Beyond the Browser: Widgets and Rich Internet/Desktop Applications (RIDAs) Alok Bhardwaj, Founder, HiddenReflex alok@hiddenreflex.com Bharath Keshav, Software Engineer, HiddenReflex [email_address]

Widgets What is a widget A small program. Usually does a single thing. Often gets data from the web (one key driver--alt. way to net) Web widgets (Flash, Javascript, XML, HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML) In browser; can have RIA-functionality such as drag-able Desktop widgets (all above, Perl, Python, C++, Executable) Download to desktop; flashy appearance/also drag-able and persistent layout Language options vary depending on the particular platform Predecessors: Apple II, Push technology, Pointcast, Weatherbug

What is a widget

A small program. Usually does a single thing.

Often gets data from the web (one key driver--alt. way to net)

Web widgets (Flash, Javascript, XML, HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML)

In browser; can have RIA-functionality such as drag-able

Desktop widgets (all above, Perl, Python, C++, Executable)

Download to desktop; flashy appearance/also drag-able and persistent layout

Language options vary depending on the particular platform

Predecessors: Apple II, Push technology, Pointcast, Weatherbug

Web Widgets: Uses Aggregation Pages: Start Page(s) RIA-type features; User Customizability Example(s): NetVibes, PageFlakes, iGoogle, Yahoo Home Page Personal Page(s) Also often RIA-type features; User Customizability Example(s): YourMinis, Piczo Website/Personal Profile Enhancement Example(s): MySpace/Facebook, Blogs, Other Websites User Purposes: Self-Expression widgets e.g. RockYou type photo, music widgets Revenue-generating widgets e.g Paypal Donations or Deal of the day widget or Amazon item selector Site Functionality-Enhancement widgets e.g Upcoming.org event badge or Twitter feed or Jaxtr anonymous calling widget Content widgets e.g. news feeds (Mash-Ups e.g. Mpire item price comparison from Auctions and Amazon)

Aggregation Pages: Start Page(s)

RIA-type features; User Customizability

Example(s): NetVibes, PageFlakes, iGoogle, Yahoo Home Page

Personal Page(s)

Also often RIA-type features; User Customizability

Example(s): YourMinis, Piczo

Website/Personal Profile Enhancement

Example(s): MySpace/Facebook, Blogs, Other Websites

User Purposes:

Self-Expression widgets e.g. RockYou type photo, music widgets

Revenue-generating widgets e.g Paypal Donations or Deal of the day widget or Amazon item selector

Site Functionality-Enhancement widgets e.g Upcoming.org event badge or Twitter feed or Jaxtr anonymous calling widget

Content widgets e.g. news feeds

(Mash-Ups e.g. Mpire item price comparison from Auctions and Amazon)

Web Widgets: Start Pages

Web Widgets: Personal Pages

Web Widgets: Website/Profile Enhancement

Web Widget Internet Audience Penetration by Worldwide Region. North America 40.3% April 2007. Source: comScore Widget Metrix 7.6% Eastern Europe 12.6% Middle East-Africa 17.5% Latin America 10.9% Asia Pacific 24.3% Western Europe

North America

40.3%

April 2007.

Source: comScore Widget Metrix

7.6%

Eastern Europe

12.6%

Middle East-Africa

17.5%

Latin America

10.9%

Asia Pacific

24.3%

Western Europe

Top Web Widgets Worldwide

Desktop Widgets Desktop Data Integration with Web Web Data to the Desktop Heavier Widgets -- take advantage of client computing power More Complex Much More Diverse than Web Widgets Single Function -- not a stand-alone program, often tool-like Hot Button Access Pulls up all widgets Drag-able/Persistent Position

Desktop Data Integration with Web

Web Data to the Desktop

Heavier Widgets -- take advantage of client computing power

More Complex

Much More Diverse than Web Widgets

Single Function -- not a stand-alone program, often tool-like

Hot Button Access

Pulls up all widgets

Drag-able/Persistent Position

Desktop Widgets: Screenshots

A Selection of the Most-Downloaded Yahoo Widgets

Widget Business Models Advertisement Widgets Advertising-Supported Widgets Selling Widgets Ecosystem/Platform Extend Site or O.S.

Advertisement Widgets

Advertising-Supported Widgets

Selling Widgets

Ecosystem/Platform

Extend Site or O.S.

