys, you are on the way out.   
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Dashboard kicks Konfabulator's @$$!!! It is system integrated, and costs no more! Why does anyone on the Mac still use this app? If you haven't already,get Tiger! It's worth it!  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005
*****

MIKE  Konfabulator just rocks.

Dashboard is poor replacement. I just cannot live with the always dissaperaing Tiger widgets. These are just too bulky and do not stay on the desktop (what a stup*d idea) and needs to be clicked to show up. Also (!) Tigers's widgets needs ages to update itself. For example Weather is taking about 1min to update (I live in Euroep) and not even show correct info. Even I change the town. Its just very bad. And they are updated not on the background but after you call up the Dashboard to the front, so it might take few minutes until you get the info you are looking for.

Konfabulator is the opposite - updates takes seconds and has better and faster control over its functions - and I think - it's widgets looks much better. Anyone who is on G4 should no see any problems. At least I did not noticed any slowdowns.

SImply. I just love it and it still wins in all of the aspects (except CPU) over Tiger's Dashboard. I removed Dashboard from my Dock and have Konf. on all my computers at work and at home.

My all thumbs UP!

Mike  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  weather is not made for europeans

there are european towns because the same towns exists in the SU brussels, paris, berlin,... and were so named by the immigrants in the 19th century  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Filthy Euros don't care about the weather anyway, right?

Way to go Apple. Way to go...

*big eye roll*  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

SERGE  Mike, take a look at this : http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17922  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

MAKKI  Here's a list of things we added in 2.0. Full release notes for additions are posted on our site.

What’s New in 2.0 For End Users

- Multi-Pane Preferences dialogs for Widgets

- New Widgets: PIM Overview (looks at iCal/Outlook data) and Memory Gauge.

- Improved Proxy support for web resources (AutoProxy)

- Analog Clock: updated look, new colorization features, second hand.

- Battery: updated look, removed multi-battery support.

- Calendar: new colorization features, double-click day to see info in PIM Overview for that day.

- Digital Clock: revised graphics and new alarm manager... very cool.

- Picture Frame: updated look and new frame choices.

- The Weather has brand new look and new feed from Accuweather

- Where Is It: package tracking added.

- WiFi signal: revised look.

What’s New in 2.0 For Widget Authors

- COM support

- Inter-Widget messaging

- Image Tiling/Scaling

- ClipRects on Images

- vAlign on images and text areas

- Colorization (colorize, hsl adjustment, hsl tinting)

- Context menu addition support

- filesystem.read/writeFile (utf-8 only)

- filesystem.volumes – array of currently mounted volumes

- filesystem.move/copy

- filesystem.getFileInfo

- filesystem.getDisplayName

- chooseFile/chooseFolder dialog functions

- saveAs dialog function

- chooseColor dialog function

- Trash/Recycle Bin open/empty

- Multiple Window support

- Multi-Click handling

- New Timer object

Beyond this there are a TON of fixes in this release.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

DARYLF2  What is new in this version?

I registered version 1.x, so if I install version 2.0 will I need to purchase an upgrade license?

Konfabulator's website ONLY offers download link... No info AT ALL. This is crazy.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

MRANDRE  Can someone tell me where a person can get some %^&&ing documentation on the release? Better yet, I dare you to go to konfabulator.com and do something other than download the software. I'd like to know what's new and different. I'd like to know why I should bother downloading, but apparently that's not much of a priority. There is NOTHING in the download. There is NOTHING in the application. The version history I finally managed to locate on the site goes to version 1.8.3, no further.

I mean, are these guys for real? W.T.F.?  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  LOL, well the icon looks like it is new... heh heh. What a putz this developer is for not posting up the current version history  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005
*****

SEVUR  Agreed! Konfabulator is the king of widgets! I'm very disappointed in Apple for STEALING a great idea!  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  get over it.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Hogwash and horse manure. Apple did not steal this. It is just as easy to say that Konfabulator is a ripoff of an original idea from Apple. You are not at all well informed.

And, Apple's Dashboard implementation is far superior to Konfabulator's implementation. But you did not know that either.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Seriously.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

+  Well... it may not be a complete duplicate rip-off but there is a similarity in concept. I agree... in a sense it is a rip-off. The moral issue is concept. When Dell was releasing a series of candy colored iMac mimics back in the day, who put their foot down and said hell no? It was Apple. Why? Similarity? Small time developers can't stand up to big boys like Apple... that's why they can get away with it.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Fine, but the idea originated with Apple. Years ago. It was even implemented, after a fashion, by Apple years ago.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

DAVE BUTENHOF  Both Konfabulator and Dashboard are nothing more than "web pages in a window" -- a dash of XML and some images held together and activated by JavaScript. The folks who did Konfabulator weren't the first to think of this. Whether they consciously imitated the others or reproduced the concept independently is irrelevant -- as is the same question for Apple. It was inevitable. It's a good idea. We have two implementations of the idea that are very different, with different advantages and limitations. It's been said that "theft is the most sincere form of flattery", and in the end it'll be to everyone's advantage if Dashboard and Konfabulator flatter each other for quite a while.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005
****½

RADD  Though Dashboard is impressive in many respects, it is sad to see people kick Konfabulator just because Apple did.

The new & updated Konfabulator widgets feature a level of user-customization that is currently lacking in Dashboard widgets... and will help set the stage for Konfabulator widget developers to begin to offer similar advantages to their users.

Dashboard widgets currently suffer from the same flaws that early Kon widgets did... lack of consistency & huge size. Though Dashboard is an impressive technology, it does not seem to have learned from Konfabulator's early mistakes.

Though Amnesty can allow you to run dashboard widgets on your desktop, at this point, who would want to run the current Dashboard widgets all the time? On the other hand, Konfabulator features quite a few widgets that run well in the background on the desktop without distraction, excessive CPU usage, and easy reach of the eyes.

It also seems strange to me the decreased usefulness of some things being put in Dashboard... like the itunes widget. Why would i want to go to the Dashboard to change my itunes track or see it's info when I can do this onscreen already? Though the widget they created is very attractive, it is less than useful inside the Dashboard because invoking it requires an extra step. Konfabulator users can choose whether their items exist in an envoked screen or constantly onscreen, helping to eliminate such user-interaction problems.

