Lightquick Web Design - Elements of the past and the future combining to make something not quite as good as either

This category is for other interesting downloads, at the moment, mainly Steampunk ones. So, welcome to any lovers of steampunk stuff, here you will find some Steampunk widgets - what is a widget?

A widget can be described as "the virtual representation of things lying/standing around on your desk". Sticky notes, clocks, rulers,  the possibilities are endless. The goal of the Yahoo Widget engine is to simplify the creation of fully theme-able mini-apps that each solve basic desktop-work-related needs and generally improve the usability and beauty of the modern Windows/Mac desktop."

Please feel free to download and use any of these on your Windows / Mac OS/X / Linux system. As of the end of October 2012 over 390,000+ people have downloaded my steampunk widgets, icons and other stuff from various locations, approx. 1,500+ per day now and all for free.

May I please ask that if you enjoy using these widgets that you make your feelings known by clicking on the facebook Like This! above - or by leaving some votes for my widgets and icons at Rocketdock here . It goes a little way to keeping me creating new stuff for the desktop.

 >> Download Here

This is an old-fashioned wood, glass, steel and brass Yahoo Widget designed to appeal to the steampunk mind, I suggest it might be a useful addition to your desktop. This slightly wierd clock will keep good time using a human-friendly steampunk interface. The Weird Steampunk Clock Yahoo Widget is a Yahoo widget that runs on your desktop behind all your applications so it does not interfere with your day to day computer functionality. I hope you think it is fun as well as being very useful. This widget was created using the combined skills of myself and Harry Whitfield.

This widget is eminently usable on windows and Mac OS/X.

Instructions:

The widget functionality is self-explanatory, tinker with it and you will soon get to grips with it.

This widget requires Yahoo widgets to operate. Download yahoo widgets from here:

http://lightquick.co.uk/jdownloads/yahoo-widget-sdk-and-runtime-engine.html?Itemid=264 (it has all you need to get started on Windows).

and the Mac version of the Yahoo widget engine here:

http://desktopwidgets.zenfs.com/4.5.2x10a50/yahoo_widgets_4.5.2.dmg

Download the widget - it will install automatically.

This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it has been tested on Vista Home, Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit and Mac OS/X and it should work on all these with no problems whatsoever.

This is just one more of over 250 steampunk widgets and icons that I have created over the last year. Each will leave your Windows or Mac desktop looking absolutely spiffing. There is a whole set of the little thingies and I must say they do look very steampunk indeed! It will spruce up your desktop and give it a bit of Victorian class.

The only condition for downloading and using is that you donate something, no matter how small, a beer or just leave feedback. Please leave a message and rate the widget as it is the only payment I get for creating this small desktop addition :D

Thanks! Do enjoy the widget.

 >> Download Here

Here is our latest widget - the Steampunk Resource Monitor. The resource monitor will allow you to monitor your system's resource usage on a second by second basis using a human-friendly steampunk interface.

The Resource Monitor is a Yahoo widget that runs on your desktop behind all your applications so it does not interfere with your day to day computer functionality. It displays cpu, memory, wireless and battery information as well as drive usage. I hope you think it is fun as well as being very useful.This widget is no longer beta, it went live as of version 1. We will be adding features to the widget regularly so keep an eye out here.

THIS IS THE LATEST UPDATED VERSION - 1.0.2

Bulb glow opacity reduced to zero, no longer glows on a machine not equipped with wireless
Added images to the mail and web button presses
Matched the toggle_count to the number of drives shown
Added pop up messages when you click on any of the web assistance buttons
Double click on the virtual memory gauge brings up a utility defined in the preferences
Hopefully fixed any issues where drive gauges aren't showing...
On startup a bulb glow displays immediately if a wireless network is activated
Size slider no longer jumps to the right when first clicked upon
Changed vertical slider preferences to drop-downs in the back end as YWE! for Windows has a bug with slider ticks
Fixed vertical slider start up positions

