Patent ID: 7631267

Claim:
A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed perform steps for ensuring that gadgets designed for use with a sidebar program are compatible with one or more of a plurality of auxiliary displays, such that gadgets designed for use with the sidebar program are automatically compatible with the auxiliary display, the steps comprising: receiving a request to install a gadget on a sidebar program of a host computer system, the sidebar program being configured to run one or more installed gadgets, the gadgets being written in a format compatible with the sidebar program, and being configured to communicate with the sidebar program using a first interface; determining that one or more auxiliary display devices are communicatively coupled to the host computer system; installing the gadget on the sidebar of the host computer system such that the gadget is configured to output display data for display on both the sidebar program using the first interface and on at least one communicatively coupled auxiliary display device in a second, different format using a second, different interface that allows gadgets written in a first format compatible with the sidebar program to be displayed on the auxiliary display device while maintaining substantially the same display appearance in both the first format on the sidebar and in the second format on the auxiliary display; and receive an indication from a user that a first instance of the installed gadget is to be opened in the sidebar program of the host computer system and that a second instance of the installed gadget is to be opened on the auxiliary display device; displaying the first instance of the gadget in the sidebar program of the host computer system using the first interface in the first format compatible with the sidebar program; and displaying the second instance of the gadget on the auxiliary display using the second interface in the second format associated with the auxiliary display.