The truth of the matter is, Dashboard is wonderful... but it and it's widgets have a lot of growing up to do before they truly offer a "replacement" for Konfabulator.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  This is great, I am happy to be using Konfabulator again, I like to see the certain widgets at all times, I am a little tired of all the tricks that you have to do on dashboard for widgets to remain on the screen.

Good job guys keep up the pressure on Apple by creating a better product!  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  I wonder if ther is any way to make the widgets for this program to work with Dashboard.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

KATE  Konfabulator widgets no longer use much cpu since version 1.2 . This is based on very outdated experience.

As an example: K. plus four widgets use not more than 1.3% cpu in total. That's roughly the same in Dashboard with similar widgets.

Memory footprint is also in the same ballpark.

As for Konfabulator 2.0, hey check it out! It is updated for Tiger and comes with more polished visuals.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  R.I.P. Konfabulator

Hello Dashboard!!!!!!!  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Shh! Can you here that? It's the sound of Confabulator's funeral march and the sirens carting Apple to pen.

This version is exactly the same as 1pointwhatever. I think Apple have well and truly murdered this app.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  You are wrong. Check it.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

KEVIN BALLARD  Erm, what's new in this? A 2.0 release is a major release, so you'd think there would at least be release notes on their website?

Anyway, last time I tried Konfabulator, it sucked: it was a CPU hog all of the time (even with no widgets running), definitely a RAM hog, and I never found a single widget worth keeping Konfabulator open for. Dashboard, on the other hand, is very resource-friendly, takes no CPU when not showing (even though the widgets are still open), and has plenty of useful widgets, AND comes with every copy of Tiger. In other words, what possible reason is there for me to use Konfabulator?  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  "so you'd think there would at least be release notes on their website?"

Yes. No release notes/version history. Definitely sloppy/careless.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  This product was dead in the water as soon as the developer decided (understandably so) to make a Windows variant. Don't waste your time if you're using Tiger. If you're not, make sure you've got the system resources for it.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005
*....

ANONYMOUS  Worst Konfabulator ever (and that's a lot to say)! Brings my G5 to it's knees with the CPU usage. Back to Dashboard.  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  Yeah and I thought the whiner (developer) said he was taking the ball and going home, that he was not developing Konfabulator for OS X anymore...  
(Version 2.0)

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May 19 2005
*****

DBRIGHTWELL  Konfabulator widgets really don't function in the same way as those in Dashboard. Some widget functionalitiy makes more sense as a Dashboard widget and some makes more sense in Konfabulator. Far from being supplanted by Dashboard, I think Konfabulator has a bright future and the new features of 2.0 seem to be a nice improvement. We will have to wait for some of the widget developers to update their work to take advantage of 2.0, but I for one am going to purchase a 2.0 license for my "other" computer, a Windows XP machine, so I can have my widgets at work as well as at home.  
(Version 2.0)

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Jan 13 2005
***½.

ANONYMOUS  Well done eye candy. It is a nice piece of software. It seems satble and don't use too much RAM or CPU. However widgets are generally bloated.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 7 2004

ANONYMOUS  I propose everybody publish the comment of "waiting for Tiger" at OS X Panther update release page, because Konfabulator not going to release Tiger but Apple did.

Thanks.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 7 2004

ANONYMOUS  I'm waiting for Pixoria to come up with another program, so I can see how Apple Inc. plans to imitate innovate, next.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 7 2004

ANONYMOUS  Very demonstrative of your ignorance on the subject. Be sure and look both ways before crossing the street.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 7 2004

ANONYMOUS  Don't hold your breath waiting. Konfabs developers haven't had an new idea in.. umm.... ever.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Jan 3 2005

ANONYMOUS  Eh?

I don't think you know what the heck you're talking about.

READ!  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 7 2004

REDHEAD  Waitng for Godot...I mean, Tiger.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 7 2004
*****

ANONYMOUS  Oh please stop with the compalining that Konfabulator is not worth the money, or this or that. I use it and I am happy with it, thus it is worth the money to me. If you do not like it or want to pay for it, then it is your biz. Wait for Tiger then, but for the sake of all reading, just shaddup and do it. This is the biggest bunch of complainers and gripers that I have ever seen.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 7 2004

ANONYMOUS  what is "compalining" and how do I stop doing it?  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Apr 30 2005

ANONYMOUS  Stop complaining.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004
****.

ANONYMOUS  Will wait for Tiger now…  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004

ANONYMOUS  Wait for Tiger!  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004

IMHOTEPP  I'll wait for Tiger!  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004

MAC NEW USER  Please read my previous comment, if you're prefer Dashboard, that's your choice, but definitely it's not comparable application with Konfabulator, they are 2 different application function with with similar tools.

For example, you need a transport running with gasoline engine, and you jump into a truck showroom and telling the sales man that you prefer a motorbike.... Joker or what? Make sense?  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004

ANONYMOUS  Konfabulator needs to jump on the Dashboard bandwagon and make compatible goodies so they can stay alive. If not, others will. People are going to be very hard-pressed to purchase Konfabulator when Tiger arrives. Just make the bloody widgets compatible and call it a day. I'll register Konfabulator widgets if they work with Dashboard.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004
*****

FERVID  Well, I personally think Konfabulator is a wicked piece of software to brighten your mac up, and look at the choice of widgets!!!... £15.85 english pounds well spent I say...  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004

ANONYMOUS  I always think that the term "personally" means that thing keep to oneself only, not to publish kind of thing..... further more, what's your point actually?  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004

ANONYMOUS  Pretty eye-candy, but I see nothing here worth $24.95 and a bunch of processes running in the background. This is for hobbyists, not professionals IMHO.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 6 2004

NEW USER  You are right, just like my friend told me, he said Ferrari is pretty good looking style but it's not worth to pay that much of money and wasting so much fuel for a huge cc of engine just to travel, so he think that Ferrari is not for professional. While I believe most of the professional driver will not agree.

But I think he is not entirely correct, don't you think so? For those who like the feature of something that you feel useless, it's still valuable to them. So if giving comment base on your own requirement, I think you're not that professional either. Agree?

Anyway, it's just a comment, no hard feeling, I'm not their user as well. I just see thing from different angle.  
(Version 1.8.2)

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Dec 1 2004
*****

MAC NEW USER  I feel that Dashboard and Konfabulator are 2 different features of application. Both of them are using small application so call "widget", but functionality wise is different.

