h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is is possible to have a circular internet browser window? A page that when it opens it is round. Why are they all square? Could you have one with rounded corners or wavy edges?

I suppose, in theory, it is possible. However, all the code in things like Microsoft's Visual C++ or Visual Basic, or Borland's C++ produces rectangular windows. If someone wanted to produce a round window (or an arched window, if you remember Play School) they would have to write the code themself. Speaking as a software engineer, it's not worth the hassle unless someone is going to pay you stacks of money.

if it is truly possible then i think somebody better design one fast before bill gates and friends decide to take the idea from us

the idea is a great one!

So if you could what about a spiral one?

Or an oval one?

Toblerone could have a triangular one!

But then you would have spare space around the edges so you would need a round screen!

But if you then had a round screen it would lookjust like those screens from 'Flash Gordon' and you could pretend to be Ming the Merciless which would a diversion for at least a couple of hours I'm sure. Here's hoping.

A round screen would be nice wouldn't it. If you had to have a square screen you could have other things going on in the corners. Spiders weaving webs or something .....

Based on my knowledge of the workings of Microsoft (Yeuggh!), all windows are inherently square. It is possible to produce a window that LOOKS round, but there would, as you say, be gaps in the corners. You could fill these gaps with icons, menus, etc., or just leave them blank (which would look odd).

BTW if anyone asks 'What does the window see when it looks round?' I will mentally throttle them!

Nope not good enough. I want real round windows.

I wrote a program that turns all of your windows Christmas tree shaped.
If you want to mail me, I could post it to you...the code is in VB and you could easily change the function which makes the window christmas tree shaped to make em circular instead.

<>====uuu====<

There are programs which can use different shapped windows. Take Sonique (an MP3 player) for example. This is user customisable with the use of skins, see http://www.sonique.com/ and look at some of the skins with weird and wonderful shapes.

So why not a web browser, well for a start the way web pages are written it's designed for a rectangular window - how do you work out where to put the frames in a circular window (on the edge, how does the glass stay in otherwise )

My prog is a bit more erm, brutal than that and because each frame is considered a window in its own right they too get made Christmas tree shaped.
Ditto menu bars, buttons, sliders etc.
It can be difficult to use your pc in this state, mind you

I know it can be difficult running a PC in the state where it runs windows programs