USA: Widgets, or embedded links used on computer desktops, are becoming increasingly diverse in range as well as popular

Record ID: 574866

  • Title: USA: Widgets, or embedded links used on computer desktops, are becoming increasingly diverse in range as well as popular
  • Date: 30th March 2007
  • Summary: WIDGET WEBSITES VARIOUS OF WIDGETS
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Science / Technology
  • Reuters ID: LVABWFSC2NR8KY84VZX76EYDZNR5
  • Story Text: Many people might not know what a "widget" is, but more often than not, they have them on their computers. The desktop links, which are usually represented by little pictures, logos, or even interactive games, are becoming increasingly popular and have even become a new means of corporate advertising. They range from the practical to the practically ridiculous, like crawling ants or former rap star MC Hammer. They're widgets, also known as gadgets or even modules, and they're taking over computer desktops everywhere.
    The creative little links are actually chunks of digital code that become embedded portable boxes on desktops and websites, and serve as short cuts to other websites. Apple originated the use of widgets and is now joined by just about everyone, from Microsoft's Vista to sites like Widgetbox and Google Gadgets.
    Yahoo recently launched its latest version, Yahoo Widgets 4.0. The Vice President of Desktop Products at Yahoo, Paul Brody explained the popularity of the little links.
    "Imagine if you are a person who sits in front of a computer for a large portion of the day and you are doing things from constantly going to different sites to look at information that's valuable to you such as stock portfolios, news feeds, sports scores etc. What you can do with widgets is actually take that content outside of the browser and put that on your desktop. So instead of having to click through many applications or websites, all of which go away when you close your browser, you can have a widget there running on your desktop and have the information at your fingertips at any time," said Brody.
    And it's not just the big companies that are dreaming up the catchy little desktop applications; people are making their own, according to CNET's Dave Carnoy.
    "In some cases these are being generated just by enthusiastic users out there. They are the ones, Yahoo has an engine that allows users to create their own widgets. So it's really a populist movement to make these things," said Carnoy.
    And where the users go, the marketers follow. Some of the largest consumer brands, from Nike to Purina, are big in the world of widgets, thus giving their brands and logos phenomenal brand exposure, with very little cost.
    Widgets can be great fun and a very useful tool to have on a computer desktop, but experts warn that, like anything else users bring into their computers from an outside source, they should be careful about what they are downloading and be certain it's from a trusted source.
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