Existing users, 
 You Control: Desktops - 1.3.1 beta 1Create multiple virtual desktops. |
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Feedback Summary:
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| Overall Rating: | Not rated (0.0) | Features: | Not rated (0.0) | Support: | Not rated (0.0) |
| Ease of Use: | Not rated (0.0) | Quality / Stability: | Not rated (0.0) | Price: | Not rated (0.0) |
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Featured Reviews
Abandoned by You Software - Version: 1.3.1 beta 1, 9/26/2009 05:31AM PST
(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)
scgf01
Spaces for the rest of us... or: what Spaces should have been 
- Version: 1.3.1 beta 1, 3/22/2009 03:08PM PST
(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)
Eric van Beest
You Control Desktops (YCD) does what Spaces does, but has way more options and works in Mac OS X 10.4.
I have been using YCD for more than a year, in OS X 10.4 and now in 10.5. When Leopard's feature set was reported, it struck me that the Spaces function was the answer to my cluttered desktop. (I had used Jonathan Sav's Virtual Desktop before, but was turned off by the buggy nature of the product)
YCD lets you set up several virtual desktops, or workspaces if you like, along the lines of Spaces. But it allows you to have much more control over what appears where than Spaces. Unlike Spaces, you can set certain windows to appear in every window – handy for instant messaging apps as you move from window to window. You can also collect windows to whatever desktop you want. Different desktop pictures works well for me, reminding me of which desktop I am on.
Working with YCD in 10.4, losing the functionality for a while after upgrading to 10.5 (until You upgraded the program) was a real pain. Spaces is quite hamfisted, and there are serious compatibility issues with, amongst others, Microsoft Office applications which have yet to be resolved, never mind the bizarre window behavior (random disappearances, flipping desktops...).
YCD is not for everyone. But I'm quite happy with this product. Maybe Spaces will grow up in 10.6. Until then, I'll be using You Control Desktops.
I have been using YCD for more than a year, in OS X 10.4 and now in 10.5. When Leopard's feature set was reported, it struck me that the Spaces function was the answer to my cluttered desktop. (I had used Jonathan Sav's Virtual Desktop before, but was turned off by the buggy nature of the product)
YCD lets you set up several virtual desktops, or workspaces if you like, along the lines of Spaces. But it allows you to have much more control over what appears where than Spaces. Unlike Spaces, you can set certain windows to appear in every window – handy for instant messaging apps as you move from window to window. You can also collect windows to whatever desktop you want. Different desktop pictures works well for me, reminding me of which desktop I am on.
Working with YCD in 10.4, losing the functionality for a while after upgrading to 10.5 (until You upgraded the program) was a real pain. Spaces is quite hamfisted, and there are serious compatibility issues with, amongst others, Microsoft Office applications which have yet to be resolved, never mind the bizarre window behavior (random disappearances, flipping desktops...).
YCD is not for everyone. But I'm quite happy with this product. Maybe Spaces will grow up in 10.6. Until then, I'll be using You Control Desktops.
Don't buy this software !!! 
- Version: 1.3, 10/17/2008 07:28AM PST
(1 of 5 users found this comment useful)
darkmooncalling
Don't buy this software!
This software does not work!
If I create a folder in one desktop - I can't open it! If I try to, it shakes a bit, but nothing happens. Then if I switch to another desktop I see that my trying to open the folder in the other desktop has created a meaningless "Desktop" window on THAT desktop.
If I follow the procedure to send the current window to another desktop, I go to the other desktop, but the window isn't sent - only another meaningless "Desktop" window opens in that desktop.
Then, I switch to another desktop - but the folders in that desktop don't appear - instead, other folders belonging to other desktops appear instead!
I switch again to another desktop, but multiple "Desktop" windows appear that I never created!
If in desperation I quit the "You Control engine" - I can't open any finder windows anyhow!!! I have to restart the machine!!
The menubar controls are a confused mass of menus and submenus, that no-one will ever understand. Even if it worked (which it doesn't), it's a model of poor design, failure of implementation and laughable efficiency.
This software is a mess, and a joke!
I might as well have set fire to some banknotes this evening!
How can they get away with this?
DO NOT BUY THIS SOFTWARE - YOU WILL REGRET IT INSTANTLY, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE NO SUPPORT OR REFUND.
This software does not work!
If I create a folder in one desktop - I can't open it! If I try to, it shakes a bit, but nothing happens. Then if I switch to another desktop I see that my trying to open the folder in the other desktop has created a meaningless "Desktop" window on THAT desktop.
If I follow the procedure to send the current window to another desktop, I go to the other desktop, but the window isn't sent - only another meaningless "Desktop" window opens in that desktop.
