Embrace the Widget

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Embrace the Widget

Todd Marks President CEO Mindgrub
Technologies LLC todd.marks_at_mindgrub.com
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Embrace the Widget

• What is a Widget?
• Types of Widgets
• History of the Widget
• Widget Resources
• Technology Behind the Scenes
• Case Studies
• Demonstration Kickapps Widget Studio
• Questions

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What is a Widget?

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Definition of a Web Widget

• A widget is anything that can be embedded within
  a page of HTML, i.e. a web page. A widget adds
  some content to that page that is not static.
  Generally widgets are originated by third
  parties, though they can be home made. Embeddable
  chunks of code have existed since the early
  development of the World Wide Web. Web developers
  have long sought and used third party code chunks
  in their pages.1
• 1http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_widget

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Types of Widgets

• Web Widgets
• Advertising Widgets (Google Ads)
• Desktop Widgets (Gadgets)
• Mobile Widgets
• mFoundry (financial applications)
• Bling
• iRibbit (ebay iphone app)
• TV Widgets

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Types of Widgets
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History of the Web Widget

• The first widely syndicated web widget, Trivia
  Blitz, was introduced in 1997. It was a java game
  applet offered by Uproar.com embedded on 15,200
  websites as of December 31, 1998 and 36,100
  websites as of December 31, 1999. It spread
  virally through an "add this game to your
  website" button.1
• 1http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_widget

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Google Trends Widget
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History of the Web Widget

• Widgets are now commonplace and used by Bloggers
  and Social Network Users in addition to web
  developers
• Easy to embed on Home Site Pages such as
• iGoogle
• Netvibes
• Pageflakes

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Create and Host Widgets

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Create and Host Widgets

• Browser base tools for creating and hosting
  widgets include
• Microsoft Popfly
• Widget Box
• Zembly
• Snipperoo
• Kickapps

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Why Use Widgets?

• Out of the Box
• Dynamic
• Customizable / Skinnable
• Enhanced User Experience
• Faster Development
• No Coding Required
• Easy To Embed

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Code of the Web Widget

• Widgets Can be created with
• Java Applets
• Javascript
• Flash Actionscript
• Most use RSS for data delivery

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Case Studies

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usaVotes2008.com
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TechTechBoom.com
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Demonstration

Mike Sommers SVP Product Development KickApps
Corp mike_at_kickapps.com
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Kickapps.com Widget Studio
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Questions? (www.mindgrub.com/NAB)
Todd Marks President CEO Mindgrub
Technologies LLC todd.marks_at_mindgrub.com