If you like Google Reader, but would prefer to keep it from taking up an oh-so-important tab in your browser, you'll definitely like GReader Popup. This experimental Firefox extension pulls up a version of Google Reader that sits atop any page you have open. You can plow through feeds using all the usual keyboard shortcuts you would in Google Reader. Then, when done, you simply click the icon in the bottom right hand corner of your browser and it goes away.
No fuss, no tab switching, and most importantly--more real estate in your browser for extra tabs.
It's a wonderfully simple tool, and built off the same idea behind GCal Popup, which does the same thing but for Google Calendar. With both installed you can hop to specific Google apps from any page, using the bottom part of your browser like an application launcher, or by learning the two-button keyboard shortcut that pulls it up.
My one qualm is that it does a hit or miss job at resizing Google Reader to fit your browser. I had parts of the interface cut off, even when running it on a 1600x1050 screen. If you're trying it out on a small laptop or Netbook this can be a deal-killer.
GReader Popup puts Google Reader on top of any page you're on.
(Credit: CNET Networks)
If you've been a longtime Webware reader you might remember a service called Bubble Guru I checked out back in late 2007. It let you create small video pop-ups you could stick on your site to say hi to users, or simply to serve as a more attention-grabbing sticky note. Just launched Bubble Comment is a very similar service, and in fact it's from the same folks. The big difference is that it's completely free, albeit with some limitations.
One of those limitations, for example, is that you can't simply embed Bubble Comment bubbles on any old page or post--you have to specify which page you're linking your friend to, and Bubble Comment will get the recipient, and your video message to the page page with a re-direct. In other words it's not for publishers, but for people to send links to their buddies. Every message expires after 30 days or 25 views--whichever comes first.
If you're looking to send someone a one-off link with a video comment attached it's very cool and completely free. In comparison, parent company kShermanStudios LLC's Bubble Guru requires buying into one of three tiers of service that charges you for how many total messages you want floating around, but offers much more value to blog owners who want to grab your attention in an unusual manner. You just can't help but watch these things, even if the content is lame.
Other products in the bubble family include Bubble Testimonial, which lets you stick video bubbles of consumer testimonials on your product or service pages, along with Bubble Joy, which is a video e-card service.
Stick your ugly mug on pages you send to friends with Bubble Comment.
(Credit: CNET Networks)
We got the tip today about a brand new service called Bubble Guru. Its goal is simple: to give your blog or Web site visitors a short pop-up video message that runs and closes without any user interaction required. You can also record and send message to friends via e-mail. For viewers, there's no escape--the talking bubble will follow them as they scroll down the page.
Annoying and obtrusive, yet compelling
(Credit: CNET Networks)The service is by no means a full-fledged video blogging tool; it falls into a strange subcategory between video messaging and a pop-up advertisement. It's also a little early in development, offering no way to save and track the messages you've created. For now the service is free, but a paid subscription version is on the way for about $10 a month.
We thought long and hard about the usefulness of this for the casual user. In truth, video embedding services from YouTube or Viddler is much more user friendly. Users can turn those videos on and off at their discretion and pass any interesting ones along to a friend. That, however, isn't the point of Bubble Guru. This service is all about grabbing your attention, which it does very well. We've embedded one for you: to see what it looks like, click "read more" below.
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