I've been frustrated for some time now when trying to use widgets that access the 'net (especially weather widgets). The reason is that for most of the day my laptop needs to use a proxy server and so I'm forced to use proxy authentication. I've found that unless the widget uses ActiveX controls that will prompt me for the proxy username/password I can't use them.
This got me thinking that with the move to gadgets it might be time to encourage (not enforce) some standards with widget/gadget development. Rather than insisting that, for example, ActiveX controls are used, perhaps a logo system could be used that would let people easily identify whether the widget/gadget will work for them.
What does everyone think?
