Proof of Concept: Vista's Sidebar Gadgets on a Windows Mobile Device

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://on10.net/Blogs/laura/vista-gadgets-running-on-windows-mobile/' target='_blank'>http://on10.net/Blogs/laura/vista-g...windows-mobile/</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070227-vistagadgets.jpg" /><br /><br />Earlier in the month, I was in Beijing for Microsoft's Windows Vista Lab and made a request through the product team to have <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/sideshow.mspx">Windows SideShow</a> compatibility enabled on all Windows Mobile devices. That hasn't come into effect yet, but Mel Sampat's little project could be the next best thing. Head over to <a href="http://on10.net/Blogs/laura/vista-gadgets-running-on-windows-mobile/">Channel 10 (on10.net)</a> and check out <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/sidebargadgets.mspx">Windows Vista's Sidebar gadgets</a> on a device running Windows Mobile 6 Professional. With numerous useful (and trivial) gadgets out there, how do you plan on putting your cradled device to good use when gadget compatibility is made official?

[Jeff Song]

I've been wondering if we would ever get widgets/gadgets like this on WM devices, and now it seems that it's coming. Very exciting.

[Gerard]

Exciting? Why? It's hard to imagine widgets/gadgets being a lot of fun, or very useful, if they block any part of the screen while using other applications on a small screen. I've had a lot of gadget-like functionality since 2000, with GigsBar offering a lot of 'at a glance' information and one-tap information/program launches until it was no longer supported (under WM2003SE/VGA), and at least a good portion of this offered in WisBar Advanced since then.

And Today plugins are available for a lot of these sorts of tasks. Agenda presentation, weather reporting, system management, stock market reporting, games... the list is very long and diverse; something for almost every taste and need. Need more control? Prettier interface? Lots more 'pages'? Get SnoopSoft's Dashboard, an amazingly versatile Today screen replacement. I'm curious - what is it about this Vista Sidebar thingy that would go beyond what's been available for years on a PPC?

[Jason Lee]

this will be huge for the novice user though. Those who know nothing about installing much less even how to find third party today plugins. This will be very easy for them.
I, personally, have the silly vista sidebar disabled all together...

many people will like having these on their today screen.. not me but someone will. ;)

[d-roC]

Exciting? Why? It's hard to imagine widgets/gadgets being a lot of fun, or very useful, if they block any part of the screen while using other applications on a small screen....

...I'm curious - what is it about this Vista Sidebar thingy that would go beyond what's been available for years on a PPC?

To address the first part of what I've quoted from you Gerard, widgets do has a place as a quick lookup mechanism. Probably much better for constantly connected devices and those that want more than just email/SMS alerts, they have a place.

The difference between PPC plug-ins and Vista Widgets is negligible in terms of current offerings, but major in terms of developer ease of programming (write once run in multiple device settings) and getting the non-techie (meaning those that have interests outside of tricking out their phones and PDAs ;) ) to do more with their mobile device - making carriers very happy for all that data transferring all over the place.

Where gadgets could have a big benefit is in the Xbox/Zune type implementation where you are interacting with online-connected information but carrying it from device to device. Maybe taking a look at your gaming profile and extending it beyond the set top box is a place to take it, but with teh Vista integration, Today plug-ins can take on a life that is no dependant on the mobile device.

[OneAngryDwarf]

I'll put them to use by buying an iPhone.