whilst i admit they do hog resources to start off with, give 40tabs in safari a blast and the requirements to run it come right down 
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Dashboard - do you use it? If so what for?
- Thread starter stuarthatto
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Well... it's all about your needs, I guess. It works awesomely for me, I've just added Google Search, Sticky Notes, O'Reilly Search, and they work great for me. You simply need to use it a few times, in order to get used to it, and you'll see you'll do things faster.
For example, when I was on Windows, I had to go to Amazon.com and search for artworks for my tracks. Now, it's as simple as using AmazonArt.
Today I took a test which included some words I was not familiar with. Simply pressed F4, and Dictionary searched on the fly.
On Windows, I had to go all the way to Start Menu, Accessories, Calculator, and then get to use it. Again, on OS X it's as simple as F4. And once you get used to pressing TEH Button, it's awesomely fast.
On Windows, although I had never used WAMP/XAMPP until recently, if I closed the program I had to start it (double-click if it were on Desktop, or go all the way to C:\XAMPP if it weren't), and then go through a retarded UI in order to actually activate it. On OS X, it's as simple as F4 and "Start all Services".
I don't need Notes, and many other Widgets there, but these ones sure come in handy, and I think I'm gonna update the Dashboard with some other cool Widgets from Apple's web page.
Bottom line is, they're not for everybody, and you're not obliged to use them. But it simplifies certain things I use, so it works well for me. As for placing them on the Desktop, although "On-Top"-only, you can click the Widget, and, while dragging, press F4. It will take it out of the Dashboard. But it sucks, because it's always on top of other applications. But you don't need them on your Desktop. The Dashboard is a way clever idea. As for iStat, is it better than Activity Monitor? Because I have Activity Monitor open at startup, and it stays in the Dock showing the CPU's activity in real-time. So when I need it, just look in the Dock, no need for TEH Button
For example, when I was on Windows, I had to go to Amazon.com and search for artworks for my tracks. Now, it's as simple as using AmazonArt.
Today I took a test which included some words I was not familiar with. Simply pressed F4, and Dictionary searched on the fly.
On Windows, I had to go all the way to Start Menu, Accessories, Calculator, and then get to use it. Again, on OS X it's as simple as F4. And once you get used to pressing TEH Button, it's awesomely fast.
On Windows, although I had never used WAMP/XAMPP until recently, if I closed the program I had to start it (double-click if it were on Desktop, or go all the way to C:\XAMPP if it weren't), and then go through a retarded UI in order to actually activate it. On OS X, it's as simple as F4 and "Start all Services".
I don't need Notes, and many other Widgets there, but these ones sure come in handy, and I think I'm gonna update the Dashboard with some other cool Widgets from Apple's web page.
Bottom line is, they're not for everybody, and you're not obliged to use them. But it simplifies certain things I use, so it works well for me. As for placing them on the Desktop, although "On-Top"-only, you can click the Widget, and, while dragging, press F4. It will take it out of the Dashboard. But it sucks, because it's always on top of other applications. But you don't need them on your Desktop. The Dashboard is a way clever idea. As for iStat, is it better than Activity Monitor? Because I have Activity Monitor open at startup, and it stays in the Dock showing the CPU's activity in real-time. So when I need it, just look in the Dock, no need for TEH Button
I was surprised how much I use it to be honest.
Weather - from a country obsessed with weather.
Convertor - Bought up in a mixture of imperial and metric system.
Time different times around the world - Apple events (when are they) my home country etc etc etc. A must.
Macrumors widget - has its moments.
And the calculator from time to time.
Weather - from a country obsessed with weather.
Convertor - Bought up in a mixture of imperial and metric system.
Time different times around the world - Apple events (when are they) my home country etc etc etc. A must.
Macrumors widget - has its moments.
And the calculator from time to time.
as most people wont know about this its probably best to provide a link so that people wont keep asking
HERE
as most people wont know about this its probably best to provide a link so that people wont keep asking
HERE
That would be excellent, however both the link within the thread that you linked to is dead (the one for the actual widget itself), and also the one for the forumspy widget linked to a couple pages into that thread.
Do you have a copy that could be reposted, or else do you know where they may be hosted these days?
Thanks!
woops! mybad sorry! i didnt check the link duhhh
i have failed to find another source, maybe somebody with the widget would be willing to share? i will keep searching
EDIT: check out post 41 of this thread, i did not check it but it has been uploaded to MR servers so im certain that they will be available for download
What I use from time to time are,
The clock, to check the time on a different city (e.g. my cousin is in Chicago)
The calendar, to easily spot when the week ends, or what day is the last day of the month
Deep Sleep, in MBP
For calculations I let spotlight do the math without leaving the keyboard.
For conversions I use the Google search bar in Safari, (e.g. 29 eur to usd)
For monitoring I use the iStats menu (pending SL release)
The clock, to check the time on a different city (e.g. my cousin is in Chicago)
The calendar, to easily spot when the week ends, or what day is the last day of the month
Deep Sleep, in MBP
For calculations I let spotlight do the math without leaving the keyboard.
For conversions I use the Google search bar in Safari, (e.g. 29 eur to usd)
For monitoring I use the iStats menu (pending SL release)
Related to the MRumors Widget thing, someone should upload it to Apple's web site. This way it will be easier to find & download.
I dunno ... I read this thread hoping to be converted, but it really does just seem like most people are using resource depleting "mini-apps" for stuff just as easily done online, or in a "menu-app".
I mean, is using Amazon Art really that more useful than just google imaging the art? (And this is coming from someone who obsessively fixes up their library)
Is having the MacRumours widget really more useful than just having MR bookmarked? Don't you have to open the MR web page eventually anyway?
