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Windows Vista Feature Focus: Windows Sidebar | |
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| Time: 15:21 EST/20:21 GMT | News Source: Windows SuperSite | Posted By: Michael Dragone | ||
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The Windows Sidebar, a standard feature of all mainstream Windows Vista versions, is a unique environment attached to the side of the Windows Vista desktop that hosts Web-like gadgets, or mini-applications. The Sidebar is designed to take advantage of unused onscreen real estate on today's widescreen displays, and most of the gadgets it provides are utility-like in nature and provide at-a-glance access to such things as the time, the date, and the weather. However, the Sidebar as we know today it is a far cry from Microsoft's original plans. And it is steeped in mystery and myth, owing its origins to long-forgotten experiments with PC user interface design. | ||
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| #1 By 1896 (68.153.171.248) at 7/10/2007 6:23:09 PM |
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Interesting article although slightly inaccurate about the origin of the sidebar:
The one implemented in MSN which was limited in its ability to interact with the OS and therefore I do not consider a "true" OS sidebar; the first document I ama ware of was published in 2001 and you can download it here: http://research.microsoft.com/research/pubs/view.aspx?msr_tr_id=MSR-TR-2001-83 A second revision, published in 2002, can be download here: http://research.microsoft.com/research/pubs/view.aspx?msr_tr_id=MSR-TR-2002-87 Finally we have the one that was included in the 4xxx build of Longhorn. Granted it was plagued by bugs and so, as many other features of LH was scrapped. While I do have and use the one offered in Vista I consider it a joke compared even to the first one mentioned in the 2001 docs. Besides the lack of really useful "gadgets" one of the biggest complaint I have with the actual implementation is the inability to merge it with the taskbar, something that was implemented in the LH 4xxx builds. The idea was to have the ability to group everything together without the need to shift sight from the bottom to the right or wherever you decide to position the two bars. I previously mentioned the lack of useful "gadgets: AFAIK to date MS has not released a gadget that allow the same kind of interaction between Outlook and the Sidebar existing even in the original draft. To conclude it seems to me that the Sidebar has followed the same path of Vista: a nice evolutionary product that fall way short of the original concept. |
| #2 By 1401 (69.27.196.98) at 7/10/2007 7:12:55 PM |
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Don't anyone mention the points in the above post to Paul Thurrott.
This is the standard 'modus o perandi' for a Paul Thurrott review of a Microsoft product, technology, etc... "After originally dismissing {INSERT MICROSOFT PRODUCT NAME}, I've come to appreciate it" |
| #3 By 1896 (68.153.171.248) at 7/10/2007 10:12:35 PM |
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LOL
Anyway the best is still: "Microsoft told me..." |
| #4 By 48398 (70.184.101.33) at 7/11/2007 5:42:17 PM |
| I love the sidebar. I have the picture gadget pointed to my porn folder and it just cycles hot chicks all day long. |
| #5 By 37 (76.210.78.134) at 7/12/2007 7:03:28 AM |
| mmmmmmmmm....porn. |
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