For those who wish to have the small application to be appear all the while so that they can view and use it all the time, Konfabulator is the choice. Some people like to see the weather report at the same time edit word document, go for Konfabulator.

But for people who wish to keep his place clear and fast access to small application when they needed, Dashboard got the features.

That's why I did review that Konfabulator still have their market share since Dashboard provide different access features of program.

Thus I think that if we keep on targeting on the term "widget" and compare each other, is useless or rather nonsense. Just like argue about engine in 2 different transports; Truck and Motorbike. Make sense?

So Konfabulator developer, keep it up.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

BUBBA  Please get off whining about what Apple did to Konfab. Take a look at the history of software and you see this same scenario played out ad nauseam. 90% of everything available is a copy or new take on something done before. Can you say "Windows"?

Konfab is not the first or last company that will be pressured to step up to the pump and do or die. I suppose we should all cry about all of the Apple software that others have decided to improve upon. HyperCard no longer exists, but the clones are still in business.

If you fight injustice in the software in the software business, you can certainly pick a better battle than defending Konfab.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  To say, "Yeah, well Windows copied MacOS, so there!" is a rather childish oversimplification. Apple, a 500 pound gorilla, took a working piece of software and created a rip-off that they will include with their new computers for free. There is no competing with that. It's unethical. They did the same thing with Watson from Karellia Software. They copied the program down to its icon set and bundled it for free. Now, Apple did a half-ass job with their new Sherlock, but Karelia still couldn't compete with free software and a guaranteed distribution network. This is anything but fair, and just another example of the dangers of monopoly control.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Dec 1 2004

MAC NEW USER  Hey, since developer are well knowledge programmer, and they are not happy with OEM OS, why not creat a own OS like Linux do.... Then what ever application written don't have to rely on Mac OSX or what ever....  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Dec 3 2004

ANONYMOUS  *gasp* You mean they improved their OS?? They added a feature??? How dare they do that! Especially when it means that poor, starving Arlo has to port his thing to Windows now.

And Watson's developer has no one but himself to blame for Watson's current state.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Dec 3 2004

ANONYMOUS  Yeah, what Karelia did to Watson (sold it, now it is dead and gone) is so completely boneheaded that it makes me glad I never paid for Watson.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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May 19 2005

ANONYMOUS  You could easily also say that Konfabulator was a rip-off of Apple's own Desktop Applications from OS 7-9.  
(Version 2.0)

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Nov 30 2004

MAC NEW USER  Frankly speaking, still prefer the basic concept of Dashboard, Appear when needed, Disappear when you don't. But Konfabulator is beautiful, unfortunately, just don't feel like needed.

What would Konfabulator developer do if MS add in similar feature package into their new release; Longhorn? By schedule, they still have one year + to go, I believe they are able to add in if they wish. HHmmmm..... Linux will be a good target. Think about that and prepare for it.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004
****½

HEILIGER  I have enjoyed Konfab since it's initial release... and now it's even better with the Exposé (aka Konsposé) feature... I can see my currently playing track on one corner of my desktop... and the online status of all my client websites subtlety displayed on another... and i hit my Function key i assigned next to my Exposé hotkeys.. and voila... I now see my local weather forecast and Weather Channel radar, my stocks, my to-do list.. all kinds of helpful little items. Back when Mt. St. Helen's was acting up, I had the webcam there in a little window in Konsposé, so I sometimes would see the steam and smoke clouds rising from the crater before the news channels caught wind of it.

I don't know the future of Konfabulator when Tiger arrives... Apple unfortunately seemed to have had every legal right to do what they did, but I admit I got a heavy queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach when I first caught sight of Dashboard and all its Widgets. My second thought on seeing Dashboard was "nice," but my first response was "they didn't..." Sure, Apple was behind the Desk Accessories back in the day... but I credit Arlo and the Konfab team for being the first to bring that idea back with such style and usability.

Viva K.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

MACMATH  I see your point about indicating there is competition. I'll amend my previous comment to say that posters can point to competitors, but to comment about relative value (instead of writing about differences in features) is as misleading as it is personal.

It is possible to be poor and have enough character not to whine.

I stand by my first comment: complaining about price is irrelevant. Irrelevant means that it is not relevant, not that it lacks class. As I pointed out before, value is different for different people, since features which are useless to some are valuable to others. Moreover, these products are shareware and people have a chance to decide its value for themselves.

I did not say that I had any disposable income or that I could afford it. I probably have less money than many of the whiners; I can't imagine that I have any more. Logically, by saying "Someone who does not like whining about price is someone who has disposable income." you are saying: "Someone who does not have disposable income likes whining about price." That is "Poor people like whining about price." Do you really mean that? I repeat: It is possible to be poor and have enough character not to whine.   
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

SUSPECT  It won't be long before the Konfab team begin working soley with Dashboard, but until then this is easily the highest quality dashboard available for any OS.

Konfabulator is the only reason Apples Dashboard exists, it's just a shame Apple didn't give them credit, a damn shame. I see nothing here but theft, Apple could have easily afforded to pay the Konfab team off and bring them into the fold, but no, they pulled a Microsoft and screwed everyone in the ass.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  lol, the idea comes from Apple's Desktop in the 80s, please shut up if you don't know History. plus Konfabulator is cr*p, Tiger will be better than this "CPU & RAM eater" (c) Konfabulator  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  To think Dashboard is based more on Desk Accessories than Konfabulator is incredibly naive. You have proven yourself an Apple iTool. Congrats on the lack of balls.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  sour grapes that completely ignores the fact that, while conceptually similar, Dashboard is fundamentally different than Konfabulator. read this article:

http://daringfireball.net/2004/06/dashboard_vs_konfabulator

i agree with the author. why pay the Konfabulator team for a product that does not achieve your software development goals? Dashboard uses fundamentally different APIs and has a radically different approach to "gadget" development.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  Yeah. Dashboard uses HTML and CSS to draw widgets. Sure, more people are familiar with it, but how many websites actually end up looking good? When Tiger ships, I expect that most third party widgets will look like most websites do now. Utter garbage.

