Kapsules dev Andrew send me word about the new version 0.9.9 of his widget app Kapsules. Widgets, for the oblivious, are little apps that run on a shared engine. The difference between widgets and ‘real’ apps is that any monkey can make a widget.

It's currently the craze in skindom (although Vista skins are catching up), with Apple already and Microsoft in the process of jumping on the bandwagon.

“Version 0.9.9 is a major milestone release of Kapsules.

Kapsules has seen a lot of changes since the last version. The Widget Settings, Window and main Configuration dialogs were completely redesigned and new controls were added to make changing settings a breeze. Special attention was paid to widget developers and nearly every request from developers for new widget capabilities and features were implemented. Several widget-authoring aspects were completely redone from the ground up. Once again resource use and speed was paid special attention. More assistance and support for scripting languages were added to make use of the widgets, which use these alternative languages easier for users.

Kapsules is a completely free, scriptable widget engine for Windows. Widgets are small application-like tools, which rest on your desktop. They can help make you more productive, display information, entertain your brain, or just give you something to smile at. Kapsules gives widget developers the choice of writing widgets eight different scripting languages including, but not limited to; JScript, VBScript, JScript.NET, VB.NET, Perl, PHP, Python and Ruby.

Kapsules is free to download and free to use, so go ahead and give it a try.

• Getting Started Guide for New Users

• Version History and Change List.

• Download”

It's free, which is good, and it requires the .NET framework, which is not good, but I'm not going to bitch about that today. You can get that from the download page as well anyway. || craeonics | comments (8)

CareBear passed me the word about the newest build of WikMail last week, but I was too lazy to post it then (at least I hope it was WikMail). So here's the reprise. WikMail 2005 is a skinnable email client, featuring things like a customisable interface, a spam filter (useful) and stationary (not so useful).

This build is actually the latest in a barrage of updates it has seen this month. So summarising the news since build 1425 of the 5th:

“It's an all new version… Long awaited… Fresh out of beta testing… Fully debugged… Features packed… Powerfull than ever!

• Message viewer is rebuilded from ground

• Message Editor is rebuilded from ground

• Options for message viewer (No ActiveX, No Sounds, etc…)

• Browse within the message viewer, like an internet browser

• Can save the message in a JPG image

• Import any stationeries from HTML and EML in message editor

• Import any stationeries from HTML and EML in Stationery Creator

• Convert imported stationeries to WikMail format

• HTML editor to make stationeries manualy coded from ground

• RssFeeds fully displayed like web page

• Markers to highlight text

• Floating sticky notes

• Fix and floating Stamps

• Animation effects in tabs

• Images justification

• Mail database can be passworded and encrypted

• WikMail is now multi-users!!!

• Mail folders are expanded if they contain new mails

WikMail is very stable, faster than ever and… enjoyable! Have fun!”

Enjoyable? Sounds like ‘WikMail gives you pleasure’. /me picks self up from the gutter and gets kicked by all WikMail fans

WikMail 2005 is shareware, $24.95. || craeonics | comments (5)

Looking out of window, I see someone across the street celibrating a birthday. But that's not the only party going on today, for gRAVE's brainchild SkinBase has turned five.

gRAVE tends to stay in the background, so it was fellow admin grimspoon who said the following:

“Skinbase administration would like to take this opportunity and thank everyone for their support over the last year, we had increases in traffic and improvements in the code. But it's mostly the members with their submissions and participation that have contributed to our success. We look forward to even better year ahead thanks to our excellent crew and your further participation.”

When it comes to skinsites, SkinBase is the odd one out. Sure, looks aren't all that and those SkinTech support posts really need to go, but the crowd is mellow and it's the only site free of bullshit and dischord.

Head on over and say hi. || craeonics | comments (2)

Clocks, clocks, who wants more clocks? Treasure hunter sryo dug up yet another clock app at NeoWin. Drive-Software's Clock Tray Skins is a skinnable clock that replaces the clock in your tray.

So yeah, that means you have to run Explorer as shell.

“Clock Tray Skins extends standard Windows Systray clock capabilities.Now your system clock can display seconds, current day and date. With skins support. Synchronize your computer's clock with an atomic clock.”

Clock Tray Skins is shareware ($19.95) and weighs in at little over 700k. Doreen quite digs it, even though she swore to keep her system clean of skinnable apps. || craeonics | comments (7)