Google Gadgets To Download For The Fun Of It!

Google Desktop has so many excellent – and highly useful – features. It’s easily my favorite tool for indexing the massive amount of data I keep scattered around the various folders on my computer, and it’s a lot less painful than actually taking the time to sort everything myself.

It really is a tremendous productivity booster and deserves a place on any serious professional’s desktop - if not for the usefulness, then why not for some less-serious, completely fun gadgets!

The Voodoo Doll

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a nice guy. There’s not a mean bone in my entire body. But I do love this gadget, as it served me well during the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. I mean, a guy can only tolerate so many bad calls against his team before he needs to slap the referee’s picture on this pixelated pin-cushion and commence with the imaginary pokings.

As far as I know, any results from using the voodoo doll are purely coincidental…

aren’t they…?

Stress Level Gadget

You’ve got to love any gadget that tells you expressly in its “about” page that it “is just for fun and can decrease the performance of your computer system.” I’m a huge fan of honesty, so I had to give this thing a try. What it does is monitor the level of activity on your computer and display your oh-so-scientifically calculated stress level. Since my own stress indicators are wildly out of whack from years in the IT business, it’s nice to have an applet that can help me out.

I do wish this one could be resized, as it’s a little bit on the small side.

Tetris

Come on now, what computer is complete without a way to play Tetris on it somewhere?

Purists will love the fact that there’s no block preview for the cheaters out there. It’s quite well done, includes catchy music, and is smart enough to pause your game when the Google sidebar loses focus.

That’s kind of ironic, when you think about it …

After all, when I lose focus, I pause what I’m doing and head over to my Tetris gadget. Isn’t it odd how things work out like that?

Desktop Yoga

A status bar at the bottom counts down 30 minutes and reminds you at the end to take a moment to stretch, breathe, and relax. It may sound like a (or be, to some of you) goofy idea, but I’m actually starting to really welcome it. It’s a great way to make sure that my stress level gadget won’t reach critical levels.

I was looking for something to complement this one, like a Mindfulness Bell or random sayings from the Tao Te Ching, but sadly found nothing. If you’ve seen one, please tell me in the comments!

The Quest for Truthiness

In the beginning, Colbert crept into the spotlight on The Daily Show. Gradually his popularity rose, until he ended up landing his own show with Comedy Central. Then he brought us Wikiality, and now he’s all over our desktop. I knew this would have to stay on my desktop when the first quote that came up was “Guests of the Colbert Report stay at the luxurious…crashing with a friend.”

The gadget automatically queries Wikipedia every four hours to integrate new bits of Truthiness to display in your sidebar – just to make sure you’re not missing out on any wildly funny Colbert quotes from the night before.

Cat Clock

If you use a sidebar at all, chances are good that you have a clock on it somewhere. Maybe you’re digital, maybe analog. Me, I’m a cat person. I can’t even remember how many of my grandparents’ friends’ homes I went into and noticed this guy lurking over a doorway. It brings back memories, and it makes me chuckle every now and then when I glance at my monitor. By far the most fun clock I’ve seen!

In case you’re wondering, yes, it is animated.

What would a cat clock gadget be without the wagging tail and eyes that peer back and forth hoping your mouse is the kind it can eat?

PuppetMuppet Noodle Timer

What computing session would be complete without a quick break for some hot, tasty ramen noodles? But how best to multi-task your cooking and computing? With the Noodle Timer, of course!

Simply click the left arrow to increase the number of minutes (or right arrow to decrease) and then press the start button to begin your countdown. The noodle cup on his head even rocks back and forth in time. Like the cat clock, it’s another thing that’s sure to bring a smile to your face when you see it sitting on your sidebar.

Answer Ball

There are times in the day where I’m confronted with a situation and I just don’t know how to handle it. Thank the heavens for my Magic 8-Ball!

This is another one that takes me back to my youth (read: makes me feel like an antique). How many of you had one of those crack and the goo leaks out all over the place? Well, you don’t have to worry about the mess any more – just quick answers to all of life’s greatest questions.

Hopefully you’ll get some enjoyment out of these – I know I do! I’m sure there are plenty of other great, not-so-practical gadgets available for Google Desktop, so I’m putting out an open call: what are your favorite just-for-fun gadgets? Comment and share the joy!

(By) Lee Mathews is a technician and blogger who writes to share his insights (however skewed) with other slightly frustrated computer users at Unsightful.Com.