Adding fun and interactive widgets or gadgets to websites, blogs, mobile phones or desktops is simple, fun and free.
Widgets are small applications or code that adds a personal touch to computers, websites or mobile devices. Also called gadgets, gizmos or desklets, widgets are user-friendly applications that enhance the online and offline experience.
Growing in popularity with users and webmasters, these handy gadgets are simple and convenient and most are free. Users are able to personalize and customize the look and feel of many widgets. Widgets are available for different operating systems.
Fun widgets include games, live webcams, mood rings, daily horoscopes, chat, polls, auction info, shopping, music, radio, Widgets are not only fun and entertaining, many are informative. Informative Widgets offer a wide variety of updated news and weather reports, stock tickers, clocks, calendars, sports, maps, translators, news aggregators, travel that sit on the desktop.
Certain types of widgets require a “holder”, also called a panel, dashboard or engine, to house individual widgets. Once the holder is installed, individual widgets are added to the panel. However, some widgets are standalones and do not require additional “holders”.
Types of Widgets:
Desktop Widgets - Desktop widgets are small applications that are downloaded and installed on personal computers and sit on the desktop area. With desktop Wigets, users no longer have to open a browser and surf for information, the information is readily available on the desktop. Some desktop widgets require an engine to hold individual widgets. Internet access is required for updates to occur.
Web Widgets – Web widgets include web-based code that is embedded into webpages or blogs. Many web widgets require a “holder”, often called a widget panel. Once the panel is added, individual widgets are added to the panel by copying and pasting the widget code.
Mobile Widgets – Mobile phone users are able to have updated news and alerts, information and entertaining mini-applications sent directly to the cell phone display area. Since screen space is limited on mobile phones and iPhones, mobile widgets are great choices. While many mobile widgets are free, it is important to note certain fees may be charged by mobile carriers.
Where to Find Widgets:
WidgetBox – Offers over 50,000 free web widgets with over 41 million visitors each month. Download and install a ready-made widget or create your own at WidgetBox.
Yahoo Widget - Yahoo offers nearly 5000 widgets for Windows and Mac users. Registration is required.
Google Gadgets and Sidebar – Includes nearly 400 widgets for Windows, Mac and Linux users. Add gadgets to the sidebar, Google’s iPage or directly to the desktop using Google Desktop. With Google’s Quick Search gadget, users are able to search for files and folders on the hard drive and search the web directly from the users desktop.
Microsoft Gadgets - Includes Web, Sidebar and Sideshow gadgets.
YourMinis - Offers fully customizable gadgets for desktops, blogs or websites.
Apple Dashboard - For Mac OS X users, Apple Dashboard is the application used to display thousands of free individual widgets.
Widsets – Widsets offers over 4000 mobile widgets. Deliver games, news alerts, email straight to cell phone. Widsets are compatible on over 300 phone models. There are three different ways of installing widsets to mobile phones. While Widsets widgets are free, some providers may charge data transfer fees.
Wigipedia – Launched in 2007, Wigipedia Includes a large assortment of web and desktop widgets for all platforms. Registration is not required to download widgets.
Widgets are interactive multi-media additions to desktops, website or mobile devices.
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