This, on top of the fact that OS X looks more and more like Windows XP with each release. "Let's put some pretty colors here! AND HERE! And circles!!!" "Why?" "Because we're Apple! Despite our flagrant disregard for the user interface, people will use whatever we give them! *devilish laugh*"  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  Yeah right... Windows XP? Who's the 'tool' here?  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  LOL. OS X interface is simply the best. I've tried lots of OS, OS X IS the best, not only for its GUI, it is the best because it is stable, easy to install, configure, personalize, securize, and finally use. Each upgrade improves OS X. I think you're a troll: each Linux upgrade improves Linux, each OS X upgrade improves OS X, each Windows XP upgrades makes it more and more bloated. About Konfabulator, it is nice eye candy, no more. Does not worth an Apple bashing, especially when Apple made Desktop tools 25 years ago. You can find these tools for Windows 3.1 ten years later, circa 1990-95. Konfabulator is pretty but useless, and now ridiculus pretending it was the first. my 2 cents.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

MAC NEW USER  I'm a beginner in computer world. I did try Konfabulator and Dashboard. Frankly speaking, I prefer Dashboard of Tiger. I like it just because of it basic idea, Appear when you need with a single click, disappear instantly when you don't need it with a single click. konfabulator is nothing near to that.   
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  Dude, you're gonna get a Dell.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004
*....

ANONYMOUS  What a fuss for nothing. Useless, expensive and CPU hog...  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 29 2004

PAKKMAN781  Get Statto, or wait for Dashboard in Tiger.

Konfabulator is too expensive, and gives you the FLOATING WINDOW OF PURE ANNOYANCE when you don't pay for it...  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 29 2004

ANONYMOUS  Get Stattoo, or wait till 10.4  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 29 2004

HEFF  The detractors below are forgetting that they are using a computer that is part art form. These widgets are very well crafted. Useful, and just plain fun.

you guys go get an imagination or a Dell  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

MACMATH  I really enjoyed the comment:

"you guys go get an imagination or a Dell"

I haven't tried Konfabulator, but I do appreciate applications like that which extend and embellish the Macintosh experience. I also am generally annoyed by comments like "costs too much" or "appXYZ does almost as much and its free" because they are not comments about the user experience but irrelevant whines. Only each individual user can decide what value the application has for him or her.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

YNOT  I second that. Too many whiners and complainers out there wanting everything for nothing, all while whining their own checks are too small. What a society of hypocrites.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  Maybe people can't afford to spend so lavishly on software because their checks are too small? Not the other way around as you infer. Just because you have disposable income doesn't mean everyone else in the world does. It's *not* a level playing field. I'm tired of people who were born on third base feeling like they hit a triple.

A comment pointing to a worthy competitor is not a whine. It is a comment pointing to a worthy competitor. If someone gives stars while doing so, then it's vindictiveness, but if they don't, it's just being helpful.

I wish the Konfabulators all the luck and joy in the world but please have some dignity in the face of opposition. Surely we all know how to do that, since we're all Mac users.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 30 2004

MACMATH  I see your point about indicating there is competition. I'll amend my previous comment to say that posters can point to competitors, but to comment about relative value (instead of writing about differences in features) is as misleading as it is personal.

It is possible to be poor and have enough character not to whine.

I stand by my first comment: complaining about price is irrelevant. Irrelevant means that it is not relevant, not that it lacks class. As I pointed out before, value is different for different people, since features which are useless to some are valuable to others. Moreover, these products are shareware and people have a chance to decide its value for themselves.

I did not say that I had any disposable income or that I could afford it. I probably have less money than many of the whiners; I can't imagine that I have any more. Logically, by saying "Someone who does not like whining about price is someone who has disposable income." you are saying: "Someone who does not have disposable income likes whining about price." That is "Poor people like whining about price." Do you really mean that? I repeat: It is possible to be poor and have enough character not to whine.   
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 29 2004

ANONYMOUS  Just to expensive for what it is.  
(Version 1.8.1)

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Nov 9 2004
**½..

MAC LOVER  Not really useful. Most widgets are useless since the mac already have already deal with those functions quite well. Some other widgets such as the ebay master, instock, and hopeless.   
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 9 2004
*****

ANONYMOUS  Works very well. I use widgets selectively -- some just for a peak and sendoff -- quitting Konfabulator (and other "utilities") before toying with the System. It's a nice app I'm happy to register in the hope that there'll be some coming together of widgets after Tiger. I'm not concerned about CPU load, maybe because I have dual 2.5's -- I hardly notice it. If Apple "breaks" Konfabulator widgets for the Mac, I hope the developer will come up with some converter tool. Vive la difference!  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

SEBASTIAN F.  Wow ! Now Windoof users can "enjoy" this useless piece of software, too. Maybe they think it's worth wasting HD space with it.

Hehe, downloaded it, tried it, deleted it.

(-:  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  ah! come on! the author already ripped the original desktop accessories and nobody cried  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  Stock Ticker is worse now imho.  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  Actually, I think the Stock Ticker is much better than previous versions. Beside the cool 3D beveled appearance, it actually shows only what I want and stays where I want it everytime it launches. Older versions never worked correctly no matter how much you adjusted the preferences.  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004
*****

ANONYMOUS  Look on the BRIGHT SIDE....with this being available to "WINDERS" users, maybe they will make new widgets and we'll all have many more to choose from. ;-)  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  Unfortunately they'll all be virus scanners and cost $30  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  How many desktop clocks does a person really need?  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  Honestly, the only useful part of this is the weather widget, thats it  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 5 2004

WINDOW-MAC USER  Very bad luck. Apple had this idea long long ago, but didn't apply it. Our friend come out with the same idea and sell it to Apple customer (While let's say they are not copy from Apple). Apple didn't make any noise on this matter all the while. After sometimes, Apple decided to package this idea into their new release OS. And the developer are very not happy about it, because they worry they will lost the business once this idea is package into new release of OS with free. I'm afraid it will happen, provided no improvement been done. If the software keep on improving, I believe the market is still there, after all, the user make the choice.

Now the developer hate Apple and looking for another market, Windows. They start said bad thing about Apple and sing the song to Windows hope that Windows user will like them.

