Dashboard Discoveries: Top Widget Picks

Posted by Kristin Wenzel Categories: PC / Laptop, Software

I love Mac OS X’s Dashboard feature.  Consequently, I’m always searching for new, useful, fun, or just plain awesome widgets to install to make my life easier (or more entertaining).  Even some that aren’t useful to me personally have made it onto the list because they’re just solid, awesome little widgets. So here are my top picks for widgets that need to be downloaded.

DashBlog

DashBlog is an incredibly user-friendly widget that lets you write and publish to your Blogger account through Dashboard, without having to open an application like MacBlog or login through Blogger’s web-interface.  All you have to do is open Dashboard, write an entry, and post it to your blog.  It’s a perfect example of a great, must-have widget that I had to include even though I’ve no use for it, since I prefer to publish my website entirely by hand.  However, if you use Blogger, this one is a must.

Read More |  DashBlog

Proxify Anonymous Surfing

If you’re a little on the “paranoid” side and don’t want people to know who you are as you visit their website or what have you, Proxify’s Anonymous Surfing widget is for you.  All you do is type in the address you’re going to, and Proxify hides your IP address and prevents monitoring of your network traffic, allowing you to surf confident that nobody’s watchin- unless they’re actually in your room looking at your computer.  That would be creepy.

Read More |  Proxify Anonymous Surfing

Mini CPU Heat and Mini CPU Usage

I can’t even begin to describe how unbelievably useful this one has been.  I use a PowerBook G4, which are known to run very hot.  This widget helps me keep an eye on my CPU temp with no muss and fuss - pop open Dashboard, glance, and go back to what I was doing.  An absolute must-have. Additionally, if you’re like me and always want to keep a watchful eye on your Mac, the mini CPU Usage widget will keep you informed with a touch of a button and goes hand in hand with mini CPU heat.  It can read as a numeric value, or as a progress bar, whichever works best for you.

Read More |  mini CPU heat
Read More |  mini CPU usage

miniUptime

Many people have stories about how they never need to shut down their Mac, as they leave it running 24-7 with no problems.  Well, now you have a way to track your uptime right on Dashboard.  So if you’re looking for a way to show off your uptime for bragging rights, or just for your own curiousity, this widget needs to be on your dashboard.

Read More |  miniUptime

Let us know which widgets you find most useful in the comments area.