1.0.1 fixes

added front slider to control the closing or shutting of the front drive console
added front slider to control the display of mounted/unmounted drives.
added cog rotation to all toggles
add tooltips to front sliders
added indents for the two sliding toogles, T & M
added extra pop-screens dependant upon which utility called, vmap and network traffic for windows
add crank for virtual memory gauge
create virtual memory gauge
modify startup to display the front sliders in the correct position
added bulbs for virtual manager threshold exceeded
added threshold in the prefs

1.0 fixes

The core indicator bulbs 2, 4 and 8, now only shows one
the pop up help must be above the bulbs regardless of screen size
the disc toggle was not present when the widget was loaded for the first time - fixed
allow the battery stanchion to be removed when no battery is present
when the batt gauge is displayed on a desktop device with no battery the lamps should be correctly lit
tested on Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit
tested on quad core hyper threaded
add calls to the appropriate Mac utilities
added all the piping and wires to the pipeset so the widget can be run barebones
added preference to allow the console to be open or shut
added code to select the appropriate pop-up screen when a gauge is double-clicked

Raise bugs and give feedback here: Contact us

It runs on Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and the new Windows o/s called Metro or something, oh yes, Windows 8...  the next version will also run on Mac OS/X - You will of course need the Yahoo widget engine which you can get here.

The  widget functionality is self-explanatory, tinker with it and you will soon get to grips with it. See the full instructions and diagram here for a fuller explanation .

Installation:

1. Install Yahoo widget runtime engine first

2. Download the widget

3. When downloaded it should prompt you to ask what you should do with this widget. Tell it to open with Yahoo widgets.

If you like my widgets I don't ask for any money but if you feel like buying me a beer I will very happy.

As this widget uses the yahoo widget runtime it means it will run on Macs and Windows PCs with no changes whatsoever. You will need the Yahoo widget runtime for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.   

and the Mac version here: 

http://desktopwidgets.zenfs.com/4.5.2x10a50/yahoo_widgets_4.5.2.dmg

This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it has been tested on Vista Home, Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit and Mac OS/X and it should work on all these with no problems whatsoever. At the moment it still has specific Windows functionality with regard to the multi-cores but the next version should work for Mac OS/X multi-cores too. It reports performance information successfully on single core, dual core, tri-core, quad core and multi-threaded quad core systems.

Steampunk Resource Monitor 1.0.2 - SOFTPEDIA "100% FREE" AWARD

This product was last tested in the Softpedia Labs on 25th of March 2013 by Giorgiana Arghire

Softpedia guarantees that Steampunk Resource Monitor 1.0.2 is 100% Free, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors.

This software product was tested thoroughly and was found absolutely clean; therefore, it can be installed with no concern by any computer user. However, it should be noted that this product will be retested periodically and the award may be withdrawn, so you should check back occasionally and pay attention to the date of testing shown above.

 >> Download Here

This is a widget that you could certainly use on your desktop. It is a lovely piece of eye-candy. This is part of a small set of icons/widgets for your desktop, the others are the 'God of War', the planet Mars and of course, the Earth.

The widget Jupiter is a moveable widget that you can move anywhere around the desktop as you require. The widget is usable on both Windows and Macs.

The widget is a Yahoo widget and it needs the yahoo widget engine. You can get that http://lightquick.co.uk/jdownloads/yahoo-widget-sdk-and-runtime-engine.html?Itemid=264

Here is just one more over 170 steampunk icons that I have created that will leave your Windows or Mac desktop looking absolutely spiffing. There is a whole set of the little thingies and I must say they do look very steampunk indeed! They really are a suitable replacement for the boring old default icons that come with Rocketdock/ObjectDock &c.

This widget and the others like it will spruce up your desktop and give it a bit of Victorian class.

 >> Download Here

This is a lovely old clock, resizable, that sits on your desktop, moveable, slidable and dragable. Tells time in an old-fashioned way. Download and install in the usual way. Install yahoo widgets first.

