We just added a feature to the timline widget that allows users to stop time! Actually, it just saves the current feed timeline for future reference. This way, if anyone sees something interesting on a particular day - like lots of news about a certain subject - they can save that timeline so that in the future it will remain the same.
Neat huh?
While cleaning out our files the other day, we found this old project - Feed Timeline. Its a utility widget that can show up to four different feeds on a timeline. Neat, huh?
We call it a utility widget because it is not really suited for every day use, however, there are occasions when having a timeline of information is handy. Use this widget for that.
Sprout: The Online WYSIWYG Editor for Flash
This new service call “Sprout” looks awesome. I actually really want to try it, though it does sort of take what we are doing and make it easier… so less people will need our services. But that is good. Now we can focus on the really custom stuff. Right?
Anyway, the widget space just keeps filling! Love it!
My favorite review so far of our RSS Scroller (which, incidentally, just crossed the 10,000 subscription mark on Widgetbox):
“Very cool, I find it? I don’t believe!” - advnery.
Awesome.
WidgetNest was contacted recently by a representative from Project White House. With them, we are making some widgets for the participating candidates which can be found on this hosted page.
For now we only have one completed, but as the candidates of Project White House complete their assigned tasks more will be made available.
Gigya Unveils Monetization Strategy: Distribution of Branded Widgets
It is interesting to see the Widget World (so to speak) move in the direction of branded widgets. I could have told you that it is a successful model a long time ago. In fact, I have been making branded widgets for almost two years. When I first made a Digg RSS Ticker it caught on fast. To this day, it is still one of the more visited sites I have ever made.
Branded widgets work for a number or reasons. First, they aren’t advertisements. They may work like an ad, but they aren’t, the are something that users find useful. Take for example the Digg Ticker or more recently the Brides.com widgets we have developed. People are looking for news tickers and countdown widgets already, why not add a brand to it, especially a brand that people already trust.
Second, They are more viral. Sure, you can look up Superbowl ads on YouTube, but you don’t find that same kind of attention given to punching a monkey to get more information about home loans.
Finally, the Internet has opened many doors in the realm of self expression. If I am a fan of the Seahawks (which I am, and I am bitter that they lost to Green Bay) why shouldn’t I show it on my blog, social profile, or other website. If the Seahawks offered a fan widget, I wouldn’t hesitate to put it up and express my interest in the team to others. Branded widgets allow users to show off what they like.
By the way (shameless plug warning), if you need a branded widget made, I know of a company that makes them.
Wow, its been a hectic month. Between school, work, and widget development, things have been pretty crazy. The good news is that once the holidays are over things should return back to some state of “normal.” Other good news is that I got to work with Java a lot this last semester and I can honestly say that I think it is great. For my final project I got to make a client/server application and it pretty much rocks.
But what does that have to do with widgets? Well, I learned a lot more about coding and design patterns and I am sure they will help with future widget development. In fact, we plan on announcing some things around the new year that are pretty exciting.
Stay tuned, and happy holidays.
There are two things that happen every once and a while around the WidgetNest “office” :
1) We ask ourselves how we can make more money
2) We come up with a cool idea that is in no way related to widgets, or, at times, the internet.
Just recently, we decided that maybe combining those two things would create something wonderful. We are now selling random items through Cafe Press. (We know Cafe Press it is not the best option, so we are open to other ideas) Our first product is a greeting card, perfect for Valentine’s day. Here is a preview image:
So, if you have ever wanted to show support for WidgetNest, now you can do so and get something in return. Amazing!
I am always impressed with the excellent support we get from Widgetbox. From the very beginning, when I submitted our first widget to their service, they have been open and willing to help and give advice and suggestions.
Recently, Omar contacted me about a link issue in our RSS Scroller and Candidate Widgets. It was an easy fix but something that I hadn’t noticed before. They really are on the lookout for their users, its awesome.
If they had a job opening, and I was looking, Widgetbox seems like it would be a cool place to work. Thank you, team Widgetbox, for being so great.
By way of disclaimer, we are “Widgetbox Developers” and have a business agreement with them. That said, I really do mean everything I have told you about their service.
Just in time for the holiday season, we would like to remind everyone about our little Holiday Greeting creator. Here is a sample greeting.
Feel free to make your own!