Not sure when the update occurred, but we came across the updated SpringWidgets RSS Reader as we were researching for another unrelated project. The last time we reviewed the widget, it was a pretty straight forward RSS reader with the ability to customize the header via a partnership between SpringWidgets and FeedBurner.
Since then, (it is completely possible we missed this feature set during the last review) the SpringWidgets RSS Reader has added in-widget support for audio (MP3) and video (FLV) podcast feeds with playback. What this means is that the feeds are displayed as usual, but now you can actually playback the audio or video directly from within the widget via a built-in player.
In addition to the new audio/video player, you can add a custom branding banner without having to utilize FeedBurner. There are also a few more customization options, like a color chooser for the frame.
Using the generic RSS reader is great. However, if you are a publisher and would like your own personalized and branded widget to distribute, you can use the ExpressWidgets feature. ExpressWidgets steps users easily through the process of creating a customized/personalized widget and automatically adds the widget to the SpringWidgets widget gallery.
Now, if they only had widget analytics or did we miss that too?
Browsing around SpringWidgets also revealed quite a few new widgets. While it is still a relatively small widget gallery, it is growing and improving.
There is a very interesting widget that was released by SpringWidgets specifically for MySpace. This is not a unforeseen partnership and we’ve pointed this out in the past. SpringWidgets is developed by Fox Interactive Media which links them to MySpace and the new Fantastic Four movie (20th Century Fox). The widget is actually pretty cool. A screenshot is provided but it only works properly on MySpace so we did not embed it.
Once a user has put this on their MySpace profile page, there are some things you can do. Clicking on any of the 5 movie character images will change the profile page theme on the fly. This is done by applying new style sheets temporarily. If the user’s profile page is reloaded, the original style is present. Each character theme also comes with a custom “Super Power” animation that can be activated from the widget.
This is a typical SpringWidget so the standard options and feature exist. You can grab the code and embed this where you would like. However, as we mentioned earlier, this is specifically built for MySpace profiles. If this widget is placed on any other location, the movie themed styles will be applied to the page it is on. But, it will pretty much break the page, unless for some odd reason the page is coded and structured very similar to the MySpace profile page.
It is a very clever widget that is well executed for the intended purposes.
It’s been a great tournament so far and it’s come down to the Final Four. It’s a couple of #2 seeds vs. #1 seeds (#2 UCLA vs. #1 Florida and #2 Georgetown vs. #1 Ohio State). These are must see games…
The question this week is, “will UCLA have a repeat of last year’s finals or will they show up and put Florida to task?” Let’s hope UCLA remembers all too well what happened last year and brings it all to the court on March 31st.
Georgetown is back in the Final Four for the first time since 1985 and they look like they’re playing at their peak. Ohio State is going to have their hands full and better watch out. The Hoyas have a long history and tradition. Especially with the win over North Carolina, they’re not just going to let this go without a fight.
Hint: If you want the above widget with the default view on the Final Four. Grab the code as usual, but edit the code param_pDefaultRegionIndex=0 to param_pDefaultRegionIndex=4 (2 locations in the object/embed code, you can ignore the third location in the link code).
