I have been using Gadgets since Windows Vista and find them extremely useful. I am still using them with Windows 10 thanks to 8GadgetPack. I don't find Live Tiles to be very useful. I have to go to the Start Menu to see them. That is not at all productive. Useless, in my opinion. Microsoft killed off Gadgets stating that they were a security risk, lol. They did that because they wanted users to focus on Live Tiles. Gadgets are no more of a security risk than any other third party application (including Modern apps). And besides this, I find them much more useful when they are sitting on my Desktop. What do you think? PS: I have never had any security problems due to Gadgets. Have you? Bring them back...
I just discovered this program 8GadgetPack yesterday after some research looking for a way to use All CPU Meter, a highly valued gadget to me. on Windows 10; And I never had any security problems using All CPU Meter on Windows 7.
I have 2 gadgets (CPU and Network Monitor) permanently located at top left of my Host OS screen (Windows 7 x64) and find them indispensable. My CPU gadget provides me with real time readout of temperature and spikes on all my cores. (if the temp goes above 70C – I turn on my small additional fan to cool my system down) I have a capped plan – so my Network Monitor gadget provides a running readout of bandwidth usage during my sessions. Invaluable for comparing stated bandwidth with what is actually downloaded when updating distros etc, plus - displays any unsolicited bandwidth usage (currently an issue with Windows 10) Security vs convenience is an often quoted term – for me, the convenience of my gadgets outweighs the security risks. In any case, I do have some protections in place.
According to them, does not have to be 3rd party: https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/2719662?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396 They could have fixed them though. Agreed they just don't want you to use them. The live tile are less bad on Windows Phone than they are on Windows, but I gave up on that too.They are never going to be what Microsoft wants them to be.
Opinions are good and all, but please don't dress them up as statements (for the general public's sake at least). I personally like a clean desktop, so gadgets aren't something I'll miss outside of Android. The smaller screen, cramped keyboard, and easily tappable buttons makes "desktop icons" much more sensible IMO.
You didn't have to make it personal, and could've at least asked me to expand on what was admittedly a pretty vague statement. Gadgets aren't more of a security risk than most third-party applications, I'd say they're less risky than those that require admin privileges (even just to install). But saying they are no more risky than Modern apps is an opinion at best.
There are some really useful Gadgets here. You have to get them via a downloader, but you only have to decline a single app (Advanced PC Care).
tiles are part of Windows Apps which are ran under Appcontainer (sandbox) , so safer than any 3rd party gadgets environment. However tiles are less practical obviously since you can't pin them on the desktop.
All CPU Meter, was a highly valued gadget to me, now I am using Rainmeter with illustro_extended skin. https://www.rainmeter.net/