The Traffic Gadget is Back!

Into Tech - are you into technology?

Into Tech - are you into technology? — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:42:38 GMT

Call us the power- strip generation: appliances, home theater gear, and all those gadget chargers need to be plugged in, and it’ s gotten to the point where we just lay…

re: The Traffic Gadget is Back!

donavon — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:03:21 GMT

@tophtucker: I agree that there should be MSFT branded gadgets for more apps, not only as a developer/vendor, but as a user of Microsoft products. A Zune gadget is a great example. I pitched the idea of a Zune gadget right after it's initial release but nothing became of it. And yes, where is the Microsoft branded calendar gadget? Hey Microsoft: call me! ;)

@quikboy: I understand what you are saying, but I think that each group is more focused on their actual product to worry about the additional resources needed to write a quality gadget. I think it makes sense (both from a quality end product perspective and financially) to outsource the development to specialized gadget development houses.

@BasP: I know that the VE people are aware that they need more international support for traffic but thanks for reiterating the point. It's comments like yours that hopefully will get Microsoft to listen and take action.

re: The Traffic Gadget is Back!

BasP — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:13:05 GMT

This would be incredibly useful... if I lived in the US. Since that is not the case, I have exactly zero use for this gadget.

I realise that that's not your fault, and that you're limited by whatever data the traffic service provides you, but, hey, maybe the Virtual Earth guys can take a hint from this and get international Microsoft offices into gear to provide worldwide traffic data.

re: The Traffic Gadget is Back!

tophtucker — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:18:52 GMT

"Though I think Microsoft should have more skills to make them on their own, considering they are the largest software company in the world."

You'd think so, eh? I absolutely feel like they should be promoting their own platform a little more. Every MS product team should have this item on their to-do list: evaluate whether a gadget would make sense, and if it would, do it. It's not all that hard... is it? And the more support it has internally, the more attractive it will be for other developers. But first they need to reach that critical mass, and I don't think they've done that yet.

re: The Traffic Gadget is Back!

quikboy — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:10:56 GMT

Pretty much what tophtucker said.

Make gadgets/widgets for as many of the WindowsLive/MSN stuff there is. Or across other Microsoft products and services.

Make them look visually pleasing, AND multi-platform. Multi-platform as in not just the Sidebar, but also Live.com, Live Spaces, SideShow, and maybe even onto IE add-ons, WLM, Writer, etc.

That would be great. Though I think Microsoft should have more skills to make them on their own, considering they are the largest software company in the world.

re: The Traffic Gadget is Back!

tophtucker — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:46:37 GMT

Good to hear. I liked it, although I didn't use it very often.

Suggestions? Well, I sort of think that every major Microsoft app deserves a gadget. Some missing notable gadgets (although there may be 3rd party alternatives): (Hot)mail & calendar. OneCare might be nice. Recent Office Live Workspaces, perhaps? How about an official Xbox Live or Zune gadget?