StickiWidgets

Derek over at Widgets Lab did a quick mashup of Google Blog Search and Grazr to give us a nice widget news widget. Basically the Google Blog Search, “widget” and “webwidget”, is provided in RSS format and fed into Grazr, an OPML/RSS feed reader. If you need to keep up-to-date on widgets then this could be a what you are looking for. Or, if you like the concept, you can create your own blog news widget in a few minutes.

Head over to Widgets Lab for more details and the functional widget.

We’ve just added Simple Forum to StickiWidgets. The Widgets Forum will serve multiple purposes.

Widget Announcements
This forum can be used to announce news about widgets. We receive private emails all the time. Unfortunately, we are not always able to respond or provide reviews. So, here is a forum for companies or individuals to post announcements and news. “Basic Advertisements” will be allowed here, however be courteous. Please continue to send us private emails regarding your widgets or announcements for more in-depth reviews.

Widget Lounge
Anyone can discuss general widget topics here. We hope this forum will foster discussions that will benefit everyone from users to developers to companies. Everyone’s opinion is welcomed.

Widget Support
As we grow and continue to release our own widgets, we needed a place for users to ask for help and hopefully receive help from other users. Support is difficult to provide and this is an attempt to give users some means of getting help. This forum is not limited to support for StickiWidgets. If you need support for widgets provided by other services, feel free to ask here too.

General Lounge
For all those times when you don’t want to think about widgets anymore. Hang out and chill.

Cool Links
Everyone could use a break and if you have a cool link, feel free to post it here. Be considerate and do not post links to adult content.

Keep in mind these are public forums and we do not tolerate any inappropriate content. Harassment, illegal content, adult content, abuse, spam, etc. will be removed. If needed, more controls and restrictions will be put in place to prevent abuse.

If you have anything to do with developing or utilizing widgets, you must read following two posts. The first was posted yesterday by Ivan over at the Snipperoo Blog. Ivan lists his “Ten Sins of the Widget Makers“. We happen to agree with all his points. Widget makers need to be more aware of how their widget can and will be used. Just because it’s a widget doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve the respect and attention that is required.

“It amazes me that, despite all the love and attention that is put into widgets, most widget producers don’t seem to pay much attention to the needs of their customers - the widget users.” - Ivan

The second must read was posted today by Lawrence over at Sexy Widget. In his post he dissected the RateItAll widget that is currently in beta. He does a great job of going through each element of the widget and various decisions made for each. The insight into that process is invaluable. Everyone should put that much focus on their widgets.

“Any widget that expects to earn real estate on a blog must bring something to the table for the host site.” - Lawrence

The bottom line is that widgets have a major role to play and all those involved need to be aware of various aspects of a widget. The widget needs to be evaluated and planned just as much as any other major feature or project. Its development should not be done completely devoid of business needs and goals nor should it be released without review against some technical guidelines. While there is no magical check list, if you are able to marry the technical with business and make informed decisions, you will have a much better chance of long term success.