Yahoo Widget Engine 4.5 Coming Soon

Yahoo has recently updated their directory of desktops widgets for the Yahoo Widget Engine. So what does that mean? A completely new version of the widget engine itself! The Yahoo Widget Engine 4.5, and it is said to be released the week of November 27.

I love the Yahoo Widget Engine so I am excited about the new release; however, there will not be much change in the new version. For those who do upgrade, you will see a shift in how it is pitched. The new directory should be easier to navigate and more approachable. Yahoo, instead of trying to sell users on the engine and then push the widgets, will instead begin to pitch the utility and entertainment value of the widgets.

Later this year, Yahoo will begin to push widgets on various sites, an approach necessary to getting the engine onto enough desktops so developers are attracted to working in it. This makes since, seeing as how they have competition: Vista’s Sidebar, Leopard’s Desktop Gadgets, and even Googles’.

I am curious as to where Yahoo is going to take this. Only time will tell…