Can You Build Google or Vista Sidebar Gadgets?

Gadgets galore!

Friday, January 5, 2007 by Zoomba | Discussion: WinCustomize News

WinCustomize 2007 is coming very soon, and with the new site, we are looking to expand the coverage of our galleries to serve an even wider audience of users looking to get the most out of their PC.  For years we've been the place to go for DesktopX widgets and objects, but now the gadget market is expanding, and we want to reflect that here at WC.

To that end, we are looking for talented artists and developers who know how to build Vista Sidebar and/or Google gadgets.  If you have already built some, or can build new ones quickly, please drop me a like at [email protected].

Are you a current DX gadget maker?  Maybe you could convert your existing gadgets to either platform.  We want to roll out these new galleries with a bang!  Help us build up some great content!

ZubaZ
Reply #1 Friday, January 5, 2007 5:37 PM
No need for Yahoo gadgets?

You know . . they were the first.
thomassen
Reply #2 Friday, January 5, 2007 8:06 PM
This sounds interesting....
RomanDA
Reply #3 Saturday, January 6, 2007 10:55 AM
Is there a program that can "convert" them?? if so, count me in!!
ZubaZ
Reply #4 Saturday, January 6, 2007 11:04 AM
I heard the next version of DX might be able to do it.

Zoomba, is theree an alpha version that needs testing?   
Lord Darius
Reply #5 Saturday, January 6, 2007 6:21 PM
Brillient count me in, ive only just started to upload my wares to your site and enjoy making funny widgets/gadgets/wallpapers i will send some in once i have some finalized
Lord Darius
Island Dog
Reply #6 Saturday, January 6, 2007 7:17 PM
to upload my wares to your site and enjoy making funny widgets/gadgets/wallpapers i will send some in once i have some finalized



 
thomassen
Reply #7 Sunday, January 7, 2007 5:56 PM
Got a London Underground Travelnews DesktopX gadget. Got nearly all functionality in there now, except one. Then I need to clean up some stuff first. Don't think it should be too hard to port to Vista Sidebars.
Is there many Londoners around this site?
thomassen
Reply #8 Sunday, January 7, 2007 7:42 PM
From the MS docs on their sidebar:
It is not possible to have a transparent region in the middle of your gadget. It is also not possible to have partially transparent regions, such as a shadow, on the edge or in the middle of a gadget. Attempting this will lead to a poor appearance in many cases.


I cant make sence of that, because every gadget that comes with Vista got a shadow or partially transparent edge. Out of date info?
Dr W - Fences Support
Reply #9 Monday, January 8, 2007 12:59 AM
Hi thomassen,

Just FYI, the only part of a vista gadget that can be semi-transparent is the static-image background. You can specify a png and it will honor it. From then on out, if you try to write text over what would otherwise be a transparent area, or apply any more pngs/etc over what would be transparent... you're not going to like the result
thomassen
Reply #10 Tuesday, January 9, 2007 3:43 PM
I figured from the exisiting gadgets taht it had to be possible. But I found the docs confusing. They seemed to contradict it. Or I just read it wrong.

Anyways. diggin into the dev docs now.

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