Sidebar gadgets were something that users of Vista and Windows 7 had available to them, and they provided at-a-glance information such as CPU usage, date and time, and much more. Anyone who has made the move to Windows 8 will have noticed that the sidebar is no longer available in the same form, having been replaced by the Charms bar – something which is all but unchangeable. If you long to get back your beloved gadgets, Thoosje Windows Sidebar 8 is here to save the day.

This handy tool replicate the sidebar system from older versions of Windows and allows users of Windows 8 to benefit from various gadgets – although it can also be used in Windows 7 and earlier. But it is Windows 8 user who will reap the greatest benefit from this handy utility as it provides access to a range of useful widgets that are not only functional, but look also look great.

Feel the need to keep an eye on how long your computer has been switched on? The Uptime gadget is on hand to tell you just this. Need to know the time but prefer the look of an analog clock over Windows’ own digital offering? There’s a gadget that covers this as well. But gadgets can be useful as well as informative. There is a launcher that can be used to access your most frequently used programs and tools, a gadget to monitor RSS feeds and more.

There are eleven gadgets available as standard, but there are more for download from the Windows Sidebar 8 website.This gallery is currently a little sparsely populated – there are only five extra gadgets to install – but this is something that will hopefully change as the tool increases in popularity and more developers get on board with the idea. If you’re a Dropbox user, the dedicated gadget to upload files to your account via drag and top is almost essential.

So, whether you are an ex-Windows 7 user craving a feature you now miss in Windows 8, or you’re just looking for a way to add helpful utilities to the side of the screen, this a free app worth taking a look at.