Then, I switch to another desktop - but the folders in that desktop don't appear - instead, other folders belonging to other desktops appear instead!
I switch again to another desktop, but multiple "Desktop" windows appear that I never created!
If in desperation I quit the "You Control engine" - I can't open any finder windows anyhow!!! I have to restart the machine!!
The menubar controls are a confused mass of menus and submenus, that no-one will ever understand. Even if it worked (which it doesn't), it's a model of poor design, failure of implementation and laughable efficiency.
This software is a mess, and a joke!
I might as well have set fire to some banknotes this evening!
How can they get away with this?
DO NOT BUY THIS SOFTWARE - YOU WILL REGRET IT INSTANTLY, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE NO SUPPORT OR REFUND.
Most Recent Replies: View All 2 Replies
- Very responsibve support; very promising work
I can finally go to 10.5 - Version: 1.3 b5, 5/11/2008 11:07AM PST
(1 of 2 users found this comment useful)
coyote4til7
I've used Macs for a long time and there are a lot of reasons I generally prefer them. Spaces is not one. For the first time since I started using macs (a '85 vintage Mac 512K): a removed an OS upgrade.
Spaces is not a virtual desktop manager; it's an application manager. Virtual Desktop applications --when done right-- allow you to organize things not by application but by project or task. If I need to have a browser window open for general browsing on one virtual desktop and another open to test what I'm developing on that virtual desktop, a good virtual desktop manager can handle that.
Virtual Desktoop Managers don't force you to switch to another desktop just because you clicked on an icon in the dock (hey... where'd I go?!? I just want the app in front so I can open a new window you stupid OS).
If you like Spaces fine, but it's not a virtual desktop manager. It's in a special category of its own. If someone can figure out how to hack Spaces it can be reconfigured to run as a virtual desktop manager, great. Until then, this product seems to work great (granted I'm testing it under 10.4), allows me to do what I want _and_ allows me to re-upgrade to 10.5.
Spaces is not a virtual desktop manager; it's an application manager. Virtual Desktop applications --when done right-- allow you to organize things not by application but by project or task. If I need to have a browser window open for general browsing on one virtual desktop and another open to test what I'm developing on that virtual desktop, a good virtual desktop manager can handle that.
Virtual Desktoop Managers don't force you to switch to another desktop just because you clicked on an icon in the dock (hey... where'd I go?!? I just want the app in front so I can open a new window you stupid OS).
If you like Spaces fine, but it's not a virtual desktop manager. It's in a special category of its own. If someone can figure out how to hack Spaces it can be reconfigured to run as a virtual desktop manager, great. Until then, this product seems to work great (granted I'm testing it under 10.4), allows me to do what I want _and_ allows me to re-upgrade to 10.5.
major bugs are a real shame - Version: 1.3 b5, 1/24/2008 12:00AM PST
(1 of 2 users found this comment useful)
darkmooncalling
This thing about this app is that, although it looks very promising and useful, the Leopard beta (1.3 b5) completely fails to cut the mustard because of major bugs.
The hot keys you set to cycle between the desktops regularly stop working. You can get them working again by selecting a different desktop from the menubar menu, but that defeats the point of hot keys.
The pictures associated with each desktop regularly get mixed up - for instance, one desktop which had its own picture will suddenly show the picture of a different desktop, so you have to reset it. The same happens with the desktop icons. All in all the 'remembering' features don't work reliably at all.
The "identify current desktop" command very often fails to show anything.
It's not entirely clear how the app interacts with Spaces.
So there are at the moment major issues with this non-freeware beta software.
It would be nice if Apple extend their Spaces feature to accommodate some of this app's features.
The hot keys you set to cycle between the desktops regularly stop working. You can get them working again by selecting a different desktop from the menubar menu, but that defeats the point of hot keys.
The pictures associated with each desktop regularly get mixed up - for instance, one desktop which had its own picture will suddenly show the picture of a different desktop, so you have to reset it. The same happens with the desktop icons. All in all the 'remembering' features don't work reliably at all.
The "identify current desktop" command very often fails to show anything.
It's not entirely clear how the app interacts with Spaces.
So there are at the moment major issues with this non-freeware beta software.
It would be nice if Apple extend their Spaces feature to accommodate some of this app's features.
Is it worth spending thirty bucks when you have Spaces in 10.5? - Version: 1.3 b5, 12/6/2007 01:26PM PST
(1 of 2 users found this comment useful)
Edwin-schemer
I used this software on Intel before 10.5 and it worked nicely, but is there a point spending an extra thirty bucks for it if you are running 10.5 and can use Spaces?
