Mac Dashboard Widgets | 10 Must have Mac Dashboard widgets
Mac dashboard widgets are always helpful and cool in different ways and the best thing about mac dashboard widgets is that they make a cool desktop. Here is a list of some cool Mac dashboard widgets that you should try if you haven’t.
1- iStat Pro
Stat pro is the ultimate system monitoring widget for MAC OS X systems. Stat pro consists of 9 sections which can be shown or hidden. It shows you the highly detailed information on CPUs (up to 8 cores), memory, hard drives, IP and external IP, bandwidth, battery, wireless keyboard and mouse battery, uptime, temperatures, and fans.
Latest version of Stat Pro is 4.6 with features like:
- Improved support for Santa Rosa based MacBook Pros
- Improved support for MacBook Airs
- New Purple skin
- Improved support for Mac OS X 10.5
- Updated network code
- Better support for LaunchCFM app names in processes section
- Improved naming for some temperature and fan sensors
- Added process count to uptime section
- UI bug fixes
- Other minor bug fixes
Link | Official Website
iStat Pro | Download (900 kb)
2- Airport Radar
AirPort Radar is a free and convenient tool for quickly scanning the area for AirPort and other wireless networks and giving you access to open/closed networks and signal strength. It will work with AirPort cards, MacWireless 11g PC Cards, and 11g PCI cards. Mac OS X 10.4 or later is required. Supports Mac OS X 10.5.
The latest version of Airport Radar (Up to date is 1.1.1) and here are some of it’s features:
- Signal Strength at a Glance - Visual signal meters tell you the strength of the AirPort signal for an easy-to-read radar screen.
- Portable Network List - Click on a category to sort the list of networks by that category. Click on the radio waves symbol to sort by signal strength.
- Connect to Open Networks - By simply clicking on the name you can connect to any network that is not password protected.
- Remember Lost Networks - When a network falls “below radar” it won’t disappear from your radar screen right away. This is particularly useful when a network is right on the threshold - with AirPort Radar it won’t jump on and off the radar screen, it will just turn grey temporarily while it is too weak to connect to. You can choose how many scans a lost network stays on-screen with the “Scan Memory” setting on the back side of the widget.
- Auto-Resizing for Various List Lengths - The AirPort Radar widget will automatically resize itself to accomodate longer or shorter lists of wireless networks. If the list grows longer than the maximum, a scrollbar will appear.
Link | Official Website
Airport Radar | Download
3- Google Reader Dashboard Widget for Mac OS X
The Google Reader Dashboard Widget will enable you to see the number of items in your feeds that are currently unread through your Mac Dashboard. After downloading / installation, enter in your Google Account username (the one you use for Google Reader) and the password. To change this information, just click the “i” button. Clicking the “go” button will take you to Google Reader in your preferred browser.
Link | Official website
Google Reader for Mac | Download
4- DocX Converter
The Docx-converter Dashboard Widget for Mac OS X is pretty neat. Docx-converter allows you to convert files right from your Desktop. Simply drag the .docx file you want to convert into the drop area of the widget (click to drag, push F12, drop) and the widget will automatically convert the file and save it to the location of the original file (with a .htm extension) and (optionally) open it in your web browser. Best of all, any updates or feature additions to the website will automatically be reflected in the widget!
Link | Official Website
Download | Docx-Converter
5- TV Forecast Desktop Widget
TV Forecast is a must have desktop widget for Mac users who are into TV shows. So If you’ve ever missed an episode of your favorite TV show, tuned in only to find that it wasn’t airing or are just looking for a TV guide personalized to your taste, then look no further than TV Forecast. TV Forecast helps you to keep an eye on all of your favorite TV shows by keeping them together in one place: on the dashboard. Another cool thing about TV Forecast is that it’s fully compatible with Leopard.
Link | Official Website
Download | Tv Forecast Desktop Widget for Mac
6- Minutes
Minutes is another cool little timer widget for Mac. Minutes is basically a countdown timer application featuring polished graphics and advanced interface. You just dial the knob only, you can set the counting time. Not needed clicking buttons many times, not needed editing textbox. It is very easy, simple and smart. Dial Interface helps its look be simplified.
Requirements for Minutes:
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger or later is required. If you’re using Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, Show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget’s icon in the Widget Bar to open it. If you’re using a browser other than Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, unarchive it and place it in /Library/Widgets/ in your home folder. Show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget’s icon in the Widget Bar to open it.
Links | Official Website | Blog
Minutes| Download (2.58 MB)
7- DocDoctor
DocDoctor is another cool MAC desktop widget. With DocDoctor, you can easily switch between a 2D or 3D dock in Leopard. If you are looking to get your oldschool Tiger style dock back in leopard, you can do it with DocDoctor.
Link | Official Website
Download | DocDoctor
8- PemDas
PemDas is a great advanced calculator widget for Mac OS X. If you are stuck with a basic computer calculator on Windows or Mac, then PemDas is for you. With Advanced features and interface, it’s not something that you should miss.
Link | Official Website
Download | PemDas Calculator Widget for Mac
9 - Mini Battery Status
Mini Battery Status is a small dashboard widget for Mac OSX which monitors your battery life with Growl alerts. Basically, it monitors battery status, charge percentage and remaining battery life. Integrated with Growl to alert you when it’s time to recharge your battery.
Link | Official Website
Download | Mini battery status widget
10 - StopDashBoard
Last but not least in my list of must have Mac Dashboard widgets is StopDashBoard. All this widget does is kill the Dock process (which Dashboard is a part of). MacOSX will automatically restart the Dock but without Dashboard in memory. Press F12 to start it up again.
Link| Official website
Download | StopDashBoard
I hope you like these and if you have any good recommendations of must have Mac Dashboard widgets, do let me know by commenting.
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You should try out QuickCal! (http://quickcal.smellypuppy.com)… Natural language parser which handles event and todo creation in ical with simple phrases like “todo - walk the dog”, “lunch w/ tom next tuesday at 2pm”, “pay gas bill before july 14″
These are great — thanks!
Another one I use almost daily is the Apple Store Discounts widget. It shows you the day’s additions to the discount section of the Apple Store. Check it: http://www.MacintoshOS.com/widget.html
Thanks for the cool suggestions.. I’m going to update this post as soon as I get 3 or more
I just added docx converter to my dashboard. The instructions say to “Simply drag the .docx file you want to convert into the drop area of the widget” but how do I do that if the widget is only in the dashboard and, while the dashboard is active, I can’t click or drag anything? I’m sure there’s a simply solution to this. Could somebody please let me in on it? Thanks!