Advertisement Widgets Widgets designed specifically by a company to creatively promote/advertise a product or service. Example: FreeWebs has run several Widget-based Ad Campaigns Reebok -- Freewebs created a customized a campaign that allows users to create and show-off their RBK creations via a virtual Shoe Fight contest. Freewebs aligned with RBK to increase awareness of their "Run Easy" brand and to drive traffic to the http://www.rbkcustom.com Number 23 Movie Campaign-- Freewebs compelled users to see the Number 23 movie by creating a viral widget to ignite interest in the myster of The Number 23. Freewebs developed a unique Widget Game that manipulated bits of the User's personal information to show them the ubiquity of the number 23 in their own lives.

Widgets designed specifically by a company to creatively promote/advertise a product or service.

Example: FreeWebs has run several Widget-based Ad Campaigns

Reebok -- Freewebs created a customized a campaign that allows users to create and show-off their RBK creations via a virtual Shoe Fight contest. Freewebs aligned with RBK to increase awareness of their "Run Easy" brand and to drive traffic to the http://www.rbkcustom.com

Number 23 Movie Campaign-- Freewebs compelled users to see the Number 23 movie by creating a viral widget to ignite interest in the myster of The Number 23. Freewebs developed a unique Widget Game that manipulated bits of the User's personal information to show them the ubiquity of the number 23 in their own lives.

Advertising Supported Widgets Source Code Not Secure Advertising code can be cut out and widget re-distributed so advertising should be integral to a non-web-service driven widget (e.g. google business model). Widgets without (web) value-added services can be hacked and advertising removed e.g. a widget to link to a particular product at Amazon can be hacked easily but a widget that displays comparative/best prices can’t. Service-Based Web Widgets, even Desktop Widgets can implement “safety” measures to insure advertising is displayed Forbes has a series of popular widgets that show for instance their headlines or most popular video stories and the widgets are sponsored by Visa (so here Forbes is distributing its content but also getting direct revenues via the advertising at the bottom of the widget (the Visa logo)). User/Creator Revenue Split (again must be non-trivial)

Source Code Not Secure

Advertising code can be cut out and widget re-distributed so advertising should be integral to a non-web-service driven widget (e.g. google business model).

Widgets without (web) value-added services can be hacked and advertising removed e.g. a widget to link to a particular product at Amazon can be hacked easily but a widget that displays comparative/best prices can’t.

Service-Based Web Widgets, even Desktop Widgets can implement “safety” measures to insure advertising is displayed

Forbes has a series of popular widgets that show for instance their headlines or most popular video stories and the widgets are sponsored by Visa (so here Forbes is distributing its content but also getting direct revenues via the advertising at the bottom of the widget (the Visa logo)).

User/Creator Revenue Split (again must be non-trivial)

Selling Widgets Widget Source Code Not Secure No way to control distribution. Freeware with Donation Request?! (that too can be cut out) Service-based widgets can be secured Pay services via passwords or possibly OpenID Monitoring to ensure widget distributors gain (if they’ve requested that is) some portion of revenues from page-views or sales for example Grants/Contests (by platform distributors)

Widget Source Code Not Secure

No way to control distribution.

Freeware with Donation Request?! (that too can be cut out)

Service-based widgets can be secured

Pay services via passwords or possibly OpenID

Monitoring to ensure widget distributors gain (if they’ve requested that is) some portion of revenues from page-views or sales for example

Grants/Contests (by platform distributors)

Ecosystem/Platform Widgets can become popular and a network all their own Example: MyBlogLog Widgets are inserted into blogs to show the visitors to that blog; Sold to Yahoo for $10-12 million Ecosystem Opt-In User/Creator Revenue Split May become Slide or RockYou or other self-expression type widget creators’ revenue model; opt-in for revenue share Leverage/Insinuate Into Existing Networks Facebook has emerged as a platform; has a more open policy regarding widgets compared to MySpace A V.C. firm Bay Partners has created a special fund, AppFactory, to invest in Facebook widget-makers. Lots and Lots of Desktop Widget Platforms (too many) Konfabulator (now Yahoo Widgets) was bought by Yahoo Google Gadget Ventures Grants of $5000 for development of gadgets they like Investments of up to $100,000 for widget-based business plans For either, must already have created a gadget getting at least 250,000 weekly page views

Widgets can become popular and a network all their own

Example: MyBlogLog Widgets are inserted into blogs to show the visitors to that blog; Sold to Yahoo for $10-12 million

Ecosystem Opt-In User/Creator Revenue Split

May become Slide or RockYou or other self-expression type widget creators’ revenue model; opt-in for revenue share

Leverage/Insinuate Into Existing Networks

Facebook has emerged as a platform; has a more open policy regarding widgets compared to MySpace

A V.C. firm Bay Partners has created a special fund, AppFactory, to invest in Facebook widget-makers.

