"Google Quick Search Box is an open source search box that allows you to search data on your computer and across the web" - So that's what the Quicksilver guy has been up to.

"Shoes is a very informal graphics and windowing toolkit. It's for making regular old apps that run on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It's a blend of my favorite things from the Web, some Ruby style, and a sprinkling of cross-platform widgets."

"Avant Window Navgator (Awn) is a dock-like bar which sits at the bottom of the screen (in all its composited-goodness) tracking open windows."

Nat Friedman's Dashboard concept is seeing new life now that the Beagle desktop search engine is more or less stabilized.

Big Board is an experimental panel for the GNOME Desktop. Currently designed only for the Linux Client, big board is not just a new panel. While big board will likely replace parts of the top / bottom panel elements of the current desktop, it's designed t

First 3d desktop demo I've seen that makes sense.

This is an oldie but goodie: Basic OS X feature that rotates desktop pictures. In this case it is a nice set of fall hues.

"The Tango Desktop Project exists to create a consistent user experience for free and Open Source software with graphical user interfaces."