Yahoo Go is opening up, big time with the announcement today of a new Mobile Widget Platform. The time is right. I’ve been a big, big fan of Yahoo Go for a long time. It’s been terrifically overlooked by most — the first beta of Go was nigh-on-revolutionary in terms of what it offered consumers. The big issue? Mobile operators weren’t doing much in the way of unlimited data plans when 1.0 arrived. This has begun to sort itself out now — and with Yahoo Go bundled on many new handsets — and with hundreds of millions of Yahoo users heading into the mobile internet world — version 3.0 looks to be a step in the right direction.
Here are the key points on the widget offering:
– The platform is an open environment for deverlopers to create mobile Widgets for instant access by millions of consumers.
– Widgets created on the Mobile Widget Platform will be available to consumers from various starting points, including Yahoo! Go 3.0 and Yahoo!’s new mobile homepage.
– The platform will enable developers to write code once and publish their content across Yahoo!’s mobile network, allowing accelerated delivery of a feature-rich mobile experience.
– The platform will enable consumers more control over their experience, as well, by providing the functionality to add and delete Widgets at any time.
– Full-featured SDK for developers to be introduced over the coming weeks.
– Third-party Widget launch partners include, eBay, MySpace, and MTV.
I wonder just how powerful the widget platform will be? If it’s a good’un, then this development could really help trigger some exciting new innovations particularly if developers are able to leapfrog the total arse of mobile application development.
It’s not all Widgets though. There’s a completely new mobile homepage designed from the ground up that will now include ‘personal vitality and status updates’ (think: Flickr updates, new emails, friend messenger status and so on).
Yahoo Go is still very much aimed at the high-end mobile users — iPhone, Series 60 and a few Windows Mobile devices for now. There’s more support coming shortly for other handsets.
I’m looking forward to getting hold of it and trying it out, probably on the iPhone, or maybe on the N95…
Yahoo Go’s native symbian variant – Yahoo Go 1.0 – rocked. I mean it was awesome.
Yahoo Go’s last iteration – the Java only Yahoo Go 2.0 – sucked. I mean BIG TIME.
Maybe there’s hope for Yahoo Go 3.0 – My fingers are crossed anyway.
“Yahoo Go’s last iteration – the Java only Yahoo Go 2.0 – sucked. I mean BIG TIME.”
Hmm, I liked it. But that was only because I could type “Cinema”, set my location, and it would tell me my nearest cinemas, and even give me the showing times of each film…
I miss the Symbian client because it seamlessly integrated (and synchronised) with my phone’s contacts, calendar and email/messaging clients.
The Java app, aside from not being able to do any of the above, is (IMO) just painful and slow in comparison.
I just found this:
http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/press/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=284832
I’m now more excited about their beta.m.yahoo than I am about blinkin’ Yahoo Go 3.0
Dude, you’re going to want to sit down before you read this:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/yahoo_life_and_go_3_ces.php
And it looks as though downloads will be available in a few hours from:
http://get.go.yahoo.com
I’ve been rattling on about this kind of integrated, presence indicating, messaging centre for so long, I can’t quite believe we’re almost there.
Looks good but why is Yahoo! messenger not included? It was included in 1.0 on Symbian phones. They need to inlcude this to make it a “Killer” app.
…and the ability to send invites for people to look at your Flickr pictures, not just an invite to sign up to Flickr
The only thing I’ve been able to download has been Go Version2 — the website keeps telling me that v.3 isn’t quite available yet but to check back later.
Is it just me?
I’ve got V3.0.
Surprise surprise it’s nothing to write home about.
I’m with CJR – Bring back the Symbian variant!
So it’s just me that can’t grab it — Damn!
Mind you, if it’s still a steaming pile then I guess I’m saving the time I’d be testing it…
Thanks for letting me know.
I’ve
Got
3.0
It’s
very
slow
and
annoying.
same…i’ve got 3.0 in my N70..it makes very slow to read, annoying and there’s no yahoo messenger