Vista Sidebar and Gadgets

Gadgets are small smart applications which have specific functionalities and utilities. We can consider them as small tools which we can benefit on various subjects.

On the right, you can see on my Windows Vista Beta 2 machine's sidebar running a list of gadgets on the desktop. A clock, a feed viewer, a slide show gadget which you can define where the photos will be displayed from. I added the CPU Meter also to my desktop. It has a fantastic view:) There exists two puzzle gadgets coming with Vista default installation. Notes is a very lovely tool, which you can take short notes on your desktop. This application is not new, but I guess you all like this idea.

You can see the list of gadgets installed by default on Windows Vista Beta 2.

Calculator

Clock

CPU Meter

Currency Conversion

Feed Viewer

Feed Watcher

Notes

Number Puzzle

Picture Puzzle

Recycle Bin

Slide Show

Stocks

Timer

You can find more gadgets or widgets from sites http://microsoftgadgets.com/ and http://widgets.yahoo.com/

You can also find information for development of widgets at http://widgets.yahoo.com/workshop/

Yahoo widgets are also very advanced very well designed small cool tools.

Below you can see the Yahoo! Weather widget. You can customize the weather widget by changing the location or the measurement system. Widget which is checking the Yahoo Web Mail account is also nice and useful. You do not need to logon to your account to see whether a new mail has arrived or not. Clock is also smart.

Yahoo's slideshow widget is very beautiful. You can decide what kind of pictures to be placed on the slide by selecting from photo categories.

Google has also gadgets. You may find Google Calender is very advanced and handful.