tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39566879869394901962024-03-14T09:21:21.579-05:00WidgetLaboratoryNing Widgets and Solutions for Work and for PlayWidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-61372695497333098232010-01-01T20:11:00.002-06:002011-08-08T20:37:54.325-05:00Check us out over at LabSecrets.com<div>Looking for WidgetLaboratory? No sweat... you've come to the right place ;-)</div><div>
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>We've now set up shop over at <a href="http://labsecrets.com/">http://labsecrets.com</a>!</b></span><div>
<br /><div>Come on over and see the latest and greatest from the LAB.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>We make it easy to create a social website and monetize today.</div></div>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-16510875443387560582008-09-17T17:46:00.006-05:002008-09-19T16:12:15.181-05:00Get your bags packed... it's getting close to moving time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/s/sh/shahiddes/1069064_blacksmith.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/s/sh/shahiddes/1069064_blacksmith.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>THIS IS THE LAST POST AT BLOGGER... FROM NOW ON ALL POSTS WILL BE AT:<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://WidgetLaboratory.com">http://WidgetLaboratory.com<br /></a></div><br />Don't think that because you haven't heard from us that we have not been busy!<br /><br />On the contrary, we've managed to squeeze almost eight months of development into a matter of a couple weeks... whew!<br /><br />The LAB V2 will be returning in less than four weeks, with a compelling package of goodies, the guarantees that you want and need, and the functionality that has not been previously attempted in the Social Networking space.<br /><br />In response to all the great feedback and suggestions from you, our loyal customers, we are coming back "way out of the box" with this concept. It's NOT just about Social Networking! On the contrary, it's an entirely NEW way to conceive of your small business and enterprise.<br /><br />We believe that it is possible to merge the online and offline worlds in such a way that allows a non-technical business owner to assemble powerful modular tools and applications that interact with their Social Network Data and Members. It is all about MONETIZATION and how WidgetLaboratory can help you to generate PROFIT from your business ideas in the Social Networking Space. It doesn't require $100 Million Dollars to create a way for YOU to make money on the Internet.<br /><br />We don't care about volume... we care about quality, functionality, and profit. Rather than trying to be all things to all people, we are focusing on that very small niche of Network Creators who realize that there is "gold in them thar' hills!" and want our help and tools to get it out.<br /><br />We welcome you to join us as we move back into a new "shell" this week and start filling in all the goodies that made the LAB such a valuable part of your Social Networking experience in V1. We assure you that this new version will allow us to create features and tools that were simply not possible on that "other" social network platform. Our new home has the technology and "politics" that are required for building powerful and profitable Social Networking sites.<br /><br />Place your bets Ladies and Gentlemen...WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-43802985442762122732008-09-08T23:37:00.005-05:002008-09-08T23:41:55.943-05:00Classic!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGZcBpLmzuFPQGBsTciPXTT6GgKZhBW0OrWjpvNbeC01lq_isaHJUAF9i5D414b8pZIFvA8pjTvej6UfYYn4Ve8_rt4sy_uJKVgM9mSOKydXDnhLbMdDbSXnaZIJM4HflLm6kcugIUZo/s1600-h/classic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGZcBpLmzuFPQGBsTciPXTT6GgKZhBW0OrWjpvNbeC01lq_isaHJUAF9i5D414b8pZIFvA8pjTvej6UfYYn4Ve8_rt4sy_uJKVgM9mSOKydXDnhLbMdDbSXnaZIJM4HflLm6kcugIUZo/s320/classic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243876148447280530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Words cannot describe how amusing it is that WidgetLaboratory <span style="font-weight: bold;">STILL</span> gets blamed for what is wrong with Ning....<br /><br />Found today at this <a href="http://networkcreators.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=492224%3ATopic%3A337562&page=3&commentId=492224%3AComment%3A339219&x=1#492224Comment339219"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LINK</span></a>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-14813600087452717542008-09-04T16:36:00.005-05:002008-09-04T16:51:37.709-05:00Migration Tools have arrived!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5X8c2YerDU8udhYmpzEsLUte1uLgoAlIl6G0OKGz4qVxtfNeCZUs3BUn13xTpxhhZYxe5WmhKvdxitobfbTTJ2QC-yjNXpUN6CTVc9KDAZitRRO36p2PYXlX217AHd4bkvTgYekBouE/s1600-h/1028000_87246363.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5X8c2YerDU8udhYmpzEsLUte1uLgoAlIl6G0OKGz4qVxtfNeCZUs3BUn13xTpxhhZYxe5WmhKvdxitobfbTTJ2QC-yjNXpUN6CTVc9KDAZitRRO36p2PYXlX217AHd4bkvTgYekBouE/s320/1028000_87246363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242286578612859714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.skitch.com/20080904-pi1n243qymsnupc5i3iuwt5hja.pdf"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://img.skitch.com/20080904-pi1n243qymsnupc5i3iuwt5hja.pdf" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />We wanted to let all of our LAB customers know that the first of our Migration / Rescue tools are now available, starting with MediaNow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD4mtBTQbLhkdSK8mIGnv8nYInaO2TC1B14PDPJZNg7TCW8dsms3HGEjcdiNtTl59PynUHg9-kGl-biO71Dj71qjdkfE-p3vvFSLmpG1Mx6cbLE3BBm8bn9L85BUAqmpbuKHU9IAK4iM/s1600-h/medianow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD4mtBTQbLhkdSK8mIGnv8nYInaO2TC1B14PDPJZNg7TCW8dsms3HGEjcdiNtTl59PynUHg9-kGl-biO71Dj71qjdkfE-p3vvFSLmpG1Mx6cbLE3BBm8bn9L85BUAqmpbuKHU9IAK4iM/s320/medianow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242286705464696722" border="0" /></a><br />Anyone who had or has content that was created using MediaNow can contact us directly at <a href="mailto:help@widgetlaboratory">help@widgetlaboratory</a> and include your site URL and a return email. