Windows Sidebar: Difference between revisions

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The '''Windows Sidebar''' is a feature first seen in [[Windows Longhorn|Windows "Longhorn"]] and later present in the [[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]] operating systems developed by [[Microsoft]]. It was designed to provide users with up-to-date information at a glance. The ''Channel Bar'' included with the ''[[Windows Desktop Update]]'', the ''MSN Dashboard'', and the later ''Microsoft Sideshow'' application can be seen as precursors to the Windows Sidebar.<ref>Microsoft Gadgets. [https://web.archive.org/web/20050930214609/http://microsoftgadgets.com/blogs/gadgetnews/archive/2005/09/15/181.aspx "GadgetNews: A Brief History of Windows Sidebar"]</ref>
The '''Windows Sidebar''' is a feature first seen in [[Windows Longhorn|Windows "Longhorn"]] and later present in the [[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]] operating systems developed by [[Microsoft]]. It was designed to provide users with up-to-date information at a glance. The ''Channel Bar'' included with the ''[[Windows Desktop Update]]'', the ''MSN Dashboard'', and the later ''Microsoft Sideshow'' application can be seen as precursors to the Windows Sidebar.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://microsoftgadgets.com/blogs/gadgetnews/archive/2005/09/15/181.aspx | title = GadgetNews : A Brief History of Windows Sidebar | author = Microsoft Gadgets | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20050930214609/http://microsoftgadgets.com/blogs/gadgetnews/archive/2005/09/15/181.aspx | archivedate = 15 September 2009 | accessdate = 16 May 2021}}</ref>


==Precursors==
==Precursors==
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== Windows "Longhorn" ==
== Windows "Longhorn" ==


The first version of the Windows Sidebar was included with Windows "Longhorn", first seen in [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.3683.Lab06 N.020923-1821|build 3683]] of the operating system. This version of the Windows Sidebar used applets called ''Tiles'' to display dynamically updated content.<ref>Microsoft Developer Network. (October, 2003). [http://web.archive.org/web/20031030171841/http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/understanding/ux/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnaero/html/wux_topic_sidebar.asp "Aero User Experience Guidelines - Sidebar"]</ref> Later builds allowed the Windows Sidebar to be combined with the taskbar.<ref>Thurrott, Paul. [http://winsupersite.com/product-review/longhorn-alpha-preview-2-build-4008 "Longhorn Alpha Preview 2: Build 4008]</ref>
The first version of the Windows Sidebar was included with Windows "Longhorn", first seen in [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.3683.Lab06 N.020923-1821|build 3683]] of the operating system. This version of the Windows Sidebar used applets called ''Tiles'' to display dynamically updated content.<ref name = "aeroux">{{cite web | url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/understanding/ux/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnaero/html/wux_topic_sidebar.asp | title = Aero User Experience Guidelines - Sidebar | author = Microsoft User Experience Group | publisher = [[Microsoft Developer Network]] | date = October 2003 | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20031030171841/http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/understanding/ux/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnaero/html/wux_topic_sidebar.asp | archivedate = 30 October 2003 | accessdate = 16 May 2021}}</ref> Later builds allowed the Windows Sidebar to be combined with the taskbar.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://winsupersite.com/product-review/longhorn-alpha-preview-2-build-4008 | title = Longhorn Alpha Preview 2: Build 4008 | first = Paul | last = Thurrott | date = 6 October 2010 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140908021621/http://winsupersite.com/product-review/longhorn-alpha-preview-2-build-4008 | archivedate = 8 September 2014 | accessdate = 16 May 2021}}</ref>


