IDEA: Taskbar status icons that hover without taskbar

[mjm01010101]

I'd like the ability to see my taskbar status icons "notification area" within Vista (such as gtalk, volume icon, etc) that hover transparently even though the taskbar is hidden.  I rarely use the taskbar itself, it simply takes up space the majority of the time, but the status icons are very useful for how I work, and I'd like them to always be present...  Possible?

[mouser]

fun idea..
i wonder if its possible..

[lanux128]

i think it needs some poking into the systray or maybe replicate the functions with widgets.