The Widget Finder Lens
Widgets are tools that make it easy for you to customize your web pages, desktops or mobile devices with cool new features.
In the world of software applications the names widget and gadget are interchangeable. Some developers call their products widgets and others call them gadgets, it's just a branding thing so don't be confused.
DIY Design
These mini-applications allow you to accessorize and personalize your electronic devices and web projects in powerful ways. The development of widget applications is continuous and new apps appear daily. You can think of these apps as bling for blogs and simple modular systems that extend the function of your desktop environment.
There are widgets for playing games, music, slideshows, videos, weather forecasts, news feeds, whatever... you name it, there's probably a widget that does it!
That's where Widget Finder can help you find the right tools for the job.
- Squidoogle -Search the entire Squidoo network for interesting lenses. Grab the search box widget for your own pages.
- Delicious - People bookmarking this lens.
Credits
The image at the top of this lens is created and distributed by Andy Hayes under a Creative Commons license.
Plusnet - my UK Broadband provider (recommmended).
Wikipedia Links
For more information on Computer Widgets see Wikipedia Web widget, Wikipedia Widget computing, Widget Toolkits and Dashboard Software.
This Lens is Twinned with Feed Pitstop
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Feed Pitstop - RSS Tools & Services for Web Feed Management
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A one-stop lens for Web feed discovery, management and promotion. Tune-in to the latest web buzz, generate customized content channels, distribute your own media using the right RSS tools and services. A comprehensive RSS hub for daily news and tool...
Getting Started
About Widget Finder
Widget Finder connects you with the best resources for tailoring your unique web presence and profile. The hand-picked links help you to find widgets for social spaces and blogging services including Blogger, Facebook, Live Spaces, MySpace, TypePad, WordPress, Xanga and more. You can also add useful applications and media to your main computer or mobile devices. Learn How-to...

- Build a dynamic, content rich blog with multimedia capabilities.
- Create your own Start Page from hundreds of ready made widgets with no knowledge of HTML.
- Automatically generate attractive design components like animations, buttons, signs and site templates.
- Express yourself more effectively using site customization and design enhancements.
- Develop your own widgets and gadgets for the major widget platforms.
Discovery Tools
Overview.
Here's a quick round-up of what you'll find here:- The Widget Finder search swicki for finding specific widget resources and sites.
- Links to the best sites for MySpace layouts and other web design components.
- Podsafe audio and video for your widgets and gadgets (scroll to Widget Content module at bottom of lens).
- Squidoo Plexos - Custom built lists that can be grabbed for use on other lenses, distributed via RSS feeds and embedded in webpages (see Widget Content module).
Search Tools
- Widget Finder Swicki
- Optimized for widget hunting, web-based tools and design solutions. You can also compare results from major search engines side-by-side and search two engines simultaneously including Google, MSN, Yahoo! and Ask Jeeves.
- Put a Widget Finder Search Box on your Site
- Embed the swicki searchbox and buzzcloud on your own site.
Widget Buzz
Buzz Tracking
You can use this section to track breaking news in the widgetsphere and social networking scenes.Feeds from top tech blogs and news networks help you follow the latest widget and Web 2.0 developments.
Twitter for Widgets
Tracking #widgets
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- blogdaberenice
- #widgets pro seu site - puxe a cordinha, tenha uma idéia! http://bit.ly/eyZeu
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- lanidianerich
- iPhone's autospell feature replaces #wiffers with #widgets and then with ::shudder:: #wiggers but lets me misspell "even." #fail
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- lanidianerich
- Sitting and talking with @cj_barry while I test out Twitterific on my iPhone. Good times. #widgets
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- affnet
- Delicious offers await - Education, Credit Repair, Dish Network and more are live and ready at Affnet.com/affiliates. #widgets #affiliates
Blog Conversations
- App Review: Forecast Weather Widget v2 (it's the best) | Android ...
- If your goal is quick, accurate weather information on your Android phone, stop hunting through Market. Weather Forecast Widget v2 is the most solidly.
- Shopeei Widget : Yahoo widgets | Firefox extensions, Opera plugins ...
- Shopeei Widget is another widget for Yahoo Widgets. With the aid of this widget you can conveniently search for goods on Shopeei.com web site.