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We will export out your data in its Native Format and deliver it to you ASAP.</span> There is no fee or charge for this service.<br /><br />Please be advised that we have some other very important and helpful news coming early next week that will be relevant to all of our customers, as well as anyone who is interested in the future of Social Networking as a viable place to build your business.<br /><br />Thank you for your continued patience and good vibes. The LAB is quietly creating our next big announcement...<br /><br />Viva' Laboratoria!WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-24263248626442542322008-09-02T17:59:00.004-05:002008-09-02T18:09:09.719-05:00Déjà vuOne of our clients sent over this link today. It was published on November 28, 2007, right before we released our first product on Ning.<br /><br />Weird feeling of <span class="mw-headline">"reverse" déjà vu</span> .... read this carefully, especially the comments.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/28/ning-ceo-calls-flux-and-viacom-to-the-mat/">http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/28/ning-ceo-calls-flux-and-viacom-to-the-mat/</a>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-41781702447501233272008-08-29T18:10:00.004-05:002008-08-29T18:12:34.627-05:00Who-IM Still alive and kicking...Anyone who is feeling a bit letdown by the lack of any chat or instant messenger on Ning... our free and powerful Who-IM is still available for use on your site... now in "Removal-Safe" version that runs completely outside of NING on our servers.<br /><br />Grab the code from the right column and paste to a text box... then sit back and enjoy the fast, reliable, and bug-free Who-IM that your networks have come to know and love.WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-25587821440965702642008-08-27T12:29:00.000-05:002008-08-27T12:47:55.681-05:00A NEW START<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VJ95zJN_b0xLSswatDp4R0oY9ek8B_KludLBvL0Nysd5-C2BpkVJGAYqBfTX6gNSnogTItQ33E4YTCeWWq6BPP97MzpJV-Q3rTS70aEBYUhFM5x0vrTiDW52GFA0115CXKKfhZDZ_UA/s1600-h/construction.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VJ95zJN_b0xLSswatDp4R0oY9ek8B_KludLBvL0Nysd5-C2BpkVJGAYqBfTX6gNSnogTItQ33E4YTCeWWq6BPP97MzpJV-Q3rTS70aEBYUhFM5x0vrTiDW52GFA0115CXKKfhZDZ_UA/s320/construction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239251791576284866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We are happy to report</span> that this is likely to be the start of a new day for WidgetLaboratory. While more details will follow shortly, our first order of business is to complete the construction of our new website and presence. Although we appreciate the good-natured "ribbing" we have received from having our temporary outpost located on Blogger... it was obviously only a safety blanket until more formal plans could be drafted.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is an outline</span> of what to expect from the LAB in the days and weeks to come:<br /><br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">A new website and return to consulting</span> for all of our former, and many of our newer clients. WidgetLaboratory has the resources and experience to assist any business owner interested in making money through a Social Networking presence. This core-aspect of our business has been uneffected by recent events. If anything, our latest adventures in Silicon Valley have given us further insight and experience into how to build a profitable business with "no money down" in a world of multi-million dollar VC giants. Let us show you how to do the same;</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">The construction of a new WidgetLaboratory factory for all of our products</span>. The details on this will follow as soon as we are able to reveal the same, but it is the focus that is worth sharing now... a Full Bill of Rights, LSA, and True "ownership" for Social Network Creators. The place where you next see us emerge will have these important elements wrapped into whatever relationship you have with the host of your Network, so that you can be assured that your livelihood is not at risk;</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Management and progress towards a resolution of any outstanding claims</span> involving existing customers who feel that they were caught in the middle. We have requested that anyone who has questions can email us for specific information at help@widgetlaboratory.com and we further encourage anyone seeking redress to complete a customer information form indicating the scope and extent of their damages from the method that was used to remove WidgetLaboratory.</li></ol><br />At this time we look forward to "moving" forward. We are neither gone, nor forgotten, and consider this experience just a milestone along the path towards greater accomplishments that benefit our customers and clients in their efforts to build powerful solutions for work and for play.<br /><br />Thank you!<br />Spencer Forman<br />CEO<br />WidgetLaboratory<br /><ol><br /></ol>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-65898181781274469222008-08-26T17:33:00.000-05:002008-08-26T18:13:59.924-05:00SOCIAL NETWORK BILL OF RIGHTS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSkPvPgibE4mxovGMCKmnsv2BEOicjXAX4ovYNmQgdrby7OmXT7arVF0UF4QOzMxN4jKdMovs8Js84tLFoDXDnXnvj5ZmTrjDS71I9NKurfAj_pI0wfFB4k8R9O8ZouF82Nh1ytTkqFg/s1600-h/billofrights.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSkPvPgibE4mxovGMCKmnsv2BEOicjXAX4ovYNmQgdrby7OmXT7arVF0UF4QOzMxN4jKdMovs8Js84tLFoDXDnXnvj5ZmTrjDS71I9NKurfAj_pI0wfFB4k8R9O8ZouF82Nh1ytTkqFg/s320/billofrights.