Using Pandora’s Windows Vista Gadget

I recently bought a new computer that is running Windows Vista. My Ubuntu computer is still my main machine, but when I need to do some serious design work, CS2 running in Wine just can’t compete with CS4 running natively on a quad-core machine with 8 Gigs of RAM.

I also love listening to Pandora. It gets turned on the second my computer boots, and turned off only when I’m away from my machine or going to leave for the day. I’ve used Pandora’s AIR app since the first day it came out (and before then I used another desktop app who’s name escapes me currently) and I absolutely love it. Even more so now that AIR has hit Linux with an official release that I can use on Ubuntu and has been rock solid so far.

While listening today, I saw that Pandora had an official gadget for Windows Vista so I thought I’d give it a shot.

Installation was dead simple. Just click the button that says ‘Download the Pandora Vista Gadget‘. Then choose ‘Open with Windows Sidebar’ and ‘OK’. When propmted, click ‘Install’.

After you’ve got it installed, you can manage your playlists, thumbs up/down songs, etc right from the gadget. The guys at Pandora continue to pump out seriously cool ways to use their service and this one is no different.

Get the Pandora Vista Gadget here.

*Side note for 64 bit users: I use Vista 64 bit, so I had to do a couple extra (very easy) steps. Directly from their blog.

1. Right-click the Windows Sidebar and select Properties.
2. Un-check the “Start Sidebar when Windows starts” option and hit OK. Then…
3. Click the green Windows Start Button in the lower left of your screen.
4. Click “All Programs”
5. Scroll down until you see the “Startup” folder
6. Right-click the “Startup” folder and select “Explore”
7. In the window that pops up, right-click the empty white space and select New->Shortcut
8. Copy the following text, including quotes:
   “C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe”
9. Paste that copied text into the Shortcut’s “Location” field.
10. Click “Next.”
11. Click “Finish.”
12. Restart Windows Vista 64

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