I am constantly changing my desktop layout. I use tools like GeekTool, Magnifique, SuperDocker, Yahoo Widgets and a few other tweaks.  I usually change my desktop to match my mood. Today, I’m going to go over the Yahoo Widgets that I use the most. I narrowed my list down to the top 15 of my favorite widgets from Yahoo along with a description on the customization allowed for each widget.

BarCalendarClock
When you open this widget, it displays the date and time and an arrow (either to the left or right – you set this up in the preferences by right clicking on the widget). When you click the arrow, it displays the full month to whatever side you have chosen. I use this widget when I’m designing a background that is simple and minimalistic. I feel like it has a modern feel to it.

Widget Preferences:
Choose to have the widget open or closed when the widget is shown, direction the month expands (left or right) when arrow is clicked, font, text size, colors of the clock and date, calendar background color, today background color, weekday color, Sunday/holiday color, background color and opacity.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/barcalendarclock

Due
This widget helps you keep track of things that are due. You can use it for other items though. I use this widget mainly to track things that are due, like bills, library books, movies, etc.
Widget Preferences:
You can change how the date is displayed, due item width, and the background opacity under the ‘general tab.’
You can change the colors for normal, warning and overdue items under the ‘colors tab.’
You can change the font, color and size of font under the ‘font tab.’
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/due

Flip Clock
This is another clock that looks like a ‘flip’ clock. I use this widget when creating a retro background.
Widget Preferences:
You can choose to show the current month or seconds and also display a 24-hour clock.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/flip-clock

Flip Count
This widget counts down to or up from a specified time. The numbers flip as they change. I currently have mine set for a countdown to Thanksgiving in a retro background.
Widget Preferences:
You can change the title of your countdown, label color, custom label color, date, and time. You can choose to use a countdown or a count up display.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/flipcount

Glow Ball (system)
This widget displays glowing balls to display your CPU load, free memory, wireless signal strength, battery capacity and network latency (ping). This is a cool widget I use with a background that is circular. I like that you can change the colors of the balls to match the background.
Widget Preferences:
You can decide what each ball is for and choose which items to display. You can change the colors, sizes, and settings for each ball. There are many other options for each type of ball you want to display and options for each function.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/glow-ball-system-edition

Gorgy Clock
This widget is a clock based on the Gorgy Clock design. I used this background on the MacSpotlight desktop.
Widget Preferences:
You can choose to sync with an Atomic Clock and how often to sync. You can then choose the clock background type, show the clock background, or show the edge. Finally, you can choose the time/date format and what you want to be displayed under the main time digits. You can also change the LED color, face color, and edge color. Then, you have the option to choose how many alarms to show in the list and delete expired alarms.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/gorgy-clock

mini CPU
This is a small widget that displays CPU status. I use this widget with the other ‘mini’ widgets. Usually they are blended into a background, but serve their purpose.
Widget Preferences:
You can change the update frequency from 1 – 10 seconds and choose a theme for the widget.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/mini-cpu

Mini iTunesRemote
This widget displays a small round remote for iTunes. It allows you to play, rewind, fast forward, view track information, rate and adjust volume. Again, I use this widget with a simple theme. I like the way that it looks as if it were embedded in the background.
Widget Preferences:
You can choose to show current track in iChat and choose whether or not you want to display the volume slider.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/mini-itunes-remote

mini Weather
This is a small widget that displays the weather information. This widget doesn’t take up a lot of space on a background.
Widget Preferences:
Here is where you enter your location and choose if you want to use metric units and if you want to show tooltips for detailed weather information when hovered on.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/mini-weather

Moon Phase II
This widget displays the moon’s current position, phase, age, distance, etc. It also displays the angle of the cusps and the moons axis. I have used this widget on a few of my customized desktops.
Widget Preferences:
You can select your language, enter your latitude/longitude details, choose to use the computer clock, choose if you want to use double clicks to show data and change the positional data. Then, you can change the moon size with the slider bar, rotate the image, change the shadow density, show mouse-over info and show rise/set times in UTC.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/moon-phase-ii

RSS Ticker Tape
This widget displays a customizable ticker tape style newsreader. It continuously scrolls the most recent content from your combination of RSS feeds. You can change feed configuration by right clicking the widget and choosing feed configuration. Here you can add, import, export, and remove channels. I use this widget along with a radar widget for a news-like background.

Widget Preferences:
You can change channel colors, scroll channel information, scroll channel position, scroll channel logo and the scroll channel title in the ‘layout tab.’ Then, change the tossed article color, mark articles as tossed, and change padding. In the general tab, you can change the width, font, font size, preview color, background, preview panel color, ticker background and color, glass texture and glass opacity. In the ‘behavior tab,’ you can choose if you want the panel to automatically popout, animate (toss) circle, animate (skip) article, set the ticker refresh rate, set the ticker scrolling speed.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/rss-ticker-tape

Sun
This widget simulates the motion of the sun and moon across your desktop. I just love the way this widget works and how it moves on my screen.
Widget Preferences:
Here is where you enter your latitude/longitude information, check to use AM/PM, choose screen setting (wide, tall or full), change the sun and moon image, position moon as anti-sun and the phase of moon along with size and meridian pointer and if you want to enable tooltip popups.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/sun

System Dashboard – CPU Meter
This widget tracks your total, user and system CPU usage percentages. This widget looks really cool. I used this widget with a car dashboard background along with other customization tools.
Widget Preferences:
You can change the readout style, dashboard style and color, custom color, widget size and if you want to use an aqua shadow. Then you can choose the refresh rate with the slider.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/systemdashboard-cpu-meter

WidescapeTimeSerializer
This widget displays the current date and time in a barcode format. I use this widget with a shopping background.
Widget Preferences:
You can choose to change the display date/time, seconds, if you want to display century or use 24-hour clock. You can also choose what theme to display, the widget size and you can change the text color/opacity, strip color/opacity, and space color/opacity.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/widescapetimeserializer

Widescape Weather
This widget displays the current weather and when you click the ‘-‘ button, the five day forecast. I use this widget with minimalistic backgrounds.
Widget Preferences:
You can enter your location and display name, the location and time, choose if you want to use metric units, the time format, which way the forecast tray opens, and the widget size. In the color tab, you can change the icon and text color, background color/opacity, and border color/opacity.
Download widget here http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/widescapeweather

I chose these widgets as my favorites because of their functionality and design. I don’t use them all at once. I’ll use one or a couple in a design, depending on what my design calls for.  If anyone has used these widgets and wants to share their experiences, feel free to leave a comment. Also, if anybody wants to list other cool Yahoo Widgets that I may have missed, feel free to share it here. Share the wealth with our fellow readers!