You can have a folder that maintains its item count in its name. Just attach the following script via Folder Actions:
on adding folder items to thisFolder after receiving addedItems
my setTheCount(thisFolder)
end adding folder items to
on removing folder items from thisFolder after losing addedItems
my setTheCount(thisFolder)
end removing folder items from
on setTheCount(theFolderAlias)
tell application "Finder"
set theFolder to (folder theFolderAlias)
set myCount to the count of (every item of theFolder)
set nameEnd to ""
if myCount > 0 then set nameEnd to " (" & myCount & ")"
set name of theFolder to (comment of theFolder) & nameEnd
end tell
end setTheCount
And then set the comment of that folder (under Get Info) to the name of the folder. As you add and remove items, the name of the folder will include its item count (for example, Downloads (5)). I tested this with Safari, and it's smart enough to maintain your Downloads folder across the rename.
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20060401140625207