Posts tagged software

Facebook in Excel

Nov17
2009 Leave a Comment

Most office workers like to look at Facebook on their PCs. But not only is it easier for the user to view their ‘news feed’ on a desktop, it’s also easy for passersby to see. For privacy and job security reasons, the user would prefer to conceal the content and source of data. The Facebook page design is well known and distinguishable from afar. The solution for desktop browsing of a News Feed is to use a desktop application, which is now possible using Adobe AIR technology and the Facebook Feed API (which developers use to tap into the FB server).

I propose making a desktop application that resembles an Excel sheet. Each row could contain, in one column, a friend name, and in the next column, their status or news item. In subsequent columns, the user could ‘like’,'unlike’, and ‘comment.’ In this way, instead of having to “Alt-Tab” away from the Facebook web page to an Excel sheet, the very act of using Facebook would look productive.

Other features: Maybe a workbook could have a sheet for each of Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. And, you could customize the look of the app to resemble your office’s version of Excel (Mac, 2003, 2008 etc). It’s also easy to insert advertising messages. The mockup above innocently includes messages from Del Monte and Coca Cola.

I’m hesitant to create this application because it would likely decrease productivity and because another developer could easily create and market such an app. TweetDeck for example could skin its app to resemble Excel.

But I thought it would be a good sample in my portfolio for an AIR and Facebook app. What do you think?

Posted in Software / Usability - Tagged , ,

Bit Tracker Launches Live and is In Use

Jul02
2008 Leave a Comment

I pushed live The Bit Tracker 2000 this past Thursday. There were some bugs but I ironed them out the past couple days. Lesson learned: be prepared to handle that which you wish… If there were a hundred new users, they would all have been angered!

My pal, the comedian Jim Coughlin, has agreed to be the spokesperson for The Bit Tracker.


The Bit Tracker 2000 has a lot of cool features for writer/performers to track their bits.

I am taking a break from adding new features, even though there is a good-sized “to-do” list. To quote my press release, which quotes me:

“The past 2 months I’ve been performing in order to improve The Bit Tracker. Now I’m going to be using The Bit Tracker to improve my performances.”

I have 140 bits in the system, and they are Tagged, and comprise a range of ‘types’ (verse, jokes, characters). I am ready to jump-start my performing career… yeah!

http://bittracker2000.com

Posted in Software / Usability - Tagged , , ,

Registration at Google Conference

Jun10
2008 Leave a Comment

This week Apple is having its developers conference in San Francisco’s Moscone Center. Two weeks ago, Google held theirs at the same place.

I learned a lot from my two days among some Google project leaders and engineers. I was struck by several realizations:

1. Google has many bright minds working for it,
2. Google is pouring a lot of resources into its development platforms
3. Google lacks a coordinated strategy among its many products and services
4. Within each ‘fiefdom’ at Google, there is a blatant deficit between what end-users want, and what is available.

Take this blog for instance. Google owns Blogger, and Google owns Picassa Photo Gallery. But you wouldn’t know that if you were a Blogger. When uploading an image to a blog post, there is no option to select an existing Picassa photo. It’s interesting: Google wants to store all your data, but doesn’t know how you want to use the pieces in conjunction.

However, as a developer, I know I can use the many new tools (APIs) that Google has made available, to make some nifty, helpful solutions. There’s so much opportunity, and so many possibilities with each new platform. I’m confident that the Googlers and allies will get around to covering all the bases– and making new ones.

Posted in Software / Usability - Tagged , , ,