YourMinis...a flashy, widgety start page

I recently discovered YourMinis, a Flash-based start page/RSS feed reader/widget platform. My first impression is favorable, but time will tell if it deserves a space as my browser's home page.



What I like:

• Easy RSS feed addition


• OPML file import/export


• Interesting widgets built in (calendar, Gmail, clock, to-do list, Digg feed, calculator, notes, bookmarks, full browser, search, video, etc.)


• Beautiful default look


• Drag & Drop windows, lock 'em down, change opacity, colors, etc.


• Publish your "minis" or your whole tab of minis.


• Social feel. Very Web 2.0.


• Multiple tabs


• Inline web browser makes loading a news story convenient


• The ability to load any image as my tab's background

My questions:

• Is Flash going to be too heavy for my browser's start page?


• Are more interesting widgets coming?


• Do we need another widget platform? Can't we all just get along?


• Will we be able to further customize the look of our minis, or the basic mini windows?

So far, I really like what I see. It feels more polished to me than Netvibes or Pageflakes. They apparently have over 800,000 users so far, which is not bad, but still lags behind their competitors. But I still question the use of Flash...it's a great tool, but there are many people who would prefer to stick to standard HTML for a much lighter weight start page. We'll see!

Add this Zazzle gadget to Google!

So I created my first Google Gadget today. It's a Flash Panel for the most popular Zazzle products. This is it below:





Click the button above to automatically add it to your Google homepage!

I don't need no stinkin' RAZR!

Being Hispanic, I felt it was my obligation...my duty...to carry a blade of some sort. Well Samsung allows me to carry one that is allowed through airport security.

It's the Samsung A900 (affectionately known as "The Blade"). This is Samsung's answer to Motorola's ever popular RAZR. All I have to say is...Joo better don't tek it away from me or I'll cut you, my freng!

The specs are quite similar to the RAZR...same thin profile, bluetooth, 1.2 megapixel camera, etc. But for my personal uses, I see the A900 as the better phone. I am a Sprint customer, so this phone gets me access to Sprint's high speed EV-DO network. This means I can pair my phone to my laptop (bluetoothedly) and surf the 'net at near broadband speeds anywhere Sprint's EV-DO service is available. Lucky for me, it's all around Silicon Valley.

Coupled with a Jabra BT500 bluetooth headset, I can geek out with the best of 'em...or look like a crazy guy mumbling to himself who has a hearing aid. Do I care? Remember, I cut you, mang!

I just discovered that my new phone can take dictation from me and it will write what I say to it!