Discussion on:

Top 10 Windows 7 desktop gadgets

I really like your site very much. It's uncluttered, crisp and enjoyable to peruse.

That said, I also liked the "Top 10 Windows 7 desktop gadgets" but when I select one, I am taken to a Microsoft Windows personalization page which has some nice gadgets, but not the ones listed in your article (examples: App Launcher, Mini TV and Ultimate Explorer. The Microsoft page I'm sent to does not show these.

Otherwise, I am very glad I have joined TechRepublic . . . I look forward to going to your site daily!

Where do I find these apps. Mainly the clipboard manager.

Definitely have to check these out!

Yeah were do you find all these gadgets??

don't use gadgets they use up memory on ram staying up all the time

Clipboard Manager, MiniTV and Facebook Explorer.... these apps i liked most. I think this list should contain another gadget named Outlook Upcoming Appointments. It is also a very useful gadget for windows lover.

When I click on the link for this gadget, another tab opens tp the Windows Gadget Site, but Ultimate Explorer is not an option as a Windows 7 Desktop Gadget.

Am I doing something wrong?

I just "Upgraded " from my xp of 10 years and got the shock of my life,, window 7.It took me "awhile" but Ive come to appreciate these Apps, and this list of 10 is just what Ive been looking 4. Oh if you are worried about memory/ Ram, I was having trouble with mine but didnt want to mess with the cards/ slots sruff. So I read that I could add 2 or 3 usb "sticks" (I call them) to extra USP ports, and "Dedicate" all or part of them to RAM. It worked great 4 me on win 7.

To my mind this gadgets are useless and get you PC slow down... I don't use it.

I Wish they would make The Icons Small And Unconnected untill you open them to the large window, No slow down, more screen room ???!!!

Those just find this page and Download those apps and use this. Windows is very excellent for their update service. The Microsoft Corporation always looking their customer choice.

Clicking on these Apps takes me to a Microsoft Web page where MS says it NO LONGER hosts 3rd party Apps like those reviewed here !

MS has found security bugs in gadgets and decied to remove third party gadgets. They were going to remove them from all users desktops by a security update but too many people complained. they still have not said anything about fixing the security bugs so i'm guessing you use them at your own risk.

on that note, you can find most of these by searching google. my favorite gadget is...
http://csdprojects.co.uk/

nice idea hope it will work

I hardly find some very useful for work. All CPU meter, App Launcher will be great to have but not Facebook launcher and Magic folder. I don't understand how can these be in top ten desktop gadgets??

Athar

Wonderful blog & good post.Its really helpful for me, awaiting for more new post. Keep Blogging!

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Microsoft states that gadgets can ge security risks. I lost mine, so where can i get them now?

what sre some good website i cant get gadgets from?

Hello,
I really feel awesome here with these 10 gadgets. Actually i do use of Bing traffic , application launcher, magic folder and mini TV. They helps very much in operating services without opening it from location. All the updates and services is on my desktop. I get real time information and update from relevant field of my interest. They are so many features of these portable gadgets.

HTC Home clock widget http://www.htchome.org/en/ The best thing that I'm always use

Those just find this page and Download those apps and use this. Windows is very excellent for their update service. The Microsoft Corporation always looking their customer choice.

All CPU Meter really matters if your PC is rather slow and you need to control its performance.

Yes, it just occured to me I did remove that cool blue neon clock after the security alert,, mostly I use my Window XP and they werent available there. I was thinking in the back of my fried brain that the security issues had been fixed. I forgot all about reinstalling the cool clock.

INFO under story title,

" By Debra Littlejohn Shinder
June 1, 2010, 9:12 AM PDT"

Im going to go jump in a lake somewhere.

I am using this windows 7 Silverlight source code . And I am very happy to use this softwer and this is very easy and comfortable. Seo Training Karachi

Please could we have a link for the Clipboard Manager gadget?

...Windows no longer supports desktop gadgets, & hasn't for some time. They cite a "security risk" for 3rd party gadgets & have removed all gadgets from their site. Yes, you can use the original desktop gadgets, & some providers still do updates, but they are hard to find. You can "google" Windows 7/Vista gadgets & you will indeed find some, but not as many as were available originally. In addition, some of the older (original) gadgets no longer work at all, as their site links (to be able to run) are no longer active.
Personally, I still use gadgets, some of which I find very useful. I maintain a repository of useful (to me) working gadgets which I install whenever I re-install Windows on my PCs. I also keep those gadgets still available up-to-date whenever possible.
Bottom line is - gadgets are still available, but not supported by MS, & some do still work, & some are still updated regularly - you just have to look. The article should make this very clear, but does not, sadly.

I seem to remember Microsoft issuing a security bulletin last year discouraging the use of gadgets. So I am wondering why this article was published now. See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #2719662

This is a good story... to bad all the links for the Microsoft gadgets are broken.

If you have Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 8, miss your gadgets and are comfortable with the security issues you can enable gadgets using the info here: http://www.win2008r2workstation.com/sidebar/. Even though the site notes Windows Server 2008 R2, the script works just fine with Windows 8. Just run the script from a administrative command prompt.