- Sign in widget not working - error message for commenting ...
- Although I haven't changed the sign in widget, the Javascript portion of it has stopped working. My blog is www.slade-media.com. As you can see, it's just the title and nothing under it. I have also tried commenting and it gives me the ...
- Get The Most From The Top Commentator Widget
- Here on Teenius, one of the things I often seem to be rambling on about is the Top Commentator Widget. Incase you don't know, the TC Widget is a Wordpress Plugin that shows a list of the people who have left the most comments on your ...
Widgetsphere News
A mashup of top widget blog feeds updated hourly.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWeb 2.0 News
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWidget Blogs
News and commentary
- Dave's FeedRaider - Aggregated Blog Feeds
- Quickly scan multiple news feeds from top widget blogs.
- Live Gadgets
- Covers articles and links to important gadget resources.
- Sexy Widget
- Devoted to reviewing and testing widgets, badges, and blog bling of all types.
- Snipperoo
- Discusses new widget developments, ideas and business practices.
- The Flip Side
- A blog and podcast for widget developers.
- The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
- Widget Watch for Dashboard widgets and web-based services.
- Widgetslab
- A collection of hot widgets and resources.
- Widgetoko
- Tracks new and popular site widgets to put on your blog, homepage or profile.
- Widgify
- Discussing the emerging Widgetsphere.
Social Bookmarks
widgets & generators
Widgets in Action
A YouTube Widget
Day of the Longtail
Movie Trailer: In celebration of the publication of Chris Anderson's book, "The Long Tail," The old world of media faces an invasion from another planet. The horror. The horror. (By Michael Markman, Peter Hirshberg, Bob Kalsey; Produced for The Computer History Museum) http://www.thelongtail.com/ More info: Chris's book examines the economic models for distributing content. It's now possible to move from having a few megahits controlled by a limited number of publishers to having thousands even millions of titles available all the time. YouTube is a big part of this revolution. We made this video from the perspective of the old line media companies who might view the Long Tail revolution as a threat.
Runtime: 2:13
444799 views
10 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Amazon Search Widget
Mediaspheres - Grazr Widget
A widget example you can use
The resulting widget delivers a dynamic selection of Internet Technology and Music feeds for easy reading, media streaming and MP3 downloading.
Grazr.com lets you create powerful and flexible widgets using RSS feeds and web links.
Shared Widgets
The Power of Plexo
Widget Finder Plexos are user-generated lists for recommending widgets and gadgets. Plexos are widgets in their own right, that have auto-generated codes for embedding on web pages and RSS feeds for list updates.Use the Plexo below to share some widget love.
Popular Widgets
Recommend your favourite widgets, gadgets, badges and other connectivity resources. Grab the RSS feed and embed code to create your own web-mashups.
1
LinkedInABox: Unleash Your LinkedIn Profile
A widget that can be embedded on a web page to pro more...3 points
2
Squidoo Tools, Resources, and News
This is a collection of free Squidoo tools, addons more...2 points
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MySpace widgets
FormLogix.com, easily creates widgets for myspace, more...1 point
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YouTube Widget - Create your own YouTube widget
Create your own youtube widget for your myspace. D more...1 point
5
Custom Avenue - Custom T- Shirts Online Design Studio
Widgets and Gadgets for the T-Shirt Design Studio, more...1 point
6
Jamendo + Radioblog = 100% free & legal music sharing
Browse all the free and legal music from Jamendo a more...1 point
7
Object Desktop. Desktop Enhancement Suite.
Take your Windows XP or Windows Vista experience t more...1 point
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http://coolest.pcdesktop.ever.com/
Stardock is a cutting-edge Innovator specializing more...1 point
9
Myspace Games and Widgets!
Embed your favorite toys and games right into your more...1 point
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Games at Sploder - Flash Game Creator, Games for MySpace, Blogger, Xanga, and Everywhere!
