Filed under: Software
Google Gadgets in your OS X Dashboard
Google has announced that the next version of Google Desktop (we've written about Google Desktop before) will allow users to run Google Gadgets alongside Mac OS X Widgets in the Dashboard. This new functionality should be available tomorrow. I don't use Google Desktop or Gadgets, and rarely use Dashboard widgets, so I just can't get excited about this. However, I know they each have their devotees, so those among you have something to look forward to tomorrow.
[Via MacMinute]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Sample said 5:17PM on 11-28-2007
Once more, Apple creates public interest, its adopted by the masses (in the form of 'gadgets') and now we're forced to use *that* standard instead of the clean crisp widgets...
Does anyone know the technical differences? Tell me gadget doesn't suck as a standard, please?
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David said 5:25PM on 11-28-2007
I think it's a really good news, and that your news is quite depressing ! :D
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Goomba said 5:35PM on 11-28-2007
@#2 - What?
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John Sample said 5:47PM on 11-28-2007
Ok, clarification, Konfabulator came up with the idea, Apple jumped on it early, adopting their standard. Google (who I otherwise love) decided they needed in on it also, and made a competing bare-bones version called gadgets.
To each his own I suppose. I love innovation. I love competition. But I have a *real* problem with people making a new, lesser standard when a *good* standard already exists, just so they can compete and 'get a piece of it'. I think its poor form.
(that and I should have used 'it's' instead of 'its' in my post :P)
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Frank said 6:06PM on 11-28-2007
i love apple's desktop widgets. what's all this noise about google gadgets all of the sudden? what are they?
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ben said 6:11PM on 11-28-2007
ugh, i hate every one of you.
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bugster said 6:13PM on 11-28-2007
@ John Sample Umm, i think you're a bit confused, Konfabulator (now Yahoo) widgets aren't compatible with Apple Widgets.
All three are different implementations of the same idea i.e. using HTML/javascript to program small useful applications.
Unfortunately i can't discuss your idea that Apple 'adopted' Konfabulators standard further, as I've left my asbestos undies at home...
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shelterpaw said 6:45PM on 11-28-2007
@ John Sample
I have to disagree with you. In the 68K version of Apples OS, Apple had tools that were very much like widgets. The difference between then and now is that today we have the web and javascript.
Konfabulator is great, but they didn't invent the concept, they just brought it into the 21st century.
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Todd said 7:28PM on 11-28-2007
I'll be passing on this one as well, largely because I don't want Google Desktop touching my Mac. That aside, does anyone know what's so magical that Google can't do these in HTML/Javascript like regular Dashboard widgets? It's one thing to bring your own brand and way of doing things, it's another to insist on a custom framework to achieve the same goal.
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Thomas said 7:41PM on 11-28-2007
Excellent. This increases the number of available widgets!
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Jono said 8:10PM on 11-28-2007
Yeah, uh... back when I had a PC, Google Desktop slowed it down to a screeching stop. I got rid of it after about a week. Why would you want a copy of the real thing when mac users already have the real thing in Widgets and Spotlight.
Anyway, who cares.
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Danny at Mesa said 10:16PM on 11-28-2007
@Todd:
You can always convert Google Gadgets into widgets for Dashboard using Amnesty Generator -- Google Desktop is not required:
http://www.amnestywidgets.com/HypercubeMac.html
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Bobby said 11:51PM on 11-28-2007
Hey, I just discovered you can install Google Gadgets right now from Google Updater, without installing Google Desktop at all. It creates a nice little program independent from Google Desktop that lets you add Google widgets to the Apple Dashboard alongside the others. It's great, and doesn't require Google Desktop (which spotlight makes irrelevant anyways). And it works on Leopard.
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Todd Sieling said 1:40PM on 11-29-2007
@Danny - Cool beans - thanks!
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NutMac said 8:00PM on 11-29-2007
#4. If you want to get technical, Konfabulator is a rip-off of Desk Accessories from the original Mac OS. Apple "killed" Desk Accessories on Mac OS 7 and Konfabulator merely revived (and updated) Desk Accessories for the modern OS.
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