Google Mapplets are mini-applications that you can embed within the Google Maps site. Examples include real estate search, current weather conditions, and distance measurement. Mapplets are Google Gadgets that can manipulate the map using Javascript calls that are derived from the Google Maps API
Mind 42 have just released a free on-line mind mapping tool, The sign-up is fast and you’ll be mapping in no-time. It’s easy to use, offering some basic functions, but more are on the way. A great feature is the ability to collaborate by sharing your maps, coupled with other tools like basecamp (for project management) and you can have great control and communication around your project, especially if it’s open source and the team is at disparate locations. collaboration.
Yahoo Pipes enables users to aggregate existing data to create and share a data feed using a visual drag and drop interface. Its a great idea and when you’ve used it you may wonder why nobody has done it before.In fact they have, but just not on the web and in such a visual and open way. The idea of Pipes comes from Unix pipes (|) which let you take the output of one small program and use it as the input to another. There have also been a number of enterprise products, such as BEA Liquid Data, which are much more heavy weight, but embody the same principles.
However, now Yahoo, who are not renowned for developing the own products (you would have expected this from Google) has brought out Pipes, providing everyone the opportunity to make pipelines to merge, sort and mashup data already on the web. Keep an eye out for useful pipelines there are already ones in place replace the results with Flickr images that match the content and keep track of eBay items. Take a look at the most frequently run pipes page.
to paraphrase former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, who wrote that he couldn’t describe pornography but knew it when he saw it, it may not be possible to fully describe Web 2.0, but you will know it when you see it.
see Web 2.0 and New Approaches to Software for full article.
The update of Ajax continues with more and more companies offering tool and support. Last week it was IBM’s turn to roll out new enhancements to the Eclipse Foundations Ajax Technology Framework (ATF) and also unveil a new on-line resource centre. Support coming form all the large corporations definitely help the developers, but, the tools are still at present not on par with the Development environments on offer to other paradigms. Also, the constant new releases of alternatives from varied companies means that the developer is currently forced to look to the latest and greatest tool in an attempt to gain further productivity. I would imagine that this will calm when we get the position of a few major players like in the Java IDE market, this perhaps is not that far off, taking into account the current speed of tool release and adoption.
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