Enhanced Folder 2.0
Since OS/2 2.0, the OS/2 user interface has not changed that drastically. While that may be ideal for a large enterprise from a training and support standpoint, the fact of the matter is that the rest of the computer industry has moved on in the last six years. Object Desktop 2.0, like its predecessors, carries on the tradition of enhancing the already powerful user environment of the WorkPlace Shell.
The simplicity of the user interface hides a great deal of effort in bringing OS/2 to the next generation. Starting with Object Desktop 2.0, the OS/2 folder window becomes the master user interface object on OS/2.
Enhanced Folder 2.0 starts by adding a plethora of additional push-button functionality to the base folder class. Users are no longer forced to dig through folder menus to access some of the most frequently used commands. The toolbar provides a quick means to access folder display options and a convenient "open parent directory" button to facilitate folder navigation (especially handy for people who chose to browse new folders in the existing one).
However, the most obvious enhancement to folders is the addition of a drop-down combo box. From this box, you can launch and connect to files, web sites, ftp sites, network servers, or any directory on your machine or on the network simply by typing in where you want to go. Object Desktop 2.0 will automatically parse what you've typed and perform the appropriate operation.
Something as simple as this brings a major user interface advancement to OS/2.
Enhanced Look 2.0
For years, Object Desktop users have had the option of replacing serveral of the default OS/2 control graphics with a customized Object Desktop set. In recognition of the fact that not everyone was particularly enamoured of having just one other option, Object Desktop 2.0 adds the ability to switch the controls to a variety of additional styles including the new Object Desktop 2.0 look, Object Desktop Classic, Windows 9x/NT4, Warp 4, and (based on customer feedback) even the OS/2 Warp v3 controls regardless of the underlying version of OS/2.
Picking up where IBM left off once again, Object Desktop 2.0 also add the ability for OS/2 Warp 4 users to use the new WarpSans font across all dialogs on the system. Though a subtle difference, the option for global WarpSans font dialog use improves the readability and the asthetics of the system.
Control Center 2.0
Object Desktop 2.0's Control Center adds several much requested features based on user feedback. The feature with possible the most immediate utility to the widest selection of users is the addition of a Tasks section to the Control Center to allow users to monitor and switch between active applications. Like all Control Center components, the Task Browser can be configured as the only feature in a new Control Center to provide users with quick access to running tasks in a variety of fashions.
Another much-requested enhancement to the Control Center is the ability to automatically position programs in specific virtual desktops. This makes it much easier for you to work "your" way, with a minimum of program launching and rearranging. The possibilities are only limited by your creativity. Your virtual desktops can be configured to launch your web browser in one desktop while keeping your mail program, development environment, and word processor in their own virtual desktops to reduce clutter and improve productivity by clustering applications to meet your personal needs.
Object NetScan
You're hip, you're with it, you're on the Internet (and who isn't these days?). But, for all the money you just shelled out on your new v.90 modem or despite IT finally getting that T1 installed, you've really got no clue as to how fast your connection to the Internet really is. Until now . . .
Forget about sitting there with a stopwatch and guesstimating how fast your downloads are going. Object NetScan, a Control Center derivative, interfaces on a low level with the TCP/IP components on your system to let you know exactly how much information has been transferred both into and out of your machine and how quickly it was transferred. Windows users have to shell out a pretty chunk of change for programs that purport to monitor the speed of your Internet connection, but most of them carry caveats that stretch from here to next week. Because of the level at with Object NetScan integrates with your system, it does not matter if you are connected via the lowliest of analog modems or your own personal T3. Object NetScan shows you exactly how your Internet connection is performing.
Object Viewers
Object Desktop 2.0 continues the Object Desktop tradition of integrating document viewing into the base operating system. Hundreds of file formats are recognized automatically when you double click an object on the desktop. Object Desktop 2.0 doesn't just support a few of the most common file types, it supports hundreds of file types from databases, word processors, spreadsheets, Internet, graphics, presentation packages, and more.
Please note that these filters are only an updated version of the filters that have been available in Object Desktop for the last year. There is no support for Office 97 documents or the latest SmartSuite 4 for OS/2 Warp (our filter vendor has ceased development on updated OS/2 filters, much to the obvious consternation of us and our users).
Other Enhancements
Object Archives toolbar
System Class Editor
Additional pre-built Control Centers
Updates
(misc. fixes/enhancements - not complete by any means)
Folder memory reduction, fix for ObjectRexx bug, rollup visual irregularities, Task Manager fixes, Object Navigator fixes (sort/shredder/templates), shadowed CC folder refresh updates, and portions of OD rewritten to use the SDS Class Libraries