Desktop Gadget alternatives?

from WinCustomize Forums

Any suggestions from peeps on a desktop widget engine? Windows 8 compatible.

I would love something that can render with more speed/flexibility than DesktopX used to be able to.

e.g. LittleBoy once released a canvas plugin for DesktopX that let me draw to a HTML5 Canvas direct to the desktop rather than in a browser window.

I'd use that...if DesktopX was still supported and had a chance to get other bugs fixed.

Because I'd like to play with animations and a bit of 3D if the engine supports that it would be ideal.

Any suggestions? I will still use DesktopX if I have to, but I keep running into limitations/bugs which frustrate development.

Thanks :-D

49,248 views 21 replies
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

xWidgets

 

http://www.xwidget.com/

Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Rainmeter.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

  Guys, he wants to make them, not use them.  :beer:

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks for the responses - I've downloaded xWidgets and started testing how it works - lots of familiar concepts. Documentation is a bit sparse though, but should be able to figure it out. Cheers.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I know how to make xWidgets. If you need any help just let me know.

 

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

JC, I may holler.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Seems straight forward enough - all quite familiar - though I liked just working direct with the desktop as the 'environment'.

Looks like most of the things I am wanting to see improved are part of xWidgets2 an beta by end of month to try from the author :-D

Cool that you can deploy them on Android too :-D

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I downloaded and installed XWidget from the above mentioned link and I now have virus issues.  I am running Herd Protect scan now.  Yesterday Malware Bytes caught and removed some PUPs and toolbar and now there remains unicar by citgen that keeps re-installing itself.

I did by the way choose advance install and de-selected all add-ons that were set to default install with XWidget.  It seems they have an infected installer out there for it.

The XWidget setup file has been flagged by 4 separate virus scanning engines as containing malware.  I'll keep you posted.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Been using XWidget for a good while with zero problems/flags.

 

BDBF, Avast and MSE flag my gadgets as malware and effectively stop my usage of them.

 

False Positives. I'm sure you are getting the same with XWidget, unless you downloaded from an infected site.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I just downloaded XWidget from http://www.xwidget.com/  using the Mirror link on that page. I scanned the zip file with AVG and MWB. I scanned the extracted folder with same.

I ran the exe and the program installed with NO toolbars, PUP's or add-ons of any kind. There was nothing I needed to opt out of. Period. On launch, it placed 3 widgets on my Windows 7 desktop, all of which worked and were easily closed. It did leave a process running (xwidget.exe) in Task Manager.

I don't know what you got from where, BDBF, but the installer I got from the legit site was fine.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

BDBF, Wizard is correct. Do NOT use the big brown download button. Use the mirror link, it doesn't have any wrapper/addons.

But, I installed the one WITH the wrapper (big brown button) on a VIRTUAL machine and I was able to decline all addons and install without a hitch. Malwarebytes found nothing when scanned, and Advanced System Care Antivirus, which uses BitDefender engine, also found nothing.

 

I shall now scan said VM for malware, after the install.

 

But I would never trust an installer shared via One Drive. Just not safe.

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Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Not good things to hear - I assume the third party website (one of those old download.com type websites that used to be good but are now full of awful install wrappers and adware) is at fault and not the actual xWidgets program. However, I would have thought they would request their product to not be made available via that mirror if there are such issues. :-(

I downloaded the 'portable' version (no installs needed) and not getting any issues.

I never tried the others as I went straight for the portable version when I saw the link.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Skarny,I used the "Mirror" link and got a clean installer, if you need to install, go that route.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Some of the large clocks by the creator "Jimking" are pretty cool :-D Relation of yours RND? :-P

This sort of style (below) I like - but there's a lot of variety in the gallery - just the usual suspects of course, weather and clocks and cpu meters :-P

I'm still of two minds whether I will find building things in xWidget any easier than DesktopX - I am very intrigued by the built in animations/FX but there are things in DesktopX I am just so used to working with (e.g. Objects having multiple states to switch between and editable via the UI).

Hoping the v2 hinted at in the xWidget forums is actually coming.

I haven't tried it yet, but being able to create android widgets makes my juices flow too lol.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well there's the difference I chose OneDrive.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting BigDogBigFeet, reply 20

Well there's the difference I chose OneDrive.

Yup, that is the one I installed on my VM version of 7. But still, MWB and my anti virus scanned it all clean. I declined the addons with no problem.

 

Still, the best options are the mirror version, or the portable.   :thumbsup:

 

Quoting Skarny, reply 19

Some of the large clocks by the creator "Jimking" are pretty cool Relation of yours RND?

 

No. I thought it was Kinger as well, his name being Jim King, be he says no.   :S