iStockPhoto have recently released a great dashboard widget which allows you to keep track of your credit on the site, referral takings and total earnings. It’s a great tool for people who use the site on a regular basis. I’m more of a downloader than an uploaded, although I just about make enough money from others downloading my images to fund my downloads.

I think this is where we will see the usefulness of dashboard come into play. To be perfectly honest, the default widgets included by Apple are nothing special. They perform basic functions, but I don’t need a fancy clock - there’s one in the top right of my screen all the time. I don’t need an extra calendar, a stock tracker or a flight tracker. However, once specific websites and online services start to make these widgets, they could really become useful.

Some online services I’d like to see widgets for:

• Flickr
• Shaun Inman’s ShortStats
• Online Banking (security nightmare, but some great possibilities)
• Film listings at your local cinema
• Restaurant/bowling/cinema/concert bookings
• Google Maps

There are so many possibilities! I would certainly have tried my hand at writing a few by now if I wasn’t so snowed under with work. I’ll have much more free time in around a fortnight, so might be able to have a play then.