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.   

 >> Download Here

This is a widget that you could certainly use on your desktop. It is a lovely piece of eye-candy. This is part of a small set of icons/widgets for your desktop, the next is the 'God of War', the planet Mars.

The widget earth is a moveable widget that you can move anywhere around the desktop as you require. The widget is usable on both Windows and Macs.

The widget is a Yahoo widget and it needs the yahoo widget engine. You can get that http://lightquick.co.uk/jdownloads/yahoo-widget-sdk-and-runtime-engine.html?Itemid=264

Here is just one more over 170 steampunk icons that I have created that will leave your Windows or Mac desktop looking absolutely spiffing. There is a whole set of the little thingies and I must say they do look very steampunk indeed! They really are a suitable replacement for the boring old default icons that come with Rocketdock/ObjectDock &c.

This widget and the others like it will spruce up your desktop and give it a bit of Victorian class.

 >> Download Here

Here is just one more over 20 widgets and 170 steampunk icons that I have created that will leave your Windows or Mac desktop looking absolutely spiffing. There is a whole set of the little thingies and I must say they do look very steampunk indeed! They really are a suitable replacement for the boring old default icons that come with Windows and Macs &c.

This widget and the others like it will spruce up your desktop and give it a bit of Victorian class.

 >> Download Here

This is the Yahoo Widget SDK and Runtime Engine that you will need to run my widgets. This is the Windows version that runs on Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

 What does it do?

"The Yahoo Widget engine uses a JavaScript runtime environment combined with an XML interpreter to run small applications referred to as widgets, and hence is part of a class of software applications called widget engines.

Each widget runs in its own system process, separate from other widgets and the main Yahoo Widget system process itself, thus improving the stability of the software application as a whole. Should a problem occur with a Yahoo widget requiring it to be shut down, that particular widget can be shut down without affecting other widgets or the main Yahoo Widget engine application."

Which, in English means it puts the yahoo widget dock on your desktop ready for any widget to run.  So, to run any one of my widgets, install the Yahoo widget engine first, then just download my widget and the Yahoo widget engine will run it.

Click the big download button at the top right of the page to get then windows version.

The Mac version is here:

http://desktopwidgets.zenfs.com/4.5.2x10a50/yahoo_widgets_4.5.2.dmg

We perform an installation service - so we can steampunk your desktop if you want us too. If you have a Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 PC or laptop we can add the steampunk widgets, the leather backdrop, rocketdock launcher and the steampunk icons. Just give us a call here . 

 >> Download Here

This is the Steampunk Orrery widget - it provides a daily memorandum function via a truly steampunk interface. Select a date via the calendar ring and click the date shown and it will allow you to enter a memo or reminder. You can use the ring to select future or past memos and whilst you are doing so the orrery will allow you to reflect on the passage of time and the true nature of this force that controls our lives. Well, you might...

This widget is a collaboration between myself and Harry Whitfield (Merlin the Widget Wizard).  It is now a finished widget, it is ready to run. You can select a date and enter a memorandum for that date, it is fully configurable. An elegant widget - give it a go.

It was based upon a superb blog navigation device on Ian Tregillis' site (created by Richard Mueller of 3232 design). His superb bit of Adobe Flash was the inspiration and it made me want to complete my own version (the original only shows 50% of the device and was limited to running only on web-pages within the browser, see the original here: [link]). My version will add functionality and it will free it from only running within the browser, this version will be able to run on your Mac or Windows desktop as long as you have the yahoo widget runtime engine.

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.   

This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it has not been tested on Vista, Windows 7 nor Macs though it should work on these with no problems. It has no specific Windows functionality and so should work for Mac

OS/X too as long as the Yahoo Widget runtime engine is loaded.

