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Apple Store-What desktop program do they use?

post #1 of 17
11/28/04 at 9:38am
Thread Starter 
Anyone that has been to an Apple Store has surely seen the desktop weblinks that they have on theire computers there. What I'd like to know is what program are they using to do that?

Thanks-
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post #2 of 17
11/29/04 at 6:39am
Quote:
Originally posted by Gigawire
Anyone that has been to an Apple Store has surely seen the desktop weblinks that they have on theire computers there. What I'd like to know is what program are they using to do that?

Thanks-

It is probably made by Apple specially. Don;t you think? Have you tried asking them at the Apple store.
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post #3 of 17
11/30/04 at 5:01am
Not sure what you mean. Are these icons that go to certain web sites when double clicked? I'll look for them next time. Are they on all the machines or just the cash registers?
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post #4 of 17
12/1/04 at 12:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by neutrino23
Not sure what you mean. Are these icons that go to certain web sites when double clicked? I'll look for them next time. Are they on all the machines or just the cash registers?

Ya, they're on all the demo machines. There are, I think, 4 icons. One leads to the online version of that Apple Store, one opens iCal and displays the calendar for that Apple Store, and i don't remember what the other 2 icons do, but it is similar to that. I have a friend at the Apple Store, and neither he, nor anyone else there, knows what program it is since the computers are managed from Corporate. I was hoping maybe someone in this forum would perhaps not know the exact answer, but offer something comparable, as I think it is a great tool for those just getting started, without completely stripping the experience down to a handful of dock icons, or a simple finder. Also, you can not move or adjust the capsule within which these 4 icons reside, but expose will clear them off the desktop or shuffle the capsule around as it would a normal app. I'll try to get up to the Apple Store soon and get a screen grab of it.

cheers-
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post #5 of 17
12/1/04 at 1:17pm
I would bet they're simple widgets Apple made specifically for their own use that act as little programs when placed on the desktop (or dock.)
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post #6 of 17
12/2/04 at 5:13pm
Yup, its internal Apple code. I asked a tech about it. Its kinda cool. "Active Desktop" LOL
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post #7 of 17
12/4/04 at 12:52am
How is this different than just dragging a URL to the desktop?
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post #8 of 17
12/4/04 at 4:52am
It's called DesktopButtons and was written internally at Apple.
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post #9 of 17
12/8/04 at 9:49pm
Curious myself I performed a Google search which led me to a .mac public folder containing a "DesktopButtons.pkg" file. Problem is, I can't check it out since I'm traveling with my work PC only. It does, however, contain a readme file which makes it seem like the real thing:

Apple Store Desktop Buttons Installer

You will need to know your 3-digit store number to perform this installation.

To remove the Desktop Buttons application from a computer:
run the installer again
when prompted for the store number, press the Uninstall button instead.

The Desktop Buttons application puts a group of four buttons on the computer's desktop. These allow the customer to:
make a reservation for the Genius Bar
open iCal to view a calendar of store events
view the Apple Web Site for more information
sign up for a mailing list or reserve a product which is currently out of stock

If you need to quit the Desktop Buttons application temporarily, you can run the Quit_DesktopButtons AppleScript in the "/Library/DesktopButtons" folder.

To run the DesktopButtons application again, launch it from the
"/Library/DesktopButtons" folder or restart your computer.

Now, it can't be that difficult to guess a valid 3-digit store number, can it?

Someone try it out and let us know if it works:
http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/F...cty=US&lang=en
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post #10 of 17
12/9/04 at 5:50am
Not happening here:

I downloaded the package but it gives me the error:


Code:

The Installer Package "Desktop Buttons" cannot be opened.
The archive for this package was not found.



So I can't get past that to even try to install it. Anyone else??

rberry88
My First Mac - 17" Flatpanel iMac - received June 26, 2004
My Second Mac - 15" 1.5GHz Aluminum PowerBook - received October 30, 2004
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My First Mac - 17" Flatpanel iMac - received June 26, 2004
My Second Mac - 15" 1.5GHz Aluminum PowerBook - received October 30, 2004
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post #11 of 17
12/9/04 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally posted by rberry88
Not happening here:

I downloaded the package but it gives me the error:
Code:

The Installer Package "Desktop Buttons" cannot be opened.
The archive for this package was not found.



So I can't get past that to even try to install it. Anyone else??

rberry88

It looks like it's just the package receipt, not the actual full installer package itself.
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post #12 of 17
12/12/04 at 6:41am
Torrent for Desktop Buttons (works, I tried it)

Some I guess are having trouble with it...it's not really any use though, you can't add or subtract things.
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post #13 of 17
12/13/04 at 9:48pm
Breakthrough!

I got past and now it asks for a 3-digit store number, but it quits if you try a wrong number...

1 number down...999 to go (?)...
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post #14 of 17
12/13/04 at 10:24pm
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Quote:
Originally posted by trtam
Breakthrough!

I got past and now it asks for a 3-digit store number, but it quits if you try a wrong number...

1 number down...999 to go (?)...

Is is 002? Like if you open the package and the read the StoreCode text file?

Oh, and it also seems to go to a webpage. Don't know why but it may have something to do with the code.

BTW, It doesn't do anything for me, I'm just reading it with Hexedit.

Edit: Just checked the site and it is not accessible for me. Might be some kind of verification.
horrid misuse of cool technology
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post #15 of 17
12/14/04 at 3:22am
Quote:
Originally posted by Ebby
Is is 002? Like if you open the package and the read the StoreCode text file?

Oh, and it also seems to go to a webpage. Don't know why but it may have something to do with the code.

BTW, It doesn't do anything for me, I'm just reading it with Hexedit.

Edit: Just checked the site and it is not accessible for me. Might be some kind of verification.

when i click the link it just goes to a website - what do you do with the code.
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post #16 of 17
12/14/04 at 2:17pm
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The link is a Bittorrent link. You need to download Bittorrent and use that to download the file.
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post #17 of 17
7/8/05 at 9:01am
Quote:
Originally posted by Gigawire
Anyone that has been to an Apple Store has surely seen the desktop weblinks that they have on theire computers there. What I'd like to know is what program are they using to do that?

Thanks-

Gigawire,

I was able to get a copy of the application from my local store and it still functions normally . However, it is completely useless as it can't be modified.

The good news is that there is a shareware application that does the same thing called DockTop.

http://homepage.mac.com/jonn8/docktop/



mattybinks
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