Microsoft Releases Gadget SDK

Published on May 30, 2006 By ZubaZ In OS Customization

I missed this last week but it looks like MS has released the SDK for MS gadget developers. These gadgets will work on Live.com, the Vista sidebar and on the desktop.

Compared to Konfabulator (Yahoo widgets) or DesktopX, the gadgets in the MS gallery have a long way to to go. Gallery: http://microsoftgadgets.com/Gallery/#Page1

But for anyone who wants to try out the new toy from the folks that brought us MS Bob and Active Desktop: http://microsoftgadgets.com/livesdk/index.htm

Comments

TheGuyPC

on May 30, 2006

Wow, this got 4 out of 5 stars.

I am just learning about code, but it looks to me like their gadgets are to be written in JavaScript and not VBScript. Am I right? Are DX gadgets written in VBScript going to work on Vista? (I'm clueless so please forgive me if these questions are really dumb.)

It also appears that gadget creators have to host their own gadgets. I think that could well be a deal breaker for some potential creators.

I agree Zubaz they have quite a bit of catching up to do.

Interesting development though.

****************EDIT****************
I see that you can upload to their gallery. I had missed that.
It does say (on another page) that you have to host your gadgets yourself.
I guess they changed their minds.

seldomseen

on Jun 09, 2006

Just scoped it out...I've had many of these on an Ipaq for years, burnt out on them all, just doodling for me...noticed WeatherBug available, avoid it like the plague. I tried it and it gronked my whole system resulting in a reformat to get rid of it.
Our widgets and Gadgets here are still light-years ahead of anything else out there, as far as I can tell.
Thanks for the sidebar headline so that I checked it out!

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