The weakness of gadgets
Friday, July 14, 2006 by BlueDev | Discussion: OS Customization
I dig gadgets. I really do.
Well, okay, I lie. As someone who has DesktopX installed, I think objects are vastly inferior to widgets. I see the plus of objects not needing DX installed, blah, blah, blah. But for those of us who have DesktopX already, gadgets just really, really suck. Oh, and as an aside, it would appear I feel like whining today.
Why do I think gadgets are inferior to widgets? There are a number of reasons:
1) They don't auto-install. A small point, sure, but a point nonetheless. If I download a widget, open the zip file and double click, the widget runs AND drops itself in my Widgets folder. It is all about convenience, and in my sloth I can't tell you how many gadgets never stayed on my system because I double clicked from the zip, then closed the zip, only to realize I didn't manually extract that gadget somewhere.
2) They don't respond to F9 and F10. This is huge for me. Widgets responding to these keys (either to bring to the front or to hide completely) was actually the functionality that got me to finally use DesktopX. I don't like lots of things cluttering my desktop, so I love being able to hit F10 and make them all go away. And when I want to change the song, see the temp, date, news bit, etc. I love to be able to hit F9 and have my widgets come to the front. With gadgets I have to manually bring it to the front, or minimize all my other windows. Again, a HUGE step back in terms of convenience when it comes to gadgets vs. widgets.
3) You can't customize them. Heck, this is WinCUSTOMIZE, so this should be a no brainer. There are a number of widgets that I have downloaded, imported, looked at their scripts and then changed something small, or changed a font, a color, or an image, to make the widget behave a little more how I would like. All for personal use, of course. But the fact that I can't import a gadget, tweak it a little to make it fit my personal style a bit more, or even get scripting ideas, means they are far inferior to widgets IMO.
Again, I understand the reason behind gadgets. But I don't understand the reasoning behind only releasing the gadgets over here at Wincustomize.com. Isn't that what DesktopGadgets.com is for? It is a shame to head to the WIDGET section, only to seem some nice, new toy is actually a castrated widget (aka gadget).
Bring on the "shut up and make it yourself" bitch-slaps.
Well, okay, I lie. As someone who has DesktopX installed, I think objects are vastly inferior to widgets. I see the plus of objects not needing DX installed, blah, blah, blah. But for those of us who have DesktopX already, gadgets just really, really suck. Oh, and as an aside, it would appear I feel like whining today.
Why do I think gadgets are inferior to widgets? There are a number of reasons:
1) They don't auto-install. A small point, sure, but a point nonetheless. If I download a widget, open the zip file and double click, the widget runs AND drops itself in my Widgets folder. It is all about convenience, and in my sloth I can't tell you how many gadgets never stayed on my system because I double clicked from the zip, then closed the zip, only to realize I didn't manually extract that gadget somewhere.
2) They don't respond to F9 and F10. This is huge for me. Widgets responding to these keys (either to bring to the front or to hide completely) was actually the functionality that got me to finally use DesktopX. I don't like lots of things cluttering my desktop, so I love being able to hit F10 and make them all go away. And when I want to change the song, see the temp, date, news bit, etc. I love to be able to hit F9 and have my widgets come to the front. With gadgets I have to manually bring it to the front, or minimize all my other windows. Again, a HUGE step back in terms of convenience when it comes to gadgets vs. widgets.
3) You can't customize them. Heck, this is WinCUSTOMIZE, so this should be a no brainer. There are a number of widgets that I have downloaded, imported, looked at their scripts and then changed something small, or changed a font, a color, or an image, to make the widget behave a little more how I would like. All for personal use, of course. But the fact that I can't import a gadget, tweak it a little to make it fit my personal style a bit more, or even get scripting ideas, means they are far inferior to widgets IMO.
Again, I understand the reason behind gadgets. But I don't understand the reasoning behind only releasing the gadgets over here at Wincustomize.com. Isn't that what DesktopGadgets.com is for? It is a shame to head to the WIDGET section, only to seem some nice, new toy is actually a castrated widget (aka gadget).
Bring on the "shut up and make it yourself" bitch-slaps.
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Fairyy~
Reply #22 Monday, July 24, 2006 5:56 PM
Which is the only point any of us are making - it is confusing enough to most people the gadget/widget thing. Mixing them only creates further confusion. As for protecting your codes - absolutely. I can understand that if you've worked hard writing the code and if your trying to make a Gadget for sale I totally understand this.