Sploder is an online game creator. Create fun game more...0 points
Gadgets on Amazon
Cast your votes for the coolest gadgets on Amazon. Share your favorite products at Gadgetzon
SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player
Digital media player, FM radio, voice recorder. Fl more...1 point
Archos 705 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (160 GB)
Wireless portable media player with 7" Touch more...1 point
Cube World Series 1: Slim & Scoop
CUBEWORLD SERIES #1 (SLIM &amp more...0 points
Widget Platforms
Desktop Widgets
- Apple - Mac OS X - Dashboard
- Provides an overview of features and access to widget downloads.
- Best Widgets for Music: Roundup in Review
- Peter Kirn from CreateDigitalMusic.com presents a selection of Konfabulator and Dashboard widgets for the desktop.
- Dashboard Widgets - Downloads
- Amazing widgets for your Apple Mac OS X dashboard.
- KlipFolio.com
- A personal dashboard software platform that displays weather, stocks, photos, lists and more.
- Wikipedia Microsoft Gadgets & Other Desktop Widget Products
- Windows Sidebar and Desktop Gadgets are a feature of the forth-coming Windows Vista operating system, that will also be available for Windows XP. This page includes links to several other desktop widget products.
- Windows Live Gallery
- Get microsoft gadgets (widgets) and toolbars.
- Yahoo! Widgets
- Desktop Widgets for Mac and PC.
Mobile Widgets
- Bitty Browser Mobile Version
- m.bitty.com allows you to use your mobile phone to browse lite versions of many popular websites.
- Widsets
- Mini-applications for Java-enabled phones. Browse the collection or create your own.
Web Widgets
Blogging, Distribution, Social Networking, Start Pages
- Bitty Browser
- A little browser you can add to Web pages, blogs, spaces or personal start pages like Google, Live.com, Netvibes, as mentioned below. You can automatically create a fully navigable mini-browser made from web URLs, RSS, OPML, podcasts, and other Web services like del.icio.us, Google, Flickr, ODEO, YouTube and more.
- Facebook Powertools: 150+ Apps, Scripts and Add-ons
- A selection of browser extensions, desktop applications, Greasemonkey scripts and Facebook apps. Via Mashable! - The Social Networking Blog.
- Facebook Widgets - Find useful Facebook widgets
- News for Facebook users and developers alike.
- Google Friend Connect
- A catalog of gadgets with engaging social features to help you grow traffic.
- Google Gadgets for your Webpage
- A directory of miniature-sized objects that offer cool and dynamic content that can be placed on any page on the web.
- Google Homepage Modules
- Allows you to add Gadget modules to your Google start-page for a wide range of applications.
- Microsoft Gadgets
- Mini-applications for Windows Sidebar and Live.com, and Windows Live Spaces.
- MuseStorm
- A Widget Engine and Distribution Service for publishers and Content Owners. Automatically widgetize content and syndicate it to blogs, social networks and websites. Provides analytics and detailed information about distribution, reach, effectiveness and adoption across the Web.
- Social Networking
- A list of social networking services.
- Startpages - various
- A list of start pages that allow you to create a customized webpage using in-built widgets.
- SpringWidgets
- A desktop and Web widget platform with a growing range of custom built mini-applications.
- TypePad Widgets
- Typepad have partnered with various companies and created a widget directory which makes it easy for bloggers to add new elements to their blogs.
- Widgipedia
- A cross-platform resource for both users and developers of widgets and gadgets. Supports Yahoo! Widgets; Dashboard; Microsoft Vista Sidebar; Opera; Kapsules; DesktopX; Samurize; KlipFolio; AveDesk.
- Wikipedia List of Social Networking Websites
- Provides descriptions of focus, user count and type of registration.
- Widget Squid | Squidoo Friendly Web Widgets
- A widget directory specializing in Squidoo third party widgets. Find widgets that will work on the Squidoo platform. A useful resource for lensmasters wanting additional content features.
- Windows Live Gallery
- Gadgets for Live Spaves and other cool things to personalize your Windows Live and PC experiences.
- Windows Live Spaces - The Space Craft
- Official Live Space for news and information about Spaces developments.
- WordPress Widgets
- A blog and resource for Wordpress Sidebar Widgets.
- Yahoo Publisher Network
- Yahoo's web page enhancement services including search engine builder, social action buttons, Flickr badges, del.icio.us badges and other widgets.
