The best replacement for widgets is gadgets.

The best alternatives to widgets are rated as following:
★★★★★  gadgets
★★★★  apps
★★★  google gadgets
★★★  plugins
★★  applications
★★  portlets
★★  google desktop
★  live tiles
★  gadgets are
★  beautiful widgets
★  vista sidebar
  controls
  yahoo plugins
  plugins wordpress
  yahoo widgets
  windows gadgets
  dashboard
  konfabulator

Your alternative for widgets is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about widgets, one probably shouldn't forget about dashboard.

Other search terms related to widgets and their ratings are:
★★★★★ dashboard
★★★★ apex launcher
sidebar
You have in mind a companion for widgets and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of widgets in all years. Click on graph for more.
widgets
gadgets
apps