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238958260106407442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BILL OF RIGHTS for Social Network Creators and their members:</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">1) That you as the creator and administrator of your Social Network have the RIGHT to access your content and membership data at all times, even in the event of a disagreement or dispute between yourself and the network host;<br /><br />2) That should there be a disagreement or dispute between yourself and the network host, then your site content shall remain accessible to you at all times, even if it is no longer "online" for general use and consumption by your membership during the time it takes to resolve the aforementioned and/or to protect the rest of the network from any objective and demonstrable harm;<br /><br />3) That there shall never be any use of force, coercion, threat, extortion, or harm to you, your data, or your membership by the network host, under ANY circumstance;<br /><br />4) In the event that network host and yourself cannot agree as to the means or method to solve any disagreement or dispute, then you shall be provided a free and transportable copy of ALL your data from the Network immediately;<br /><br />5) That the network host shall NEVER interfere in the contractual affairs between yourself and any third-party developers or parties from whom you have purchased software to run on your social network site. In the event that any such software should be shown to cause a Network-related issue, then your site shall be temporarily assigned by the network host to "offline" status until such time as you solve the clearly-stated technical reasons for any Network issue, or until you otherwise remove the third-party software. Under NO circumstances shall your previously-purchased software be prohibited by the network host without a written explanation of cause and specific technical details and proof as to the reasons for said prohibition;<br /><br />6) There shall be a PRESUMPTION that the Social Network Creator is INNOCENT and that any alleged network issues were created without malice by the Social Network Creator;<br /><br />7) Any decision by a network host to remove a Social Network shall be subject to the decision of a neutral third-party. This mutually agreed third-party shall have the final authority to determine removal or restoration of the Social Network to active status;<br /><br />8) That any statements or comments made in the public forum of the Network Host relating to such matters shall NOT BE CENSORED, sanitized, deleted, edited, or otherwise removed by the Network Host without archiving the same and offering a right of reinstatement upon written request for review by the author.</div>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-60510497548239745602008-08-26T15:44:00.000-05:002008-08-26T15:47:41.620-05:00LAB Rising...<center><object width="360" height="240"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1609323&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1" /> <embed src="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1609323&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="360" height="240"></embed></object></center>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-16532566596461766982008-08-24T20:57:00.000-05:002008-08-25T01:44:30.100-05:00WHO-IM Now Available "Once Again" for all Ning NetworksWe are sorry that it took us almost 24 hours since our last web post here to restore Who-IM (Who's Online / Instant Messenger) to the Ning community. We are happy to pronounce that this is the same Who-IM as before, running on our servers, but now available in a "stand-alone" version that does not require any presence of WidgetLaboratory inside of Ning, and can be run exactly like ANY OTHER outside open-market product.<br /><br />As before, this product is FREE and offered to you from WidgetLaboratory as a small "thank you" while we continue our efforts to restore the rest of your products and services, wherever you choose to have them hosted.<br /><br />Simply copy the following code snippet to any text box on your Ning site, and reload your browser cache. You will then, once again, enjoy all of the benefits of Who's Online and Instant Messenger.<br /><br /><br /><textarea style="width:407px;height:50px" onclick="select()"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://ningina.com/who-im.php"></script></textarea><br /><br />Anyone interested in learning more about Ning's published policy of accepting other stand-alone 3rd Party Chat and Message products can go to their information page <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://networkcreators.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=492224%3ATopic%3A315565">HERE</a></span>.WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-27886323101480506422008-08-23T23:59:00.000-05:002008-08-24T06:16:49.375-05:00PUBLICATION OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN WIDGETLABORATORY AND NINGAs promised, here is a complete record of correspondence from August 2nd, 2008 through August 22nd, 2008 between WidgetLaboratory and Ning.<br /><br />Ning has premised their shutdown of WidgetLaboratory solely on the basis of "unduly degrading the performance of the Ning platform." <span style="font-weight: bold;">It is our position that there was no warning of any such degrading prior to the termination notice (which was sent after the termination had been completed). </span>Any prior mention of TOS issues had solely to do with whether WidgetLaboratory was entitled to utilize member login information in order to support its customers and products.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please notice the August 7th communication from Ning to WidgetLaboratory, where there is no warning as to any imminent or future shutdown. </span><span>The last we heard, Jason Rosenthal was going to be contacting us about "business conversations" on the 15th of September. The next communication from Ning is on August 22nd, where their counsel informs WidgetLaboratory that we have already been shut-down.