widgetBeat…

Want to convert embedded widgets to your desktop?

April 14th, 2008

by Al Merkrebs, April 14, 2008 @ 11:55 a.m. PDT

Why are desktop widgets better than browser widgets?

For one, if you’re like me, when your browser accidentally (ahem) closes and all your embedded widgets are gone, you’d like to trash your browser forever.

And then you see your trusty ol’ desktop widgets and you just want to hug them. You might even ask yourself if there is any way to get your embedded browser widgets onto your desktop.

Enter AmnestyWidgets’ HyperCube. AmnestyWidgets is a division of Mesa Dynamics, a provider of Web-to-desktop widget conversion solutions. Hypercube, their flagship product, provides a platform for finding and installing desktop widgets. But the feature that I want to focus on here is its “Create Desktop Widget from Code” tool. This tool allows you to convert any embeddable widget code into a desktop widget. Pure MAGIC!

I tested its alpha version 0.25a for Windows XP. They also have versions for Vista and OS X.

I was able to create lovely desktop widgets from WidgetBox, yourminis and others. In fact, EVERY embeddable widget code I tried was very easily converted into its desktop equivalent.

The obvious caveat, at least for Windows XP users, is that this is alpha software. Yet the “Create Desktop Widget from Code” tool worked flawlessly for me.

Pros: You want to have any awesome embedded widget on your desktop? YOU GOT IT.

Cons: The XP version is alpha. The interface can be confusing, but WidgetAnalytics says that the next release will have an improved interface. If you use only the “Convert to Desktop” tool, like I do, you’ll be fine. Requires a platform installation, but what desktop widget doesn’t?

Coolness factor: 5/5

Platform required: Amnesty HyperCube

Download platform here: Amnesty HyperCube

Entry Filed under: widget reviews