Well, all I can say is that, it always happen. You can check who invented web browser, and how MS monopolize the market with IE. You should prepare for one of these days coming and moving to different level of idea rather than stand at same point and keep complaining somebody took your idea and monopolize your business. The world is moving, nothing will stop and wait for you. I'm not Knfabulator customer, but I really like the idea.   
(Version 1.7.1)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  I think that all developpers of such programms know well that the OS might evolve. WinZip is sad that windows XP incudes the function, Adobe because OSX incudes the pdf format, LiteSwitch same, and so on...  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  Apple needs all the developers it can find. Blatantly stealing their ideas is not the way to keep them on board. And HTML/CSS is NOT the right tool for a job like this.

I wish Arlo and Perry the very best of luck on Windows.  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  To state that "Apple blatantly stole" this from Arlo is to be uninformed. You can believe whatever you want, but you're wrong. Do some investigation and enlighten yourself.  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 8 2004

ANONYMOUS  http://daringfireball.net/2004/06/dashboard_vs_konfabulator

this article, for me, best represents the truth of the issue. read the whole thing... or don't read it at all.  
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 1 2004

SUE  I've been using it for quite awhile and seem to have one problem - that may or may not be konfabulator. it may be just a coincidence and I wonder if ANYONE else has had this occur.

crashes when I have had no other crashes with panther since first went to it in feb 04. then got new HD and no problems. 2 days ago I reactivated konfabulator 1.7.1 . and strange things happened.

my location name kept disappearing in the mini temperature wiget; the dictionary wouldnt work; the "gmail" had the wrong spelling of my name; the google search wiget wouldnt work. then I got a kernal panic.

strange that both times I've had problems with panther I was using konfabulator.

I happen to love the app and hope that I can get this cleared up. If anyone has any suggestions feel free to write here or if this isn't the place write me at suebrown@numail.org.

sue   
(Version 1.7.1)

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Aug 16 2004

KMACLEOD  I am using Dashboard now - its faster, cleaner, and easier to develop for.

I guess that answers the question of which is better...  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Aug 16 2004

ANONYMOUS  there was never any question in my mind.

Dashboard, hands down.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Aug 17 2004

KMACLEOD  Well i just wanted to reserve judgement till i tried it ; )  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Sep 23 2004

ANONYMOUS  Can you run Dashboard on 10.3.5 though?  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Oct 26 2004

ANONYMOUS  No.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Nov 9 2004

LADISLAO  How can you download Dashboard for the Mac? You say you have it, but I can't find it. Please help.   
(Version 1.8)

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Nov 9 2004

LADISLAO  Also, if you do have Dashboard, but can't run it on you Mac OS X, how is it working for you then?  
(Version 1.8)

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Aug 3 2004

ANONYMOUS  There's a lot to love about Konfabulator but here's what I hate:

1. It creates 3 folder in your docs folder: "Widgets", "Widgets from 1.0" and "Older Widgets." Come on, that's ridiculous.

2. There are no design guidelines for widgets. I prefer not to have 5 on my desktop in 5 completely different styles. I'm not sure Dashboard is going to be much better, but its all so visually busy. At least dashboard allows you to completely hide the widgets when you don't want to look at them. (I thought the latest version of Konfab had this but I can't find the pref).  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  Arlo complains and complains about apple ripping off his idea, yet he rips off dashboard with his p!ss-poor implementation--Konspose.. hypocrite!   
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  konsposé was out before dashboard was announced...

Please try to get your information correct before you flame somebody  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  WRONG.

Konsposé was a response to Apple's Dashboard.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 28 2004
**...

ANONYMOUS  i use dashboard, that is better.

i am going to develop some new tool too.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 28 2004
*****

MICHAEL SIDORIC  I too was skeptical about the value of Konfabulator. Seemed like an over-hyped cutesie kinda thing. Then I played with it a bit -- found some superb widgets, and realized that it was a superb way to have TONS of info readily available precisely as I want it -- completely configurable, and beautiful.

At $25. Konfabulator is a bargain. It saves that much time launching and looking at other apps.

One fault -- Konsposé no longer fades in and out, and there is a distinct visual 'glitch' when Konsposé kicks in and out. I'm sure this will be remedied soon.

Check out the superb website and the visionary idea of design-it-yourself information retreival and display -- AWESOME!  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ANONYMOUS  I have tried Konfabulator extensively and it is another of the those programs that either adds to the Mac GUI landscape or not. Using it becomes subjective as is using other Mac enhancers. If you use it and like it, then so be it, if you prefer something else, so be it. To knock Apple's forthcoming Dashboard is not right either as it might provide those who only want some basic items on their desktop just what they need. If Konfabulator wants to stay in the game, the people who develop for it will have to entice people through better features that Apple Dashboard...isn't that how the more successful Apple programmers do it anyway?  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

GARBAGE  I guess when I have time one day I will D/L this & try it. I sounds like an interesting idea but gives no clue as to how difficult the widgets are to make.

I looked at the web site gallery of widgets & frankly none of them are in the least bit compelling as 'must haves'. In fact they duplicate functionality already available for the most part.

What's the hook?

(No rating for now)  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004
*****

NSTYRANGER®  w00t nice again updated it and nothing comes better only is there away to get rid of the nag to purchase this program?  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ANONYMOUS  yeah.

buy it.

don't come looking for pirated serial numbers around here.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004
*****

JUSTIN  *sigh* Despite the fact that I would hope nobody bases their opinions on the "reviews" of a bunch of whiney snots that have nothing better to do than complain that something costs money (*gasp* when you move out of your parents house and have to live on your own, you too will have to pay for something if you want it *endgasp*), I have to reply anyway.

While it is true that Dashboard seems like a "free" (you're still paying for it, it's just not explicit) Konfabulator at first glance, the simple fact is, it's not. While it does have nice features unique (some of those only temporary) to itself, it's also a different beast. It's much easier to think of Dashboard as useful widgets you only want to occasionally use, but at the same time want quick access to. You can't dock that iTunes remote on your desktop, you have to invoke Dashboard to get at it, pretty worthless in my opinion. Konfabulator, by contrast (the exception being Konspose) allows easy access to its widgets, which can be on screen at all times (where an iTunes widget would actually be useful).

Different tools for different purposes.

If you think it should be free, then feel free to code your own software in direct competition with it. After you put as much work into it as Arlo and Perry have, if you still think you shouldn't be compensated for your work, you're welcome to give it away.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

KMACLEOD  Have you registered it?  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

JUSTIN  No, I have not registered Konfabulator yet. I don't have the money to buy all of the "Hey, cool" software I want at the moment as I recently had to buy Adobe Illustrator CS and Classroom in a Book for a class. However, that doesn't mean I'm not going to register it. I plan on buying it, ShapeShifter, Silk, and iKey... eventually.