Widget Directories
- Best stuff to put on your blog sidebar
- A list of cool stuff to feed your websites.
- Blog Tools
- Weblog Compendium's list of blog tools.
- Essential Wordpress Plugins
- A list of recommended plugins that add extra functionality to Wordpress applications.
- i-use-this
- A catalog of applications tagged with widget. Covers mainly Mac and Windows widget apps and platforms. The site uses a rating system based on popularity.
- LabPixies Gadgets
- Creators of quality interactive components for the personalized environment. Gadgets range from entertainment gadgets such as games, music and videos to utilities such as search tools and calculators.
- MuseStorm - Web 2.0 Gateway
- A free service with a range of Web Widgets for bloggers and Web site owners. Aggregated dynamic content using RSS feeds and Web APIs can be added to any Web page without programming knowledge.
- Opera Browser
- A directory of widgets for the Opera 9 Beta.
- ProgrammableWeb widgets
- A collection of web-mashup widgets.
- Snipperroo Widget Directory
- A categorized database for finding and sharing widgets.
- StickiWidgets
- Provides services and widgets for WordPress, Stickam, MySpace, Friendster, etc. Much of the focus is on building extended functionality for Stickam.com the multimedia communications tool.
- Web-Based Players
- Add-on media players and playlist managers.
- Widgetbox
- An online directory of web widgets for blogs and other web pages.
Widget Development
Developer Resources
DIY & Professional Services
- Building Konfabulator Widgets
- A squidoo lens designed as a tip sheet to guide programmers into the Konfabulator environment.
- Dapper: The Data Mapper
- A service which makes it easy to access and distribute content from any website.
- Dashcode Developer Beta
- Dashcode is a new application for developing Dashboard widgets coming in Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard). The beta release has been scaled back to be compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
- GadgetSpark - Vista Sidebar Gadget Development
- Inexpensive and timely development of Vista Sidebar Gadgets for business and marketing. Creates custom Gadget applications to your exact specifications. Gadgets are listed on both the Gadget Spark website and Microsoft Windows Live Gallery so Vista users can easily find and install it on their sidebars.
- Google Gadgets API - Overview
- Create little applications that run on multiple sites, including Google Personalized Homepage, Google Desktop, Google Page Creator, and other sites.
- Google Gadgets Tutorial
- How to make Google gadgets regardless of your skill level, even if you do not know any coding.
- Live Gadgets Software Development Kit
- Learn how to create Windows Live Gadgets.
- Makezine.com: Make an RSS Widget
- Step-by-step tutorial for making a Mac OS X Dashboard widget for the desktop.
- Mapufacture
- A GeoRSS aggregator that lets you layer multiple GeoRSS feeds from different sources into a single map. Search the database of GeoRSS feeds by keyword and location, results are themselves available as GeoRSS feeds.
- Openkapow
- RoboMaker visual scripting tool which allows for an easy point and click interface to mashup anything on the web that has a URL. Robots can be deployed, shared and run for free non-commercial use as REST, RSS, ATOM or HTML services on openkapow.
- Pipes: Rewire the web
- Interactive feed aggregator and manipulator for remixing web feeds and sites.
- Widgetopia
- A collection of widgets and UI elements from various websites, with descriptions and insightful commentary.
- WyaCracker
- Wyacracker is a free web-based service that allows anyone to build a widget without any programming or writing code. Wyacracker Widgets can be e-mailed, inserted into blogs, incorporated into web pages or other Internet publishing tools. (Launch pending).
- Organic Incentive
- Provide tools so users with absolutely no programming experience can create viral widgets.
- Sprout
- A web-based WYSIWYG widget creation tool.
Feed Tools - XML - RSS - OPML
- Feed Mixers
- A list of tools that allow you to mix and merge multiple feed sources.
- Feed Pitstop - RSS Tools
- A one-stop lens for web-feed discovery, management and promotion tools.
- Grazr
- A browser program that is used to display various types of feeds in RSS, RDF and Atom formats, OPML files. The widget can be embedded within any Web page or a standalone browser can be launched from a link.