Lots and Lots of Desktop Widget Platforms (too many)

Konfabulator (now Yahoo Widgets) was bought by Yahoo

Google Gadget Ventures

Grants of $5000 for development of gadgets they like

Investments of up to $100,000 for widget-based business plans

For either, must already have created a gadget getting at least 250,000 weekly page views

Extend Site/O.S. Windows/Mac integrate into O.S. Extend Functionality of Network or Services Yahoo Mail widget gives alerts or Yahoo finance widget portfolios Brings Web Data to Desktop or Data from Desktop to the Web Tie-in to other services offered Closer in general to the User Viral-spread of widget/site via web widgets Since web widgets are published, a single widget installation is potentially seen by dozens if not hundreds of people creating viral distribution possibilities YouTube Video Widgets on Myspace critical to its success and rapid growth Enhance Site--RIA features have demonstrable quantitative benefits More functionality and interactivity in a page. Less cumbersome /More Intuitive UI/organization/navigability. All=higher sales/conversions… Extend Site Mindspace/Site Promotion (widget promotes the site and vice-versa) Baby Ticker – The Baby Countdown Pregnancy Ticker Widget from Babystrology Click-throughs to site(s) for more information, or additional services at which point advertising can be displayed and products or services could be sold

Windows/Mac integrate into O.S.

Extend Functionality of Network or Services

Yahoo Mail widget gives alerts or Yahoo finance widget portfolios

Brings Web Data to Desktop or Data from Desktop to the Web

Tie-in to other services offered

Closer in general to the User

Viral-spread of widget/site via web widgets

Since web widgets are published, a single widget installation is potentially seen by dozens if not hundreds of people creating viral distribution possibilities

YouTube Video Widgets on Myspace critical to its success and rapid growth

Enhance Site--RIA features have demonstrable quantitative benefits

More functionality and interactivity in a page. Less cumbersome /More Intuitive UI/organization/navigability. All=higher sales/conversions…

Extend Site

Mindspace/Site Promotion (widget promotes the site and vice-versa)

Baby Ticker – The Baby Countdown Pregnancy Ticker Widget from Babystrology

Click-throughs

to site(s) for more information, or additional services at which point advertising can be displayed and products or services could be sold

Widget Stickiness Intuitively Widgets are sticker than a Website…as it takes more effort to download and install or cut and paste the code of a widget into one’s site than to visit a website. BUT there are many indications widget users are quite fickle and that widget downloads are not indicative of durable success: Tie-In Strength - the widget may be thought of by users as quite distinct from the product or service it’s meant to promote e.g. there were over a million installations of the widget for the film Hoot which flopped. High Widget Turnover e.g. entrepreneur Paul Kedrosky wrote about his Facebook news feed widget and Facebook widget behavior: “People all add one app; people all drop that app. Repeat, repeat, repeat. This is not a mainstream audience, nor does it seem to have much permanence… Don ’t get me wrong. Facebook is an awesome platform. But don ’t get overly excited about getting even a hundred-thousand people… With 27 million users you can get a decent-sized number of people to try pretty much anything. Whether any of [those people] will stick is another question.”

Intuitively Widgets are sticker than a Website…as it takes more effort to download and install or cut and paste the code of a widget into one’s site than to visit a website.

BUT there are many indications widget users are quite fickle and that widget downloads are not indicative of durable success:

Tie-In Strength - the widget may be thought of by users as quite distinct from the product or service it’s meant to promote e.g. there were over a million installations of the widget for the film Hoot which flopped.

High Widget Turnover e.g. entrepreneur Paul Kedrosky wrote about his Facebook news feed widget and Facebook widget behavior: “People all add one app; people all drop that app. Repeat, repeat, repeat. This is not a mainstream audience, nor does it seem to have much permanence… Don ’t get me wrong. Facebook is an awesome platform. But don ’t get overly excited about getting even a hundred-thousand people… With 27 million users you can get a decent-sized number of people to try pretty much anything. Whether any of [those people] will stick is another question.”