 Steampunk Orrery Calendar Clock 1.1.7 - was awarded the SOFTPEDIA "100% CLEAN" AWARD This product was last tested in the Softpedia Labs on 15th of March 2012 by Andreea Gheran Softpedia guarantees that Steampunk Orrery Calendar Clock 1.1.7 is 100% Clean, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors. This software product was tested thoroughly and was found absolutely clean; therefore, it can be installed with no concern by any computer user.

We perform an installation service - so we can steampunk your desktop if you want us too. If you have a Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 PC or laptop we can add the steampunk widgets, the leather backdrop, rocketdock launcher and the steampunk icons. Just give us a call here . 

 >> Download Here

This is the Steampunk Orrery widget - it provides a clock and calendar function via a truly steampunk interface. This is the Rainmeter version so, you will,  of course, need the Rainmeter engine for this skin to run. Get Rainmeter here.   This skin works with Windows Rainmeter version 2.5 beta and later.

This widget is a collaboration between myself and Mordasius (Qeon).  It is now a simple rainmeter skin, ready to run - give it a go.

It was based upon a superb blog navigation device on Ian Tregillis' site (created by Richard Mueller of 3232 design). His superb bit of Adobe Flash was the inspiration and it made me want to complete my own version (the original only shows 50% of the device and was limited to running only on web-pages within a browser with Flash installed, see the original here: [link]). With the oncoming demise of Flash I created a new version that would not be dependant upon it. The first version was a Yahoo widget with lots of extra functionality written in javascript - you can get it here . The second was an xwidget version and the next is this rainmeter version- our first rainmeter widget.  My versions add functionality and free it from only running within the browser, this version will be able to run on your Windows desktop as long as you have Rainmeter installed.

 >> Download Here

This is the Steampunk Orrery Xwidget - it provides a clock and calendar function via a truly steampunk interface. This is the XWidget version, so you will, of course, need the Xwidget engine for this skin to run. Get the Xwidget engine here.  

This widget is a collaboration between myself and Harry whitfield.  It is now a simple XWidget, ready to run - give it a go.

It was based upon a superb blog navigation device on Ian Tregillis' site (created by Richard Mueller of 3232 design). His superb bit of Adobe Flash was the inspiration and it made me want to complete my own version (the original only shows 50% of the device and was limited to running only on web-pages within a browser with Flash installed, see the original here: [link]). With the oncoming demise of Flash I created a new version that would not be dependant upon it. The first version was a Yahoo widget with lots of extra functionality written in javascript - you can get it here . The second was this Xwidget version and the next will be a rainmeter version.  My versions add functionality and free it from only running within the browser, this version will be able to run on your Windows desktop as long as you have the Xwidget engine installed.

 >> Download Here

Weather reporting the steampunk way!

This is our steampunk contribution to weather reporting. The Steampunk weather widget is based on the Digistation widget written by: Bogdan Irimia, enhanced and steampunked by Dean Beedell with kind permission of Bogdan.

Note: This widget will continue to be supported regardless of the current state of yahoo widget engine support. It runs in XP/Vista/Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS/X.

New version 1.0.3 - The widget has been given a completely new steampunk skin and some new functionality. The skin is decidedly steampunk and quite at variance with the clean original as provided by Bogdan.

As well as a reskin a twenty-four hour clock has been added to the circumference of the weather gauge . Other minor changes include: Changed all the calculations of the pointer angles to use simpler calculations saving cpu time; separated the .kon file and .js;  animated the pointers to count down on startup; added code to allow widget to be resized; fixed some translations ; changed the default location to London Heathrow; added 'vitality' to the dock icon, animated the temperature gauge switch-over, added sounds to the main functions.

Full instructions for the Steampunk Weather Widget are here: Download Instructions

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.   

and the Mac version here:

This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it has not been tested on Vista, Windows 7 nor Macs though it should work on these with no problems. It has no specific Windows functionality and so should work for Mac OS/X too as long as the Yahoo Widget runtime engine is loaded.

