Start a Party mashup

Today Microsoft released it's Windows Live Contacts Gadget, along with a cool Start a Party mashup demo.

I was fortunate enough to be involved in both of these projects and am excited to see them finally ship!

Windows Live Sidebar Gadgets?

When I run a gadget locally (i.e. and not within the Live.com environment), a "View Source" reveals something very interesting.

The TITLE element is set to "Windows Live Sidebar Gadget" and the binding type is "Start.SidebarGadgetApp".

Hmmm... Could this be a hint at things to come? I've tried to run Live.com "web" gadgets in Vista Sidebar in the past, but unfortunately the public Beta 2 5384 doesn't allow iframes. It looks like the Sidebar team will probably lift that restriction so that "Windows Live Sidebar Gadgets" can run.

New Live.com Code Drop

On Aug 9th, the Live.com team released new code that dramatically different under the hood. It is meant to unify the "Live Framework" JavaScript that runs on Live.com and now on Live Spaces.

As you can expect, there has been quite a bit of fallout and many gadgets now fail or look messed up. Live Clock is a classic example. It was written during the dawn on Live.com (November 2005) and relies on some "internal only" variables. Well, wouldn't you know it, but these variables are NOT in the new code drop. A new Live Clock will be released soon.

It also doesn't run on Live Spaces as module.GetBindingParams() is not implemented.

Live Clock on the new Gallery

The world famous Live Clock gadget has been submitted to the new gallery.live.com. I am now eligible for a limited edition plaque! Wooooo hoooooo! Pictures of the plaque will be posted the second it comes in the mail.

For the next few weeks we are offering a special incentive to qualified contributors that have already created a Gadget on Microsoft Gadgets (in English and for use in the US, UK, or Australia). If your item is accepted on the Windows Live Gallery site by August 25th, you will receive a special limited edition Windows Live Gallery thank you plaque to display proudly on your desk.

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