Remember the desktop widgets that used to come with Windows Vista? Remember how they could fetch you weather information, world clock, Twitter feeds, resource usage, and also let you write sticky notes on the fly?
Given the massive under the hood re-engineering and refactoring changes that we are seeing in the newer versions, the widgets have been officially discontinued. So, if you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10 from an earlier version, you won’t find it very familiar. It may feel like you’ve got a bad deal. But don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of top 15 useful widgets to spruce up your Windows 10 desktop and get things done quickly. Let’s begin.
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1. Search Bar
Search Bar adds a little square that floats atop your screen and gives you instant access to powerful Google Search. It can make your life simpler and be a time-saver when you need to search for instant information on Google.
2. Quick Monitor
We often download new programs and resource-intensive games. Little do we realize that they may cause our system to run out of storage and may also run plenty of services in the background, making our computer run slower than a snail.
Install Quick Monitor widget and get real-time statistics at your fingertips. Get instant information about your CPU speed, network bandwidth speed, data consumption, free space left on your drives, and much more.
3. Adobe Connect Clock
Are you finding it hard to track your work schedule and important business meetings? Have you ever felt left out of important business meetings and screwed up professionally?
Well, you are not alone. Now, you won’t have to worry about running late for important meetings- with Adobe Connect Clock widget. Download this widget today, thank us later!
4. Chunky Battery
Does your laptop’s battery die too soon? We know how annoying it could be!
With Chunky Battery, focus more on racing towards your work deadlines than worrying about your battery draining. You can simply place this tiny widget anywhere on your screen. Get real-time battery status, charging status and say goodbye to battery mishaps forever.
5. Google Gmail Gadget
Do you miss your work emails too often? Never miss an important email again with Google Gmail Gadget. Google Gmail Gadget gives you instant access to your emails with an added ability to filter your messages. Get your emails right on your desktop and compose new emails without having to open a web browser or email client.
6. Control Panel Widget
Are you a computer geek who spends a lot of time tweaking different system settings, trying out new software, and troubleshooting issues with your system?
The handy Control Panel widget (not to be confused with Control Panel in Windows) gives you instant access to system administrator tools at your fingertips. It shows a one-click shortcut for crucial tools in Windows, such as Registry Editor, Command Prompt, Group Policy Editor, Run, Control Panel, System Restore, Services tool, System Information tool, PowerShell, Firewall and many more.
7. Bubble Breaker
Do you work too hard? Bubble Breaker is a distraction game widget meant to provide a moment of fun and relaxation for anyone working in a stressful environment.
Don’t let the stress overwhelm you and badly affect your physical and mental health. Take short breaks from your stressful life and play the simple, distractive Bubble Breaker game.
8. Kit-Cat Clock
Looking for a personalized assistant cat to tell you the time from any part of the world? Want to get rid of the boring default date-time ticker in Windows and replace it with an interesting analog clock?
Kit-Cat Clock is a cute clock widget having the shape of a cat. If you’re a cat dad or a cat mom, you would surely enjoy a beautiful cat’s tail swing in time while you work on your PC. You can make it semi-transparent by changing the opacity level as you like.
9. Google Voice Dialer
Google Voice is a free voicemail service for US citizens from the search-engine giant. Even if you don’t reside in the USA, Google Voice is one of the most affordable services and a great alternative to the traditional medium of communication.
Using Google Voice Dialer, you can easily place and answer calls, create your own speed-dial list, and do much more.
10. Glossy Calculator
Many among us hate mathematical calculations and prefer to use a calculator when we see crunching numbers and complex calculations.
Use Glossy Calculator, a beautiful dark colored widget with a glass effect. It’s pretty easy to use for performing calculations with basic operators. It can also be a great help while you shop online.
11. TweetZ
Are you a politics addict? Do you spend several hours every day staring at every single tweet that pops up on your Twitter feed?
With TweetZ, you don’t have to fire up your browser and open your Twitter account. You can see the Twitter feeds right on your desktop, read messages sent by fellow twitterities pretty easily.
Setting up TweetZ is very easy. You just need to log in to your Twitter account and paste the PIN to authorize required account access permissions.
12. MSN Weather
Do you love travelling? Who doesn’t! If you’re a traveller who loves to explore new places with your family, check the forecasted weather with MSN Weather widget and plan accordingly. Don’t let bad weather ruin your family trips. Don’t let unexpected rains damage the materials in your carrier bags, or extreme heat and unexpected snowstorms create difficulties for older folks and children in your family.
13. The Magic Folder
Organizing files has never been easier. Thanks to a small yet powerful widget The Magic Folder which automates complex file organization processes in no time. Just drag over your files into the Magic Folder, and it’ll auto-sort them based on their types. It also displays a drop-down with special directories in Windows to launch them in a jiffy.
14. Stock Gadget
If you’re investing in stocks, it’s crucial to keep an eagle eye on market movements and any ups/downs in the stock prices. If you’re finding it hard to cope with busy schedules and professional liabilities, install Stock Gadget. You can create a list of your favorite stocks to get real-time pricing, % change and other information on your desktop. It can be helpful to predict trends and take strategic decisions right before the trend reverses.
15. Feed Reader
Are you a news junkie? Do you like to stay updated on the latest news and events? Now, get regular updates from your favorite websites and blogs in no time. Feed Reader delivers you the newest content as soon as it is published on your favorite websites and blogs.