Etymology

In the context of software engineering, the term gadget was first employed by the developers of AmigaOS, the operating system of the Amiga computers in 1985.^{[citation needed]} As of 2008, this naming convention is sometimes used as a synonym for widget—a control element in a graphical user interface.

It is not known whether other software companies are explicitly drawing on that inspiration when featuring the word in names of their technologies or simply referring to the generic meaning. The word widget is older in this context.

Types of Microsoft's gadgets

1. Web gadgets - run on a web site, such as Live.com or Spaces.Live.com
2. Sidebar gadgets - run on the desktop or be docked onto, run on the Windows Sidebar.
3. SideShow gadgets - run on auxiliary external displays, such as on the outside of a laptop or even on an LCD panel in a keyboard, and potentially mobile phones and other devices.