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Behold, Widgify.com is Live!

If you had not noticed already, I am a big fan of Widgets. Big ones, small ones - I love them all. Because I love them so much, I figured it was about time to write a blog focused on the topic entitled...

WIDGIFY

For those of you that are interested in discussing the emerging Widgetsphere, you should definitely check it out. I will still obviously keep posting on broader topics on the Web 2.0 on this blog.

Enjoy...

technorati tags: widget, widgetblog, hoomanradfar, web2.0

Leaked KickApps Demo

For those of you interested in the emerging social networking platform "White Label Wars," check out this leaked demo of the Kick-Apps platform. This demo is interesting because it features not only their "canned" social functionality, but also the use of Widgets. Kickapps is just one of the contenders in this emerging space. Other players include:

• CrowdFactory
• FiveAcross
• PeopleAggregator
• SelectMinds
• SmallWorldLabs
• Sparta Social Networks

technorati tags: socialnetworks, kickapps, peopleaggregator, widgets, web2.0

Part II - WTF is a Widget?

In our last episode, I promised to start brain storming on the definition of Widget. Good to my sequel promise, in this post I will try to dive into the depths of Widget philosophy. Ironically, this question came up several times this week, so it is a good time to start thinking about a decent answer! With further adieu on with our show...

According to the kind folks contributing to Wikipedia:

A widget (or control) is an interface component that a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box. Widgets are sometimes qualified as virtual to distinguish them from their physical counterparts, e.g. virtual buttons that can be clicked with a mouse cursor, vs. physical buttons that can be pressed with a finger. Widgets are often packaged together in widget toolkits. Programmers use widgets to build graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

That is a pretty decent start, but is still a bit too high level for me. Given the fact that it is a bit tough to define generically, I am going to take a slightly different cut at this. Specifically, let's start by taking a stab at a more specific term - Web Widget. According to the all knowing Hoo-pedia the definition is as follows:

A Web Widget is a portable software application, or module, that can be installed and executed within one, or more separate browser-based application platforms by an End User without requiring additional compilation.

Whew. Does that make sense? That basically covers all the bling you can place on MySpace, as well as the more utilitarian services that you can use across MySpace and blogging platforms like Typepad, etc. That is my two-cents. I wonder what Pete Cashmore, Richard MacManus, Dion Hinchcliffe and other Web 2.0 thought leaders think. Maybe I will ask...

More on this to come. Tune in next time for more fantastic fun with your friendly neighborhood Hoo-man. Yee-haw!

Technorati Tags: web widget, widget, web2.0, myspace

Part I - WTF is a Widget ?

Fellow Web-Slingers,

It is 2:51AM EST and the question that plagues me is, "WTF is a Widget?"

Many folks have been throwing the term around, but few and far between have cared to go the distance and create a definition. Is a Widget the same as a web page? Is it more like a rich media advertisement? When does code trancend into Widget-status? I feel like we are back in the same place we were last summer with the whole Web 2.0 definition slug-fest on Timmy O's Blog. Ok, so it is not that bad, but it is still annoying.

Anyway, I would love to know what YOU think. If you are so inclined, please post your definition. If you have nothing to say, or are generally useless, no problem - don't share. Either way, I promise to hit you kind folks back and take a stab at something that might make sense.

Stay tuned for our next episide: "Part II - WTF is a Widget?" Have a wonderful evening.

Yee-haw,
Hooman 2.0

technorati tags: widget, web2.0

Rise of VBlogs: The Show with Zefrank

Zefrank makes Hooman happy. He is the host of the popular vblog "the show with zefrank." This video blog offers video summaries of the news wrapped up with a comic bow. Think of him as Jonathan Stewart for Long Tail geeks. His most recent discussion of YouTube was pretty much the best thing ever. Here is a snippet from the transcript:

YouTube, the popular video-sharing site recently updated its terms and conditions. It now reads "...you hereby grant YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the User Submissions in connection with the YouTube website and YouTube's (and its successor's) business... in any media formats and through any media channels."

That means they get to make money off of your ass however the fuck they want!

YouTube presents the ultimate DVD collection: World's Stupidest People, starring you!

But, who reads terms and conditions anyways?

I don't know what the folks at YouTube think of that little piece. Probably not to thrilled I imagine. Anyway, it is awesome that folks like zefrank are getting some buzz Vblogging. It will be interesting to see what feature changes, if any, blogging platforms make as this format takes off.

technorati tags: zefrank, youtube, vblog

MyBlogLog Communities Unites Bloggers!

For those of you bloggers that have been living under a rock, check out MyBlogLog Communities - the social network for bloggers. Now before you get all huffy that there is yet another social network out there, hold your horses - this one is different. Why? MyBlogLog Communities has the potential to transform the blogosphere into a distributed social network.

Ever want to drop a comment to a fellow blogger about some random topic? Ever want to know the blogs your favorite bloggers get their dish from? Ever want your readers to know who else reads your blog? The answer is here - MyBlogLog.

MySpace requires you to host your profile, social network, and blog on their site. If you want to publish anything, you have to do it their way. Moreover, with all the hub-bub about security at MySpace, your ability to customize pages there has become exceedingly limited. On the flip-side, blogs enable tons of customization. Unfortunately, blogging platforms tend to lack good community features. Bloggers have been left to fend for themselves in the cold reaches of cyberspace...until now.

After signing up for a MyBlogLog account, you have access to JavaScript code snippets that enable you to track you blog's usage. Not only does the service enable you to track your blog, but it also enables you to connect with fellow blog-geeks. This is where it gets interesting. MyBlogLog gives each blogger a "space" that shows blogs he/she authors, other communities they are following, and a place for folks to leave general comments. They also offer cool widgets to enhance your blog with social functionality. In short, MyBlogLog communities gives blog-geeks the cool community features offered by MySpace, without forcing them to give up their right to publish the way they want.

Fred, Ed, Pete and many others have already started to actively use the service. I hope it continues to pick up - it is one of the few interesting social network plays out there. Best of luck Eric!

Technorati Tags: myspace, blog, mybloglog, socialnetwork

p.s. Todd Sampson stole my avatar! JK :)