In builds of Windows "Longhorn" under the 3xxx - 403x branches, the appearance of the Windows Sidebar matched the [[Windows/Visual Styles/Plex|Plex]] visual style, and was translucent without assistance from the [[Desktop Composition Engine]]. Microsoft would later scrap the Plex visual style and replace it with one called [[Windows/Visual Styles/Slate|Slate]]. As a result, the appearance of the Windows Sidebar was radically altered and changed to a glossy black. It could be made translucent by enabling the ''MILDesktop'' key in the Windows Registry.
In builds of Windows "Longhorn" under the 3xxx - 403x branches, the appearance of the Windows Sidebar matched the [[Windows/Visual Styles/Plex|Plex]] visual style, and was translucent without assistance from the [[Desktop Composition Engine]]. Microsoft would later scrap the Plex visual style and replace it with one called [[Windows/Visual Styles/Slate|Slate]]. As a result, the appearance of the Windows Sidebar was radically altered and changed to a glossy black. It could be made translucent by enabling the ''MILDesktop'' key in the Windows Registry.


Notably, Microsoft had envisioned the Windows Sidebar as a replacement for the notification system seen in previous versions of Windows.<ref>Microsoft Developer Network. (October, 2003). [http://web.archive.org/web/20031221215430/http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/understanding/ux/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnaero/html/wux_topic_alerts.asp "Aero User Experience Guidelines - Notifications for Windows 'Longhorn'"]</ref>
Notably, Microsoft had envisioned the Windows Sidebar as a replacement for the notification system seen in previous versions of Windows.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/understanding/ux/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnaero/html/wux_topic_alerts.asp  | title = Aero User Experience Guidelines - Notifications for Windows 'Longhorn' | author = Microsoft User Experience Group | publisher = [[Microsoft Developer Network]] | date = October 2003 | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20031221215430/http://msdn.microsoft.com/Longhorn/understanding/ux/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnaero/html/wux_topic_alerts.asp | archivedate = 21 December 2003 | accessdate = 16 May 2021}}</ref>


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Revision as of 10:04, 16 May 2021

The Windows Sidebar is a feature first seen in Windows "Longhorn" and later present in the Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems developed by Microsoft. It was designed to provide users with up-to-date information at a glance. The Channel Bar included with the Windows Desktop Update, the MSN Dashboard, and the later Microsoft Sideshow application can be seen as precursors to the Windows Sidebar.[1]

Precursors

A feature called Channel Bar was integrated with Internet Explorer 4 as part of the Windows Desktop Update, and was later included with the Windows 98 operating system. The Channel Bar was designed to be an information delivery system based on Microsoft's Channel Definition Format (CDF).[2] Users could subscribe to various channels—websites designed to deliver content—and receive updates from the channel provider.[3] Due to its integration with Active Desktop, information could also be displayed within Windows Explorer or in the Channel Screensaver.[2]

In the early 2000s, Microsoft Research developed an application called Microsoft Research Sideshow (see screenshot with splash screen below; not to be confused with Windows Sideshow which shipped in Windows Vista) to display dynamically updated information, such as news updates and weather forecasts, in a visually unobtrusive fashion on a user's desktop.[4] Sideshow would later be demonstrated during Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference of 2001.[5]

A build of Sideshow, 1.0.27, was leaked by WinBeta.org in 2002.[6][7] This build is compatible with Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It can also be run from Windows 98 SE by installing KernelEx, which adds MonitorFromWindow.[8] It also runs on versions of Windows after XP, but appears with a black background. The black background can be disabled by unchecking "Use Windows XP themes".[9]

Windows "Longhorn"

The first version of the Windows Sidebar was included with Windows "Longhorn", first seen in build 3683 of the operating system. This version of the Windows Sidebar used applets called Tiles to display dynamically updated content.[12] Later builds allowed the Windows Sidebar to be combined with the taskbar.[13]

In builds of Windows "Longhorn" under the 3xxx - 403x branches, the appearance of the Windows Sidebar matched the Plex visual style, and was translucent without assistance from the Desktop Composition Engine. Microsoft would later scrap the Plex visual style and replace it with one called Slate. As a result, the appearance of the Windows Sidebar was radically altered and changed to a glossy black. It could be made translucent by enabling the MILDesktop key in the Windows Registry.