</span><br /><br /><object codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="doc_563404928368002" name="doc_563404928368002" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" align="middle" height="500" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://documents.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=4996415&access_key=key-249h87yu26zxmzmof021&page=&version=1&auto_size=true"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="play" value="true"> <param name="loop" value="true"> <param name="scale" value="showall"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="devicefont" value="false"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="menu" value="true"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="salign" value=""> <embed src="http://documents.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=4996415&access_key=key-249h87yu26zxmzmof021&page=&version=1&auto_size=true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" play="true" loop="true" scale="showall" wmode="opaque" devicefont="false" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="doc_563404928368002_object" menu="true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" salign="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="500" width="100%"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/4996415/WidgetLaboratory-Correspondence-with-Ning">WidgetLaboratory Correspondence with Ning</a> - <a href="http://www.scribd.com/upload">Upload a Document to Scribd</a></div><div style="display: none;"> Read this document on Scribd: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/4996415/WidgetLaboratory-Correspondence-with-Ning">WidgetLaboratory Correspondence with Ning</a> </div>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-84219209830485677802008-08-23T15:40:00.000-05:002008-08-23T18:07:47.919-05:00Important Announcement From WidgetLaboratoryWe wish to extend another great "Thanks!" to everyone who has expressed their support and exercised patience and restraint. We realize that the financial and emotional strain of Ning's actions have caused many of you to be in a turmoil the last 24 hours, wondering "what will I do now?"<br /><br />Since Ning took these aggressive and unwarranted steps, WidgetLaboratory has been working tirelessly to come up with immediate and satisfying SOLUTION for all of you. We are proud to announce that we have achieved success. Our primary focus has always been to provide the BEST customer support, AWESOME products, and a WELCOMING customer experience. Now that Ning's management has demonstrated for public scrutiny their means and methods, we are prepared to demonstrate ours. To wit:<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) All of WidgetLaboratory Source Code will be made publicly available and free to anyone to use under a Creative Commons License.</span> We have created an easy-installation pack that will allow any Network Creator to use any of their previously purchased products on their own networks as before, and make any and all modifications and changes they wish, subject only to our retention of authorship rights and credit.<br /><br />WHY should any of you suffer from Ning taking away our products? We worked very hard for the last eight months developing solutions that Ning would not. With over 100 million in Venture Capital and more than 99 employees, Ning was unwilling or unable to produce what two crazy dudes working out of a Castle in Bratislava were able to. IT'S YOUR SOFTWARE, so ENJOY IT! We believe that YOU have every right to use the products you paid for on your own network. If you are clever, we're sure you will also figure out how to make your own changes to our hard work and make your own "versions" as well. OUR PROMISE was to back our products 100%... and now we are doing just that;<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) WidgetLaboratory will be providing FREE MIGRATION TOOLS to anyone who wishes to use them. </span>Not feeling too "comfortable" anymore having someone else hold the keys to your website and members? Ever think about the fact that some sites claim that you can "leave when you want" but then provide you NO MEANS to do so? Ever think about what it would be like to have YOUR Network UNPLUGGED after a year or more of hard work and hundreds or thousands of members all LOST? We have... we're living the nightmare. Anyone who wants to use our free migration tools will be able to do so at their own discretion;<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Open Source "Safe Harbor" Site Creation for business and other professionals.</span> Was your business and reputation put into jeopardy yesterday? Did you feel like an idiot having to explain to your clients and associates why your site looked like someone mixed it into a blender? Where did all those hours and hours of work and pages and pages of content go to when Ning pulled the plug?<br /><br />WidgetLaboratory has received tremendous support from outside of the Ning community. The Social Networking "phenomenon" is not owned by Ning. Not by a long-shot. With the support of our new partners, and utilizing off-the-shelf options as well, we are now crafting a solution that will likely be a "safer" environment for anyone who does not wish to be subject to the whims of a hosting-company "executive decision".<br /><br />We believe that our customers have the RIGHT to OWN their sites, OWN their site content, OWN their own code, and OWN the right to not be terminated, threatened or cajoled by ANYONE, especially a hosting-company executive.<br /><br />Our new solution, for anyone interested, will employ the same creativity, fun, and focus on features that have become the hallmark of the WidgetLaboratory "brand". We will NOT be hosting your solution. We will NOT be acting as an intermediary. We instead will be providing you with multiple open-source sites upon which you can "plug and play" your social network and still have all the WidgetLaboratory products from today, as well as those that we create tomorrow. All the while you will have COMPLETE CONTROL over your own destiny and site. No one will be able to take that away from you or threaten to pull-the-plug for dubious reasons with no method or means for appeal.