Widget Wars - Microsoft to Launch “Microsoft Gadgets”

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

We have been hot on the trail of widgets ever since we found Konfabulator back in Feb. Apple of course, released a competing platform called Dashboard, then Yahoo bought Konfabulator, and today we got news that Microsoft was getting into the widget wars with an upcoming product called “Microsoft Gadgets.”

Microsoft Gadgets come in three flavors:
* Gadgets for Windows Sidebar will run on your desktop or dock into Windows Sidebar, an upcoming feature in Windows Vista alongside other applications. Desktop Gadgets can developed using Windows Presentation Foundation, DHTML/Atlas, and even ActiveX controls. The beauty of Desktop Gadgets is that they are visually and programmatically rich – scaling from vector-based graphics and managed code to standard techniques you’d use for the Web. You’ll be hearing more about Windows Sidebar over the coming months here as we approach release around Beta 2 of Windows Vista.
* Gadgets for Start.com (a.k.a. Web or Server-based Gadgets) provide a fast, customizable homepage with a clean user interface – putting the user in control of more of their online experience. Currently in incubation/public preview, Start.com is a place where consumers can customize the web to their liking by adding their own sources of content including RSS web-feeds and web-based Gadgets that extend functionality of their site- anything from custom calendars to service integration. Start.com demonstrates the use of DHTML and ASP.Net Atlas, which separates the data from the UI resulting in significant performance improvements. In addition, Start.com Gadgets can easily support docking into the Windows Sidebar.
* Gadgets for Windows SideShow(tm) (a.k.a. Auxilary Display Gadgets) allow users to view their information on devices. Users can view their data where they want it, whether it is for instant access on the lid of a laptop PC, for notifications on a keyboard display or for convenience on a detached device like a cell phone. Gadgets for Windows SideShow run on the PC and use COM interfaces to send data to devices. This Windows SideShow platform combined with the power of desktop applications allows for new scenarios and opportunities. Source: Microsoftgadgets.com via Om Malik’s Broadband Blog via Techdirt

Alice Says: We are also testing a new platform to be announced - which means there is still time for eBay or Google to buy them! More on that later as well as a deep look at Microsoft Gadgets. Why they went with the name Gadgets and not “widgets” is a mistake in my opinion, but the war is on.