Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Apple
    • Apple
    • Development

    Mac Widget App Set to Make Windows Debut

    By
    Ian Betteridge
    -
    November 8, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      As one developer prepares to move his application from Mac to Windows, others reaffirm their commitment to the platform—despite competing directly with Apple Computer Inc.

      Arlo Rose, creator of Konfabulator, the “widget engine” that allows third parties to create small applications that sit in their own translucent layer on screen, is set to release the first version of the product to run on the Windows operating system.

      Konfabulator has a troubled history. Widely acclaimed by Mac users after its initial release, it suffered a setback in June when Apple announced that Mac OS X 10.4, code-named Tiger, would include a similar feature called Dashboard when it is released next year. Despite fundamental differences under the surface, Rose said at the time that Dashboard was a copy of Konfabulator, adding, “We are either going to have to move to another platform, or work on some other project.”

      /zimages/3/28571.gifTo read more about Tiger, click here.

      The spat over Konfabulator is the third time in recent history that Apple has incorporated a feature remarkably similar to an existing third-party product into its operating system. In 2002, the company released Mac OS X 10.2 “Jaguar” with Sherlock 3, a search application that bore a close similarity to Karelia Developments Watson. In October, Karelia announced it had sold the technology behind Watson to Sun Microsystems Inc. for an undisclosed sum, for use in a cross-platform Java product.

      Karelia continues to develop for the Mac and has a new product—TuneFinderX—in beta. But Dan Wood, creator of Watson, said the experience “has made us very wary of competing with Apple. We are continuing to develop for the Mac platform for our next product, because thats the platform on which its easiest to be creative. However, were certainly planning on getting a Windows version built as soon as possible, so were not putting all our eggs in one basket.”

      In 2003, the release of OS X 10.3, code-named Panther, saw a second controversy with a claim from small developer Proteron that an updated application switcher was similar to its own product, LiteSwitch X. In an open letter to Apple, Proteron co-founder and president Sam Caughron described the new application switcher as “a near pixel duplication of a Proteron product, LiteSwitch X. And despite the obvious similarities, Proteron has received no recognition or credit.”

      Yet despite this history, many Mac developers remain extremely committed to the platform and to adding new features to the operating system, even when their products compete directly with Apples own. Cabel Sasser, co-founder of Panic, whose popular Audion music player goes head-to-head with Apples free iTunes, said: “While the whole idea of being iCrushed is always a concern for us, at this time wed never consider developing primarily for Windows. Not only does the Mac allow a small company like ours to make a big impact, but the sheer joy of developing and designing Mac software is what keeps us interested and inspired to do more.”

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here for more on developers reaction to Tiger.

      Foad Afshari, CEO of Defaultware, concurred. Afshari, whose company created Proteus, an instant messaging client that competes with Apples iChat, said: “We are far from feeling like Apple is making us want to flee from developing on the Mac. If anything, I feel that Apple is pushing developers to work harder to innovate. Apple provides a great platform to develop on.”

      Other developers who have found themselves in the firing line of some of Tigers features also reaffirmed their commitment to the Mac. Despite the inclusion of some RSS-reading features in Tigers version of Safari, Brent Simmons, creator of NetNewsWire, said, “I dont see the situation as any better on Windows—in fact, I think its much worse. So I stick with developing for Mac OS X, since I like OS X.”

      Simmons cautioned against worrying too much about whether Apple competes with small developers or not. “I think this situation gets far more attention than it warrants,” he said.

      “If you go to Versiontracker, youll see tons of application by many small developers [and] only a miniscule amount of them end up with competition from Apple. That Arlo Rose brought Konfabulator to Windows is cool, but every developer is different, and whats right for him isnt necessarily right for me. What I would do is continue to improve NetNewsWire and continue to develop new OS X applications.”

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis about Apple in the enterprise. And for insights on Macintosh coverage around the Web, check out eWEEK.com Executive Editor Matthew Rothenbergs Weblog.

      Ian Betteridge

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×