SOFTPEDIA "100% CLEAN" AWARD This product was last tested in the Softpedia Labs on 22nd of June 2011 by Cosmin Anton. Softpedia guarantees that Steampunk Weather Widget 1.0.1 is 100% Clean, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors. 

May I please ask that if you enjoy using these widgets that you make your feelings known by leaving a positive review below. So few do so - and it is really appreciated when you do!

To view the widget in operation, click here:

We perform an installation service - so we can steampunk your desktop if you want us too. If you have a Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 PC or laptop we can add the steampunk widgets, the leather backdrop, rocketdock launcher and the steampunk icons. Just give us a call here . 

 >> Download Here

Widget - Actual size on your desktop! First of all, please be aware that this is a widget that is in beta. If you are going to download this widget then please tell me if it does not work on your machine here :

Note: This Yahoo widget requires speedfan to run. Why? scroll to the bottom to find out why. Get Speedfan here: http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

Note: This widget will continue to be supported regardless of the current state of yahoo widget engine support. It runs in XP/Vista/Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS/X.

The thermometer will return valid temperatures initially one will be that of the GPU and one other sensor. However, the current version cannot guarantee it will start with the CPU temperature but it does its best! Due to the nature of the speedfan API it does not return names of sensors but just temperatures, so we have to do some guessing...

This is a widget and you will, of course, need Yahoo widget engine for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here. 

The latest fixes in 0.19 include :

0.19 Graphical bug, selecting new sensor sometimes causes the thermometer index to be overwritten
0.19 Graphical bug, the text sliders are written at the top of the page on startup
0.19 Added the frequency slider in seconds.
0.19 Added the memory and cpu gauges, piping and valves
0.19 Added the wheels behind the hot and warm sliders
0.19 Added the indents behind the hot and warm sliders right hand
0.19 Added the fahrenheit scale
0.19 Added the fahrenheit/centigrade selecter images
0.19 Extracted the centigrade scale to a separate image
0.19 Added the restart and mute toggles
0.19 Moved the Speedfan site button to the right
0.19 Added code to mute the sounds if disabled
0.19 Added code to kill restart speedfan if button pressed

Added several extra sensor names and ?, X or TEMP titles for the unknown sensor types, in XP - correctly identifies the sensors using the Speedfan config files and selects the appropriate sensor, lastly, now sets the tooltips so that they reflect the chosen sensor. Alarm clapper state saved to preferences, alarm slider vertical position values saved to preferences, allows you to change the sensor names displayed.

This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it should work on all NT5 systems (Win 2000 and server 2003). Due to the extra security restrictions on NT6 systems (Vista, Win7) some functionality will be restricted on the later versions of windows. This is hopefully being fixed.

MAC users! - This widget has specific Windows functionality and although it will eventually work for Macs too it does not at the moment. If you have any problems please post your email queries to me here. Your post will go onto the blog and I will endeavour to answer them as soon as I can. 

You can see the widget in action here on youtube.

SOFTPEDIA "100% CLEAN" AWARD This product was last tested in the Softpedia Labs on 22nd of June 2011 by Cosmin Anton. Softpedia guarantees that Steampunk CPU/GPU Thermometer Speedfan Widget 1.0.1 is 100% Clean, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors.  

 If you like the look of it please feel free to comment. If you have any comments7 whatsoever to make regarding the temperature monitor contact me here.

May I please ask that if you enjoy using these widgets that you make your feelings known by leaving a positive review below. So few do so - and it is really appreciated when you do!

