Customise the Look of Your Windows 8 PC
1. Rainmeter
We've loved Rainmeter for years now, and the desktop customisation program is compatible with Windows 8. Rainmeter lets you customise your experience by adding widgets (called skins) that float on the desktop. These can range from system resource monitors, to feeds from your email accounts. Weather forecasts and scratchpads are just some of the other customisations you can add, and the best thing is that users upload their own custom skins as well, so there's a huge repository of customisations that are ready to download and use.
Even without that, you can simply download a skin themed after your favourite film, with quick access to your information and favourite programs, or use a minimalist skin that lets you work in a beautiful, abstract environment.
2. 8GadgetPack
If you don't want to be overwhelmed with customisation options, and just want your desktop gadgets, then 8GadgetPack is the easiest option out there. It's been highly recommended by many users, and while we prefer the customisability of Rainmeter, if you're more interested in the functions than in a beautiful display, then 8GadgetPack is a good choice. It creates a sidebar on your Windows 8 desktop, where you can display the clock, calendar, weather and other widgets.
There are widgets for Gmail, a simple currency convertor, RSS feeds and calendars. These make 8GadgetPack a useful, unobtrusive method to keep on top of things without wasting time in setting things up.
3. Start Screen Unlimited
Start Screen Unlimited is a start screen replacement that allows you to add gadgets to the Windows 8 desktop. The gadgets look like Windows Live tiles, and you can create a busy tiled interface that looks like your Start Screen, or you can place only the gadgets that are relevant to you.
So you could, for instance, create a screen with feeds for sports updates, or add the clock or a Web search widget right on the desktop. Start Screen Unlimited is free, but it also has a Deluxe version which has a few extra features and also supports commercial use. Even without paying though, you can add a number of useful gadgets, such as a stopwatch, and a easy to find power button - something that is hidden away in Windows 8.
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