Widgetoko

User comments from our previous post
"Create an RSS feed from any website data" pointed out a couple other options.

1. openkapow. Download and install their RoboMaker software to create REST, RSS, ATOM or HTML service feeds from just about any source that has a URL.

openkapow almost lost me on step one "Download and Install RoboMaker" (No Mac version available), and then again after I noticed it was a 106 MB file (eek!), but I pushed through. After installing, my first impression is 'complicated'. openkapow seems incredibly powerful, but it's going to take some work to go through the tutorials and learn your way up to making a REST service or even consuming a simple feed.

2. FeedYes. Point the service at a URL and it tries to figure out if there's any structured data on the page. Seems to work well with my initial tests, but the user interface could use a bit of polishing.

Out of the four so far (Feed43, Dapper, openkapow, FeedYes) my vote for straight up easiest to use with some options is Dapper; completely web based, no problems with reliability and hopefully any of the UI awkwardness of the initial releases will improve with age.

Hope this helps.

Ever wanted to subscribe to a site via RSS but they don't provide a feed?

Several services have sprung up lately to solve the problem. Feed43 and Dapper step you through a process of creating a custom feed for a feedless site. The configuration at both Feed43 and Dapper are more complicated than I would like but doable after some trial and error.

Not exactly widgets, although I find them incredible useful. They may give you something to fill up content for your RSS feed reader widgets like those provided by Widgetbox, SpringWidgets and MuseStorm.

I've been using both services to track forums which do not provide RSS feeds (not cool by the way). Also great for sites where you want to monitor search results.

Hope this helps.

Discover people and places nearby while broadcasting your current geographic location with Plazes.

As your computer moves locations, IP address changes are detected with a small app you install. When a change occurs the app prompts you to supply location information including address and description.

There's also a small app you can install on some cell phones to automatically detect your location. I could see this being very useful.

You can SMS in your location as well.

The Plazes widget works with myspace, friendster, TagWorld and any other community that allows you to embed Flash.

Create your own online polls with Vizu.

Make a "blidgit"? I really hope that little chestnut does not catch on.

This Widgetbox widget is basically a Feed puller. I like the tool, the configuration and designer interfaces are first class, probably the best in the biz. Maybe I just have to sleep on that name. I'm sure it will look better in the morning.