Are Widgets "The New Black"?

Well, according to Richard MacManus they are. For those of you who started visiting ProgrammableWeb last year in search of the latest mashups, the widgetizing of the web began long before the first Wiki entry for the term. When you look at the increasing number of widgets submitted to Widgetbox in recent weeks (or the last couple of months), it is hard to avoid coming to the conclusion that the advent of the mashup coupled with the popularity of Facebook and other social utilities has made the widget industry the flavor of the year (so far). Many a widget can trace it's first view of sunlight back to the latest generation of Web 2.0 environments.
So how are these "portable chunks of the web" making their mark? What are they providing that there was an untapped need for prior to their introduction into our lexicon? Perhaps I can sum it up quickly with some solid points of interest...

Firstly, are indeed VERY portable, and while you can have code generated for them so that they are optimized for a variety of environments, they can be dumped most any place on the web.

Next, they have the flexibility to address many major uses for a mini app currently on the web. From the media player that features the latest from your artist of choice to RSS search widgets that deliver the latest news, podcasts and video submissions.

Let's not forget that they are providing developers with a multitude of outlets for their output, and in fact there are many places where it is encouraged. Seeing "Submit your widget" on a developer's portal is becoming more and more common.

These are some of the things we'll be looking at and discussing when I present the Dow Jones webinar "Widgets: Internet Sushi for the Web 2.0 Crowd" Register today. It'll be a blast.

Catch you soon!

Thomas

Let's Just Call Them "Widgets"...

Once upon a time, the term “widget” was used as the name for a conceptual manufactured object in a business or economics class. The widget could represent a piece of farm equipment, a writing implement, or even a reproduction of a Shogun Warrior action figure. The important attribute of the widget of yesteryear is that its variable forms and uses are coupled with its portability. The widget of today’s new digital landscape still shares many of the characteristics that made it such a nifty concept in theoretical models.

So now we have the web widget to compliment our already cluttered impression of the web landscape. Yes, we need to differentiate apparently as some will argue that OS widgets have been around for years (the Mac Dashboard being a prime case in point). No, no... THIS widget is special.


The numeber of English posts that contain Widgets per day for the last 30 days is charted below. If you look at the term web widgets, the number of blog mentions decreases a bit, but there is an undeniable buzz about them. Is this the buzz of an innocuous fly on the window sill or the ominous buzz of a yellow jacket getting ready to sting without provocation?



Over the upcoming week I'll be posting exclusively about widgetizing the web as I'll be giving a Webinar on the topic. Join me for a guided tour of many practical uses for the widget in current technological playgrounds and work environments. From practical examples of widget uses and implementations, to the places you can go to get or put widgets, you will leave this event an enriched and enlightened knowledge worker ready to dazzle any and all with your new widgetry know-how.

If you already know that you want to know more about this topic, register today for the upcoming Dow Jones webinar "Widgets: Internet Sushi for the Web 2.0 Crowd" to be presented by me - Thomas G. Dopko from the Dow Jones Enterprise Media Group.

Find out what makes a widget a widget and how they are being used (and created) for the enterprise and business world. These widgets are nifty little devils, so be sure to jump on board!

Catch you soon!

Thomas

Upcoming Dow Jones InfoPro Webinar featuring Jeremiah Owyang

So you think you know all there is to know about Social Media just because you looked it up on Wikipedia, eh? Think again my friends...

Join us on 31 January, 2008 for an hour long free webinar! The keynote speaker will be Jeremiah Owyang. He is a social media guru and if his name sounds extremely familiar it is because he co-authored a whitepaper, “Tracking the influence of Conversations: A Roundtable Discussion on Social Media Metrics and Measurement."

He was formerly with Podtech and recently took a position with Forrester. He is considered to be a leading expert and thought leader in the social media space and we are thrilled to have him join us.

Some of the topics to be discussed will include :

• What is social media - definitions and examples
• How listening is a clear first step in the communication process to seize opportunities and mitigate threats
• How to find communities, identify their tools and drivers and know what their conversations are about

Join us on 31 January, 2008 from 12:30 to 1:30 EST (United States) for the free hour long free webinar, Latest Trend in Social Media: How to Listen Effectively and Engage in the Conversation! In these turbulent economic times when businesses need every edge they can possibly get to stay ahead of their competition, you can't afford to pass up an opportunity like this.

Have a great weekend and we'll catch you next week!

Thomas

Note: The posts on this blog are provided 'as is' with no warranties and confer no rights. The opinions expressed on this site are our own and do not necessarily represent those of our past,future or present employers.