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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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Google has announced that the next version of Google Desktop (we've written about Google Desktop before) will allow users to run Google...
 

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Todd

@Danny - Cool beans - thanks!

November 29 2007 at 1:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bobo Zaketta

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.

November 28 2007 at 11:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Danny

@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

November 28 2007 at 10:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jono

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.

November 28 2007 at 8:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Thomas

Excellent. This increases the number of available widgets!

November 28 2007 at 7:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Todd

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.

November 28 2007 at 7:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
shelterpaw

@ 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.

November 28 2007 at 6:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bug

@ 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...

November 28 2007 at 6:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NutMac

#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.

November 28 2007 at 6:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ben

ugh, i hate every one of you.

November 28 2007 at 6:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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