- opmlmanager.com
- An online webservice that makes maintaining your own opml-file very easy. This opml-file can be a file that is part of a distributed directory, used in Widgets like Grazr.com or Bitty.com, a subscriptionlist, a readinglist, a file you use for Taskable.com, etc. See the Grazr widget example below.
- Optimal
- An OPML browser and widget generator for embedding the browser in webpages.
- RSS Compendium - RSS Feeds
- Links to major collections of feeds in all categories.
- Search Engine RSS Generators
- A list of search engines that can generate custom RSS feeds. For example TagJag.com is a meta-search engine that lets you generate aggregated RSS and OPML feeds from a wide range of web sources.
- Web Buzz Explorer
- A list of buzz sites that are useful for harnessing the power of crowds and social networks. Many of the resources can generate feeds for tracking the most recent and most popular media.
Web Design Tools
Design Hacks
Blogger, MySpace, Windows Live Spaces, Yahoo 360
- Blogger Forum - Blog Add-ons
- This link takes you straight to the blog add-on forum for Google's Blogger.com community.
- Freshblog
- Blogger hacks, categories, tips and tricks.
- Hack MSN Spaces
- Customisation tips and tutorials for Windows Live Spaces.
- Little Fish Big Pond
- Windows Live Spaces codes and how-tos.
- MySpace Bunny
- Myspace pimper with cursors, backgrounds, glitter graphics, contact tables, layouts, etc. Stuff can be easliy used on your Friendster or Hi5 profile too.
- MySpace Hacks
- A collaborative project that shares cool hacks, tips and widgets to help you make your MySpace profile totally hyphy. This is a good place to start learning about enhancing your space.
- Pimp My MSN Space
- More tutorials and hacks for Windows Live Spaces.
- The HTML Masters
- MySpace group for help with group editing, profile editing, HTML, CSS, DHTML, etc.
- Y-360 : Yahoo! 360 Users Group
- Provides help, tools, tips and resources to get the most from your Yahoo! 360 blog.
- ThemeForest - Web Site Templates
- A marketplace for buying and selling website templates and CMS themes for all sorts of products, like Blogger, WordPress, Drupal and Joomla. Prices start from around $10.
- Flashden - Flash Components
- Buy and sell files to use in your Adobe Flash projects. You'll find everything from preloaders to site templates, all selling for as little as $1.
Code Generators
- Color Scheme Generators and Resources
- A list of online tools for creating color schemes/palettes or sites with collections of schemes you can use or draw inspiration from. Also links to general useful color theory sites and color related web toys.
- Custom Sign Generator Page
- Web-based image creators for logos, buttons, banners, email signatures, comics, signs, support ribbons, labels, barcodes, 3D pics, title bars, taggers, e-cards, etc.
- Flip My Text - Funny Text for Twitter Myspace Facebook YouTube & Blogs
- Type Upside Down Text in HTML plus a range of online applications for generating personalized designs.
- Free Online Banner, Logo and Button Generators
- A list of online generators.
- GenerateIt - Image Generators, Website Tools, CSS Generators
- A free resource site for webmasters to take some of the hassle out of creating everyday items for their website.
- Generator Links
- A list of links to generator resources and similar lists.
- iFrame Code Generator
- Wraps an URL in an iFrame, useful for adding widgets to sites like Squidoo.
- Image & Sign Generator Blog
- A blog related to all neat web widgets that allow you to customize/personalize various real signs (photochop edits) and faked photographs/images.
- Online tools, generators, checkers
- A list of free online tools that help you to program, design, develop and optimize your site.
- OPML Generator
- A tool to help you generate large files of keyword-based RSS feeds at one time.
- POQbum
- Flash toys, graphics, codes, games, and generators to brighten your blogs.
- The Generator Blog
- Showcases tools for creating fun web designs and software for web pages.
- Seventh Sanctum
- Text based generator tools for writers, gamers, and artists. Create random characters, plots, names and concepts for a variety of stles and situations. Useful when you need inspiration, or just a bit of amusement.
- Sign Generators
- A list of image generator widgets.
Web Design Resources
- Avatar Factory
- A collection of free, quality avatars.
- Createblog
- A community driven blog support website, containing free layouts, scripts, graphics and tutorials for a range of services.
