SkypeGadget

1. Features
2. System requirements
3. Installation
4. Download
5. Running on Windows on 64bits
6. Future version
7. Support and feedback
8. Donation
9. Changelog

SkypeGadget is a Windows 7/Vista Sidebar Gadget that allows Skype users to call/chat to their contacts directly from Sidebar.

1. Features

• Contact list
• Show/hide offline, SkypeOut and/or Call Forward contacts
• Call/chat to a contact
• End call
• Open Skype
• Two display modes (8 or 16 contacts at a time)
• Double click starts a chat/call
• Displays contact status (Available, SkypeMe, Away, etc.)

2. System requirements

• Windows 7 or Windows Vista
• Skype
• Internet connection
• Administrative rights on the first run (in order to register Skype4COM)

3. Installation

1. Download the gadget from one of the links below.
2. Run the file
3. If, on the first run, it displays a message that Skype4COM is not registered click the link on the gadget, close the gadget and reopen it.
4. That's it.

4. Download

The current stable version 1.4 can be downloaded from victorhurdugaci.com or gallery.live.com (the Gallery has been discontinued).

Running on Windows on 64bits

Skype Gadget uses Skype4COM.dll in order to communicate with Skype. This component can only run on 32 bits so in order to use the gadget on a 64 bits OS you need to run the Sidebar as a 32 bits application. This can be done as following:

1. Go to the sidebar properties and uncheck the "Start sidebar when windows starts" checkbox.
2. Open the "Program Files (x86)Windows Sidebar" folder and launch the sidebar from there. Now you have the 32 bits version running.
3. Go to this new sidebar's properties and check "Start sidebar when windows starts".
4. Add th gadget on sidebar.

Thanks to Michael for this great tip!

6. Future version

The Alpha 1 version is now available for download!

I decided to not develop version 2 anymore because a lot of people are using version 1 and there seems to be no need for an improved version.

You can still download version 2 Alpha1 from here.

7. Support and feedback

If you have any problems and/or suggestions for SkypeGadget please feel free to ...

• ... add a comment on this page
• ... send an e-mail at: skypegadget [monkey tail] victorhurdugaci {dot} com
• ... follow SkypeGadget on Twitter: @SkypeGadget

8. Donation

Like this gadget and want to support it?

Donations removed due to legal reasons. However, SkypeGadget is still free :)

9. Changelog

Version 1.4 (yes, it is after 2.0 A1)

• Support for Skype 4

Version 2.0 Alpha 1

• First release of the new interface.
• New contact list.
• Hide Skype window after placing a call.
• Contacts are sorted by status and name.

Version 1.3:

• Bug fix: Long contact name wrapping
• New color for selected item
• Option to show/hide SkypeOut contacts

Version 1.2:

• Big contact list option
• Sorted contacts
• Minor bug fixes