RIDA (Rich Internet/Desktop Application) Platforms What is a RIDA? A standalone application for web and or desktop service(s) Greater access to client computing resources than widgets Can Integrate or Mix Desktop and Web data/applications E.g Dekoh’s photo viewer or iTunes or Employee Workpage(s) via Webtop Usually has a specific purpose/site associated with it E.g. eBay or Amazon browsers; finance or map (Google Earth) browser Platforms Dekoh, Adobe’s AIR (not just flash), WPF (.Net)/Silverlight, Cloudstack Cross-OS GUI Platforms like qt, wxwidgets, Mozilla Dojo’s Offline Toolkit (Google Gadgets), Browser offline support (Firefox) LaszloSystems Webtop, Java WebStart Flash-based Desktop Platforms like MDM’s Zinc or Northcode’s SWF Studio Differences from Desktop Widgets RIDA has own icon to load/stand-alone/distinct (not just a single-use tool) Multi-purpose/Complex functionality/Integration of multiple related services or tools Interface important and complex

What is a RIDA?

A standalone application for web and or desktop service(s)

Greater access to client computing resources than widgets

Can Integrate or Mix Desktop and Web data/applications

E.g Dekoh’s photo viewer or iTunes or Employee Workpage(s) via Webtop

Usually has a specific purpose/site associated with it

E.g. eBay or Amazon browsers; finance or map (Google Earth) browser

Platforms

Dekoh, Adobe’s AIR (not just flash), WPF (.Net)/Silverlight, Cloudstack

Cross-OS GUI Platforms like qt, wxwidgets, Mozilla

Dojo’s Offline Toolkit (Google Gadgets), Browser offline support (Firefox)

LaszloSystems Webtop, Java WebStart

Flash-based Desktop Platforms like MDM’s Zinc or Northcode’s SWF Studio

Differences from Desktop Widgets

RIDA has own icon to load/stand-alone/distinct (not just a single-use tool)

Multi-purpose/Complex functionality/Integration of multiple related services or tools

Interface important and complex

UI/UE (user experience) Matters! From a PPT Presentation from Forrester Research on Rich Internet Applications (RIAs)

Sample RIDAs

RIDA (Rich Internet/Desktop Application Business Models Ad-supported. Example(s): AOL Radio Linked to Website Service Example(s): Dekoh browser for Google Calendar (good for Google!) Brand-Extension/More Conversions Better Interface(s) translates into better sales conversions/sales (RIA evidence at least) Example(s): eBay or Amazon browser. Better Product Online/Offline Services crucial for say Google Doc.s Selling Services Content Services Can be Secure and thus Sold. Example(s): Financial Trading Systems Selling the Application itself Can likely secure it like any other software (depending on the platform).

Ad-supported.

Example(s): AOL Radio

Linked to Website Service

Example(s): Dekoh browser for Google Calendar (good for Google!)

Brand-Extension/More Conversions

Better Interface(s) translates into better sales conversions/sales (RIA evidence at least)

Example(s): eBay or Amazon browser.

Better Product

Online/Offline Services crucial for say Google Doc.s

Selling Services

Content Services Can be Secure and thus Sold.

Example(s): Financial Trading Systems

Selling the Application itself

Can likely secure it like any other software (depending on the platform).

Why Develop a RIDA (Rich Internet/Desktop Application? Own icon to load/stand-alone/distinct (not just a single-use widget). Multi-purpose/functionality (unlike a widget). Build a Specialized Platform/Aggregate Services/High Performance Services. Rich, Highly Responsive user experience/Better Sales Conversions: Even with AJAX in the browser, there are still limitations to the kind of elegant user interface you can build. Evidence from RIAs indicates a high ROI. Works Offline. (browsers like Firefox are integrating offline features…) Example(s): RSS or Mail Readers. Decentralized infrastructure/Large Computation Requirements: Scalable server infrastructure not as crucial as users bring their own CPU cycles. (e.g. P2P networks). Desktop/Web Integration. Example(s): Dekoh Applications. High Branding/High User Investment--the ubiquity of the browser makes getting someone to visit your site easy, but it’s just as easy for someone to go to a competitor’s site..downloading a RIDA requires much more of a user investment/commitment to your product/service (for better or worse).

Own icon to load/stand-alone/distinct (not just a single-use widget).

Multi-purpose/functionality (unlike a widget).

Build a Specialized Platform/Aggregate Services/High Performance Services.

