Vista's Desktop Gadgets

ultralexy · 01-27-2006, 10:48 PM

Desktop Gadgets are mini-applications that reside in the new Windows Sidebar. The applications can be anything from instant messenger contacts, news, weather, search and much more. Vista will come pre-loaded with a set number of gadgets. A gallery of gadgets will be available to download to suit just about any need.

Gadgets are similar in concept to widgets, however, they do not require a separate platform to run on, they run on Windows. You can even build your own gadgets with relative ease. Apparently, gadgets will also be able to run on Windows XP.

Desktop gadgets are not available in the most recent build of Vista, however this feature is expected to be included in the Beta 2 release.

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dazzlin · 03-22-2006, 07:30 AM

I just heard that Yahoo! is creating a Windows desktop gadget for their downloadable music system. Pretty cool that the competitor is cooperating to make things usable and convenient for users.

W.Harbaugh · 05-28-2006, 04:38 PM

Why is it cool? Oh right because it's unheard of.....I'm moving to Apple in about a month where everything (in my impression) seems to be smoothly intergrated into OS X. I'll let you all know when I get my Mac Book Pro on july 1st :-D

triumph · 05-30-2006, 04:25 PM

I know there have been desktop programs like this for windows forever, but never built in. Just so I am correctly understanding the functionality would it be something similar to Google desktop, where you can get 3rd party plug-ins to do any number of things and have them show up as a gadget?

I love the idea of that functionality, because there is some information I love to have at my fingertips at all time without a clunky overlay.

W.Harbaugh · 05-30-2006, 05:14 PM

Come to think of it. Widgets are built directly into the OS X interface, this is not a new concept, you just have to turn on Dashboard (constantly on anyway). They run slighty faster than "Konfabulator" does.

dazzlin · 05-30-2006, 05:48 PM

Yep, triumph you have the right idea.

triumph · 06-01-2006, 02:36 PM

Thanks Dazzlin.

W. H. Are you saying the macs have a similar functionality right now? My brother just got a new mac, I will have to ask him to check it out.

W.Harbaugh · 06-01-2006, 06:19 PM

They do indeed. Mac's have the widgets much more intergrated, but Mac's in general are much faster than PC's (according to most stats). I'll find out in a month when I get my Macbook Pro :-)

ninikins · 06-04-2006, 03:58 PM

I dont know if I will really be into the gadgets to be honest. It all sounds like my computer is going to decide an awful lot for me (yes I know, I can still remove stuff and pick my own etc), but instead of user functionality it sounds more like self-glorification to me.

crabby · 06-20-2006, 02:20 PM

The gadgets will only be useful if they:

a) arent too big... they load at start and so that can get really annoying!
b) can take up less space than they do right now... on 1280x1024 they take up around a 10th of the desktop!

I hate the fact that the 'default' gadgets for the beta are probably the least useful... clock is shown in start bar... people dont need to see a slideshow of their photos all the time... RSS reader is a great idea but RSS feeds need more detail and formatting them in my opinion.

All we have to think at the moment is... is there anything I would like to see.. if so it has to be a useful feature!!

crabby

RF-musician · 12-31-2006, 10:58 AM

I think, the gadgets will be pretty similar to the Mac OS X widgets and in this way pretty useful.
I have widgets in a dashboard, if I want, I do open them, I can configure, what widgets I need.
I use notepad, clock, wheather, calculator, translation.
Since I have my Mac mini, I ask me, why can't a PC be like this?
But it seems, there are good answers. Fujitsu Siemens offers a Mac Mini like PC and Microsoft a Mac OS X like OS.

Znod · 12-31-2006, 11:08 AM

Welcome RF. Yes, the two platforms are becoming more and more similar. Macs now use intel processors and can run Windows. I am eagerly awaiting the day that PCs will be able to run the Mac OS. Then, we could have a real operating system showdown.

felix8406 · 12-31-2006, 11:31 AM

There are actually two ways to run Windows and Mac side by side; with Boot Camp you can run Windows in Intel-based Macintosh computers. To run the Mac OS in a PC you can use PearPC emulator; although there’s now way to know whether or not it’ll be capable of running the New Mac OS.

