An updated version of Windows Sidebar Styler (v2.0.5) has been made available. Please check the previous post for download links as well as updated documentation.

Additions include support for Gadget resource localization, translations of the application UI, as well as fixed issues with VAIO. If you are interested in helping localize Windows Sidebar Styler in your native language, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Windows Sidebar Styler is an application which takes advantage of various technologies introduced in Windows Vista in order to provide extensions to the existing functionality of Windows Sidebar.

Custom styles allow users to customize the appearance of Windows Sidebar so that it fits the style of other UI elements, such as the Aero Glass colorization or an actual third party theme. Designers could save their visual styles for Sidebar so that other Windows users could apply them. Designers would not necessarily create these files on Windows Vista - Sidebar Styler is backward-compatible with legacy operating systems as well.

Gadgets - these mini applications which are managed by Windows Sidebar can now take full advantage of Windows Presentation Foundation - a powerful managed code-oriented framework for presenting rich visual compositions such as vector graphics, 3D drawing, animations and more. In addition to that, it could be used in conjunction with the Communication Foundation in order for the Gadgets to connect to services and provide frequently updated information.

Using compiled class libraries also helps

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