brokenlibrarian

SimpleRecentThumbs is a widget plugin that shows a list of thumbnails from recent posts with featured images, optionally filtered by a category. Other than setting up the widget details, no configuration is required.
The thumbnails are in a widget-standard unordered list. The widget CSS class is widget_recent_thumbs and the thumbnail links are class post_thumb.
Leaving the category field empty will have the widget use thumbnails from all posts; posts without featured images will not be listed. Without a category specified, the “more” button option will do nothing.
Thumbnail size is as specified in the Media settings for WordPress.
SimpleRecentThumbs has no extra requirements and has been tested with the twentyten through twentyfourteen themes.
Development on this plugin has halted. Other developers should feel free to use the Apache-licensed code for their own projects.
http://brokenlibrarian.org/tinyplugins/ 
brokenlibrarian@gmail.com 
09/28/14
<h3>License</h3>
Copyright 2014 Christian Wagner
Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the “License”); 
 you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. 
 You may obtain a copy of the License at
<pre><code> http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
</code></pre>
Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software 
 distributed under the License is distributed on an “AS IS” BASIS, 
 WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. 
 See the License for the specific language governing permissions and 
 limitations under the License.

SimpleRecentThumbs

SimpleRecentThumbs is a widget plugin that shows a list of thumbnails from recent posts with featured images, optionally filtered by a category.

This plugin gives the look of a magazine-style website with thumbnails and excerpts in a clean layout. Thumbnails are generated automatically, and there is a settings page to set an unholy amount of options. (Really, it’s out of control and I’m sorry.) The latest release also has a “featured post” add-on so you can specify any post you want or just the most recent one to be put in the featured post box. You can also add a css popup for the image that includes the post title and 
Are you using Thesis from DIYThemes.com? Easily place your Recent Visual Posts by simply inserting your desired Thesis hook on the settings page. No code changes needed.
This plugin uses a slightly modified version of the excellent Image Extractor plugin found at <a href="https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/image-extractor/" rel="ugc">wordpress.org/extend/plugins/image-extractor/</a>.
<h3>I need more help!</h3>
Make sure you check out the <a href="http://oktober5.com/visual-recent-posts-plugin/" rel="nofollow ugc">plugin homepage</a>. If you need my help, check out the <a href="http://oktober5.com/forums/" rel="nofollow ugc">plugin forums</a>

Visual Recent Posts

Displays your recent posts with auto-generated thumbnails and excerpts; also includes a featured post and popup box option.

SimpleRecentThumbs vs Visual Recent Posts