Znod · 12-31-2006, 11:39 AM

I should have been more specific. The Mac emulation programs typically have been terribly inferior performance-wise. I meant that I wanted to be able to run the latest (out of the box) Mac OS well on a PC and vice versa. My understanding is that Boot Camp does not detract from the performance of Windows. But, please correct me if I am wrong.

felix8406 · 12-31-2006, 12:53 PM

PearPC is very unpredictable in its support for certain OS and it does take some know how to install and get it to work. Boot Camp is still Beta software so it’s a little premature to know whether or not it’ll go well with Vista. It will catch up with users if it’s simple to use without many configurations.

I’m not a programmer, but it would be so much easier to run both OS in a PC or Mac Computer if the two companies could get together and implement the executable files directly into their software. But, like the saying goes “keep dreaming.”

01-27-2006, 10:48 PM	#1
ultralexy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 133	Vista's Desktop Gadgets Desktop Gadgets are mini-applications that reside in the new Windows Sidebar. The applications can be anything from instant messenger contacts, news, weather, search and much more. Vista will come pre-loaded with a set number of gadgets. A gallery of gadgets will be available to download to suit just about any need. Gadgets are similar in concept to widgets, however, they do not require a separate platform to run on, they run on Windows. You can even build your own gadgets with relative ease. Apparently, gadgets will also be able to run on Windows XP. Desktop gadgets are not available in the most recent build of Vista, however this feature is expected to be included in the Beta 2 release.
(Offline)

03-22-2006, 07:30 AM	#2
dazzlin Elite Members Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 708	I just heard that Yahoo! is creating a Windows desktop gadget for their downloadable music system. Pretty cool that the competitor is cooperating to make things usable and convenient for users. __________________ [B]You'll never [COLOR=orange]shine[/COLOR] if you don't [COLOR=darkorange]glow[/COLOR][/B][COLOR=darkorange] [B]Join our [URL="http://www.vistababble.com"]Windows Vista[/URL] forum or check out [URL="http://vistajunkie.com"]Vista Software[/URL]. [/B][/COLOR]
(Offline)

05-28-2006, 04:38 PM	#3
W.Harbaugh Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 74	Why is it cool? Oh right because it's unheard of.....I'm moving to Apple in about a month where everything (in my impression) seems to be smoothly intergrated into OS X. I'll let you all know when I get my Mac Book Pro on july 1st :-D
(Offline)

05-30-2006, 04:25 PM	#4
triumph Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 118	I know there have been desktop programs like this for windows forever, but never built in. Just so I am correctly understanding the functionality would it be something similar to Google desktop, where you can get 3rd party plug-ins to do any number of things and have them show up as a gadget? I love the idea of that functionality, because there is some information I love to have at my fingertips at all time without a clunky overlay.
(Offline)

05-30-2006, 05:14 PM	#5
W.Harbaugh Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 74	Come to think of it. Widgets are built directly into the OS X interface, this is not a new concept, you just have to turn on Dashboard (constantly on anyway). They run slighty faster than "Konfabulator" does.
(Offline)

05-30-2006, 05:48 PM	#6
dazzlin Elite Members Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 708	Yep, triumph you have the right idea. __________________ [B]You'll never [COLOR=orange]shine[/COLOR] if you don't [COLOR=darkorange]glow[/COLOR][/B][COLOR=darkorange] [B]Join our [URL="http://www.vistababble.com"]Windows Vista[/URL] forum or check out [URL="http://vistajunkie.com"]Vista Software[/URL]. [/B][/COLOR]
(Offline)

06-01-2006, 02:36 PM	#7
triumph Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 118	Thanks Dazzlin. W. H. Are you saying the macs have a similar functionality right now? My brother just got a new mac, I will have to ask him to check it out.
(Offline)