* Speedfan  - why is it needed? The Windows operating system is meant to provide an interface to the motherboard and other components to provide system temperature information. Unfortunately it does not work well as there is no stable hardware specification for temperature sensors. The end result is that it is impossible for a widget can get the temperatures from all the myriad PC components in the world, so we have to resort to third party applications that can do it. The best of the bunch is a good piece of software called Speedfan. Speedfan is pretty good at extracting temperatures for almost all PCs so it is a fundamental requirement for this software to be installed for this widget to function. widget requires speedfan to run. Get Speedfan here: http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

 >> Download Here

A Steam Punk Yahoo Widget for your Windows/Mac desktop, a fully working yahoo widget and it can be moved around your desktop looking very steampunk indeed. It tells the date/time in digital and analogue format with a swinging pendulum. It chimes and ticks too. It has full sounds for all operations, has fully working alarms and can be muted at the turn of a crank handle.

Instructions for use are here . 

Here is the final MkI version 1.0 of a Steampunk clock & calendar yahoo widget created using photoshop and an idea from the PC computer game WOTW.

In this game there is a neat idea of time manipulation where the game play is speeded up or slowed down by the use of a one-way time machine. This was done by moving an in-game gadget which displayed a calendar/clock in a very steampunk fashion. This was the source of my limited inspiration. I decided to use it as the visual core of a javascript program and then I realised that I could also create a Yahoo widget from it.

Note: This widget will continue to be supported regardless of the current state of yahoo widget engine support. It runs in XP/Vista/Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS/X. If you have any problems please post your email queries to our contact page. I will endeavour to answer them as soon as I can.

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.   

You can view the widget in action here:

 SOFTPEDIA "100% CLEAN" AWARD This product was last tested in the Softpedia Labs on 22nd of June 2011 by Cosmin Anton. Softpedia guarantees that Steampunk Clock/Calendar Widget 1.0.1 is 100% Clean, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors.  

May I please ask that if you enjoy using these widgets that you make your feelings known by leaving a positive review below. So few do so - and it is really appreciated when you do!

We perform an installation service - so we can steampunk your desktop if you want us too. If you have a Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 PC or laptop we can add the steampunk widgets, the leather backdrop, rocketdock launcher and the steampunk icons. Just give us a call here . 

 >> Download Here

British Penny Red Stamp Widget simply displays an 1840s penny red on your desktop. Not very useful but I may change it later to do something else. Perhaps to display other stamps from the same period? Useful for a steampunk desktop or for a mad philatelist.

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.   

 This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it has not been tested on Vista, Windows 7 nor Macs. It has no specific Windows functionality and so should work for Macs too.

We perform an installation service - so we can steampunk your desktop if you want us too. If you have a Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 PC or laptop we can add the steampunk widgets, the leather backdrop, rocketdock launcher and the steampunk icons. Just give us a call here . 

 >> Download Here

Dieselpunk/Cyberpunk/Steampunk Yahoo thermionic valve nixie tube widget

That title - what a mouthful! but it is worth saying as it is now fully working! - Latest changes include ability to turn off the sounds and enable the second indicating tubes. It also now resizes. This is a simple widget that displays a continuous time update on your desktop. It is based upon Nixie tubes that were used as status indicators/displays in the 50/60s - 70s. The originals have a character of their own which this widget aims to replicate.

This widget acts as a simple clock upon your desktop and as an extra benefit it is also a moveable bit of eye-candy. It is a fully working widget. Please feel free to download it.

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.  

Note: This widget will continue to be supported regardless of the current state of yahoo widget engine support. It runs in XP/Vista/Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS/X. If you have any problems please post your email queries to our contact page. I will endeavour to answer them as soon as I can. 

If you want to see the widget in action then please do so by clicking on this video.

 We perform an installation service - so we can steampunk your desktop if you want us too. If you have a Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 PC or laptop we can add the steampunk widgets, the leather backdrop, rocketdock launcher and the steampunk icons. Just give us a call here .

 >> Download Here

This widget is a simple interface to the standard colour picker as provided by Windows or the Mac OS. A single click on the colour ball causes the colour picker to appear. When you have chosen the colour to use, the widget displays the hexadecimal value of the colour so that you can copy/paste that value into your website development IDE or other tool.

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.  

