WIDGIPEDIA OFFERS WIDGETS FOR EVERYONE

What's a widget? According to Widgipedia, "A widget is a small application that runs on your desktop or in a web page. Widgets enrich your desktop or web pages with functionary, useful information and a lot of fun." So what's Widgipedia? That's a website dedicated to widgets of all kinds. And there are several different "kinds."

If you own a Macintosh running one of the later iterations of the OS X operating system, then you most likely know about Dashboard. Dashboard is the operating system's feature that runs widgets on the Mac. As described by Widgipedia, they are indeed little programs but they differ from mainstream applications in that they are for the most part, a one-trick-pony. For example, a widget may let you see the weather in any city. Another will let you translate a typed in phrase from one language to another. One might do currency conversions with still another widget. Other examples of widgets are calendars, track a flight, calculate postage, track a stock's performance, look up when a TV show is airing, the list is endless. There are literally thousands of widgets available.

Widgets aren't only for the Macintosh although as far as I can determine, they began on that platform with a little program called Konfabulator. Not too long after the success of that program, Apple announced their iteration of widget support with Dashboard. The timeline continues with Konfabulator offering support for the Windows platform. Today, Widgets are available for Linux and many now transcend the operating systems barrier by working on most any web browser. These are referred to as "Web Widgets."

There are subtle differences between the platforms on just how widgets actually function. For example, within the Mac's Dashboard, widgets operate within their own "layer" and float above the actual desktop. The screen dims slightly as well so that you can better see how the widgets float above everything. When you are finished, clicking anywhere on the screen other than on a widget causes that layer to vanish and the screen brightens so that you know you are back on your desktop. In Windows, the widgets operate on the same desktop as do the rest of the applications. You can elect to have them float above everything, or visually sink down into the desktop to distinguish them from normal applications.

Web widgets require the use of a web browser and run within the browser's window. They usually can be dragged anywhere within the browser window independently from whatever is being displayed there at any given time.

Finding widgets is fairly easy but usually these locations are platform specific. Apple widgets found on the Apple website are strictly for Dashboard, Microsoft's website widgets offerings are for Windows only, you get the idea. Fortunately, there is a platform-independent website that offers thousands of widgets for all platforms and types. Widgipedia even lets developers of widgets submit them for approval and publication. There you will find widget forums, widget tutorials, widget galleries, widget discussions, you name it. If it has anything to do with widgets, you'll find it on Widgipedia.

Widgipedia is a free website to explore and download as many widgets as you care to. If you're not into widgets, you may find yourself converted after a few visits. My widget library has increased three-fold since going there.
But be forewarned. Widgets can become addictive as well as being a whole lot of fun.


http://www.widgipedia.com/
 

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