Last night I stayed up way too late working on my "Ask Dave" widget, and I think it's finally done. One thing I wanted very much to do was add some kind of animation to give the "Toon Dave" a bit of life. Eventually I thought of using one of those Etch-A-Sketch type toys so he could shake it up and down to erase the old message, then a new message would appear. But I had no idea how to simulate motion using only JavaScript, so I went widget hunting to see if somebody else had managed it. That's when I found Alwin Troost's Magic 8-Ball widget, and used his image array technique to build the shake animation. Every time you click on Toon Dave, he shakes the "dave-a-sketch" and the answer to all of life's questions magically appear!
And, just like Apple's widgets, you can flip him over to get a quick link to everybody's favorite blog...
Overall I'm quite pleased with my first widget. If you own a Mac running OS X 10.4 Tiger, and want to try it, CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. If you don't own a Mac, then you need to run right out and buy one so you can have Dave's wisdom readily available to you. Or I suppose you could just become an Apple developer so you can get your hands on OS X for Intel, then install it over your Windows or Linux OS (and no, I don't know where to download it). Hmmm... probably easier to buy that Mac (you'll be glad you did!).
In any event, here is the discaimer I include with the ReadMe file:
DISCLAIMER: The Ask Dave widget is just for fun. Any resemblance to actual advice is purely coincidental, and should not be taken seriously (much like Dave himself).
Have fun with your own personal Dave. Try not to abuse him too badly.
I love comments! However, all comments are moderated, and won't appear until approved. Are you an abusive troll with nothing to contribute? Don't bother. Selling something? Don't bother. Spam linking? Don't bother.
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Thanks a lot Dave.
You set my OS X hunting skills on the wry. (it’s a natural geek instinct, I suppose)
That widget rules! I just had my kids playing with it for a few minutes, and it got us plenty of laughs. I wish I could build one of those.
We need a Jerz Profanity Maker widget! Of course, then we need Dashboard for Windows, because if anybody needs to have new and interesting swear words at their fingertips, it’s Windows users. 🙂
Thanks Dave! Now I have answers to my most important quetsions. Like, Magic Dashboard Dave, should I go to lunch now? A: Like I care. Now thats what I call helping your results.
very cute…. thanks! gotta love a Mac!
Hello, Dave.
I recently discovered your blog and really enjoy each new post. The widget you’ve created is wonderful. Several hits on Dave reveals the number “42.” Is this how many hours you spent creating the widget, the age of Etch-A-Sketch or how many widgets it takes to screw in a light bulb???
Take care.
“42” is the answer to “Life, the Universe, and Everything,” as dictated by the genius Douglas Adams in his “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” books. Sometimes, it just fits! 🙂
Is it wrong that, for a split second, I contemplated the pros and cons of going through the hassle (not to mention the cost) of changing my OS just so I could get this widget?
Must. Ask. Dave.
I’m jealous…. *pout*
Hey. You should make a konfabulator version.
Mmm, cross platform goodness.
http://www.konfabulator.com/
This is the only reason I want to rush out and buy X.4 🙂
Um.. I’ve been reading you for so long now and I didn’t know about this.. I think my MacWhore Conversion is now complete.. I mean with a Shuffle, iPod, a MacBook and an iMac and NOW a Ask Dave Widget???? I am so so so so so happy. You are my internet hero.