Yahoo! moves into widgets market
27 July 2005
Internet portal Yahoo! has reportedly bought Pixoria, a company that produces widgets.
Widgets are small, downloadable programs that let computer users quickly access up-to-the-minute information without having to open a web browser.
The user creatable, JavaScript based plug-ins are cross-platform applications that can display a range of information, including stock quotes and weather forecasts. Pixoria has developed its own Konfabulator software, which works on computers running the Windows XP operating system.
The deal gives Yahoo unlimited access to the "widget" software, which first became available for download on Mac computers in 2002. Apple included similar tool in its Macintosh OS X 10.4 "Tiger" system called Dashboard.
A Yahoo! spokesperson said: "[Yahoo] considers this another way to promote the next generation of the internet. One that's not reliant on browsers."
Yahoo! also acquired the small but influential software company Pixoria last week. Pixoria, based in Palo Alto, California, has three employees, who will all now work for Yahoo!
In a statement on the website, Konfabulator creators Arlo Rose, Ed Voas and Perry Clarke said they were "excited" about the move and making their applications more of a "cool big picture".
Developers and enthusiasts who want to submit new widgets can now find out how to do so at widgets.yahoo.com. About 1,000 free widgets can be downloaded from the new site, including lottery results, a Magic 8-Ball and traffic cameras from various cities.
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