Two Innovative, New Widgets Are Launched
Widgets Provide Dynamic Blog/Qik Content from DNC
While NewsGator Widgets and this blog are thoroughly non-partisan, I'm pleased to let you know that we are involved with two really cool new widgets that provide new media coverage of the Democratic National Convention. In some ways this is natural undertaking for us since our offices in downtown Denver are only 3 blocks away from the Denver Convention Center. I can even see the DNC proceedings from the window of my 25th story office here!
The inspiration for these widgets was based on the fact that bloggers and video bloggers are gaining influence over presidential politics; with these widgets, we are providing tools that give the public a fresh way of tracking events at this week's Democratic National Convention.
The first widget, which I think is ground-breaking, is called the "Qik Convention Widget." This widget consolidates and streams live video from the DNC as mobile phone users capture it using Qik's phone to web service. Qik is emerging as a platform to provide some of the most immediate and dramatic citizen journalism. As Qik's CEO -- Ramu Sunkara -- suggests, the collaboration between Qik live video and NewsGator widgets "gives bloggers at the DNC unprecedented reach."
The second widget is called the "NewsGator Big Tent Widget," named for the Big Tent new media center built for the convention. This widget, shown at right, is similar in nature to the first widget, though it captures, consolidates and displays blog posts (rather than Qik video content) related to the DNC proceedings. It shows the latest content first, with priority on hot topics and popular blogs, through smart filtering technology.
You might be interested to know that the Big Tent Widget consolidates feeds from nearly 200 bloggers, new media journalists and nonprofit leaders credentialed for the Big Tent, the 9,000 square-foot new media center hosted by Progress Now, Daily Kos, the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, and is sponsored by Digg, Google, NewsGator, and others.
I'll leave you with a quote from Jeff Nolan, VP of NewsGator's Media and Consumer division: "The influence and impact of new media in recent years is undeniable, but many folks miss out on the conversation aspect of social media. We're making it easy to follow the conversation -- and, in fact, join it -- by putting the entire chorus of Democratic National Convention bloggers and Qikkers in one place."
So, regardless of your political affiliation, do yourself a favor and check out these very cool new widgets! The Qik video widget is available here, while the Big Tent Widget is available here (on the right side of the page). Enjoy!
