Launching a Facebook widget: dos and don'ts
Thousands of applications have been created on Facebook’s open platform since the social network opened up to developers earlier this year. But launching one, and generating interest, is not necessarily easy.
‘Attitudinal matching’ company Synature is one UK firm that has already taken the plunge, launching a version of its qubox software that allows Facebook members to search for like-minded people on the site, as well as potentially becoming a platform for targeted advertising. Here, John Woods, its CEO, talks about the challenges the company faced, and why he thinks the API can be a significant opportunity for brands.
Google adds developers' Mapplets to maps
Google Maps has launched an on-site applets platform that could do for the mapping tool what Apps have done for Facebook.Mapplets are mini web applications that can be bolted on to extend a user's Google Maps experience with a range of new functions, from petrol prices to Manchester's Metro system.
Yahoo! unveils Panama APIs
Yahoo! has released a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow advertisers to tailor their experience with the company's search marketing platform.
Three levels of tweaking capability are available to developers, each of which allows for customisation of the out-of-the-box new Panama engine, which was released in the UK last week.
Top ten Facebook widgets
Social network Facebook opened its doors to third party developers last week, allowing users to add apps to their profile pages for the first time.
Since the launch of the Facebook development platform, plenty of widgets have been added to the site. Here's a list of the most popular so far...
Google shifts in to offline web gear
Google is attempting to bridge the divide between online and offline working by releasing new software that syncronises the two.
At its Developer Day in Sydney today, the company announced Google Gears, an open-source technology platform that allows programmers to build websites that continue to function even without connectivity.
Google launches MyMaps, a social mapping service
Google has launched a set of free map-making tools in a bid to encourage more web users to develop mash-ups using its Google Maps platform.
MyMaps, as they are called, have been designed by the web giant to help non-techies create customised online maps and share information about their local neighbourhoods, holidays and so on.
Amazon kills Statsaholic, but does Jeff know?
Statsaholic, the Alexa-powered traffic tool formerly known as Alexaholic, is being systematically crushed by Amazon in a move that is going to create a wave of negative PR for the online retail giant.
Earlier this month Amazon sent a legal warning that forced Alexaholic to drop the Alexa from its name. Fair enough – brands have to look after their trademarks. But now it is preventing Statsaholic from using its API at all.
This is bad news, and sends out a highly ridiculous message to current and prospective users of Amazon Web Services. The message is this: “If you are successful, we can close you down.”
Interview: Online mapping guru Ed Parsons
Ed Parsons is the former chief technology officer of the Ordnance Survey, and one of the most knowledgeable people in the UK’s geospatial industry.
Before his much talked about departure last month, he was one of the central figures in the debate over the Ordnance Survey’s licensing regime – i.e., whether it should offer low cost access to mapping data to encourage the development of applications and mash-ups. He had also been pushing for the organisation to launch an API for non-commercial services and to adopt an open source model in some of its projects.
I caught up with him last week to find out more about internet mapping and his plans for the future…
Interview with Ed Freyfogle of Nestoria
Nestoria is a property-focused vertical search engine based in the UK, founded by former engineers at Yahoo.
I talked to co-founder Ed Freyfogle to find out more about the site, the challenges of starting up in the UK and APIs...
Interview with the producers of BBC Backstage
Ian Forrester and Matthew Cashmore of BBC Backstage, the Beeb's developer network, talked to us about the challenges and opportunities of opening up your data to third parties.
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Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
