The Google Desktop Sidebar
The Google Desktop sidebar is a combination of tools. These tools include a browser, gallery of Google gadgets and application launcher. The sidebar view of the Google Desktop is accessed by right-clicking on the Google desktop icon in your system tray then selecting “Sidebar.” It primarily comes with the following features:
One of the Google gadgets integrated with the sidebar is the Gmail gadget. You can still use Outlook instead by installing the Outlook express plug-in.
Web clips
The Web clips gadget stores the history of the web sites you’ve visited for the last 24 hours. You can also manually put websites here so it can automatically be updated. There’s a slider that shows the more detailed information about the updated items. Truly this is one of the Google gadgets that are useful enough.
Scratch pad
Undeniably one of the useful Google gadgets in the Google Desktop sidebar because of its functionality similar to the notepad is the Scratch Pad.
Timer
You can also install a Timer gadget for use on the desktop sidebar. You can basically use this to time your recess or break period so you’ll manage your time efficiently and you can do a lot of things faster because you have a timer that keeps track of your time usage.
Top Digg stories
Are you quite the Digg fun? Then you should install the Digg gadget. It would probably be one of your most used Google gadgets. It displays the most recent Digg stories and it is updated every five minutes.
MS Outlook Tasks
Do you want to automatically see your Outlook tasks instead of copying them manually to your scratch pad? Worry no more because there’s a gadget for displaying your MS Outlook tasks in the Google desktop sidebar.
Games
Do you want to take a break from doing your tedious work? Why not try downloading games for your Google Desktop sidebar. There are tons of games to choose from, such as Pacman, Tetris and puzzles. Just be sure to put it in the bottom list of your Google gadgets so you won’t be distracted.
There are still a lot of Google Gadgets out there at your disposal. You can view them by categories to let your gadget search much easier. Just an advice, don’t install too much or you’ll clutter your Google desktop sidebar.