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) We will be publishing the complete record of our relationship with Ning from start to finish for public scrutiny.</span> Many of you have no "doubt" as to what took-place behind the scenes... but others are still not sure. We have stated all along that we were only maintaining our silence until such time as Ning's counsel elected to reconsider their position. We have always stated that Ning should have simply restored WidgetLaboratory and prevented the ongoing "harm" that it was causing to all of you, and THEN sit down with us to negotiate the business terms... which are the TRUE reason why we were removed. As you will soon read for yourself, from day one until we were unplugged, WidgetLaboratory has maintained our professionalism, respect for the Rules of Ning, obeyance of the Terms of Service, and submission to Ning's decisions. We were unplugged because of Anti-competitive concerns by Ning's management;<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5) Choose your own destiny, make your own decisions.</span> We are aware that Ning may now be offering up to six months of "free" premium service to any Network Creator who complains loudly enough or directly to Gina Bianchini. Not sure if this is true, but perhaps any of you can verify that for yourselves? Perhaps this would be an additional way to help compensate for the disruption of your business and personal networks?<br /><br />We have also heard that Ning will be now "magically" producing tabs, pages, and a way for you to migrate out your WidgetLaboratory content as well. After more than a year of stating that this was not on their "roadmap", this is incredible news and fortuitous timing as well. Anything that restores some semblance of "control" to YOU as Network Creator is a good thing for everyone.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6) Damages are in Ning's court now.</span> We stand ready, willing, and able to help anyone and everyone who needs the same. We are always available via email, telephone, or skype. Whether you decide to stay, or think it's time to leave, ultimately you have a friend in WidgetLaboratory. We are not "going away" anytime soon. In fact, Ning's actions may have been the best thing that ever happened to WidgetLaboratory and you. NOW the Emperor has been shown to be wearing no clothes... and Ning's actions will now face both public scrutiny as well as any resulting litigation or class-action suits that follow in order to restore you all to the position you were in before Friday morning. WidgetLaboratory intends to continue with our promise of 100% satisfaction as stated herein.<br /><br />We welcome ANY and ALL questions, inquiries, and invitations to discuss the facts and details further. We are an open-book and have NOTHING to hide.<br /><br />Spencer Forman<br />CEO & Co-Founder<br />WidgetLaboratoryWidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-54070477415655217032008-08-22T21:35:00.000-05:002008-08-22T22:36:30.750-05:00Questions and Answers after response from Ning's Legal CounselWe have been patiently waiting for Ning's legal counsel to inform us as to what part of Ning's Terms of Service were violated. We have thusfar only received a "canned" response, as enumerated below. We have, however, had some time to carefully review and consider all of the points of view that have been expressed on the Ning Forums, TechCrunch, and other places. We believe that it is important to clarify a number of issues:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Since WidgetLaboratory is not publicly funded, does not have anyone to account to other than our customers, and is prepared with documentation to demonstrate that the facts are on our side, we believe it time to provide answers where none are otherwise forthcoming from Ning. To wit:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />1) Each and every time that Ning suggested that any of our products had required "attention" on our part, WidgetLaboratory immediately provided a solution that was received cooperatively by Ning and solved the issue.</span> Since the very first widget we created in December of 2007, Ning has had the ability and taken full advantage of being able to reach us at a moment's notice. Each and every time they needed assistance or required a modification to our code, we made the changes in compliance. <span style="font-weight:bold;">In sum, Ning has ALWAYS been able to get full reliance, compliance, and subordination from WidgetLaboratory to ensure that our products have no negative impact on their network whatsoever;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />2) WidgetLaboratory has been extremely protective of all client and customer relationships and preservation of private information. </span> There has been some speculation that we violated some Terms of Service that relates to customer data or privacy. <span style="font-weight:bold;">THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCH CLAIM MADE BY NING</span>. The ONLY claim made by Ning's Legal counsel at this time, as would form the basis for our removal, was that our products had "unduly degraded the performance of the Ning platform." There is no other claim of wrongdoing, at all, and there never has been any wrongdoing...particularly of that nature;<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3) Unlike the last eight or more months, in this case Ning made no effort at all to contact WidgetLaboratory to inform us that we were having any negative impact on the performance of their networks prior to their sudden termination.