It just seems, to me at least, that a good series of bookmarks and maybe a menu app or two, and you've covered the need for dashboard pretty good.
But I still want someone to sell me on the idea!
I mean, is using Amazon Art really that more useful than just google imaging the art? (And this is coming from someone who obsessively fixes up their library)
Is having the MacRumours widget really more useful than just having MR bookmarked? Don't you have to open the MR web page eventually anyway?
It just seems, to me at least, that a good series of bookmarks and maybe a menu app or two, and you've covered the need for dashboard pretty good.
But I still want someone to sell me on the idea!
If you don't understand the purpose of Dashboard and you see no use for it, don't use it! It's not up to us to "sell" you on anything! Use your computer the way you want. If you don't see the value of simply moving your mouse to see stock quotes, lyrics for the currently playing song, weather, your computer temperatures and other stats, accessing a calculator or language translator or currency converter or calendar, etc. without having to open a browser and wait for web pages to load, then obviously you have no need for it.
Hmm ... ok. *shurgs*
(Even though I question how much "faster" using dashboard is over the browser you're already in, or an OS-level menu-app . Maybe "funner" ... ?)
I can move my mouse to the upper right corner of my screen and immediately see all the pieces of information I described, simultaneously. When I'm done, I move my mouse away from the corner and all that stuff is hidden. I don't have to click a menu, move off the web page I'm browsing or open new tabs or click any bookmarks or wait for 12 different web pages to open to give me all those different pieces of information...... try doing that in less than 1 second, using your browser. Or at least show me one web page that has all that information collected in one spot. Won't happen!
Bravo and well said. Dashboard can't be everything for everyone. Don't like it, don't use it. It's really simple.
Well... yes, it's WAY better. You play/select the song (it's customizable through the Widget) in iTunes, search for the song's name in Amazon Art, press "Set as Album Art", and there you go.
Otherwise, you had to power up your browser, go to Amazon, select "MP3 Downloads" from the drop down, type in the name, wait for the results, click the one which satisfies you, right click on it, save as, right click on the track in iTunes, "Get Info", go to Artwork and select the Artwork. It takes a lot of time, and you also have to save the pictures on your HDD, erasing them after you're done with iTunes. So yeah, Amazon Art is worth it! Especially on a high number of tracks (think 200. I'd say Amazon Art makes it at least two times faster).
I prefer higher quality artwork than you can find on Amazon or though widgets. I use sites like Album Art Exchange and manually add artwork of a much higher quality. Lyrics are another story. There are several good widgets for automatically adding lyrics to the currently playing song in iTunes.
Yes, I do use it!
In dashboard I currently have; local weather, Google search, calendar, Dashboard TV, and a web clip from the local movie theater showing the updated showtimes.
I find expose and spaces extremely useful. I set them up so I touch the corner of the screens and I can switch spaces easily. Once you use it for a week or so, the work flow is amazing in my experience.
In dashboard I currently have; local weather, Google search, calendar, Dashboard TV, and a web clip from the local movie theater showing the updated showtimes.
I find expose and spaces extremely useful. I set them up so I touch the corner of the screens and I can switch spaces easily. Once you use it for a week or so, the work flow is amazing in my experience.
I don't use Dashboard, actually I disabled it via the Secrets prefpane. I do use Exposé and Spaces, mostly Spaces, as the apps' windows I always have open (iTunes, Firefox/Safari, Stickies) are all organised. I prefer the iStat menus, and keeping the system as lean as possible.
Well... the ones Amazon Art has are high quality. Even if they show up in a small window in the Dashboard, here's attached a screenshot of what it looks like when you click the little icon in iTunes. I think this is the actual size.
Attachments
Yikes ...
I just open a new tab (you actually shut down your browser?), type in the album name into the google search that's one keystroke away, and bam - 500 x 500 images ready to be clicked and dragged into iTunes (no saving or adding). This takes all of 4 seconds.
I guess I just don't see the need for a widget to "do" this for me.
It's all good though ... I was just hoping someone could show me some really honest-to-goodness practical uses for the dash. Translators, calculators, unit converters, dictionaries, flight trackers are just fluff (to me) that could be done faster (and less system resource depletingly) online.
But again, I'm only speaking for myself.
No, please don't write just because you're bored. None of the things you've mentioned are done faster online. By the time you type the address, I've typed the name, and by the time you open up a new tab I've got my artwork set. You'll still have to click that small image, click another link which points to it, and then do the drag & drop.Yikes ...
I just open a new tab (you actually shut down your browser?), type in the album name into the google search that's one keystroke away, and bam - 500 x 500 images ready to be clicked and dragged into iTunes (no saving or adding). This takes all over 4 seconds.
I guess I just don't see the need for a widget to "do" this for me.
It's all good though ... I was just hoping someone could show me some really honest-to-goodness practical uses for the dash. Translators, calculators, unit converters, dictionaries, flight trackers are just fluff (to me) that could be done faster (and less system resource depletingly) online.
But again, I'm only speaking for myself.
But as others said, we don't want to sell you anything.
It's not that the Amazon art is bad. It's just that I prefer the highest quality artwork I can find. Here's an example of the difference, in a screenshot of iTunes in Cover Flow with your window to the right:
I'll post for whatever reason I like, thank you very much
What address? Safari and Firefox have google built right in. I just don't see the need to keep an application running 24/7 just for the 1 minute I need to get some new album art every once in a while.
But whatever man ... I'm just posting looking for some cool opinions and some helpful tips - you can keep your "**** and GTFO" attitude to yourself. Unless, of course, that's "your thing" ...
Sorry I ever asked. Sheesh.