Gadgets

Gadgets appear to be the technical buzzword of the day. It all started with PDC and the announcement that the sidebar had made a return. Taking a page out of the Konfabulator book, Microsoft designed the sidebar to support gadgets, or mini applications.

This was nothing new as it had been speculated that the sidebar would be making a return for several weeks now. What was new was the announcement that gadgets aren't just for the sidebar. There will also be gadgets for the Vista SideShow (Auxillary Display) and for the Start.com aggregator.

I am most excited about the gadgets for Windows SideShow. Windows SideShow (aka Auxillary Display) is a new feature of Vista that allows information to be displayed on devices other than the primary system monitor, whether it be on an LCD on the lid of a laptop, a keyboard display, or a cellphone. Keeping that information in mind, think of the possibility of SideShow gadgets. The new Microsoft Gadgets blog has some interesting possibilities.