</span> Despite having been developing products on Ning since December of 2007, and dozens of personal phone calls and emails to us at all hours, in this case Ning provided <span style="font-weight:bold;">NO WARNING WHATSOEVER</span> that WidgetLaboratory products were having a negative impact as would cause Ning to remove us entirely. More relevant, Ning cannot demonstrate that our products had any negative impact in this case because there is no proof to be found;<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />4) Ning's means and method are demonstrative of bad faith motive.</span> Even if one were to speculate for a moment that there were a "network" reason for TEMPORARY removal of a product from the Ning network, because of a major degradation...that does not explain whatsoever why Ning has PERMANENTLY removed WidgetLaboratory without any opportunity to correct these alleged problems. Given the magnitude of the damages to Ning Site Creators caused by Ning's unilateral decision today, common sense dictates that Ning would have simply asked us to remove any product or products that were causing any issues, and then allowed us to restore these as soon as any alleged code problems were resolved. Instead, Ning completely removed all WidgetLaboratory contacts with the Ning network, banned our Executive Team from the use of their network via IP Blocking, has taken down our personal recreational websites (such as Trikepilot.com), and has otherwise today blocked or deleted or banned anyone who has made any post at the Ning forums that would convey the other side of the story. This extremely "unusual" behavior is not indicative of a company that is acting in "good faith" to keep their networks operational. We allege that it was punitive, calculated, and designed to remove WidgetLaboratory, a company that was providing a popular service on their network. Ironically, a service that seemed to have generated more positive publicity and use of Ning than any other source of publicity;<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />5) Gina Bianchini is suddenly "silent". </span> The strong-willed woman who stood up to Michael Arrington and told him where to go... is now suddenly unwilling or unable to provide any facts to support Ning's claims that WidgetLaboratory was doing anything wrong? Her silence on this subject speaks volumes. Our only reason for not publishing the full documentation of our position at this very moment is our belief that "discretion" will allow us to reach an an amicable resolution of this matter with Ning that restores our customers' products and functionality immediately. Such a resolution would help to mitigate the damage and losses already caused by Ning's unilateral actions this morning. We have expressed to Ning's counsel that a more appropriate resolution of this matter would have been, and still should be, the restoration of WidgetLaboratory and its products to the Ning network while a more "long-term" solution is worked-out. Such a solution would protect the CUSTOMER above all other interests, as it should be;<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />6)Where is the regard for the customer?</span> Talk is cheap. True support and dedication to your customer base are not. Ning has over one hundred million in Venture Capital by their own reporting. WidgetLaboratory had no funding whatsoever. Nevertheless, with only a handful of employees, WidgetLaboratory was able to elevate itself to a position of supporting more than five thousand of Ning's largest networks with a dozen or more highly-valued products. We further had more than one million Ning members utilizing our Who-IM and Chat products, which were moved to our own Cloud servers back in January in order to avoid causing any load on Ning's framework. We have built our company and reputation on being THE BEST at CUSTOMER SERVICE and creating NEEDED products. <br /><br />Were this not a fact, we would not have "earned" the attention of Ning, nor would we have garnered their backlash this morning. In our opinion, WidgetLaboratory proved to be a threat and a slight embarrassment to Ning because we provided the products that Ning's customers so desperately wanted and needed. Despite our documented efforts to integrate ourselves into Ning's corporate structure, our numerous personal conversations with Gina and her staff asking them to consider working directly with us, and innumerable changes to our code to ensure full compliance with Ning's "architecture", we were always treated with a degree of hostility. The reasons for this are now clear.<br /><br />Whether you used our products or not, WidgetLaboratory provides a much-needed service on Ning and fills a void that has remained from Ning's "reincarnation" in 2006. We stand ready and willing to be judged in both the court of Public Opinion as well as a court of Law. More reasonably, however, we ask that Ning reconsider it's recent action and restore our products to our mutual customers before any further damage is done from loss of the same. There is no factual basis for any claim that our products have an adverse effect on their network that cannot be resolved in a matter of minutes or hours, should we be afforded the same opportunity that we have been over the last eight months.<br /><br />Spencer Forman<br />CEO and Co-Founder<br />WidgetLaboratoryWidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-68677584855326411562008-08-22T18:42:00.000-05:002008-08-22T19:06:20.413-05:00Complete Ban By Ning on Any Open DialogueGina Bianchini, CEO of Ning, has just made a post that is revealing in what it does "NOT" say. Link is <span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://networkcreators.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=492224%3ATopic%3A316618">HERE</a></span><br /><br />In sum, her post does not enumerate a single detail of "which" or "any" Terms of Service provision we violated. Neither has their Legal Counsel in private correspondence today. Considering the magnitude of the damage and inconvenience that has been caused by Ning's actions, common sense dictates that even a small factual basis be provided. But there is none given.