This widget has really just been given a steampunk facelift as it is based upon the colour picker widget from Merlin ('arry Whitfield). Harry has created loads of gorgeously efficient Yahoo widgets that range from enigma decoding machines to resistor calculators. Harry's widgets are always fascinating, well-coded and do the job, however none of them are quite steampunk enough for me! So, I have taken on the challenge of steampunkifying one of Harry's widgets, the colour picker widget. I do hope you like it.

We perform an installation service - so we can steampunk your desktop if you want us too. If you have a Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7 PC or laptop we can add the steampunk widgets, the leather backdrop, rocketdock launcher and the steampunk icons. Just give us a call here . 

 >> Download Here

A Steam Punk Yahoo Widget for your Windows/Mac desktop, a beta version of the MKII widget that can be resized. Be aware that this is not a fully working widget as the changes to resize have introduced some new bugs. If you want a working version then choose the MkI.

You will, of course, need Yahoo widgets for this widget to run. Get Yahoo widgets here.   

This widget works with Windows XP SP3, it has not been tested on Vista, Windows 7 nor Macs though it should work on these. It has no specific Windows functionality and so should work for Macs too, if you have any problems please post your email queries to news@lightquick.co.uk. Your post will go onto the blog and I will endeavour to answer them as soon as I can.

 >> Download Here

Retro-computing can be fun and it is in the spirit of retro-computing that I bring news to you all of a superb bit of programming from Kroah (Pascal).  Kroah has reverse-engineered the 1980s classic strategy game Colonial Conquest.

Why would you want to run a game from the late 80s? Well some of the old games are actually quite good. Colonial Conquest is a good example, this game was a staple of all strategy gamers. It is a turn-based world domination game set in the time of the great colonial expansions of the 1880s. The main players are all the great world powers of the time. The game is turn-based and up to 6 players can play in a LAN or over the internet. The AI is tough to beat and a game can often be interesting and challenging. Kroah has implemented Colonial Conquest with internet support and enhancements over the original game such as bugfixes to the original logic, the implementation of simultaneous turns, preliminary support for custom ArtificiaI Intelligence and the addition of game and player statistics.

Gameplay is as good now as it was in the 80s, when your graphics are limited then you need to come up with good gameplay. This is what makes some retro games playable to this day. When I want to relieve myself of some stress I find that running colonial conquest is a really efficient  relaxation method. The game is an advance on the old game-staple 'Risk' and in the complexity stakes sits somewhere between Risk and Diplomacy. If you play a quiet game subverting neutral countries and avoiding conflicts with your neighbours, you can prevent war breaking out and play a quiet game of building up your defences until you are stabbed in the back by a jealous super-power. You can set out from the start building up a beligerent and bellicose war policy and attack your neighbours as you see fit, though this may mean you leave the game early. The game is fun and if you have never played it before, like turn-based strategy games then you will enjoy colonial conquest. If you haven't tried retro games then this is a good place to start. If like me, you remember staying up late to play CC on your Atari 512ST with your teenage mates then try Kroah's downloads page and grab yourself some nostalgia. 

 >> Download Here

If you want to create widgets from Photoshop then this is the script you will need to create widgets for the yahoo widget engine. Just place it in: \Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Presets\Scripts and Photoshop will find it. As long as your photoshop art is in groups, layers or layer sets then the widget script will create a fully functioning yahoo widget from the open PSD file.

Below are the instructions on how to create a yahoo widget from a Photoshop PSD file:

Visit the page

 >> Download Here

Essential widget development tool. The Yahoo widget converter does what it says on the tin. It unzips a widget so you can get at all the internal gubbins, scripts, XML and PNG files. It also turns that same load of files into a widget after you have modified them. A very useful tool if you want to extract resources from a Yahoo widget so that you can convert it yourself into any other widget engine.

You simply drag a .widget file to this widget and it will convert the file into a normal windows folder which you can open and see all the programming gubbins.