Do I think $25 is bit high? Yes, I do. I'd *like* to see the price around $10-15. But I don't know how financially viable Konfabulator is at the moment, so what I want, and what Arlo/Perry need are two different things.

Not that any of the above actually matters.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004
****.

KMACLEOD  Personally, I find that this application enviroment is excellently crafted and greately implemented. That said, it has a few fatal flaws.

The most obvious of these would be the price tag. While it is true that Apple completely ripped this off for Dashboard, the fact remains that users aren't going to pay $25 for something that will be free with Tiger. While it is true that once users may have been willing to pay this, not anymore. $5 to $10 is the most that I believe this is worth in light of Dashboard.

Another problem would have to be that most of the avaliable widgets are completely useless. This application has potential, but the avaliable widgets just dont reach it. I understand that the developers are hoping that people will design their own widgets, but face it - at that point, you are charging people $25 to create their own things for your application, which will then in turn make more people buy your program. Am I the only person who sees a problem with that??? Shouldn't people be payed for their hard work, rather than paying for it? The tagline "whatever you want it to be" is quite fitting, even though making it what you want requires a great deal of time and effort that will go unrewarded. How about free regestration for anybody who creates and submits a few widgets. That would benefit all parties.

A much smaller issue would be the konfabulator menu icon. Maybe make it a real menu extra, like the clock, or airport icons? Then I could REMOVE IT.

All in all, however, this application more than delivers what it promises. It features easy to use widgets that are VERY nice to look at (usually). Perhapse the only other issue would be the memory useage with poorly made widgets. Then agian, that isnt really the programs fault.

Keep up the good work!  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ANONYMOUS  apple stole the idea? WRONG.

read this and get the whole picture.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

KEVIN  I have read that before, and I disagree with the point it is trying to make. While the concept of little floating objects that do stuff has been around for a really long time, That doesnt mean that the marketing strategy, appearence, name, implementation, and structure have been. It isnt the fact that apple has implemented desk accessories, it is the way that they did it. Calling them Widgets is just the icing on the cake. (and no, im not claiming that Konfabulator invented the term widget.) This is just a repeat of what they did with Watson - take the overall concept and design, then implement it with diferent code. Is it legal - yes. Is it something I believe they should do to their faithful developers - NO  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ASMEURER  the difference between watson and konfabulator is that watson really IS better than sherlock.

much better  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

KMACLEOD  Agread, watson rules!

But we really can't say yet if Dashboard is better than Konfab, so whats your point?  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ANONYMOUS  It is entirely plausible to think that Dashboard is superior, if you know the facts. Which you say you do, but you now make it obvious you've never fully read and comprehended the article linked to in an above post.

The underlying tech of Dashboard blows that of Konfabulator completely away.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

KMACLEOD  it is true that the technology for Dash is better, but personally, I don't see the usefulness of having to press a hotket just to access my iTunes remote and Calculator.

It all depends on Apple's final implementation of the technology - there is a very good chance it will be better than Konfab, but then agian, Sherlocks script based technology SHOULD be better than Watson's Cocoa plugins, but poor implementation ruined it.

IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY WHICH IS BETTER. we need to know what Apple will change in Dashboard before the final release, and how it will be implemented. My hopes are up, and I look forward to it.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ANONYMOUS  But that is the whole point, IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO TELL WHICH IS BETTER.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

KMACLEOD  No, you are wrong. It is not to early to see which has the POTENTIAL to be better, but there are way to many things we do not know about Dashboard in order to give a definate answer. We do not know how it runs on any macs other than the dual 2.5ghz G5 that Apple demo'ed it on, for example. It could run unbelievely slow, or it could take up 80 percent of your CPU power. WE DONT KNOW.

I am hopeing that Dash will be better than Konfab, since I dont particularly like Konfab, and until the price structure is revisited, it will be a cold day in hell before i buy it.

Again, free registration for Widget developers is needed. If this were to happen, I might just concider making some. Until then, I would rather not pay for my own hard work.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 28 2004

ANONYMOUS  I'm not wrong. It is a reasonable assumption to make, given the known facts of the various aspects of the unquestionably superior underlying tech of Dashboard and the known implementation methods, that it is already better.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 28 2004

KMACLEOD  It is a reasonable assumption, but until Tiger is released, we won't know if it is an accurate one. When Apple first demo'ed Sherlock on their top-of-the-line machines, it was a reasonable asumption that it would be better than Watson. We were told that the tech was better, and we could see that the implementation was similar. Yet look at the two now; Watson is faster and more reliable.

I definately hope they dont turn Dashboard into another Sherlock  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ARLO ROSE  Konfabulator is a lot more than "a toy". It's used for many tasks... like scripting and automation an application, creating educational tools, monitoring server and render farms, configuration and setup of applications, automating tedious filing tasks... I could go on and on, but the point is that Konfabulator is not just about the Widgets that come with it (or that can be downloaded in the Gallery), it's about making your own Widget/tool to do whatever you want/need.

Cheers,

Arlo Rose  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

BRIAN  unfortunately the majority of konfabulator users don't know how to create their own widgets, and over 50% who do can't design. add the ZERO INCENTIVE for developing widgets, other than personal use and pats on the back from the mac community, and konfabulator widget gallery is basically the same widgets bundled with konfab just reskinned plus a few useless tools.

someone really needs to develop a "killer konfab app" to make me think this is more than just a toy, and no the weather widget does not count.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ANONYMOUS  I have to agree with the comments by others. Arlo, while you *think* it's more than a toy, and I can see that it's capable of so much more... it is still in fact, a toy. NOBODY is making useful widgets for Konfab. Nearly EVERYTHING in the gallery is simply a ripoff of the original widgets. What isn't a ripoff, is a clumsy effort at best by people who are "experimenting."

The fact is, the cost isn't justified for the (very few) useful widgets available. Paying $25, and then hoping that someone comes along and makes a decent widget just doesn't coax most users into buying.

Not sure if it's already there, because I've long since removed "K" from my Mac, but the ability to have all the widgets "hidden" until a user-designated key is hit would be a great boon, IMO. One of the major drawbacks is that the user has to hide all his apps to see the widgets, or have them constantly in view (which of course is undesirable).  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

AZURA101  If they lowered the price, they wouldn't need to worry about apple taking there potential customers.

