Welcome to the Active DesktopTM
Now you can make your desktop act like your own personal Web page. You can display pieces of your favorite Web sites directly on your desktop and keep them up-to-date automatically. For example, you could add a stock ticker or news summary page from the Web.
You can easily customize the Active Desktop at any time. Just click the Start button, point to Settings, point to Active Desktop, and then click Customize my Desktop. Or, to turn the Active Desktop on or off, click View as Web Page.
Click a feature below, and scroll down to learn more about it.
Import my original wallpaper
Add Web items to the Active Desktop
Visit the Active Desktop Gallery
Make a Web page (HTML) my wallpaper

The Active Desktop lets you put "active content" from an Active Channel or any Web site on your desktop. Look for the Add To Active Desktop button on your favorite sites. You can also right-click any link on a Web page, and drag it onto your desktop. Try it! You can now make any local Web (HTML) page your desktop wallpaper. A sample HTML wallpaper has been set up for you. Customize your wallpaper from the Display properties in Control Panel, just as you have done in Windows.