Yahoo! Widgets Engine 4.0 Review

Jun 07, 2007 9:41 AM

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Yahoo! Widget Engine is a JavaScript engine turning under Windows (and Mac OS X) and able to exploit small files called “Widgets”. These files do not have preset functions and it is possible to develop some to do about all and anything. The “widgets” are increasingly popular, in particular since Dashboard of Mac OS X 10.4.

Yahoo! published version 4.0 of its Yahoo! Widget Engine for Windows and Mac OS X. the pioneer of the “widgets” evolves/moves with several improvements, including one very waited: the new version wants to be faster and less greedy in memory. In the past, Yahoo! Widget Engine, with the image of its competitors like Dashboard of Mac OS X, was often criticized for its impact on the performances.

Yahoo! Widgets is now ready for download with a barrage of new and exciting features such as:

• Updates and Widget Discover - Automatically updates widgets for newer version and easier and faster way of getting new widgets, instead of going to the widget gallery.
• Improved user experience - simplified interface, hidden or minimized widget running on desktop.
• Improved performance - Reduced memory consumption when installing and running Yahoo! Widgets by 40%.
• Powerful Flickr widget - Displays Flickr photos, drag-and-drop selection for uploading
  

The interface also profits from several innovations. A dock, near to the Windows Shutter of Vista, makes its appearance and avoids encumbering the office by posting reduced versions of some “widgets” like the clock, the remote control iTunes or the indicators of performance. The software also obtains two new “widgets” house: a tool allowing to sail in “Widget Gallery” and to directly install new accessories without passing by the site of Yahoo, and a Flickr gadget to publish its photographs and to visualize the images of the service.

With the installation, the software makes it possible to install a clock, a barometer, a calendar, a monitor CPU, a posting of the level of Wi-Fi signal or even a remote control iTunes. But the Widgetgallery.com site proposes several tens of other applications on the following topics: plays, hour and date, flow RSS, utility systems, extensions of applications, search engines and Webcam real time.

Our opinion: The downloadable applications often beautiful and are varied but a little greedy in memory and holding sometimes of the simple gadget. Some are nevertheless pleasant and useful. It will be regretted however that the repurchase by Yahoo additions grinds widgets “house” and of options to be stripped with the installation if you do not wish that the directory “be encrusted” on your navigator.

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