06-01-2006, 06:19 PM	#8
W.Harbaugh Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 74	They do indeed. Mac's have the widgets much more intergrated, but Mac's in general are much faster than PC's (according to most stats). I'll find out in a month when I get my Macbook Pro :-)
(Offline)

06-04-2006, 03:58 PM	#9
ninikins Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 91	I dont know if I will really be into the gadgets to be honest. It all sounds like my computer is going to decide an awful lot for me (yes I know, I can still remove stuff and pick my own etc), but instead of user functionality it sounds more like self-glorification to me.
(Offline)

06-20-2006, 02:20 PM	#10
crabby Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Salisbury, UK Posts: 2,355	The gadgets will only be useful if they: a) arent too big... they load at start and so that can get really annoying! b) can take up less space than they do right now... on 1280x1024 they take up around a 10th of the desktop! I hate the fact that the 'default' gadgets for the beta are probably the least useful... clock is shown in start bar... people dont need to see a slideshow of their photos all the time... RSS reader is a great idea but RSS feeds need more detail and formatting them in my opinion. All we have to think at the moment is... is there anything I would like to see.. if so it has to be a useful feature!! crabby
(Offline)

12-31-2006, 10:58 AM	#11
RF-musician Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 24	I think, the gadgets will be pretty similar to the Mac OS X widgets and in this way pretty useful. I have widgets in a dashboard, if I want, I do open them, I can configure, what widgets I need. I use notepad, clock, wheather, calculator, translation. Since I have my Mac mini, I ask me, why can't a PC be like this? But it seems, there are good answers. Fujitsu Siemens offers a Mac Mini like PC and Microsoft a Mac OS X like OS.
(Offline)

12-31-2006, 11:08 AM	#12
Znod ABXpert Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 3,136	Welcome RF. Yes, the two platforms are becoming more and more similar. Macs now use intel processors and can run Windows. I am eagerly awaiting the day that PCs will be able to run the Mac OS. Then, we could have a real operating system showdown. __________________ [CENTER][sigpic][/sigpic] [COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"][/COLOR][URL=http://homepage.mac.com/donv1/.Pictures/Vista/Bannerxx.jpg][B]Larger Sig Pic Linked Here[/B][/URL][/CENTER]
(Offline)

12-31-2006, 11:31 AM	#13
felix8406 ABXpert Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,628	There are actually two ways to run Windows and Mac side by side; with Boot Camp you can run Windows in Intel-based Macintosh computers. To run the Mac OS in a PC you can use PearPC emulator; although there’s now way to know whether or not it’ll be capable of running the New Mac OS. __________________ Your site for Free Always software: [URL="http://http://www.softdorm.com/"]http://http://www.softdorm.com/[/URL]
(Offline)

12-31-2006, 11:39 AM	#14
Znod ABXpert Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 3,136	I should have been more specific. The Mac emulation programs typically have been terribly inferior performance-wise. I meant that I wanted to be able to run the latest (out of the box) Mac OS well on a PC and vice versa. My understanding is that Boot Camp does not detract from the performance of Windows. But, please correct me if I am wrong. __________________ [CENTER][sigpic][/sigpic] [COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"][/COLOR][URL=http://homepage.mac.com/donv1/.Pictures/Vista/Bannerxx.jpg][B]Larger Sig Pic Linked Here[/B][/URL][/CENTER]
(Offline)

12-31-2006, 12:53 PM	#15
felix8406 ABXpert Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,628	PearPC is very unpredictable in its support for certain OS and it does take some know how to install and get it to work. Boot Camp is still Beta software so it’s a little premature to know whether or not it’ll go well with Vista. It will catch up with users if it’s simple to use without many configurations. I’m not a programmer, but it would be so much easier to run both OS in a PC or Mac Computer if the two companies could get together and implement the executable files directly into their software. But, like the saying goes “keep dreaming.” __________________ Your site for Free Always software: [URL="http://http://www.softdorm.com/"]http://http://www.softdorm.com/[/URL]
(Offline)

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