Kludgets Brings OS X-Style Widgets To Windows Desktops
Windows only: The creator of Kludgets, a new open-source widget engine, admits it’s not quite pretty, but it “copies the best features” of similar gadgets on OS X, Yahoo, and Google platforms.
So Kludgets—an acronym (backronym?) for Klumsy, Lame, Ugly, Dumb, but Good Enough—is, at the moment, a kind of proof-of-concept on getting widgets based on Webkit, the QT framework, and standard JavaScript, HTML, and other web languages running on your Windows desktop. The basic beta download does just that, with a few install-able sample widgets, and seemingly does it without a lot of system drain or lag.
But the real power of Kludgets comes from the web, where sources like WidgetWorld can provide a wealth of intriguing desktop tools to work with. You’ll have to experiment and search a bit to find which widgets are compatible with Kludgets’ framework, but the creator calls his creation “Dashboard compatible,” so some OS X widgets should be able to be up and running on a Windows system.
Kludgets is a free, beta download for Windows systems only.
Kludgets [via Download Squad]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
I use widgets pretty regularly. Some ones I use: 1. application update and widget update - keep my apps and widgets up to date with the latest versions 2. airmailr - twitter app with growl integration. awesome. 3. countdown - like the kludget in the image. counts down to a marathon i'm running. 4. localhostr - drop to upload anything < 100 mb. copies a link to the clipboard, has growl integration, shows history of previous uploads. 5. mamp - starts and stops mamp. 6. ubertragen - entire ftp app with growl integration in the dashboard. 7. pandora - i use safari's "open in dashboard" for this one. there's other cool ones but these are ones i actually use regularly.
UbertoNike
@Brent James Millard:IMO What I mean is it's better to have bits of light text than full blown random graphical things that can look out of place and don't match. ;) Again that is just my opinion.
GJ creator anyway.
Brent James Millard
Widgets in general are in most cases non essential resorcce hogs.
Best of using Samurize or what ever OS equivalent.
Brent James Millard
Ahh man... I wish i knew about this back before Star Trek came out... I really wanted that countdown widget :(. Oh well...
AtomFury
Seems like a lot of work when all you really have to do is use Google Desktop to get gadgets that are a lot more useful that run on the desktop... And can be installed with only a few clicks as opposed to trying to install something that only works sometimes for a library that is only a fraction of the size of googles...
Timothy Collins
I have forced my self several times to get into using widgets of varying kinds, but always default to just having a clock and notepad on my desktop.
Works with PixelBreaker's PolarClock. that'll do pig. That'll do.
shadoblak
Don't forget about canvas support! Canvas will bring more flash-like effects and graphics.
Some things that you just can't do gracefully with html and javascript, like rotating an image or coverflow effects, are possible with canvas. Webkit has an excellent canvas engine.
See some demos here: [www.canvasdemos.com]
SamburgerHandwich
I love kludge!!! I would say that's what 90% of my college code was... Oh well, you live and you learn!
I just hope these programs are more efficient than their name suggests. Everyone hates a RAM hog... *clears throat* firefox...
Does anyone actually use Mac OS X widgets? I find that they are largely duplicative of web-based utilities and have never comfortably fit in my work flow.
wqwert
This looks like a lot of extra fumbling around to get a few widgets on your desktop when there are better ways to do it.
But I suppose if your willing to put the work into putting together a nice set of widgets that work with Kludgets it could end up being fairly nice. It's just the hike to get there.
Bane_Majik
finally my dznr.org widget will work on windows! huzzah!
odnet
The only thing I ever really use widgets for is iStat - something I doubt works on Kludgets (but what do I know). Having a similar widget for Windows would be awesome though - I love being able to see how much RAM is being used, what programs are using what amount of my CPU, my laptops temperature, etc. all with one click. Anyone know if iStat or a similar widget works on Kludgets? I'd actually download it for my Windows partition just for that...
so... its a bulky version of rainmeter? ammiright?
infinitybiff
@Brent James Millard: The only widget that isn't a resource hog is the one that tells you your batter has [time] left before the battery suddenly dies...
Makes me want to trash my laptop...almost...
@32ndnote: Oh Firefox is terrible with RAM, chrome is just as bad, but it at least acts fast!
@wqwert: When Tiger first came out, yes I did. Then a few days later I looked at my Activity Monitor and saw how much RAM those stupid widgets suck up.
I only use one, just to input lyrics when I have a new CD in iTunes. I never use it after that.
elgringoguapo
@wqwert: I don't; I seriously don't get it.
Micho