<br /><br />Regardless of whether one utilized WidgetLaboratory products, this is a serious error in judgment by Ning as to the impact they are having on the public confidence in their "platform." We challenge Ning to rectify this situation in a manner that parallels its own promotion of the Ning "platform" as a place to build your personal site, business site, or even third-party widgets. We are ready and able to prove that our products had no negative impact upon the Ning network or any Network Creators. In fact the opposite was true, as our products enabled many Ning networks to thrive where they might not otherwise have been able. We assert that it was our growing popularity and penetration into their user base that formed the basis for Ning's actions this morning.. plain and simple.<br /><br />If Ning is not willing to act in accordance with its own promotional materials and public statements, then this is something that anyone should consider insofar as their "platform" is concerned. There are still ways that this can be resolved without further damages being caused to you and your site, and we welcome Ning to consider our invitation to negotiate the same.WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-6562340513826768152008-08-22T17:13:00.000-05:002008-08-22T18:29:02.499-05:00Ning not responding to any efforts to restore your productsWe have made attempts today to contact Ning and get any explanation or official statement at all as to why WidgetLaboratory was terminated, or what "Terms of Service" were violated. Ning has removed all of our accounts and has blocked our IP addresses from using their servers at all, so that we cannot even follow the postings on the Network Creator's Forum, let alone respond or give our own facts or details.<br /><br />The only channel we have available at the moment is through Ning's Legal Counsel, Robert Ghoorah. At this time, we can only state that we have communicated very clearly to Mr. Ghoorah that we have a full and complete technical and communication record that begins from the moment we started our company on Ning's platform back in November of 2007.<br /><br />Without revealing any further information that would prevent a graceful resolution of this matter and a restoration of "normality" to your networks, we can state as follows:<br /><br />WidgetLaboratory has provided an eight-month history of almost "immediate" response to any and all technical issues raised by any one at Ning. We have responded at 4am on a weeknight, and on Christmas Eve, New Years, and Fourth of July weekend. Regardless of when or where, we have always provided an immediate and complete response and resolution for ANY issues raised by Ning that would relate to any "technical" issues with our products on the Ning platform. We have also received the brunt of Ning's "own" technical problems and absorbed blame for issues that never had anything to do with our products, but were inherent bugs in Ning's own architecture. <br /><br />There were NEVER any warnings or notices by Ning as to any violations of Terms of Service due to Networks being "negatively impacted", as there has not been any such negative effect. It is very sad and further ironic to us then, that without one ounce of proof or substantiating evidence, Ning is now making allusions to the fact that WidgetLaboratory was terminated (as well as our own personal web sites on Ning) for the following reason:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Unfortunately, this is a black and white issue of WidgetLaboratory violating our Terms of Service after multiple warnings and negatively impacting the Ning Platform. We had to act and did so...the answer won't be to bring back WidgetLaboratory. Our Terms of Service are there for a reason. Please know we did not enter into this decision lightly."</span><br /><br />WidgetLaboratory CATEGORICALLY denies that this is true. As of 10pm CDT last evening, our CTO was on the telephone with Ning's Senior VP of Engineering (Jay Parikh) in an effort to provide moral and technical support after Jay suggested that he and his team were exhausted from all of the work that they were having with the recent "update" by Ning to their own platform.<br /><br />We will continue our efforts to encourage Ning through their legal counsel to resolve this matter amicably, and in a way that would be beneficial for all concerned, especially all of you... our mutual customers.<br /><br />Thank you for your ongoing support and kind letters. We will continue our efforts to get Ning to communicate with us in a manner befitting a company that has claimed from it's inception to be the "place" to build widgets and solutions, rather than one that is acting capriciously or without any concern for its own customers and third-party developers.WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-88445587119841055312008-08-22T15:42:00.000-05:002008-08-29T09:41:54.116-05:00News and Links Regarding Ning's Removal of WidgetLaboratoryFollow the story and public opinion at:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/22/ning-shuts-down-premium-developer-widgetlaboratory/">TechCrunch</a></span> (first story)<br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/23/widgetlaboratory-strikes-back-at-ning-where-it-hurts/">TechCrunch</a> (second story)<br /><a href="http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/24/dont-post-the-evidence-unless-it-supports-your-case/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">TechCrunch</span></a> (third story)<br /><a href="http://valleywag.com/5041614/why-ning-axed-a-widgetmaker#c7423709"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Valleywag</span></a> (first story)<br /><a href="http://valleywag.com/5042211/elvenjewel"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Valleywag</span></a> (second story)<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://businessshrink.biz/psychologyofbusiness/2008/08/22/diy-social-networking-site-ning-loses-credibility-in-one-day/">BusinessShrink.biz</a><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://reasonablysmart.blogspot.com/2008/08/ning-shuts-down-widgetlaboratory.html">ReasonablySmart.Blogspot.