The Windows Vista Sidebar looks very similar to the desktop icons the mac has had for years. It is a vertical toolbar that 
has icons, now called gadgets, on it. It displays everything from the current time, notepad, pictures, and games. The cool part about the sidebar is that you can add dynamic gadgets (icons) to it, such as news/sports updates, weather, announcements, stocks, and more.
These are not just the static icons that you have to click for updates. These gadgets will update on their own. How does this work? Well, if you want constant news updates from NBC, you set up a gadget for this and then the gadget continually links the gadget to the NBC website for ongoing news. As news stories unfold, the gadget displays the latest news. It’s almost like a stock ticker, but it does stream so you have to follow it. The image stays in place and just shows you the updates almost like a TV.
How do you set up a new gadget in the sidebar? Right-click the Windows Sidebar icon on the taskbar -> Choose Add Gadgets -> Click Download to Sidebar -> Double-click gadget
This is a fun way to customize your desktop.