Rich, Highly Responsive user experience/Better Sales Conversions: Even with AJAX in the browser, there are still limitations to the kind of elegant user interface you can build. Evidence from RIAs indicates a high ROI.

Works Offline. (browsers like Firefox are integrating offline features…) Example(s): RSS or Mail Readers.

Decentralized infrastructure/Large Computation Requirements: Scalable server infrastructure not as crucial as users bring their own CPU cycles. (e.g. P2P networks).

Desktop/Web Integration. Example(s): Dekoh Applications.

High Branding/High User Investment--the ubiquity of the browser makes getting someone to visit your site easy, but it’s just as easy for someone to go to a competitor’s site..downloading a RIDA requires much more of a user investment/commitment to your product/service (for better or worse).

Widget, RIDA, Browser Comparison RIDA (Rich Internet/Desktop Applications) Stand-alone/Strong Branding/Front and Center for User. Client Computing Resources/Heavy. Desktop/Web Data or Service Integration. Aggregation. High Performance, Consistent Interface/High Reliability Applications. Desktop Widgets Single-Function, tool-like application or service. Desktop/Web Data. Consistent Interface. Client Computing Resources/Heavy. Browser Lowest friction for adoption. Many users don’t download (period). Cross-Platform easiest by far. Ubiquitous access/Ubiquitous Browser Knowledge. Little Uncertainty about client behavior/access to client resources. Web Widgets Simple, light-weight services (photo(s), news headlines, data feeds, etc.). Creative design: “cool” factor for personalizing a blog or profile. Aggregation.

RIDA (Rich Internet/Desktop Applications)

Stand-alone/Strong Branding/Front and Center for User.

Client Computing Resources/Heavy.

Desktop/Web Data or Service Integration.

Aggregation.

High Performance, Consistent Interface/High Reliability Applications.

Desktop Widgets

Single-Function, tool-like application or service.

Desktop/Web Data.

Consistent Interface.

Client Computing Resources/Heavy.

Browser

Lowest friction for adoption. Many users don’t download (period).

Cross-Platform easiest by far.

Ubiquitous access/Ubiquitous Browser Knowledge.

Little Uncertainty about client behavior/access to client resources.

Web Widgets

Simple, light-weight services (photo(s), news headlines, data feeds, etc.).

Creative design: “cool” factor for personalizing a blog or profile.

Aggregation.

Widget/RIDA Stickiness In Theory, Widgets/RIDAs should be Stickier/Higher User Investment than a Website (perhaps) Takes more effort to download and install or cut and paste the code of a widget into one’s site than to visit a website. BUT there are many indications widget users are quite fickle and that widget downloads are not indicative of durable success Tie-In Strength - the widget may be thought of by users as quite distinct from the product or service it’s meant to promote e.g. there were over a million installations of the widget for the film Hoot which flopped High Widget Turnover e.g. entrepreneur Paul Kedrosky wrote about his Facebook news feed widget and Facebook widget behavior: “People all add one app; people all drop that app. Repeat, repeat, repeat. This is not a mainstream audience, nor does it seem to have much permanence… Don ’t get me wrong. Facebook is an awesome platform. But don ’t get overly excited about getting even a hundred-thousand people… With 27 million users you can get a decent-sized number of people to try pretty much anything. Whether any of [those people] will stick is another question.”

In Theory, Widgets/RIDAs should be Stickier/Higher User Investment than a Website (perhaps)

Takes more effort to download and install or cut and paste the code of a widget into one’s site than to visit a website.

BUT there are many indications widget users are quite fickle and that widget downloads are not indicative of durable success

Tie-In Strength - the widget may be thought of by users as quite distinct from the product or service it’s meant to promote e.g. there were over a million installations of the widget for the film Hoot which flopped

High Widget Turnover e.g. entrepreneur Paul Kedrosky wrote about his Facebook news feed widget and Facebook widget behavior: “People all add one app; people all drop that app. Repeat, repeat, repeat. This is not a mainstream audience, nor does it seem to have much permanence… Don ’t get me wrong. Facebook is an awesome platform. But don ’t get overly excited about getting even a hundred-thousand people… With 27 million users you can get a decent-sized number of people to try pretty much anything. Whether any of [those people] will stick is another question.”

