Stardock Releases Fences, Application to Solve Cluttered Desktops

from JoeUser Forums

Stardock is excited to announce its most innovative desktop utility application since the popular WindowBlinds today – Stardock Fences for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. The free application from Stardock clears desktop clutter and provides consistency and organization for groups of files on the desktop. Fences allows users to literally “draw” labeled shaded areas on the desktop which become movable & resizable “containers” for desktop icons. These groups arrange and hide the files on the computer's desktop solving the "constant mess" problem that has plagued the desktop since its inception.

To help solve another weak point of the desktop - the mere appearance of clutter, Fences offers a novel quick-hide feature. Users can double click the desktop and all of the icons will fade out. When users double click again the icons will return. Users can pick and choose which desktop icons hide when the feature is activated.

Visit the Fences website to see more screenshots and videos of Fences in action, and for your free download.

45,590 views 25 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

Wow, that could be really useful.  And did I hear "free" correctly?

Gonna download this once I get home.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Free?  Cool!   (Even if it is a beta)

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I've been using this for the last few months and its great. :thumbsup:

I consider it an essential component of my desktop. It's kind of strange that no-one had thought to do something like this over the years.

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

Wow, this sounds awesome.  I wish I had Vista or Windows 7.  If I did, I'd get this now.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Very usefull, plus it made me clean my desktop too  :grin:

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Trigeminal, reply 4
Wow, this sounds awesome.  I wish I had Vista or Windows 7.  If I did, I'd get this now.
End of Trigeminal's quote
It works on XP too.

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

How does this compare to the plasmoids in the K Desktop Environment?

Reply #8 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 6

It works on XP too.
End of Zubaz's quote

Yes, but it doesn't look as pretty on XP.  No cool backgrounds and dreamscapes.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

The double click to hide all the icons feature certainly interests me.

Organising icons on the desktop though? Can already be done with folders on the desktop if, like me, you end up obscuring your wallpaper too much. ;)

All you need to do is leave any out on the desktop that you actually use, instead of leaving every file and shortcut you've ever created out on the desktop. A little organisation goes a long way!

But then, a free program to do an annoying task for you is always welcome. :D

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Can already be done with folders on the desktop if, like me, you end up obscuring your wallpaper too much
End of quote
You can use Fences to organize and hide folders also.
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

I noticed on the about-page that "this community preview expires after 31st August 2009". I guess you'll be releaing the final version about then, but will it remain free?

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, but it doesn't look as pretty on XP. No cool backgrounds and dreamscapes.
End of quote

Deskscapes is also available for Windows XP as part of Object Desktop.

:sun:

Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Dowloaded it, love it.

A few things:

1) It lost my background image (running on XP).  I did report this to Stardock.  I was actually able to get another version back running, but the original one fails.

2) It would be nice to be able to hide/minimize some fences while leaving others up and showing.

3) It would be nice to have a "default" fence, so anything new on the desktop goes into that fence - newly installed apps, anything I download & save to the desktop, etc.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

2) It would be nice to be able to hide/minimize some fences while leaving others up and showing.
End of quote
Right click on a fence title and choose exclude.

Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top

Can you make it compatible with RightClick?  Currently I lose the fences options if I enable RC

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

It's only free until the end of August.

How much are you planning to charge for this?   It's kinda neat, but not something I'd pay more then $5 for.

Sorry if that sounds insulting, I have no idea what you plan to charge, or what DE stuff costs.  This is neat though.

 

 

 

 

 

Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

Awesome program!  I've always hated my desktop clutter and this just made my life easier.

 

Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I was looking today at the cluttered mess of icons my boss has on our work computers, and it struck me how archaic the whole file/folder/desktop arrangement is. I started wondering if there was a way to make a box or panel or something that I could use to visually group icons together, and now Stardock tells me they made one! WHEEE!! \o/

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Great! Stardock leads the innovation of all ages. Their creation makes life easier than ever. Big appreciation, big love <3 for STARDOCK.

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top

Woo! Free Stuff!

:dur:

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Only problem is that I seem to be unable to sort non-fenced icons into ABCS or type of files, etc. That is still useful even with fence. Can it be added?