It is true that Spaces misses a few of the nice features of Desktops, like being able to
have a different wallpaper on each virtual desktop or naming them. On the other hand, Spaces is more stable, has easy shortcuts and interacts nicely with the Apple mouse.
Maybe the "You Control" developers should concentrate on enhancing Spaces before Apple adopts their features.
It is true that Spaces misses a few of the nice features of Desktops, like being able to
have a different wallpaper on each virtual desktop or naming them. On the other hand, Spaces is more stable, has easy shortcuts and interacts nicely with the Apple mouse.
Maybe the "You Control" developers should concentrate on enhancing Spaces before Apple adopts their features.
Most Recent Replies: View All 1 Replies
Almost a 5 stars app - Version: 1.3 b2, 8/21/2007 06:02PM PST
(1 of 4 users found this comment useful)
edanrogo2
I would've given You Control: Desktops a 5 stars review if it weren't for the lack of control that an user has to decide if he/she wants to switch from one desktop to another once he/she closes an application. I emailed the developers about this situation, but they've ignored my suggestion in every update so far. So, even though I've been an user of this application for over two years now, it annoys me that they would continue developing such an useful app without including such a simple option: switch or not switch to the next desktop after all the apps have been closed in the current desktop.
Indispensable software - nice update! - Version: 1.3 b2, 8/21/2007 12:29PM PST
(2 of 2 users found this comment useful)
SoftwareChef
I've used You Control: Desktops since I finally gave up on Codetek's VirtualDesktop. Having something that provides multiple desktops has become a necessity for me. My way of working on the computer has changed dramatically (for the better) with this software, kind of like how TiVo has changed the way I view TV.
I just installed the new beta and I'm very happy with the improvements the developers have made. Two changes in particular have me smiling!
Change number one is the positioning of the cursor after a desktop transition. I now have the option of selecting where the cursor goes after the transition. I like "Same Location", although I'm sure others would disagree. Now I can "have it my way" :)
Change number two is the selectable delay for the "Mouse to Edge Switches Desktops" transition. I'd turned that off earlier because I kept inadvertently switching desktops when I didn't mean to... Now I can actually use the mouse to switch desktops without fear :) Excellent!
I must say I've never had a real problem running "Desktops". YMMV but I've used this software on both a G5 PowerMac and my current Mac Pro (and on a MacBook for a short while). It's worked great on all.
Highly recommended for those whose desktops tend to get "busy" ;-)
I just installed the new beta and I'm very happy with the improvements the developers have made. Two changes in particular have me smiling!
Change number one is the positioning of the cursor after a desktop transition. I now have the option of selecting where the cursor goes after the transition. I like "Same Location", although I'm sure others would disagree. Now I can "have it my way" :)
Change number two is the selectable delay for the "Mouse to Edge Switches Desktops" transition. I'd turned that off earlier because I kept inadvertently switching desktops when I didn't mean to... Now I can actually use the mouse to switch desktops without fear :) Excellent!
I must say I've never had a real problem running "Desktops". YMMV but I've used this software on both a G5 PowerMac and my current Mac Pro (and on a MacBook for a short while). It's worked great on all.
Highly recommended for those whose desktops tend to get "busy" ;-)
Great product - Great support - Version: 1.3 b1, 3/19/2007 04:12PM PST
(1 of 1 users found this comment useful)
JINX2
When Codetek's VirtualDesktop stopped being supported, I needed to find something else. VirtueDesktop didn't work for me and then a colleague recommended You Control. Its been fantastic - far better than codetek's software, actually.
This morning, I started having a problem where the keystroke for checking my email was suddenly jumping me to another desktip. I shot an email to You Control and within a few hours I had perfect instructions for how to fix the problem (I had inadvertantly set up a hot key). The instructions were super clear including screen shots to help me though.
This morning, I started having a problem where the keystroke for checking my email was suddenly jumping me to another desktip. I shot an email to You Control and within a few hours I had perfect instructions for how to fix the problem (I had inadvertantly set up a hot key). The instructions were super clear including screen shots to help me though.
Nice app but overprized - Version: 1.2, 10/17/2006 12:59AM PST
(2 of 3 users found this comment useful)
Emilia
The delta to the free "virtual Desktop Manager" is not worth a 30$ prizetag. Anyway it will be superseded by OSX 10.5 in a few months.
However the auto-switching of Desktops depending on the front application is very elegant and actually *works* in contrast to virtual Desktop!
However the auto-switching of Desktops depending on the front application is very elegant and actually *works* in contrast to virtual Desktop!
What a shame - the app is indeed what Spaces should have been. I am now forced to use Spaces and I am finding it very clumsy in comparison.
There appear to be no third-party virtual desktop apps - a great pity given the Unix underpinnings of OS X.