After all this is basically a toy program, I like it but to me its just a toy.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

INCORPORATED IN TIGER OS X  Tiger has already has this feature so apply the $25 you would spend on this towards purchasing Tiger.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

STRETCHDG  You mean "Tiger already stole this feature," right?

Konfabulator and it's widgets have been around since before Panther came out.

Apple also stole the idea for "spotlight searching" (or whatever they're calling it) from Apps like LaunchBar and QuickSilver. Telling someone not to support shareware because the "Big Dogs" are ripping them off is just stupid and leads to the software industry becoming stagnant.

Supporting shareware leads to development.  
(Version 1.7.1)

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Jul 27 2004

ANONYMOUS  horse manure.

read this and get the whole story.  
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Jul 25 2004
***½.

ANONYMOUS  Konfabulator has one downside. You can't adjust the widget size so your desktop ends up Kluttered. The program is cool, but not being able to make it a LOT less obtrusive is a major downside. If you ran very many widgets you wouldn't be able to see your desktop. Many widgets are just reruns of the stock pieces.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jul 4 2004
***½.

NEW MAC USER  I tried Konfabulator before, everything just fine except one problem, it take up too many memory.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jul 1 2004

ANONYMOUS  Right, It's not ok for apple to design something similar and probably better, but it's ok for konfabulator to add a feature called konsposé? lol  
(Version 1.7)

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Jul 1 2004

ANONYMOUS  Gotta laugh at how people jump the gun on these matters....  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  Hahaha.

http://daringfireball.net/2004/06/dashboard_vs_konfabulator

Sounds like the Confab people popped off a little too soon, and now they look like…  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 30 2004

CM  About Apple stealing Konfabulator you'd better browse these links :

1st there's Apple.

Then there's Windows

So Konfabulator suing Apple is pretty hilarous.   
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 30 2004
*½...

CM  I was told Konfabulator's a must have, so I've tried it after the keynote. Is this a joke? Widgets are good looking but useless and worse Konfabulator eats more CPU than Word 8-( I can't believe it costs 25 bucks. It is the worst shareware I've ever used.

Then about Tiger, I really really hope Apple will do something far better. In fact I am sure they'll improve this bad application (think about the buggy Windowshade X and the great function in Panther).  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 30 2004

ANONYMOUS  Hey Apple, Adobe makes a great app called Photoshop. Maybe you can steal that and call it AppleShop and show it off at the next show, right in front of Adobe's face.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 29 2004
*****

THE JUDGE  i think Apple should make at least an offer or something, because this is not right...

By the way who did it first? who has the real rights?

If K. had done it in the past, then the ones who should be worry about this is Apple. I hope both can reach an agreement...  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 29 2004
***½.

5HARK-0  As for me, I'm glad Konfabulator gave me a head start in preparing to code widgets for "Dashboard." Now when I create a widget for "Dashboard," everyone with Tiger will be able to use it - not just people with Konfabulator.

A fun little app while it lasted.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 29 2004

MAAAAT  Great little app, but I do find it intrusive. 'Dashboard' with it's Expose hiding and re-appearing looks much better in that sense, but it would have been nice for Apple to actually work with the developer. It's a shame for both parties, really.

Apple has always had widgety type things, such as the floating analogue clock pre-installed, but of course Konfab gives it some extra purpose...

Still, a shame  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 29 2004

ANONYMOUS  I was so mad, I couldn't spell half of what I just posted below. ;-)  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 29 2004
*****

ANONYMOUS  Apple. First they rip off the Beatles, then they stomp on GUI themes, and now they rip-off Konfab. Man, oh, man. Konfab should stay around and kick Dashboard's rear. Apple spends all day thinking about their stupid iPods, hey! How about thinking about some original ideas that are NOT already in existance for the OS guys?!? Your a C-O-M-P-U-T-E-R company, not Fostex or Sony, remember? or maybe not. Here's an Apple dev meeting: "Ughh, it'd be kool if we could like list the song on iTunes and like, trans-ferrr them to like, umm, over here or something." HOW ABOUT A FUNTIONAL RIP SYSTEM FOR ALL US DESIGNER/PRESS PEOPLE WHO PUT YOU ON THE MAP!!!! Yeah, got "rip-off" a RIP system for us if you're all into the idea snipping other's work. Word to yer motha.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 28 2004
*****

ANONYMOUS  Apple's next release of OS X ("Tiger") will incorporate "Dashboard", a shameful and effortless rip-off of Konfabulator.

It appears Apple has gone to no effort to improve upon Konfabulator or even disguise the fact they have simply stole Konfabulator from its hard working developers. Can you even believe that Apple are calling Dashboard's sub-applications as "Widgets" just as Konfabulator has since its release, some time ago.

Arlo Rose and Perry Clark. If either of you guys are reading this I just want you to know I am outraged by what Apple has done. If I was at the WWDC keynote I would have got up shouted out "Rip-Off" and walked out.

Can you even believe that Apple were hanging banners outside the Moscone center (venue of the WWDC) reading, "This should keep Redmond busy" and "Redmond, start your photocopiers". We it looks like Apple have had their photocopiers on for since Panther's release.

I thought Apple were the company who had their ideas ripped-off my M$ and not a company who rip off hard working developers try to enrich their platform.

The cut a long story short: APPLE HAVE SUNKEN TO A ALL NEW LOW!!

Any more of this and I am moving to Linux and BSD full time. Jesus I am so pissed off.

Oh and finally Konfabulator is a great application, at least it was an original idea and implementation.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 28 2004

ALEX  Yeah, and with the big news about Tiger today, most people probably didn't read about the impending demise of Watson. It was reported that Karelia sold this terrific innovation to an unnamed "big company" and will discontinue support for it on October 5th of this year. Sad. *sniff*

Oh well, life goes on!

