Thoughts on Dashboard
 

First, who uses Dashboard on a regular basis here? (Check the poll.)

Second, my thought on it is that Dashcode should be a bit more like Xcode. By saying that I mean there should be Cocoa widgets, alongside the JS/HTML/CSS ones. This would make it easier to create widgets, IMO. If you know Cocoa, you should be able to make widgets using the same tech. OK, so JS/HTML/CSS is simpler, but I've never "gotten" it like Cocoa - and trust me, I've tried to learn Dashcode!

Last, my belief is that Dashboard shouldn't lock the widgets into their own layer. Yes, there's a defaults hack for this, but you should be able to minimize widgets to the dock, etc.

What's your thought?

I use it just about daily.... print a single envelope, quick access to a calendar and other micl tasks.

Print a single envelope? Cool, I should look into that.

I find the dictionary very useful for hyphenation and definitions.

I've got a few other widgets, -- BBC Radio; astronomical data; but I use them very rarely.

I think if Widgets are "free" from the Dashboard and can be put in the Dock and run in the foreground, then there's no longer any point to the Dashboard. It becomes just a "Space".

It's called Easy Envelopes and is free. http://www.ambrosiasw.com/utilities/

Saves a lot of time for that every now and then addressing/printing.

depends....what is need
 

I keep stock,terminal,sticky note,3 clocks (new york,chicago,canada,india),using dictonary,iStatPro,Mamp control,BBC radio

Hybridize. Leave some of the widgets (unessential ones) out in space, and drag the others in.

More like "Never (perhaps once since 10.3 was the hot new OS version)"


It depends on the Dock, among other things. And I don't let the Dock run. I've hated the Dock since the Public Beta. First thing I do after each OS install is copy Dock.app to /Applications, set that copy up in startup items, then delete the original from CoreServices. Then set up an AppleScript to run on startup to tell the stupid thing to go quit itself once it has "initialized" the Finder.

I run 4 desktops, each desktop with specific apps. If I ever use dashboard it is to quick look at calendars if I don't have ical open.

@tlarkin-- Hey! That's a legitimate use for Dashboard! I hadn't even thought of that! Now that I have several spaces that I use for various stuff, I should be using dashboard as my one screen that has the stuff I need on every page... Suddenly I wish I could put my Things list on my Dashboard...

Seriously though, the more I think about it, the more I think that Dashboard and Spaces were introduced in the wrong order. Dashboard makes perfect sense in a multi-spaces configuration. All the essential "every space" applications should just be in your Dashboard, ready to be pulled up at a moments notice, no matter where you are. I think if the OSX community could see this, it could re-vitalize the Dashboard developer community.

F12 = Instant Weather Report

...aside from that I never use Dashboard.

Well, I once installed pacman in my dashboard. So every time I got frustrated at work I just gobbled pellets for 2 minutes then went back at it.

I think Jay hit the nail on the head. Dashboard for me is apps I need quick access too but never have open. Calendar, calculator, weather reports, and maybe a monitoring tool.

Unfortunately the port that Apple's own server monitor tool uses is shut down at my job, and since I have remote access (ARD, ssh, VPN) there is really no justification to open up that port so I can monitor via a local app.

My network guy is pretty conservative when it comes to security and I agree with him. Plus, we have a third party tool that pings servers every 30 minutes and if one fails I get an email on my blackberry saying so.

I never use it. I used to, but I've found alternatives for virtually everything that I would need access to in the dashboard. Actually, I did something in the last month or two that completely disabled my Dashboard, and I really don't miss it.

i use stickies for general notes that i need to keep for some time. it makes for very quick access.

being in india i use the currency widget all the time for far eastern currency conversion. its brilliant.

occasionally i use the converter for weights measures etc.

i also have a document shredder which is great - very quick & easy. i just think its fun & it comes in handy sometimes.

I convert currency too, that's all I use it for.

I would use it for iTunes and my ToDo list (Things), if I could find a viable solution to do it. I'm afraid years of neglect has left the widget development community stagnant.

I just wish people realized how useful it is now that most of us use Spaces. Really, Dashboard is quite awesome now...

I wish Apple had better development tools available. The old text-and-files way was horrible and Dashcode improves, but doesn't really fit the Obj-C way. Besides, anyone can view a widget's source code.

I have a big monitor so I find it easier to use tools that live in the menubar (such as a multi-time zone clock and calendar). And, since LaunchBar brings up things like the Dictionary, iCal, etc., with just a few keystrokes I find myself doing that more often than going to Dashboard.

Like tlarkin, I'm a big fan of both Spaces and Liberty.

I just d/l Sticky Notes Online and it just sits there saying "loading". That is on my MBA.

For reasons unknown, Dashboard does not work on my MBP???

using widgetterm1.5
 

this is terminal widget
u can see web page and simultaneously work in terminal

u can write script of perl/shell in textedit
and just do F4 u can type it on WidgetTerm1.5 (this is terminal widget )
this is beauty of mac....I love mac

You can see a web page and terminal simultaneously without Dashboard.

I adore Dashboard! I use it every day, many times each day (can't say I use it constantly since I only flip in and out of it so i selected usually). I use dashboard to have certain things readily and immediately available with just one keystroke.

I have 5 maps in Radar in Motion that I love. The main map is an overview while the other maps are more specific for bad weather when needed. I have two other weather reports, as well. I live in an area that can be freezing at night and require air conditioning during the day. We also get storms passing through so the quick weather check is a must.

Utilities include dictionary, unit converter, battery info, hardware info (temps, memory, cpu, etc), word counter (for limited word or character entries), several stickies, a multipage todo for quick notes.

When waiting for a package, I use delivery status. I love that utility.

I run two windows of iCal Events, each with very specific calendars showing. These are the mainstay of what keeps me on track in college. I always know what's coming up with a 2 week warning of all exams, papers, and project due dates. This is integrated with personal business, doctor appointments, birthdays, and other things I must keep track of. I don't need to open iCal for any of it.

Just pressing one key tells me the weather, my calendar schedules, my todos, notes, package deliveries -- as well as giving me quick utilities and an immediate scratch pad.

I guess I'm using it like a personal organizer that I can customize with whatever features I need or want. I've grown so dependent on it, I can't imagine doing all I do without it.

All on just one page. All with just one keystroke.