Comments on: How Many Gadget/Widget Tools do we Need? http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/ Technology News Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:45:09 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96106 Ryan Thu, 17 May 2007 15:00:30 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96106 I have been trying to think how the widgets and gadgets can advance to the next step, but can't come up with much. I think Netvibes is taking a step in the right direction by offering their gadgets from the site on other platforms (including on your desktop). That way you can have your gadgets right there on your computer, or when you go somewhere else (like work) you can pull up your browser and have the same gadgets. I have been trying to think how the widgets and gadgets can advance to the next step, but can’t come up with much. I think Netvibes is taking a step in the right direction by offering their gadgets from the site on other platforms (including on your desktop). That way you can have your gadgets right there on your computer, or when you go somewhere else (like work) you can pull up your browser and have the same gadgets.

]]> By: Inferno_str1ke http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96101 Inferno_str1ke Thu, 17 May 2007 14:05:24 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96101 WIdgets seem to have become the must have gimmick, yet no one is really advancing them - despite Google Sidebar, Windows Sidebar and the like getting constantly refreshed, the principle remains the same as that of Konfabulator which bought widgets to the fore on Windows. For this reason the same problems exist - lack of omniprescence (because there's usually stuff open and covering them), system resource use, difficult to find what one wants/customise. I think if every widget browser adopted a universal standard for code, preference storage and the like it would be more appealing to use them, because minor code knowledge could change a lot, but the other issues remain. At the end of the day most of the info provided by widgets isn't needed most of the time - the only thing I've ever found realistically useful for widgets was a To Do list. But I replaced that - with a whiteboard and pen next to my desk. PCs can't do everything. WIdgets seem to have become the must have gimmick, yet no one is really advancing them – despite Google Sidebar, Windows Sidebar and the like getting constantly refreshed, the principle remains the same as that of Konfabulator which bought widgets to the fore on Windows. For this reason the same problems exist – lack of omniprescence (because there’s usually stuff open and covering them), system resource use, difficult to find what one wants/customise. I think if every widget browser adopted a universal standard for code, preference storage and the like it would be more appealing to use them, because minor code knowledge could change a lot, but the other issues remain. At the end of the day most of the info provided by widgets isn’t needed most of the time – the only thing I’ve ever found realistically useful for widgets was a To Do list. But I replaced that – with a whiteboard and pen next to my desk. PCs can’t do everything.

]]> By: onlineapps http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96071 onlineapps Wed, 16 May 2007 19:46:35 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96071 How true. Especially with Google Gadgets and Trillian. You also missed the GDesklets and SuperKaramba (based off of Karamba). All three are Linux widgets (the first for GTK , the second for KDE). How true. Especially with Google Gadgets and Trillian.

You also missed the GDesklets and SuperKaramba (based off of Karamba). All three are Linux widgets (the first for GTK , the second for KDE).

]]> By: Ryan http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96053 Ryan Wed, 16 May 2007 14:55:08 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96053 I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one thinking that the widget madness has gone too far. Personally I like websites that have widgets built-in, such as YourMini's or Netvibes, because it gives a nice place to access your information without causing extra work for your PC. The only widgets I use in Vista are ones to monitor my dual-core processors/memory, the weather, and one for managing recording on Media Center. I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one thinking that the widget madness has gone too far. Personally I like websites that have widgets built-in, such as YourMini’s or Netvibes, because it gives a nice place to access your information without causing extra work for your PC. The only widgets I use in Vista are ones to monitor my dual-core processors/memory, the weather, and one for managing recording on Media Center.

]]> By: shirizaki http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96025 shirizaki Wed, 16 May 2007 02:29:32 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96025 Widgets are a nice idea, but they need to be better managed. Aside from resource management and weather watching, widgets don't serve a purpose. And there are standalone programs that can do that. I have forecast fox in FF and I'm sure there's an app I can find for XP that monitors my resources. Maybe in the future there will be port monitoring apps and more system based ones, but right now they're just shiny things to fill your desktop. And people laugh at the other peopel who fill their desktop will icons and folder. Widgets are a nice idea, but they need to be better managed. Aside from resource management and weather watching, widgets don’t serve a purpose. And there are standalone programs that can do that. I have forecast fox in FF and I’m sure there’s an app I can find for XP that monitors my resources.

Maybe in the future there will be port monitoring apps and more system based ones, but right now they’re just shiny things to fill your desktop. And people laugh at the other peopel who fill their desktop will icons and folder.

]]> By: Chris Rossini http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96022 Chris Rossini Wed, 16 May 2007 01:35:00 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96022 I think widgets are pretty good when placed on a website or MySpace page...It can add some character, depending on the widget. But as far as widgets within the browser, I think they get in the way. I love the Opera browser...I just don't understand the point of the widgets. I think widgets are pretty good when placed on a website or MySpace page…It can add some character, depending on the widget.

But as far as widgets within the browser, I think they get in the way. I love the Opera browser…I just don’t understand the point of the widgets.

]]> By: netster007x http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96020 netster007x Wed, 16 May 2007 01:28:49 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96020 Yes, the widget madness has gone too far. I use a pretty weak system, so I can't have anything else slowing it down. Also, Widgets seem to get in the way more than they help. What would I want widgets for? To have RSS, news, mail updates, weather, calendar... in one place? That's what I have Yahoo! mail beta for 8) Yes, the widget madness has gone too far. I use a pretty weak system, so I can’t have anything else slowing it down. Also, Widgets seem to get in the way more than they help. What would I want widgets for? To have RSS, news, mail updates, weather, calendar… in one place? That’s what I have Yahoo! mail beta for 8)

]]> By: Phillip Black http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96017 Phillip Black Wed, 16 May 2007 00:27:42 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96017 Widgets are fun but take up to much screen space and computer usage. :? Widgets are fun but take up to much screen space and computer usage. :?

]]> By: xpgeek http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96007 xpgeek Tue, 15 May 2007 21:46:57 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96007 I've played with widgets, and played with and played with, but yea find em pretty much useless in the end too. Having a widget engine built into Astra just says to me that its going to be a very bloated app. I’ve played with widgets, and played with and played with, but yea find em pretty much useless in the end too. Having a widget engine built into Astra just says to me that its going to be a very bloated app.

]]> By: DavidC http://cybernetnews.com/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/comment-page-1/#comment-96004 DavidC Tue, 15 May 2007 20:41:58 +0000 http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/05/15/how-many-gadgetwidget-tools-do-we-need/#comment-96004 Hey Ryan I've used Trillian for years, it's a great IM client. I was bummed when I couldn't run it on my vista machine, can't wait to see Astra. As for gadgets, I've installed and then promptly un-installed dozens of them. The only ones I find even remotely useful are the ones that monitor system/network/disc resources and the weather channel. Aside from that, they're pretty much a waste of time. It's a good concept, I keep hoping to find something useful, maybe someone here knows of one. Hey Ryan

I’ve used Trillian for years, it’s a great IM client. I was bummed when I couldn’t run it on my vista machine, can’t wait to see Astra.

As for gadgets, I’ve installed and then promptly un-installed dozens of them. The only ones I find even remotely useful are the ones that monitor system/network/disc resources and the weather channel. Aside from that, they’re pretty much a waste of time. It’s a good concept, I keep hoping to find something useful, maybe someone here knows of one.

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