Mac OS has it, Windows also has its own widgets, and what about Linux?
There a several widgets for Linux, the newest one is Google gadgets for Linux (soon more for that) but the most advanced by me is Screenlets. It doesn’t come by default on your Linux system, but it’s easy to install, have fun and stay informed at the same time!

Screenlets are small owner-drawn applications (written in Python) that can be described as “the virtual representation of things lying/standing around on your desk”. Stick notes, clocks, rulers, … the possibilities are endless.

The goal of the Screenlets base-classes is to simplify the creation of fully themeable mini-apps that each solve basic desktop-work-related needs and generally improve the usability and eye-candy of the modern composited Linux-desktop.

Features:

• Easy to use, easy to develop
• Hundreds of Screenlets available
• Install and run Superkaramba themes
• install Google gadgets you minis widgets spring widgets with the widget converter
• Load web apps just like prism
• Full compositing support
• Non composite support (metacity etc)
• Works with any composited X desktop (compiz, xfce4, …)
• Included themeing-abilities (SVG, PNG or mixed)
• Fully scalable when using SVGs
• Embedded drag&drop-support
• Automated storing of options (using ini or gconf)
• Controllable through customizable DBus-service
• Can be used together with compiz’ widget-plugin to create a Dashboard-like feature as seen on OS X
• Free, open-source and released under the GPL
• Uses cairo and GTK2 for drawing and windowing

Download it from screenlets.org
Double click on downloaded .deb file in ubuntu will install the newest screenlets version on your computer!

Tags | Linux, Open Source, Software, Tools, Ubuntu