Choosing a Platform: High-Level Technical Issues RIDAs Platform usage itself is immaterial as RIDAs are all a bit heavy and don’t generally require a pre-installed platform SO… Choose the platform that natively supports key features of your product I.e Dekoh has built-in tag and sharing support features Web Widgets Test phase--choose a platform that has function(s) that support easy creation of your widget Language-choice is important for MySpace is restrictive particularly in respect to javascript Type of widget important for the platform to choose e.g. self-expression type widgets for publishers are ideal candidates for MySpace, Facebook, YourMinis, and may not be as clear a fit for start pages like Netvibes Universal APIs and cross-site publication platforms are maturing (e.g. NetVibes API, Snipperoo, ClearSpring) Post/Promote in Widget directories/aggregators like WidgetBox and others as well as through the Platform’s site and other relevant sites Desktop Widgets Test phase--choose a platform that has function(s) that support easy creation of your widget Platform usage/number of installations is crucial so most likely you want to stick to a platform with a large user base such as Yahoo Widgets, Windows Sidebar or Apple’s Dashboard Universal APIs being developed for easy cross-platform porting Post/Promote in Widget directories/aggregators like WidgetBox and others as well as through the Platform’s site

RIDAs

Platform usage itself is immaterial as RIDAs are all a bit heavy and don’t generally require a pre-installed platform SO…

Choose the platform that natively supports key features of your product I.e Dekoh has built-in tag and sharing support features

Web Widgets

Test phase--choose a platform that has function(s) that support easy creation of your widget

Language-choice is important for MySpace is restrictive particularly in respect to javascript

Type of widget important for the platform to choose e.g. self-expression type widgets for publishers are ideal candidates for MySpace, Facebook, YourMinis, and may not be as clear a fit for start pages like Netvibes

Universal APIs and cross-site publication platforms are maturing (e.g. NetVibes API, Snipperoo, ClearSpring)

Post/Promote in Widget directories/aggregators like WidgetBox and others as well as through the Platform’s site and other relevant sites

Desktop Widgets

Test phase--choose a platform that has function(s) that support easy creation of your widget

Platform usage/number of installations is crucial so most likely you want to stick to a platform with a large user base such as Yahoo Widgets, Windows Sidebar or Apple’s Dashboard

Universal APIs being developed for easy cross-platform porting

Post/Promote in Widget directories/aggregators like WidgetBox and others as well as through the Platform’s site

Quicktake: Mobile Widgets Widgets are a natural fit for Mobile Devices Use less bandwidth than typical browsing Browsing not easy; usually need some select service fast; touch screen Always running/instant on Emerging Standards/Technologies: Mobile Flash and Flash Lite; Java ME and JavaFX Mobile; Mojax PDA platforms (Palm, Windows Mobile) Fring -- VOIP/IM/Twitter Communications. ZenZui -- Microsoft spin-off to widgetize webpages to ease web navigation. BluePulse -- “two things here that make this important; the first is the sheer number of phones bluepulse works on and how good the experience is across the range.” Mobio (deal with 9 Indian carriers, about 70% of the market) Mobile Distellery/Celsius -- over 650 devices supported; easily ports mobile java applications to different phones. Opera; iPhone -- no widget support for outside developers/only within their mobile safari browser. Webwag/Mobease; Bling Software; NeoMades (NeoMad; gaming); Plusmo (claim over 20,000 widgets); ActionEngine (rich media ap.s); Flurry Widset -- Out of Nokia Emerging Business Unit. Technology based on Java MIDP 2.0. Over 1400 widgets. Over 300 phones supported. “a disappointing RSS reader from Nokia.”

Widgets are a natural fit for Mobile Devices

Use less bandwidth than typical browsing

Browsing not easy; usually need some select service fast; touch screen

Always running/instant on

Emerging Standards/Technologies: Mobile Flash and Flash Lite; Java ME and JavaFX Mobile; Mojax

PDA platforms (Palm, Windows Mobile)

Fring -- VOIP/IM/Twitter Communications.

ZenZui -- Microsoft spin-off to widgetize webpages to ease web navigation.

BluePulse -- “two things here that make this important; the first is the sheer number of phones bluepulse works on and how good the experience is across the range.”

Mobio (deal with 9 Indian carriers, about 70% of the market)

Mobile Distellery/Celsius -- over 650 devices supported; easily ports mobile java applications to different phones.

Opera;

iPhone -- no widget support for outside developers/only within their mobile safari browser.

Webwag/Mobease; Bling Software; NeoMades (NeoMad; gaming); Plusmo (claim over 20,000 widgets); ActionEngine (rich media ap.s); Flurry

Widset -- Out of Nokia Emerging Business Unit. Technology based on Java MIDP 2.0. Over 1400 widgets. Over 300 phones supported. “a disappointing RSS reader from Nokia.”

