Did anything replace desktop widgets???

turnerjazz · 03. Dec 2011, 09:08 PM

Yesterday I decided I wanted to change some things on my PC (windows 7 home premium) and started looking around for desktop widgets because I like having lots of info available directly on my desktop (weather, news, etc). I was surprised to find that the big 3 desktop widget programs are all essentially dead.

Windows no longer supports widgets, even on Windows 7 (which I just got). You can still get a few but nothing new and many old ones are gone.
Google desktop is history.
Adobe AIR marketplace is history. You can still get many AIR apps but Adobe shut down their marketplace for buying them and basically said go away.

I'm apparently completely out of the loop. Has something awesome come along that I don't know about? What's the best option for someone like me who likes having the weather, news, facebook, etc directly on my desktop? Is there anything or has everything moved to browser apps like on chrome?

4goTTen21 · 03. Dec 2011, 09:50 PM

Well, there are shell utilities that looks like Sidebar , but not so serious ... some browsers with this functionality like Chrome as you say and Opera; and you have Windows 8, I think it has everything you need, but still in development.
You can find shell utilities over the web, remember GIYF. I attach a pic of Windows 8, in the next few months could meet all your needs, you can try it today if you want so.
Also, I remember a program that emulates Windows 8 screen. I've found it in sites like deviantArt

http://i41.tinypic.com/5y4xle.jpg

turnerjazz · 04. Dec 2011, 12:55 AM

Thanks for the reply. I read about windows 8 a few days ago and it does seem to accomplish what I'm looking for but its release date is still uncertain. I was just surprised to see Microsoft abandon support of something they marketed with windows 7 before a date is even announced for windows 8 but I don't know why that surprises me...

Anyway, I'll look into shell utilities. That's not something I'm really familiar with at this point.

4goTTen21 · 04. Dec 2011, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turnerjazz

Thanks for the reply. I read about windows 8 a few days ago and it does seem to accomplish what I'm looking for but its release date is still uncertain. I was just surprised to see Microsoft abandon support of something they marketed with windows 7 before a date is even announced for windows 8 but I don't know why that surprises me...

Anyway, I'll look into shell utilities. That's not something I'm really familiar with at this point.

Then may I suggest an upgrade to Windows Developer preview?
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516

If you are uncertain about this early demonstration of new upcoming operating system, let me tell you I've tested it and is very closer to a retail product, however, it's your decision. Please let us know if you need anything else.

J_L · 11. Dec 2011, 08:45 AM

It's because of Windows 8. You can still find gadgets on developer websites (ie: http://www.myfavoritegadgets.info/ and http://www.buildagadget.com/).

03. Dec 2011, 09:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
turnerjazz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3	Did anything replace desktop widgets??? Yesterday I decided I wanted to change some things on my PC (windows 7 home premium) and started looking around for desktop widgets because I like having lots of info available directly on my desktop (weather, news, etc). I was surprised to find that the big 3 desktop widget programs are all essentially dead. Windows no longer supports widgets, even on Windows 7 (which I just got). You can still get a few but nothing new and many old ones are gone. Google desktop is history. Adobe AIR marketplace is history. You can still get many AIR apps but Adobe shut down their marketplace for buying them and basically said go away. I'm apparently completely out of the loop. Has something awesome come along that I don't know about? What's the best option for someone like me who likes having the weather, news, facebook, etc directly on my desktop? Is there anything or has everything moved to browser apps like on chrome?

03. Dec 2011, 09:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
4goTTen21 Editor Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Rafael, Argentina Posts: 237	Well, there are shell utilities that looks like Sidebar , but not so serious ... some browsers with this functionality like Chrome as you say and Opera; and you have Windows 8, I think it has everything you need, but still in development. You can find shell utilities over the web, remember GIYF. I attach a pic of Windows 8, in the next few months could meet all your needs, you can try it today if you want so. Also, I remember a program that emulates Windows 8 screen. I've found it in sites like deviantArt http://i41.tinypic.com/5y4xle.jpg __________________ You call destiny to the future you can't control. Last edited by Anupam; 04. Dec 2011 at 06:53 AM. Reason: Edited pic to change it to a link as it was too big

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04. Dec 2011, 12:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
turnerjazz Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3	Thanks for the reply. I read about windows 8 a few days ago and it does seem to accomplish what I'm looking for but its release date is still uncertain. I was just surprised to see Microsoft abandon support of something they marketed with windows 7 before a date is even announced for windows 8 but I don't know why that surprises me... Anyway, I'll look into shell utilities. That's not something I'm really familiar with at this point.

11. Dec 2011, 08:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
J_L Co-Author, Best Free Security List Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,475	It's because of Windows 8. You can still find gadgets on developer websites (ie: http://www.myfavoritegadgets.info/ and http://www.buildagadget.com/).