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-blog/366213/ning-blocks-popular-widget-provider-leaves-users-in-the-dark.html"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">E-Consultancy.com</span></a><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://blog.veyronsupercharge.com/2008/08/22/ning-strikes-a-blow/">SuperChargedByVeyron</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sharingatwork.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SharingatWork.com</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/27/ning-vs-widgetlaboratory-and-the-challenges-underlying-open-platforms/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wikinomics.com</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.widgetslab.com/2008/08/28/quick-recap-of-the-whole-widgetlaboratory-ning-story/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WidgetsLab.com Blog</span></a>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-12658333559660044512008-08-22T14:29:00.000-05:002008-08-22T15:49:21.939-05:00Customer Information FormAs part of our efforts to protect you, our customers, for your entire purchase of products from WidgetLaboratory, we ask each of you to complete this Customer Information form. The data collected will be very important for us in assessing the total damages incurred by you, our customers, as a result of Ning's actions. This data will be kept in confidence, and will only be utilized for the purpose of pursuing our legal and equitable remedies against Ning on your behalf and our own.<br /><br />Thank you for your cooperation!<br />WidgetLaboratory<br /><br /><iframe allowtransparency="true" style="border: medium none ; width: 100%;" src="https://widgetlaboratory.wufoo.com/embed/r7x3a7/" frameborder="0" height="891" scrolling="no">&amp;amp;lt;a href="https://widgetlaboratory.wufoo.com/forms/r7x3a7/" title="html form"&amp;amp;gt;Fill out my Wufoo form!&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</iframe><br /> <small><a href="http://wufoo.com/">Powered by Wufoo</a></small>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3956687986939490196.post-58095431844378111292008-08-22T13:36:00.001-05:002008-08-22T14:11:45.462-05:00Ning has unilaterally removed WidgetLaboratory without Notice - Information to Our Customers<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As of this morning, August 22, 2008, we learned from our customers that Ning had unilaterally removed Widgetlaboratory.com and all of its products. We have received no formal notice or explanation at this time. We have not violated any Terms of Service, nor have we violated any published "guidelines" from Ning.</span><br /><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This action by Ning was completely without any notice, was without any merit, and in our opinion was done for the sole purpose of eliminating a company that had started to provide a useful and valuable service to all of you. We have a full and complete documentation of our relationship with Ning from the very first moment that we contacted them in November of 2007 and met with them subsequently to get their blessing for creating our company and products. The facts and details contained therein will substantiate our claims regarding Ning's actions.<br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">We have achieved a level of market penetration into the Ning community that has made WidgetLaboratory a somewhat "essential" resource for add-ons and widgets. Based upon the personal phone calls and correspondence from the entire Ning team, including their entire Executive staff, it would appear that they decided to elminate WidgetLaboratory for anti-competitive purposes alone. This is truly ironic to us, given the fact that our products have demonstrably INCREASED the popularity of Ning and caused more customers of Ning to purchase their Premium Services. This was truly a win-win-win relationship between Ning, WidgetLaboratory, and all of you.<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> We assure you, our valued customers, that this matter will be resolved favorably and that we stand 100% behind our products and our legal rights to offer them on the Ning platform. We ask for your patience and understanding this morning while we attempt to obtain any information at all from Ning. </p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">We are now attempting to get Ning to at least answer our emails or phone calls, but to no avail. They have removed not only WidgetLaboratory, but also our personal websites on Ning (including Trikepilot.com), which further demonstrates an ulterior motive, as that site was about flying trikes and had nothing to do with WidgetLaboratory whatsoever. We have the means and the method to bring this matter into the public light should Ning not immediately reconsider this somewhat short-sighted action this morning. They have not harmed WidgetLaboratory alone, they have (most importantly) directly and intentionally harmed ALL OF YOU and your business endeavors, as most of you have built your business sites utilizing our products and Ning.<br /></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Please refer back to this page for more updates as the situation progresses.You can also follow the Ning Network Creator's Forum for more information and to voice your opinion directly to Ning at this <a href="http://networkcreators.ning.com/forum/topic/show?id=492224%3ATopic%3A315367&page=4#comments"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LINK</span></a>.<br /></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Spencer Forman</p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">CEO and Co-Founder</p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Widgetlaboratory.com </p>WidgetLaboratoryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03777012501819617859noreply@blogger.com31