CNET Editors' review
The latest version of Yahoo's toolbar drops the word "Engine" from its name and makes customization even easier than before. It also comes with a revamped look. Yahoo Widgets lets you add small standalone applications that can offer an endless variety of features, content, and system functionality.
Twenty-two default widgets are included--including a weather forecaster, a Yahoo Mail manager, a Wi-Fi signal checker, a calendar, and an iTunes remote. Though the true value of the app should be judged on the quality of the widgets developed, the platform itself is polished and easy to use.
A helpful tour introduces users to the basics of widgets, offering up some examples. Adding and removing widgets is simple, and the new widget dock features more personalization options. Most widgets include tweaks such as skinning options. Other new improvements include Windows Alt-Tab menu access and helpful configuration buttons that appear when you mouse over a widget. Unfortunately, the app inserts itself into your start-up programs without asking--but you can fix that in Preferences.
Yahoo Widget 4 is a valuable tool for users of Yahoo services, and it's a helpful download for anyone who wants standalone desktop tools for regular Web activities, system information, or whatever cool feature the next great widget will offer.
Publisher's Description
From Yahoo:
The Yahoo Widget Engine (formerly known as Konfabulator) is a JavaScript runtime engine for Windows and Mac OS X that lets you run little files called Widgets that can do pretty much whatever you want them to. Widgets can be alarm clocks, calculators, can tell you your WiFi signal strength, will fetch the latest stock quotes for your preferred symbols, and even give your current local weather.
Yahoo Widgets 4.5 allows Widget creators to build more awesomeness into their Widgets, including video right on your desktop. Richer, more interactive features can now be built into Widgets, such as games and movie clips. Now you can get more detailed security information about Widget capabilities before you run any new Widget.
What's new in this version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5 allows Widget creators to build more awesomeness into their Widgets, including video right on your desktop. Richer, more interactive features can now be built into Widgets, such as games and movie clips. Now you can get more detailed security information about Widget capabilities before you run any new Widget.
More Popular Gadgets & Widgets downloads
-
Sticky Notes
7,603 downloads
-
Google Talk
1,485 downloads
-
LiveCricket
1,474 downloads
-
The Talking Moose XP
1,273 downloads
-
Facebook Gadget
1,261 downloads
-
All versions:
4.1 starsout of 230 votes
-
Current version:
3.6 starsout of 38 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
-
"Invasive and annoying."
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
Everything you don't need
Cons
Nothing you really want or need, it is annoying and very invasive.
Summary
Unless your a gadget freak, avoid this one.
-
"Find it does what it says on the tin.....very good"
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
easy to download /delete
Cons
Can't think of any !!
-
"I enjoy and use the widgets often,"
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
They allow me to see what I want without opening a browser.
Cons
They sometime get in my way when I try to close a browser window.
Summary
Good to have and useful.
-
"very slow hangs usually on windows7"
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
dont like yahoo
Cons
this software
Summary
can be better if it dosent hangs the system
but this dock slows whole system
look is good -
"A must have"
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
This is really useful indeed
Cons
I see nothing wrong
-
"Works as advertised"
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
Simple install.
Cons
Does not like to work with my other widgets - cannot position.
-
"I just love it :)"
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
Lots of applications
no problems at allCons
nothing really
Summary
Download it, you won't regret it.
-
"works on win 7,went to yahoo 1st,didn't work."
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
love widgets,calendar and weather and wall street mkt.
Cons
no real cons
Summary
handy and convenient
-
"It is great."
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
The weater widget is accurate & I really like it. I also love the desktop calendar, very convenient as is the desktop digital clock. Small & accurate. Just the way I like it.
Cons
There is nothing I dislike except about 1 or 2 years ago I had the Garfield clock for a widget (loved it) & somehow lost it & have never been able to get it back.
-
"Very good, funny, practicle, but not all the widgets."
Version: Yahoo Widgets 4.5.2
Pros
I liked some of the widgets very much-Garfield, Weather, clocks, yahoo, notepads, games...It's quick,and very practical to use. There are so many widgets, so I'll need more time to try the rest. I liked how easily I could delete those I didn't like.
Cons
Some widgets I tried were rather impractical and boring, but luckily there are others similar to them I can use. Also, I tried to find ZaKi widget, but it seems not to be available anymore.
Summary
The product itself is very functional and easy to operate. So far I have tried only some widgets, of which I liked some, and some I didn't. But, I'll surely try some more.
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:
