Tuesday, March 28th, 2006
Touchstone: Web Attention on the Desktop
After our recent story on NetJaxer, Chris Saad from Touchstone alerted us that he’s working on a similar concept.
(T)he idea of having a client-side heads-up-display to web-based apps is one that is a passion of mine.
I just wanted to let you know we have a similar solution (and a very firm strategy) that I’d love to get your feedback on!
You can find out more about it at www.touchstonegadget.com
From the manifesto
In a Web 2.0 world (where an increasing number of applications are moving to the web) Touchstone moves beyond ‘RSS as news’ and offers an opportunity for web-based applications to reach the user via an all-purpose client-side dashboard - even when the browser is closed.
With Touchstone, you can control and filter the flow of alerts from your company CRM application, the latest news from your favourite blogs and the progress of your downloads in one interface - an interface that could eventually follow you from device to device.
As with NetJaxer, it’s early days for Touchstone, which is currently in a limited-distribution alpha phase.
I was involved in the first round of alpha testing and I can tell you these guys have their act together - it’s a very exciting idea and pulled off well!
:o)
I agree wholeheartedly, Cassandra. I was also one of the “lucky few” and was simply amazed at the possibilities. Im very much looking forward to the other alert widgets apparently built into the next alpha.
Go touchstone!
Look’s promising. Shame I’m not invited (hint). :(
Looked very interesting. I think touchstone needs to get some self-discipline to stay under the radar until they have a true “beta” product ready. Why? Their definition of their jargon - “rinsed” sounds to me like they are giving users the ability to create “googlets” or their own search engine rules. Which seems cool. But if google and others get a hold of that too soon, it gives them time to respond with their own product offering.
Hi everyone - thank you all for your very generous response.
I am glad you liked the last testing round Cassandra and Billy. Joe if you would like to have an invite all you have to do is email me ;)
Dave - I appreciate your comments. It is always a Danger that Google or one of the other players will steal our ideas and out pace us on the execution.
It’s an unfortunate reality that we have to deal with. Hopefully they will choose to work with us rather than squash us.
I do remember a product (seemingly very similar to this) in the netscape 4 days (as in 99/00) that just ended up being annoying. If I can remember the name I’ll post it later (apologies), so good luck with this one.
I do remember a product (seemingly very similar to this) in the netscape 4 days (as in 99/00) that just ended up being annoying. If I can remember the name I’ll post it later (apologies), so good luck with this one…
OMG what a great time to be alive!!!!
Kiss your browser goodbye: The radical future of media beyond the Web
Hi all. I’ve a tech news junkie with severe info overload. Sounds like Touchstone is just what I need.
I would love to try it out — anyone have an invitation to spare?
Thanks in advance.
jd
Does anyone around here still have an invite? Would very much like to try Touchstone out.