Ultramon replacement

[johngalt]

I am using a Beta of the next release - the support for Win 7 taskbar is going good - I can read my icons, and set the taskbar to only display items on that particular monitor....

And the transparency is awesome too.

Jon says it will possibly be this weekend on the 3.0.3 release.

And, thanks for supporting Jon, Petrossa - his software is infinitely better than Ultramon at this stage, and with the wide variety of features in the *free* version, I can honestly say I would recommend this over Ultramon any day (and I used Ultramon for 5+ years....)

 

[swarfega]

hmm well 3.0.4 beta has been out ages, so you mean 3.0.5? I shall definitely be trying it out.

 

[johngalt]

Ummm, no, as I referred to earlier, I use DisplayFusion: Multi-Monitor Taskbar and Desktop Wallpaper | Binary Fortress Software and the current version is 3.0.2, as seen at DisplayFusion 3.0.2 Released | Binary Fortress Software

Jon (Tackabury, developer of BinaryFortress products, including DisplayFusion) has just announced in his forums that 3.0.3 should be released this weekend....

 

[swarfega]

ah confusion my end :/

 

[Impulse]

And, thanks for supporting Jon, Petrossa - his software is infinitely better than Ultramon at this stage, and with the wide variety of features in the *free* version, I can honestly say I would recommend this over Ultramon any day (and I used Ultramon for 5+ years....)

Hey, what do you like better about DF over UltraMon? I had been evaluating both this week since I finally bought myself a 2nd display, I'd heard a lot of recommendations for UltraMon over time (I imagine because it's been out longer) but I saw DF mentioned alongside UM on MaximumPC and LifeHacker so I decided to try both out...

Initially I liked DF better than UltraMon because it gave me a lot more control over the wallpapers on each monitor (to even get a random/automatic wallpaper change going in UM I have to use a script), and because I liked some of the available hotkeys (though UM had a couple in particular I also liked, such as the move cursor and limit cursor to one screen hotkey shortcuts).

After using it a while I noticed it that it's CPU usage was constantly jumping from 0-3% though (with the taskbar enabled), it's probably irrelevant in this age of quad cores and such but I noticed UM was usually at 0%... Then I read some derisive comment about the fact that DF was written in .Net.

So I started trying out UltraMon again, got the wallpaper script working, but then it started crashing on me, heh... Not sure what I did wrong, if anything, but DF did seem more polished despite the CPU usage. Anyway, was wondering if you had any specific thoughts or dislikes about one vs the other!

 

[johngalt]

DF is currently polling the system for monitoring taskbar items, thus the CPU usage. Jon has the taskbar semi-working in the build you tried, and working a lot better in the build I have, but until he can get his hands on the actual APIs for coding a taskbar in Win7 (it has significantly changed from Vista and XP) this is the limited workaround that he is able to use to make it work in Win7 right now.

I have asked if I can quote him from a post in the Beta section, and am awaiting his reply. In the meantime, let me add *several points as to why I like DF over Ultramon (and in making this post I am not demeaning Ultramon in anyway, nor am I saying Ultramon 'sucks' - after all, I used it for 5+ years....)

1) Jon is actively working on UM, with beta numerous betas when he was making a major version revision (we had like 27 or 29, IIRC) and the changes were coming fast....

2) The cost of the software itself - it has the same functionality, and is more than 50% cheaper....

3) The ability to load random WPs from online sources as well, such a Flickr and Vladstudios....

4) The joy of Beta testing a new app that works more as *I* want it to as opposed to as how the developer only wants it to work....

5) Did I mention the price?

6) Jon's immediate reaction to any bugs that are found and / or problems that people have - he is on his forums almost nightly, if not every night, and he has even posted a method to gather information via stackTraces on the forums so that he can figure out what is going on for those with major lockup issues (which I have not had once)....

 

[Impulse]

Ahh, I see... DF is doing that on all OS though, because I've run it on XP and it does it there as well, I guess he has a single routine/build working the same way for all OS atm? If it's just polling the system as you say I doubt it's a major performance issue, I'll probably plunk down the cash for two DF licenses soon enough, gonna ride the trial and keep switching between it and UM 'till then. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[johngalt]

No worries - and did you happen to see Want to try out DisplayFusion Pro for free? (but since you just posted your query over there, I suppose you've already seen it....

 

[Impulse]

Yeah, heh, that's waht I meant about riding out the trial, thanks though. I occasionally hook up my netbook to my HDTV so I might end up paying for two DF licenses if I settle on using it, even paying for two licenses it'd still be cheaper than a single UM license... Though the price is no skin off my back, saving a couple bucks is always nice tho.

 

[jtackabury]

Hey guys, I thought I would drop in and try to answer some of your questions/concerns. The CPU usage issue is something that is high on my to-do list for version 3.0.4, but there are some enhancements coming in 3.0.3. Version 3.0.3 is scheduled to be released this Sunday night, as long as no show-stopping issues come up in the last few days of testing. For beta testing, it is a "private" beta, but to get in all you need to do is ask. I can always use more testers who use Windows 7 as their full time OS.

 

[johngalt]

Thanks for popping in Jon.

 

[swarfega]

Hi Jon, welcome to the forums, I would be interested.

 

[jtackabury]

Hi Jon, welcome to the forums, I would be interested.

If you are interested in trying out version 3.0.3 (beta) just send me an email through my contact page:
Contact | Binary Fortress Software

Once I receive your email I'll reply with the download link.

 

[swarfega]

Thanks, email sent.

 

[Impulse]

Looking forward to 3.0.3, thanks for the info on your progress. I'll be purchasing a couple DF licenses soon... If I decide to install the Windows 7 beta on my new rig (building it this month) instead of Vista I'll drop you a line to test your beta builds for sure.

 

[johngalt]

Jon released a new test build earlier this evening - it is working fine as well, and sine I haven't been having any issues with it thus far, I cannot say anything about the other issues....

Remember, email him using the link to try out a 3.0.3 Beta Pre

 

[jtackabury]

I have just released the new version (3.0.3). This new release adds significantly better Windows 7 support. You can find out more about the release here:
DisplayFusion 3.0.3 Released | Binary Fortress Software

 

[swarfega]

Thanks Jon. Any chance of a 64-bit version? If yes then Id definitely consider buying it

 

[johngalt]

The version I have works on both 32bit and 64bit architecture. TBH I haven't tried it on 32bit versions of Windows 7 except for the initial install as I only use 32bit on the laptop (and there is only one screen on the laptop)....

Swarfega - do yourself a favor and read Want to try out DisplayFusion Pro for free?

play with it yourself for 15 days - upon expiration, I believe it reverts to the free version....

 

[jtackabury]

DisplayFusion supports both x86 and x64. The installation comes with support for both operating systems, so you don't have to worry about downloading the correct version for your system.