Microsoft has revealed that it will no longer support Gadgets in Windows 8.

The software maker revealed the change in a message on the company’s Windows downloads site. Microsoft is retiring its Windows Live Gallery site that typically provides access to desktop gadgets that were originally introduced with the Windows Vista operating system. Microsoft supported desktop gadgets in Windows Vista’s sidebar and removed the sidebar in Windows 7 but kept the gadgets support.

“Microsoft is no longer supporting development or uploading of new Gadgets,” said a statement on Microsoft’s Windows Live Gallery site.

more at source..

Oohh. That's not good news. I practically live on my Clipboard Gadget.

Oh good. My first thought when I used Windows 8 for the first time was what happens with Desktop Gadgets? I mean, you can probably get a Metro app that's more active looking and much more immersive than any gadget that I know of...

I am sure someone will find a tweak to put the Vista sidebar back on - like in Win7. I think the sidebar is neat, especially if you have a lot of real estate on your screen.

I must admit I'd of liked to see a return of the sidebar, most monitors these days are far wider than the content and a sidebar make a nice use of the extra space.

Originally Posted by jimbo45

For me that's just fine -- I hated them in VISTA -- didn't use them in W7 and am glad to see the back of them.
If you need this type of app just install one as a Metro App on W8.

Cheers
jimbo

Well I for one use 5 of them heavily for RT system monitoring, and will be pretty upset if there's no way to run them in Win 8 when it's finalized.

Yeah, they say make and use Metro apps that do the same thing, but are you going to be able to have Metro gadget like apps that display the same kind of information on the normal desktop too? Or just on the metro Immersive desktop?
Because if it's just the on the Immersive one, then that's pretty pointless when you're on the normal desktop, isn't it..

Originally Posted by Airbot

Originally Posted by jimbo45

For me that's just fine -- I hated them in VISTA -- didn't use them in W7 and am glad to see the back of them.
If you need this type of app just install one as a Metro App on W8.

Cheers
jimbo

Well I for one use 5 of them heavily for RT system monitoring, and will be pretty upset if there's no way to run them in Win 8 when it's finalized.

Yeah, they say make and use Metro apps that do the same thing, but are you going to be able to have Metro gadget like apps that display the same kind of information on the normal desktop too? Or just on the metro Immersive desktop?
Because if it's just the on the Immersive one, then that's pretty pointless when you're on the normal desktop, isn't it..

That is true, but look at the Weather app, it shows the same information as the Desktop Weather gadget. When you click on the Metro app, it's a full screen visual showing more detail. Click on the Desktop app, you get an MSN weather site showing further detail and a further forecast. Both information is basically displayed the same way. One's immersive, the other's a full window, except the immersive is more modern and prettier.

But I can see however, for example, a system monitor gadget. That could probably work as a Metro app, but it does seem slightly pointless to have it in the Start Screen and not on the desktop.

Hm, I'm not so sure we'll see gadgets disappearing completely, I just think Microsoft wants to use Live Tiles instead. It would make sense considering that the gadget platform can get quite RAM intensive.