Does Apple 'get' Widgets?

Apple already has an IDE for widgets in the works.
We will probably see "DashCode" released this year at the World Wide Developers Conference.

Here are some screenshots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chucker/sets/1281598/

Theres only one Killer Widget;

~:::_DopeWars_::~

Apple should create a new form of scripting alongside javascript, (akin to AppleScript) but thats so ridiculously easy (and just Appley) to use for the average joe. just a thought

I use some of the widgets, sometimes, but I haven't yet found what I personally consider the "killer widget". It still feels like DAs on steriods to some extent.

I disagree as well; I am certain that Widget's are not only what we think or can be - html and some JavaScript. Easy it might be to create them, but on my opinion they are the future of software development. No wonder Apple already makes it easy for their developers to integrate object-c callings. Ne I say ... wait and see, widget is no toy.

First of all, I've never met anyone who calls themselves a web designer who actually *knows* JavaScript. The ones that use JS at all either copy-n-paste or use whatever their WYSIWYG web-design app pops out. That said, these are the *last* people who would code their own widget. Since so many widgets are just windows to web services, most people who aren't developers will just bookmark a site and switch to a browser when they need the weather or package tracking or whatever it is that they need.

I disagree. Granted, if widgets are easy to make and lots of joe-average consumers start making them then the 3rd party widget supply will flourish, and as we well know, over at M$ it's all about developers, developers, developers.

BUT, one only needs to take a look at Konfabulator (nay, Yahoo Widgets) to see where this strategy goes wrong. Not long after the apps initial released there were tons and tons of new widgets, with most just borrowing bits of code from the default set and customising the GUI/function to suit someone's need. Just how many digital clocks do we really need?? A lot of the widgets were pretty darn ugly to boot.

With proper developers making dashboard widgets I actually have things other than clocks and picture frames - I have a widgets that interact with and enhance some of my favourite apps (transmit, delicious library, BitSticks). These widgets are far more useful and actually make dashboard worthwhile.

Another note on microsoft and its widgets/gadgets... ms is focusing more on services, than little apps that do little tasks.