The .gadget file extension belongs to small application files that run within the Widows Vista side bar. The gadgets are things like weather feeds, news feeds, system monitors, calculators, sports scores, on-line auction monitors, along with endless other possibilities. They are generally written and submitted by Vista enthusiasts and can be downloaded from the Windows Live Gallery website. There are unofficial sites that offer gadgets for download, but they are not supported or sanctioned by Microsoft. Vista sidebar gadgets are comparable to widgets in the Mac OS, and the Gnome or KDE desktops for Linux.
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Users of Microsoft XP can download and install the Vista sidebar, thereby making .gadget files usable, but there are numerous reports of different versions of the sidebar not all displaying gadgets the same way. Since the sidebar was never intended to be released for XP, Microsoft has not put a lot of resources into supporting it, so XP users who wish to use the sidebar and gadgets are left to themselves to make them work. Tweaking the sidebar to properly use .gadget files takes some time and skill, but it can be done.
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More Info Regarding File Extension Gadget
One common problem with gadgets in XP is that no file association exists for them, nor is the .gadget extension registered by the operating system during a gadget install. A registry edit is needed to fix this problem which is not recommended for inexperienced users. An internet search using your favorite search engine will point you to several developers who have put together registry keys for this issue. The keys can be downloaded and installed with a simple click of the mouse. In older versions of the sidebar, the registry fix may enable the use of gadgets, but they still may not display correctly. Search the various XP forums to find more information about this.
For Windows Vista, the sidebar is part of the default installation. Any .gadget file downloaded directly from the Windows Live Gallery should work without incident. Download the file to the desktop, double click the icon, then watch the gadget as it installs. Some gadgets may require a system re-start, but most will not.
It has been reported that .gadget files are merely .zip files with a different extension. If this is true, the .gadget could be renamed and then opened and extracted using any archiving program that supports .zip. As always, care should be taken when extracting any archive whose source is not trusted. Due the fact that many Vista gadgets are live (they access information from the internet), they pose an inherent security risk. Users who employ the use of live gadgets should always have an antivirus package installed, updated, and active.
Two other types of .gadgets are available: Web gadgets and SideShow gadgets. These files serve the same purpose as their desktops siblings, but Web gadgets are placed on web sites while SideShow gadgets are used on cell phones and other mobile devices. SideShow gadgets are not stand-alone applications, rather they are used to transfer data between the Windows Vista PC and the connected device. The gadgets are inoperable if the device is not connected. It matters not however, what type of connection is used. The device can be connected through a USB port, fire wire, ethernet, or wireless network connection. Web gadgets are mini applications that reside on a web page, such as an IM applications, news feeds, or search engines.
Microsoft .gadget files are proprietary and should not be confused with Google's gadget files. Google gadgets serve the same purpose as Microsoft's but they carry .gg extension rather than the .gadget. They also can be downloaded and installed from the internet, and carry the same inherent security risk.
