Desktop Sidebar - A Google and Vista Alternative - Today's Mod

In all the excitement over Google Desktop's and Windows Vista's sidebars, a really great sidebar that has been around for literally years seems to be getting overlooked. It's a free Windows application named simply Desktop Sidebar. Desktop Sidebar shares many features with Google Desktop's sidebar, but brings some if its own tricks to the table. Just like Google Desktop's, Desktop Sidebar is extensible with a plug-in architecture. In fact, because it has been around for so long, the library of plug-ins (they call them "panels") that work for it is huge. A built-in feature that you don't currently get with Google's is the ability to link to Outlook for data other than email, like tasks and appointments. Another unique feature is the huge library of compatible skins available for Desktop Sidebar, making it easy to customize or make it match your Windows theme. Finally, one thing that Desktop Sidebar can do that Google's can't is simply to run without requiring Google Desktop. There are many other great desktop search utilities available for Windows, and some people may just prefer not to run any. For those people, Desktop Sidebar is an ideal sidebar solution.  
 

Tags: freeware, mods