Microsoft axes Gadgets support in Windows 8

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.
 

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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...
 

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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..

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
 
Last edited:

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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.
 

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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.
 

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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..
 

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    2 ice cubes.
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    Nar, it has other key friends.
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    Warp 9.9
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.
 

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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.
 

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I like my gadgets, have gotten used to the system info at a glance. A Guy
 

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I only use 1 gadget and that is the transparent desktop clock which can still be currently used in WDP and looks nicer on the desktop than the Metro UI clock. I think M$ will instead have similar Apps available from the App store and let's hope they are still free.

I also got lucky and my gadget was still available from the developers website so I still have the gadget available for Vista and Win 7 OS's
 

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I liked the side bar in Vista, kept the desktop neat.
 

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The main advantage of the sidebar is that it is always on top (if you set it that way) and does not interfere with the pages. The best gadget there (at least for me) was the AppLauncher. I could stuff a lot more shortcuts into there than into the W7 taskbar. Without the sidebar, I resorted to toolbars. Toolbars - How to Use in Windows 7 and Vista - Windows 7 Forums
 

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I personally never used gadgets or the sidebar so they won't be missed by me.
 

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I know this sounds funny, but I was actually using a WP7 rainmeter style for a long time there... That was better than the gadget platform for me.
 

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I only ever used clocks to add to a second monitor. I'll miss that. But overall gadgets just never really took off like they should have.


The majority of them just weren't that great while others were downright crap. Some were great, but there weren't enough of them to ever make the sidebar gadget a wide spread real concern.

The sidebar also had potential, but that too lacked features and quality. A re-vamped and improved version would probably work very now for the reason John mentioned above (real estate).

But we're not going to find out since it's dead. Maybe a new dog in the future will take it's place.
 

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I've never been too keen on the gadgets, and, in both Vista and W7, I've tended to disable them when installing the OS.
 

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The only app that I will miss is my Core Temp app. It works great.
 

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Hi there
The new W8 Metro style apps can serve as gadgets and are IMO a much better method if you like that sort of stuff. It also allows "common" type of display between your desktop and smartphone.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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