The Future Easy User-Created Widgets Apple Clip for the Dashboard RIDAs Rich Internet/Desktop Applications Some applications Secure: RSS Readers, E-mail clients, Photo organizers/viewers, Music players Wider future uncertain. Platforms just being launched. Cross-OS/Cross-Site/Web+Desktop Widgets Cross-Site Web Widget Creation/Publication: Clearspring, Snipperoo Desktop/Web: Spring Widgets; NetVibes Universal API Opera’s submitted open standards to W3C Cross-OS: Yahoo (Windows, Mac); Opera (Windows/Mac/Linux) Linux: open source projects to port to Linux; Dashboard; Yahoo Widgets; Windows may have as well (Mono group porting Silverlight to Linux) Other Platforms: Mozilla (XULRunner), Java Platforms, Silverlight/Dekoh/Apollo; YourMinis via OpenLaszlo HiddenReflex RIAs (Rich Internet Applications)/Browser Developments Spread of User-Customization via Widgetization/RIA to many, many websites

Easy User-Created Widgets

Apple Clip for the Dashboard

RIDAs Rich Internet/Desktop Applications

Some applications Secure: RSS Readers, E-mail clients, Photo organizers/viewers, Music players

Wider future uncertain. Platforms just being launched.

Cross-OS/Cross-Site/Web+Desktop Widgets

Cross-Site Web Widget Creation/Publication: Clearspring, Snipperoo

Desktop/Web: Spring Widgets; NetVibes Universal API

Opera’s submitted open standards to W3C

Cross-OS: Yahoo (Windows, Mac); Opera (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Linux: open source projects to port to Linux; Dashboard; Yahoo Widgets; Windows may have as well (Mono group porting Silverlight to Linux)

Other Platforms: Mozilla (XULRunner), Java Platforms, Silverlight/Dekoh/Apollo; YourMinis via OpenLaszlo

HiddenReflex

RIAs (Rich Internet Applications)/Browser Developments

Spread of User-Customization via Widgetization/RIA to many, many websites

Now for Some Technical Details… Thank you for attending the business/user experience-oriented part of our presentation. For a copy of this PowerPoint presentation or if you have any questions, please visit our site at www.hiddenreflex.com or write either of us. Alok Bhardwaj, [email_address] Bharath Keshav, [email_address]

Thank you for attending the business/user experience-oriented part of our presentation.

For a copy of this PowerPoint presentation or if you have any questions, please visit our site at www.hiddenreflex.com or write either of us.

Alok Bhardwaj, [email_address]

Bharath Keshav, [email_address]

Desktop Widget Engines: Language Comparison From Wikipedia (they have a good page which compares widget engines as well as other pages on widget engines and cross-OS development platforms)

From Wikipedia (they have a good page which compares widget engines as well as other pages on widget engines and cross-OS development platforms)

A Peek into the Yahoo Desktop Widget Platform Highlights of Yahoo's widget platform functionalities include: Uses XML to define any widget. Javascript can be embedded. CSS standard adopted as the rendering model for the Yahoo widget engine 4.0 onwards. Several mechanisms for handling XML. These services provide easier way to create, parse, and manipulate XML trees. Internet-related services such as fetching any URL, manipulating it, posting data to internet, etc can be written with a very little code. Comes with innumerable functions to make widget programming intuitive and easy, particularly many related to animation. Some examples include: itunes.play(), itunes.fastforward(), itunes.nextTrack(), itunes.prevTrack(),YahooLogin(), YahooLogout(), In-built support for SQLite. Let’s make some widgets…and see just how easy and fun it is…

Highlights of Yahoo's widget platform functionalities include:

Uses XML to define any widget. Javascript can be embedded.

CSS standard adopted as the rendering model for the Yahoo widget engine 4.0 onwards.

Several mechanisms for handling XML. These services provide easier way to create, parse, and manipulate XML trees.

Internet-related services such as fetching any URL, manipulating it, posting data to internet, etc can be written with a very little code.

Comes with innumerable functions to make widget programming intuitive and easy, particularly many related to animation.

Some examples include: itunes.play(), itunes.fastforward(), itunes.nextTrack(), itunes.prevTrack(),YahooLogin(), YahooLogout(),

In-built support for SQLite.

Let’s make some widgets…and see just how easy and fun it is…