Windows Vista Sidebar Gadget is becoming so popular that the number of downloads is reaching astronomical heights based on the number of dowloaded items seen on the Microsoft Gadgets Gallery. These gadgets are the small panels located on the right side of your Windows Vista desktop. The Vista Gagets. Vista sidebar gadgets has the ability to perform different functions.

Overview

The Microsoft vista gadgets are mini applications designed to occupy a small area of Windows Vista desktop to intended provide usable features and tasks that extend the power of Windows Vista.

Vista Gadgets includes: Calendar, Clock, Contacts, CPU Meter, Currency conversion, RSS Feed Headlines, Notes, Picture Puzzle, Slide Show, Stocks, and Weather. The Clock, Slide Show and Feed Headlines are displayed by default on a new installation of Windows Vista.

Criticisms (from Wikipedia)

Some reviewers and Macintosh enthusiasts have been quick to point out the Sidebar’s similarities in form and function to Apple’s Dashboard, as well as Yahoo! Widget Engine (formerly Konfabulator). While there are a number of similarities in form and function, the Sidebar itself has been present for much of the development of Windows Vista (known for much of that time as “Longhorn”). The first known build to include this feature was built in September 2002, before the release of either Konfabulator or Dashboard.

History (from Wikipedia)

Sidebar itself originated in a Microsoft Research project called Sideshow, which was not directly related to the official, Windows SideShow auxiliary display feature in Windows Vista. It was developed in the summer of 2000, and was used internally at Microsoft.[1] It had many similarities to current desktop gadget software, including a clock, traffic reports, and IM integration.

Interestingly, Sidebar was originally designed to replace the notification area or Quick Launch bar in Windows, but these plans were scrapped after the Longhorn “reset” in mid-2004.

Windows Vista Sidebar Gadgets

The calendar is a standard calendar display gadget. It has both a monthly and daily views. What I do not like is when you click the year since it would bring up a display which allows you to choose the year and month, however, I could not find a button to go back to its default view and date.

The clock is straight forward and displays the time set in Windows Vista time.

The contacts sidebar is pretty lame with only a search function. I am looking for something at the very least sync up with Outlook or mobile gadgets.

The CPU meter shows your CPU, either dual core or single core, which kicks up whenever you do any actions.

This just displays two currencies. It is just disappointing to see a limited number of currencies.

This displays feed headlines.

You can add a number of notes and view them using the next and previous buttons.

You can kill time by playing the picture puzzle gadget. You just have to click the blocks and they would move to an adjacent block.

This displays media from your pictures folder. You can click on a next and previous button.

The stock come from IDC Comstocks and you have the ability to add stock symbols.

This displays the weather from a web service.