DesktopGadgets.com launched

Get your gadgets!

from WinCustomize Forums

DesktopGadgets.com has been launched!  DesktopGadgets.com is a new website dedicated to the sale and distribution of mini-applets called "Gadgets".  Gadgets are a new category of software designed to provide information, useful lookup, or enhance an application or service on your computer.  Common gadgets include clocks, weather forceasters, sticky notes, system status meters, website data and more.

Gadgets are similar in concept to "widgets" which have received extensive coverage in the form of Apple's Dashboard, Yahoo's Konfabulator, Kapsules, and Stardock's DesktopX.  However, unlike widgets, gadgets do not require any additional downloads to make them work.  A user who downloads a gadget can run that gadget immediately whereas with widgets, user have to make sure they already have DesktopX or Konfabulator or whatever corresponding widget enabler already installed.  As a result, different programs can create gadgets and they will all work together.

This month at the Professional Developer's Conference (PDC), Microsoft announced it would be supporting gadgets as a native part of Windows Vista.  DesktopGadgets.com will support any kind of gadget regardless of what program was used to create them.  The most popular way to create gadgets presently is with DesktopX Pro.  However, at PDC, Microsoft introduced a new development suite called Expression. When combined with Visual Studio 2005, developers will be able to create gadgets in that way as well.

DesktopGadgets.com will be intensely moderated to ensure only premium-level content is available regardless of whether the gadget is free or to be sold.  Net revenue collected from the sale of gadgets is split evenly between the website and the gadget maker.

Links:
View: DesktopGadgets.com
View: DesktopX Pro Home Page

11,247 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Great job.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great step ... good work
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
but what about AD 2 ...??
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I guess I can understand the need to jump on the latest gadget hype, but I sincerely hope this new site will overlap and not surplant wincustomize.com for widget/gadget/desktops. We already have a great site, I don't want to have to go to yet another site to find the latest & greatest.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't get me wrong I really like the idea but where are the great gadgets that are promised like Auquarium 2, Desktop Pet and others. Beside Naturl Desktop (I already have) there aren't that great gadgets.

Hope they will follow soon!!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just found out that I have a folder in my object desktop folder that contains a few gadgets already. The RSS feed one, the clock, calendar, to do list and so on.

They are .exe files so they are gadgets, no? Widgets aren't .exe files are they? Was there a time we were able to download some of those gadgets? I really don't remember.

So far, I've only downloaded the stickies, and I love them, but I also have a few other gadgets on my desktop because of finding that folder.

Does anyone else have that folder? I have object desktop and I'm a subscriber. I'm wondering if I have those gadgets because of having either of those subscriptions. I don't have Desktop X Pro.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You have that folder because they are a part of your Object Desktop subscription look at Stardock Central and you see a item called Desktop Gadgets!!
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ah ha!! Thank you, Mr Edivion!
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Don't get me wrong I really like the idea but where are the great gadgets that are promised like Auquarium 2, Desktop Pet and others. Beside Naturl Desktop (I already have) there aren't that great gadgets.

They are coming.  We just wanted to spread out the announcements.  Desktop Aquarium 2 next week, Desktop Pet the following week.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
rmccabe916 .. you should say "Opera went completely freeware and now some wants to be payed for Gadgets".
Do you think that is great? 1134 widgets only considering Konfabulator ... that's free.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nice idea, as long as this doesn't turn into a site where people now expect to be paid for churning out another clock/calender widget.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

rmccabe916 .. you should say "Opera went completely freeware and now some wants to be payed for Gadgets".
Do you think that is great? 1134 widgets only considering Konfabulator ... that's free.

Feel free to provide a link to a Konfabulator widget that is the equivalent of Natural Desktop or Desktop Aquarium. I must have missed it.

Since you don't develop gadgets/widgets, let me put it like this:

If I'm spending time making something, it is a heck of a lot more appealing to be able to have my creation be able to be downloaded by any PC user than to have to go and say "Oh, you need to go and download Konfabulator (or DesktopX or whatever) first in order to use it."

As a result, I am a lot more inclined to make my creation a lot more sophisticated.  DesktopGadgets.com won't accept simple clocks and calendars. Those should be widgets.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top


They are .exe files so they are gadgets, no? Widgets aren't .exe files are they? Was there a time we were able to download some of those gadgets? I really don't remember.


All widgets have .exe extentions...I've gotten a widget or two that was in widget section but was really a gadget...I wouldnt have noticed except I tried to import it through desktopX and I recieved " this is not a valid desktopx file"

I just looked at Gadget site..looks good but I hope they plan on more catagories.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
To me, a gadget better be astoundingly good to get my dollars. For instance, if someone is selling a media player type gadget for money, it better do some incredible things...otherwise I'd just stick to Winamp, which is full-featured...and free. What could a media-player gadget offer me, that I can't already get with Winamp or WMP? I hope to see authors take advantage of the oppurtunity of making money, but I also hope they don't try and cash in on lame gadgets that are hardly worth a price...
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Most gadgets are free.  Only those that are "astoundingly good" are for sale.

Media gadget: http://www.desktopgadgets.com/ViewGadget.aspx?GadgetID=9

It's free.

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top


In the future... maybe... I think screenshots of DesktopX themes and stuff should be on the site too. I know the site is about Gadgets, but I think in the future, there could be a sub-category for viewing Desktop themes. The themes selected for the Desktop Gadgets website should have a DesktopX trail self installer so the person trying it will only have one download to worry about (when the person installs the theme, a gadget comes up to say that DX trial is being downloaded from CNET Downloads (show link button) so that way the file on Desktop Gadgets isn't too large).

Just a thought...
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If I'm spending time making something, it is a heck of a lot more appealing to be able to have my creation be able to be downloaded by any PC user than to have to go and say "Oh, you need to go and download Konfabulator (or DesktopX or whatever) first in order to use it."


A lot of people don't get that Frogboy. I end up explaining a few times over when I am on the Digg.com site what DX gadgets DON'T need for its users to do.

Konfabulator is cool and all (it really is) but the real deal with DX gadgets is that you can make one and NOT have to worry about another install.


PS
My idea above this post is about the DX themes, not the gadgets.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You can't get animated wallpapers with Konfabulator.
They will come.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi All,

I have a dumb question. I have a full object desktop subscription. What version of Desktopx do I have with that - Standard or professional?
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Standard.