1. A desktop application factory, comprising: an interface configured to enable an application developer to provide configuration information regarding a selected desktop application template; and a desktop application generator configured to generate a desktop application by configuring the selected desktop application template according to the provided configuration information, the generated desktop application being a desktop widget application customized according to the provided configuration information, the desktop widget application configured to reside in the desktop space of a computer and configured to receive information streamed from at least one website.