- CuStickam
- The official profile generator for Stickam.com, is a custom profile creator that allows you to create profiles and save them for future use. Provides an image library.
- Free Stock Photos for Web and Design
- A list of royalty-free photo archives.
- Most Inspired
- Web design Zeitgeist with gallerries, news and tutorials.
- Pimp My Profile
- A large selection of MySpace layouts, codes, generators, editors and graphics. Also provides codes you can use to customize your profiles on Xanga, Friendster, Tagworld, hi5 and other sites. Tools include HTML editors and generators.
- Protolize
- Essential web tools in one place. Shared resources for web designers and developers, designed to increase productivity.
- Web Developer's Handbook
- An excellent collection of resource links for web developers and designers.
Space Layouts, Profile Editors, Generators
- Mashable! - MySpace Codes
- Regular blog posts focusing on Web 2.0 services and widgets relating to MySpace and other social networks.
- MyFlashFetish
- MySpace MP3 Players (Flash MP3 Players), MySpace Slideshows for your MySpace profile. Free and pretty cool for your Friendster, blog, website and more.
- MyGen
- All Types.
- My Profile Pimp
- All types including layouts and Flash widgets.
- MySpaceHun.com
- A MySpace help site with free profile layouts, myspace generators, profile tweaks, html codes, glitter graphics, etc.
- MySpaceGrill
- All types.
- MySupportSpace
- All types.
- Profile Pimp
- All types.
- Thomas' MySpace Editor
- An online editor for generating custom layouts you can post in your MySpace profile.
- Zobbler
- All types.
Reader Tools
Widget Content Management
Find free media tools and ready-packed Plexos for webmasters.-
Bright Ideas Brilliant Minds - Tools for Exploring Creativity, Open Learning & Human Potential
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A lens for sharing creativity resources, educational materials, and productivity tools. Providing insight on how ideas, imagination and creative thinking transform the world we live in. Discover hundreds of cool sites for inventions and innovations...
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The Viral Video Directory - Track Popular Videos, Tools and Networks
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A guide to free online tools and services for tracking viral videos. Discover the most popular movie clips spreading on social networks like Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. Easily share your favorite video sites and movie making tools using the specia...
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Podsafe Content - A Guide to Free & Legal Media for Podcasters
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A guide to freely available audio and video content licensed specifically for use in podcast productions. Learn about the advantages of podsafe content, where to find it and how you can use it. The podsafe ethos fosters a sense of fair play and mutu...
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Freesounds : Digital Audio Tools, Sound Sample Collections, Open Music Resources
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A guide to free sound solutions for Digital Audio Editing, Music Creation, and Podcasting. Providing links to free audio applications, sound samples and loops, legal music you can download, share, reuse and remix. Easily find musical works, software...
Mediascape Books
Recommended reading on the changing, integrated mediascape. Books about social media, virtual communities, cultural anthropology, and the future of the Internet. You can share this reading list on your own web site by grabbing the widget code or RSS feed.
1
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin
Tribes make our world work and this book will help more...1 point
2
Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why it Matters by Bill Tancer
Takes us behind the scenes into the massive databa more...1 point
3
Community Created Content. Law, Business and Policy by Herkko Hietanen; Ville Oksanen; Mikko Valimaki
Summarizes the law, business and policy of communi more...0 points
4
Lifehacker: 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day by Gina Trapani
Personal productivity tips for tweaking, modding, more...0 points
5
Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present by Cory Doctorow
Explores the benefits and consequences of online s more...0 points
Get Connected
Introduce youself, share your own projects, make connections, leave some feedback.
Dan wrote
The Microsoft Gadgets are exactlly what I need to make a post on my blog.
You have a huge list of useful resouces. I have bookemarked for later use - your list is too big to be used in one day.
All the best,
Dan
gadgets guide
Steve-SEO-UK wrote...
Many thanks for an informative and interesting Lens,
Steve
Cheap Web Hosting - The right choice
gadgetmaniauk wrote...
excellent looking lens with some fantastic info, hope i can create a lens as good as this someday, 5 stars
PattB wrote...
Well, David, I think you've just changed my world view. Now I know I'll never see life again as I once knew it...5 stars and a favorite! Thanks, Pat
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