DeskSpace

DeskSpace

A screenshot of DeskSpace in use showing three desktops in a cube formation.
Original author(s)	Christian Salmon
Developer(s)	Otaku Software Pty Ltd
Stable release	1.5.8.8 / February 26, 2011
Development status	Active
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
Available in	English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese
Type	3D Desktop Manager
License	Shareware
Website	www.otakusoftware.com/deskspace

DeskSpace, formerly known as Yod'm 3D (short for Yet anOther Desktop Manager 3D) is a virtual desktop manager available for Windows® 2000, XP, Vista and 7.

Features

DeskSpace maps six virtual desktops to a cube and allows the user to switch between them, similar to the cube plugin for the Compiz and Beryl window managers for the X Window System in Linux. Deskspace is the first desktop manager to make the cube-style desktop feature available on Microsoft® Windows®.^{[citation needed]} DeskSpace makes use of and requires DirectX 8.1^[1] in contrast to most other virtual desktop managers that use OpenGL. It supports up to nine monitors.^[2]

DeskSpace costs US$24.95,^[3] and is available for a 14-day trial.^[4]

History

Yod'm 3D (short for Yet anOther Desktop Manager 3D) was the first desktop manager to make the cube-style desktop feature available on Microsoft Windows.^{[citation needed]} It was developed up to version 1.4 by Christian Salmon from Chris'n'Soft. Yod'm 3D was acquired by Otaku Software Pty Ltd on July 9, 2007. After it was acquired by Otaku Software, Yod'm 3D was renamed to DeskSpace.^[5](July 9, 2007)

Otaku Software held a beta test during August and September 2007,^[6] and the first release under the DeskSpace name, version 1.5.1, was released on the 18th September 2007.^[7] DeskSpace 1.5.1 included a completely re-written graphics subsystem, based on the TopDesk graphics subsystem, that supported multiple monitors and 360 degree sky box backgrounds. Subsequent versions of DeskSpace has included re-written input, windowing, and virtual desktop subsystems.^[8] As of 30 October 2009 there are currently less than 500 lines of Yod'm source remaining in the DeskSpace code base.

On February 6, 2009, DeskSpace was reviewed on the BBC News 'Click' television segment.^[9]

Development

After the acquisition by Otaku Software, Yod'm 3D was renamed to DeskSpace.^[10](July 9, 2007) DeskSpace, unlike its predecessor, is shareware, not freeware. Yod'm 3D is still available to download from various sources,^[11] and does not require installation to run,^[11] and is most commonly distributed as a ZIP archive.^{[citation needed]}

DeskSpace adds support for six desktops and nine monitors. Yod'm 3D supported four desktops and did not support multiple monitors. DeskSpace also supports 64-bit applications, applications that require Administrator permissions to run, applications that implement User Interface Privilege Isolation, such as Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8, and Command Line windows.

See also

• Beryl
• Compiz
• Compiz Fusion
• TopDesk
• Project Looking Glass
• VirtuaWin

References

1. ^ DeskSpace System Requirements
2. ^ DeskSpace Dual Screen
3. ^ "Otaku Software - Products > DeskSpace 3D Virtual Desktop: Organize Your Desktop". Otaku Software. http://www.otakusoftware.com/deskspace/. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
4. ^ Gralla, Preston. "Dress Up Your PC." PC World. February 5, 2008. 2. Retrieved on September 8, 2009.
5. ^ Otaku Software Acquires Yod'm 3D
6. ^ DeskSpace Beta Announcement
7. ^ DeskSpace 1.5.1 Released
8. ^ DeskSpace Changelog
9. ^ DeskSpace on BBC News 'Click'
10. ^ Otaku Software
11. ^ ^{a b} Ilascu, Ionut (2007-05-17). "Vista Multi-Desktop". Softpedia. Archived from the original on 2009-09-10. http://www.webcitation.org/5jgn8pLlX. Retrieved 2009-09-10. 

External links

• Official website (DeskSpace is available to be purchased and downloaded here)
• Former official website (Yod'm 3D is no longer available on this website)
• Review of Yod'm 3D on Lifehacker
• WinFuture.de Download Page