Notably, Microsoft had envisioned the Windows Sidebar as a replacement for the notification system seen in previous versions of Windows.[14]

Windows Vista

After the development reset of Windows "Longhorn", the Windows Sidebar was not seen until build 5219 of the Windows Vista operating system. This version of the Windows Sidebar was not integrated with the Windows shell but hosted graphical scripts on a vertical strip.[16] The applets hosted on the Windows Sidebar were renamed as "Gadgets" with variations of individual Gadgets being included in the operating system throughout its development.

The build of Windows Vista released to manufacturing includes a total of eleven Gadgets: Calendar, Clock, Contacts, CPU Meter, Currency, Feed Headlines, Notes, Picture Puzzle, Slide show, Stocks, and Weather.

Windows 7

During development of Windows 7 the user interface for Windows Sidebar was removed, which made the desktop the sole location for Gadgets.[17] Various improvements were made to Gadgets in Windows 7.[18]

In early builds of Windows 7, Gadgets could not be aligned properly. In build 6956, the Gadgets applet cannot be accessed if UAC is off.

Windows 8

Windows 8 included support for Windows Gadgets up to the Release Preview; support was discontinued in the RTM version of the operating system. According to Microsoft, this decision was made in response to potential security vulnerabilities discovered during development of Windows 8 which could allow arbitrary code to be executed while running compromised Gadgets.[19][20] Microsoft subsequently released a tool which would allow users to disable the feature in Windows Vista and Windows 7.[21]

References

  1. Microsoft Gadgets. GadgetNews : A Brief History of Windows Sidebar. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Microsoft Developer Network. Introduction to Active Channel Technology. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  3. Microsoft Developer Network. How to Create Channel Definition Format (CDF) Files. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  4. JJ Cadiz, Anoop Gupta, Gavin Jancke, and Gina Danielle Venolia (September 2001). Sideshow: Providing Peripheral Awareness of Important Information. Microsoft Research. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  5. Microsoft Research: Sideshow during PDC 2001., private video as of 16 May 2021
  6. butterfry (24 July (no date)). Sideshow Beta now available!. Archived from the original on 6 August 2002. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Parker, Steven (24 July 2002). Microsoft Sideshow (aka Longhorn Taskshelf) Shots!. Neowin. Archived from the original on 24 December 2004. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  8. spunker88 (20 March 2012). Re: The Sidebar before Longhorn: Microsoft Sideshow PDC 2001. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  9. Emir214 (26 March 2012). Re: The Sidebar before Longhorn: Microsoft Sideshow PDC 2001. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  10. Emir214 (2 September 2009). Tickets in Microsoft Sideshow. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  11. Emir214 (23 March 2012). Re: The Sidebar before Longhorn: Microsoft Sideshow PDC 2001. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  12. Microsoft User Experience Group (October 2003). Aero User Experience Guidelines - Sidebar. Microsoft Developer Network. Archived from the original on 30 October 2003. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  13. Thurrott, Paul (6 October 2010). Longhorn Alpha Preview 2: Build 4008. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  14. Microsoft User Experience Group (October 2003). Aero User Experience Guidelines - Notifications for Windows 'Longhorn'. Microsoft Developer Network. Archived from the original on 21 December 2003. Retrieved on 16 May 2021.
  15. Microsoft User Experience Group (October 2003). User Experience (Aero): Contacts (Microsoft Access 2002 Technical Articles). Aero User Experience Guidelines. MSDN. Archived from the original on 4 April 2004. Retrieved on 10 April 2021.
  16. Thurrott, Paul. "Windows Vista Feature Focus: Windows Sidebar"
  17. Microsoft. "What happened to the Windows Sidebar?"
  18. Thurrott, Paul. "Windows 7 Feature Focus: Windows Gadgets"
  19. Microsoft Developer Network. "Desktop gadgets removed"
  20. Microsoft TechNet. (July 10, 2012). "Vulnerabilities in Gadgets Could Allow Remote Code Execution"
  21. Microsoft. "Microsoft Security Advisory: Vulnerabilities in Gadgets could allow remote code execution"

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