I know a lot of us use martins and tiggz's scripts. But without their generosity of sharing, 50% of desktopX users would be lost and not able to do much at all.
I will never understand script - im not that educated in computers but I like to use desktopX and I thank anyone that shares their knowledge with me.
Reply #22 Monday, July 24, 2006 5:56 PM
| I see people getting VERY confused with Gadgets in the next few years, with MS/Google/DX all using the same name for 3 totally different things. |
Which is the only point any of us are making - it is confusing enough to most people the gadget/widget thing. Mixing them only creates further confusion. As for protecting your codes - absolutely. I can understand that if you've worked hard writing the code and if your trying to make a Gadget for sale I totally understand this.
I know a lot of us use martins and tiggz's scripts. But without their generosity of sharing, 50% of desktopX users would be lost and not able to do much at all.
I will never understand script - im not that educated in computers but I like to use desktopX and I thank anyone that shares their knowledge with me.
RomanDA
Reply #23 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:12 PM
Reply #23 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:12 PM
And i completely agree we need a GADGET section, and i would have no problem moving the gadget i have here to there. I have posted about this before, several times.
I also agree that without people sharing their code most of the work i have done wouldn't have happened at all. But it needs to be up to the person posting the widget/gadget.
Unless someone in charge here decides to make this change there is not much we can do here is there?
The problem with this is multiple fold. One, it takes a VERY long time (up to a month) to get a gadget posted to DG.com. Also, it will not get the kinds of downloads or attention it does posted here. And if he is posting something on DG and charging for it, its not that great to give it away here for free.
I have posted all about DG and I think there are still some issues that need addressed.
It would be nice to see what the "powers that be" think about this issue (Gadgets section that is).
I also agree that without people sharing their code most of the work i have done wouldn't have happened at all. But it needs to be up to the person posting the widget/gadget.
Unless someone in charge here decides to make this change there is not much we can do here is there?
| I htink you should make gadgets too Richard. Just post them to DesktopGadgets.com. They can use the traffic and if it's something really great you can make a profit on them. |
The problem with this is multiple fold. One, it takes a VERY long time (up to a month) to get a gadget posted to DG.com. Also, it will not get the kinds of downloads or attention it does posted here. And if he is posting something on DG and charging for it, its not that great to give it away here for free.
I have posted all about DG and I think there are still some issues that need addressed.
It would be nice to see what the "powers that be" think about this issue (Gadgets section that is).
Fairyy~
Reply #24 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:26 PM
Wow - I was unaware it took that long to post a Gadget there and I thought you could post free ones there too. Perhaps if they do not have room for a Gadget Gallery here - maybe just changing the widget section to include them ( which is not the best solution ) and maybe change the icon that shows when a Gadget is in the " Just In " Gallery so it looks different from a widget - then at least its more " understood "
I wasnt really referring to the Gadget you particularly uploaded here - more like a few I ran across trying to tweak in DX and kept getting that " error message " that at the time I didnt understand because it was a Gadget but was never stated.
Like you said - we dont really have a say in this so I guess its a moot point.
So until then - you have a perfect right to upload them here.
Reply #24 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:26 PM
The problem with this is multiple fold. One, it takes a VERY long time (up to a month) to get a gadget posted to DG.com. Also, it will not get the kinds of downloads or attention it does posted here. And if he is posting something on DG and charging for it, its not that great to give it away here for free. I have posted all about DG and I think there are still some issues that need addressed. It would be nice to see what the "powers that be" think about this issue (Gadgets section that is). |
Wow - I was unaware it took that long to post a Gadget there and I thought you could post free ones there too. Perhaps if they do not have room for a Gadget Gallery here - maybe just changing the widget section to include them ( which is not the best solution ) and maybe change the icon that shows when a Gadget is in the " Just In " Gallery so it looks different from a widget - then at least its more " understood "
I wasnt really referring to the Gadget you particularly uploaded here - more like a few I ran across trying to tweak in DX and kept getting that " error message " that at the time I didnt understand because it was a Gadget but was never stated.
Like you said - we dont really have a say in this so I guess its a moot point.
So until then - you have a perfect right to upload them here.