Tiger looks like it's gonna rock!!!!   
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 28 2004

JOEL MUELLER  I agree completely and will back Konfabulator in any way possible (or not promote Apple's Dashboard in anyway) on MacUpdate is others in the Mac web community will do the same. Besides, Apple has never done anything at all to help out MacUpdate. ;)  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 29 2004

ANONYMOUS  Hate to say it guys, but thats life in a free market world. Yeah I know its a rip off, but to be honest I'd rather use it over Konfab just because it is better integrated. If I were the Konfab developers I'd be pretty steamed, but without a copyright infringement or pattent violation, theres not much you can really say about it. I mean, do you expect Apple to say "Shoot, thats a really useful idea, too mad it just wouldn't be nice for us to use it." Maybe they should have offered to buy Konfab or something, but still... all's fair...  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 27 2004
*****

ANONYMOUS  Great app, been using it now for 6 months and I love it.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 26 2004
*****

BAPTISTE VALLET  Having only usefull apps or extension is boring (aka wintel machines)... It's so useless and funny to have the 2001 space ship floating on the desktop.

Let's have some fun ! And not all of the widgets are useless, most of them look good...

I'm a big fan !  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 26 2004

ANONYMOUS  Huh? They have plenty of 'useless' little apps and such across ALL platforms, including Unix, Windows, Mac, even my old Commodore 64.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 25 2004
**...

SCHMELDING  Cool, but useless. I already have date and time, Airport signal strength, etc. for free on my menubar where it's constatly and consistently available. Not hidden behind an open window.  
(Version 1.7)

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Jun 25 2004

GOGO  Just so you know, you CAN make the widgets float over things. Just FYI. But yeah, I prefer the menubar too :)  
(Version 1.7)

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May 27 2004

SOY  I think Konfabulator is a great product - sleek and useful. But just too pricey. $25 is far too much for a program that just slaps a nice interface on info you already can get. $10, maaaybe $15 I'd pay. Maybe charge something like a quarter or 50 cents per widget instead.  
(Version 1.6.1)

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Jun 26 2004

ANONYMOUS  Paying per widget? No thanks. I think the idea of paying a flat fee for the Konfabulator "platform" makes much more sense. I agree that the entry price should be less ($15 or so), but charging for the individual widgets is nothing short of a really bad idea.  
(Version 1.7)

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May 22 2004
*....

ANONYMOUS  What's so great about this stupid thing? I just looked through the entire collection of widgets at widgetgallery.com and I didn't find anything useful. What am I going to do with 100 iTunes control gadgets and 100 different clocks and 100 different weather reporting frills? Create your own widget? Like I have enough time for that? Developer should give me a solution, not another homework to work on. Sure, eye candy is nice, but eye candy cluttering my desktop is just intolerable.   
(Version 1.6.1)

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Jun 16 2004

DAN  I agree. Developer should create something useful, like an Osama widget. This stuff is useless.  
(Version 1.6.1)

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May 19 2004
*****

SKIDMARK  Two words... Konfabulator rocks.

I've been using and owned it since 1.0 and am extremely happy with the product.

Arlo and Perry are brilliant developers who have created an easy and beautiful way to add value to your everyday computing experience.

Many of the widgets created by third parties ARE useless and ugly, but that doesn't mean you have to use them.

Also, Konfabulator widgets are easy to create and edit, so if you don't find what you like, make your own.

Oh, by the way, some people like eye candy.  
(Version 1.6.1)

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May 22 2004

ANONYMOUS  I like eye candy, too, but not eye candy *clutter* especially when it takes up so much CPU time and RAM. I don't use my computer to display eye candy. I use it to get some work done.   
(Version 1.6.1)

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May 19 2004
****½

BOULDERDASH  I have my issues with Konfabulator, CPU usage being the main one, but James RB's review is completely ridiculous.

By his point of view, Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Word could be considered just as useless:

- All Adobe Photoshop does is allow its users to work for them by allowing them to create images

- All Microsoft Word does is create document which could be typed into TextEdit just as well

Jams RB fails to see the depth which Konfabulator can be used for if you want to apply the time in creating with it. Hey James RB, you think the only widgets in existence are the ones posted at Konfabulator's website to tell time, etc?! Do you own one pair of pants, since they're pure function... or do you sometimes want to look different so you buy a pair that's not identical? You have any idea how much in-house "eye candy" I've developed that isn't publicly available which helps me monitor things not included in the Dock? Probably not.

Wrapping it up, realize this is a tool (like Photoshop, Word, etc.) that will help you create things. Just as you aren't stuck with templates provided in Keynote, you aren't stuck with the widgets listed in the Konfabulator Gallery. And also realize you should list your rants (please, bringing up Kaleidoscope?) are "Comments," not "Reviews."  
(Version 1.6.1)

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May 21 2004

JAMES RB  > James RB's review is completely ridiculous.

Well, let's see who is being ridiculous here:

> By his point of view, Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Word could be

> considered just as useless:

I have never mentioned anything about whether Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop is useful or not in this thread. Stick with the original product, please.

That said, I am going to take a step back and take a look at those two apps:

> - All Adobe Photoshop does is allow its users to

> work for them by

> allowing them to create images

Nope. Adobe Photoshop is an advanced image tool with steep learning curve but also with great ROI. Many people out there (I mean, *many*) get paid tremendously using the program. Konfabulator, on the other hand, does nothing more than displaying more or less useless candy coating on the desktop.

> - All Microsoft Word does is

> create document which could be typed

> into TextEdit just as well

That's true, indeed.

> Jams RB fails to see the depth which

> Konfabulator can be used for if

> you want to apply the time in creating with it.

Interestingly, that "depth" hasn't really produced anything besides hundreds of iTunes controls and weather reporting widgets.

> or do you sometimes want to look

> different so you buy a pair that's not identical?

> You have any idea

> how much in-house "eye candy" I've developed that isn't publicly

> available which helps me monitor things not included in the Dock?

> Probably not.

Actually, I have no idea how many in-house eye candy boxer shorts you've made at your house that aren't publicly available just so you can sometimes feel look different in your pants.

By the way, do you develop your own image editing program because Adobe Photoshop doesn't work quite exactly the way you want? How about word processor? Maybe you should. You could be the next Adobe killer.

In the mean time, I have better things to do than being obsessed with my desktop looking pretty OR having the features that more or less pointless and already available in a better form elsewhere.

> Wrapping it up, realize this is a tool

> (like Photoshop, Word, etc.)

> that will help you create things.

True, indeed.... A tool that will make people into technophiles so caught up in creating a bunch of transparent weather reporting tools and a maid walking back and forth on your screen.

> Just as you aren't stuck with

> templates provided in Keynot