xSkyDesk

Name: xSkyDesk
Price: 10.00 $
Rating: 4.5833 (5 reviews)

1.3.6

27 July 2006

Sky, stars on your desktop.

Overview

xSkyDesk is a sky simulation at your location on the Earth within your desktop.

The simulation accurately portrays the sky during the day and the stars at night. The main goal is the synchronicity between what you see outside on a clear day and the simulation. In this way, the Great Outdoors can be brought inside and seen through your computer. While experiencing the outdoors is preferable, most computer workers do not have the opportunity to even marginally experience the sky overhead.

What's new in xSkyDesk

Version 1.3.5:

Fixed the problem with the desktop icon and dragging

xSkyDesk Screenshots

6 xSkyDesk Reviews

Pretty cool! So far, I'm enjoying this a lot. Aside from the fact that you have to use a third-party service to find your current Lat/Lng it's easy to setup and get going. I think the only missing feature is to be able to set your viewing orientation since my monitor isn't lined-up with how the app displays :)

Version 1.1

I love this little app, however the best time to actually look at it is dawn/dusk and night. In the daytime the colouring especially for where I am in Australia is way off. Right now the top of xSkyDesk is almost black, but outside it's a very light blue. Perhaps some tweaking of the colouring is needed? But other than that a great little thing :)

Version 1.3.6

It seems it nomore works on Panther : demo crashes every time it's launched.

Version 1.3.4

2 answer(s)

Maxmac

27 July 2006

this has been fixed in 1.3.5

Version 1.3.6

Bidule

02 August 2006

Sorry, but I've tried v. 1.3.4, 1.3.5 & 1.3.6 on two Panther Macs, trashing prefs, and app quits. Regards.

Version 1.3.6

I've registered this great app, but the number sent via email doesn't work. Is it maybe a 10.4.1 thing? Reply would be appreciated. Thanx

Version 1.3.3

1 answer(s)

Maxmac

27 July 2006

just send me an email and i will get you a new registration code.

Version 1.3.6

I love this app... it's quite beautiful and really adds life to the desktop. I love seeing a realtime night sky after dark (with the waxing or waning moon and all the constellations in place)... And witnessing daybreak occur while I am working early is refreshing... Almost as good as my windows! Not sure if these issues below are correctable while maintaining the current detail and efficiency of the program.. but that's what these MU reviews are for right? -CPU usage seems to be a problem... It is often at the top of my Activity Monitor List. I do understand the detail of this app... maybe this can't be resolved? -Stylistically, I do think the contrast of the "sky" brightness from screen top to bottom is nice... but possibly a little too exaggerated for my longitude... I am in Pennsylvania USA and at noon (in early spring mind you), my screen is still about 3/4 black to very very deep dark blue. I think allowing a brighter day would make dusk and dawn all the more dramatic when the color and brightness transitions. -Might there be a way to antialias the sun and moon imagery? The sharp-pixel edges take a jab at the otherwise natural beauty of the view. Possibly an option to hide the sun and moon also... although that would go against the astronomical correctness of this app. -Also the option to choose a static direction of the view, without the timed pans and all.. not a big deal of course.. just a suggestion! Overall a great desktop app! Thank you!

Version 1.1

1 answer(s)

Anonymous

24 April 2005

If your CPU usage is too high, then turn down the frame rate. This will free your CPU of much burden. Antialiasing is now an option in the latest version The static view direction and the brightness are being worked on. :D

Version 1.3

Version 1.1

xSkyDesk

Overview

What's new in xSkyDesk

xSkyDesk Screenshots

6 xSkyDesk Reviews

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