RomanDA
Reply #25 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:57 PM
Reply #25 Monday, July 24, 2006 6:57 PM
You can post gadgets for free, and there are a lot of them there, but Zu was making the point that Richard could post his gadgets at DG and make a little money too.
felician
Reply #26 Tuesday, December 26, 2006 3:57 AM
Reply #26 Tuesday, December 26, 2006 3:57 AM
Thanks for the welcome
Christmas Day falls on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve on December 24, and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day on December 26. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 on the Julian calendar. December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not thought to be his actual date of birth. Much respect!
Christmas Day falls on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve on December 24, and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day on December 26. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 on the Julian calendar. December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not thought to be his actual date of birth. Much respect!
sViz
Reply #29 Tuesday, December 26, 2006 9:10 AM
Reply #29 Tuesday, December 26, 2006 9:10 AM
Weird. Re #26 I just read that paragraph from the Wikipedia article on Christmas. Don't know why he posted it here.
It's strange I never realized there were gadgets mixed in with the widgets before. I agree that they should be kept in seperate sections. As to the original post I agree with all three points to a degree. I made a gadget once back when I knew next to nothing about DX, but that was only because I looked at the 3 options (object, widget, gadget) as ranging from 'okay' to 'superior' so I figured hey, SUPER-SIZE ME! Since then I have found widgets to be far superior to gadgets from a customizing standpoint and I have never made a gadget again. The other day I came to realize one of the more important uses of gadgets. Someone had seen my ATW! Global Clock on my friend's desktop and wanted to use one too. Without thinking about it I was like 'well just tell him where to download'. My friend then reminded me that the person did not have Desktop X. My friend said something to the effect of me needing to make a stand-alone version, and he was right. Gadgets are for those people who would like to use the cool stuff we DXers use but do not want to all the hassle of installing yet another program when it doesn't do anything but display the time, weather, and news. Yes, to those who are not into scripting that's basically all DX does for them. In my opinion gadgets are like all products in the real market place. It's all about the average end-user and anticipating their needs. Think about it, when you buy a DVD player or a digital camera from the store you're not going to take it home, crack it open and start tweaking it to your customizing needs. You make sure when you buy it that it has all the options you want, and so do the makers of the products. When you make a gadget you have already anticitpated the fact that the end-user doesn't have DX. If you go even further and anticipate all the options and customizing needs of the end-user then I think that's when a gadget surpasses a widget in usability, practicality, and value. It's alot to ask for coders to anticipate the whims of the end-user but I guess it's something to strive for, just like all products we see in the market everyday. I think it's all really up to the creators to make the average end-users and indeed us DXers take gadgets more seriously as both useful and customizable. That's my 2 cents.
It's strange I never realized there were gadgets mixed in with the widgets before. I agree that they should be kept in seperate sections. As to the original post I agree with all three points to a degree. I made a gadget once back when I knew next to nothing about DX, but that was only because I looked at the 3 options (object, widget, gadget) as ranging from 'okay' to 'superior' so I figured hey, SUPER-SIZE ME! Since then I have found widgets to be far superior to gadgets from a customizing standpoint and I have never made a gadget again. The other day I came to realize one of the more important uses of gadgets. Someone had seen my ATW! Global Clock on my friend's desktop and wanted to use one too. Without thinking about it I was like 'well just tell him where to download'. My friend then reminded me that the person did not have Desktop X. My friend said something to the effect of me needing to make a stand-alone version, and he was right. Gadgets are for those people who would like to use the cool stuff we DXers use but do not want to all the hassle of installing yet another program when it doesn't do anything but display the time, weather, and news. Yes, to those who are not into scripting that's basically all DX does for them. In my opinion gadgets are like all products in the real market place. It's all about the average end-user and anticipating their needs. Think about it, when you buy a DVD player or a digital camera from the store you're not going to take it home, crack it open and start tweaking it to your customizing needs. You make sure when you buy it that it has all the options you want, and so do the makers of the products. When you make a gadget you have already anticitpated the fact that the end-user doesn't have DX. If you go even further and anticipate all the options and customizing needs of the end-user then I think that's when a gadget surpasses a widget in usability, practicality, and value. It's alot to ask for coders to anticipate the whims of the end-user but I guess it's something to strive for, just like all products we see in the market everyday. I think it's all really up to the creators to make the average end-users and indeed us DXers take gadgets more seriously as both useful and customizable. That's my 2 cents.
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Reply #21 Monday, July 24, 2006 4:47 PM
I don't have a problem with them protecting their work that way. However, they don't belong in the Widget section then.