Dashboard , a brand new feature of Mac OS X, gives you instant access to simple applications called
widgets . Widgets work with other applications such as iTunes, iCal, and Address Book to provide you with quick access to the most commonly used features. They also work with the Internet to get up-to-date information such as stock quotes, weather, and Yellow Pages listings.
Mac OS X 10.4 comes with a bunch of widgets, all accessible from the new Widget Bar that you can display at the bottom of your screen. In this chapter, I explain how to use Dashboard to display the Widget Bar and widgets and how you can use each of the widgets that come with Mac OS X.
Apple is actively encouraging developers to build more widgets. If you like using widgets and want more, be sure to check out Apple's Dashboard Web page, www.apple.com/macos/dashboard/.
Have you been using a Macintosh long enough to remember Desk Accessories? If so, widgets should seem pretty familiarthey're a new twist on an old idea.