Widgets Lab » Widgets Lab

Widgets Lab is back!

Derek Anderson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:00:06 +0000

First of all, I want to say Thanks to Ming!

When all else had failed and I had pretty much given up hope, Ming stepped in to save the day.

Back story:
For the last three plus months you may have noticed some intermittent server issues with Widgets Lab. These were due in large part to the ceaseless efforts of the spammers of the world. See, I felt confident that I had a handle on the spam comments because I was using the Askimet plug-in for Word Press.
Askimet is the cats meow…except for one small aspect that I had overlooked. Askimet saved every spam comment that it had ever blocked. This is just shy of 3 years worth of comment spam totalling 1,784,437 actual spam comments.

In mid to late August my web host told me that I needed to find a new hosting company. This is fine. So I looked around, asked a few people and settled on HostMonster.com . I set up the account, viewed some tutorials for transferring/migrating a Word Press blog to a new host and jumped in.

The fun starts.
I went ahead and created the Word Press Export file that they tell you to create. Then I went to the new “Vanilla” Word Press installation I had created on the new host and tried to import my Word Press (.xml) file that I had just created. I noticed that there was a 2mb limit on the upload. I thought this was strange because there was no displayed limit on the creation of the export file. I found out that there is a limit. (at least for me there was) The file terminated at 23mb (ouch!)
I obviously could not upload a 23mb file when there is a 2mb upload limit. So I used the HostMonster Live Chat feature. The tech was kind enough to edit a .ini file to allow for the 23mb file…thank you!
When uploading was done and I could log into the Word Press dashboard…I discovered I was missing almost an entire year’s posts. (Nov. 08 to present) time to freak out!

FAIL

Most of what happened the next 24 hours is a blur. I tried every idea that came to me to fix this issue. Nothing worked out. I even decided to pick up with what I had left and just start posting again. So the first thing I did was to verify which plug-ins were operating that I absolutely needed and then I went and deleted all them pesky spam comments…something broke.

Widgets Lab is “Jailed”
Whether it was activating a plugin or deleting the spam comments or something I’ll never know…Widgets Lab was put into whats called “Jailed” by the server/host. Jailed means the website is eating way more computer resources (from the server) that its fair share. So it is then restricted to only consume its fair share which slows down the site to an absolute crawl. This of course, was unacceptable. So…I opted to just start from the very beginning. Zero posts…only the Widgets Lab theme was available.

Ming to the rescue

Ming, the author of Stickiwidgets.com noticed something was up with Widgets Lab and emailed me about it. I told him the story of the failed export/import and suspected quantity of spam hosing up the works. He offered to see if he could help in some way. I of course agreed. (remember…all hope was lost at this point)

Ming required access to the various backups, new and old servers etc… and to my absolute and utter amazement, he restored Widgets Lab to its former glory. In fact, I believe it has never been faster. All posts, pages, comments (minus 1.7 million spam) images, themes, etc. What really blew me away was that it only took him a couple of hours tops to get it all done.

WOW! Thank You Ming

Visit Ming over at Stickiwidgets.com , I’m sure he would like to see you.
stickiwidgets.com

Guest Posts In Widgets Lab

Avatar X — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:33:00 +0000

Not as often as the request of coverage, are the questions about if we let Guest Posts in Exchange of Link Backs. Thinking on that, just as with Sponsored Posts. We want to offer a solution to that question.

Yes, we are OK with Guest Posts In Widgets Lab.

We already had the nice Tom Sprows series of posts in How To Build A Widget from thinking it up to deploying it. a must read by the way.

So we want you to send your Guest Posts if you got something to share that goes along with these Guidelines:

1.-Opinion Pieces

Experience in Widget Development, Marketing or Advertising?. got something interesting to say or to recall?.Â write it on.

2.-How To

Got insight on developing widgets or want to share what you consider should be a good practice while doing so?. Write it on

3.-Perspective

Got a Widget Startup (even if it is a one man band) and want to share your thoughts on this niche?. Write it on.

That is what can write about. the only restriction is that we reserve the right to edit it and that it should not pass from 1000 words for any reason.

In Exchange for it we offer the following:

1.-Link Back on the Top and Bottom of the Post as it is introduced(top) and disclosed(bottom)

2.-Your Link will get into a LinkRoll to be put in the sidebar of the blog

3.-Further Coverage will be taken in consideration based on a case by case scenario (a widget we like or find interesting, etc)

If interested just write to me about it:

AvatarX@live.com

Follow Widgets Lab On Twitter

Avatar X — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

There is no point in avoiding that Twitter is finally mainstream enough to be taken seriously. with that in mind and to make things easier to all of our readers we are now active on twitter:

http://twitter.com/WidgetsLab

In there you can follow the site updates and you can also leave tweets via replies or direct messages as it will be also out main Social Messaging gateway, and gateway of interaction beyond the site, and E-mail now that the site is back on a Daily Schedule.

You can also follow me independently if you want to talk on anything else beyond the topics and matters of Widgets Lab at

@AvatarX

Google Friend Connect and WidgetsLab

Derek Anderson — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:59:04 +0000

Its pretty amazing how popular Widgetslab is with the Google Friend Connect crowd.

We have just passed the “200″ friend mark. (and still climbing!) Heck, less than 1 month ago we were just clearing 100. Now I realize this isn’t crazy 33 million hits a month like some other sites out there. But it is a sign of growth.

In this economic slowdown, Widgetslab provides a valuable service. 99% of what we write about are widgets that are freely available. These widgets/services add functionality and value to your web presence at an extremely affordable price…FREE!

Not only are we helping you the “consumer” of these mini apps, ads, games…etc. We are also helping to promote those that are behind these amazing bits of code. Each post is unsolicited in the respect that no one is offering to pay us to write about their widgets.
Don’t get me wrong…we receive tons of emails requesting that we check out various widgets and we usually post about those that we feel will add something useful for our readers.