There are a few sites out there that let you aggregate your entire online presence into a single place, but for the most part they offer little control over the way your information is actually presented. Today sees the launch of Scrapplet, a powerful new website/platform based entirely on JavaScript that allows users to design pages combining all of this information to their liking using a WYSIWYG interface. The site also offers a dizzying array of options – so many, in fact, that the site could be used by experienced developers to create pages that go far beyond showing off your interests and favorite photos.
CEO Steve Repetti stresses that Scrapplet isn’t another social network – rather, it’s a place for you to compile all of your information from sites across the web and present it however you’d like. The site gives users a blank canvas, allowing them to import information from sites including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, RSS feeds, and a number of other sources. You can also embellish your profile with music, embedded videos, and images.
Once you’ve imported all of your content, you can drag and drop each item wherever you’d like in your canvas. Each item also has a properties menu that allows you to customize how it should behave (for example, you can determine if it should have a border or if it should “stick” to another item on your canvas, or if should move independently when it’s dragged). More advanced options include a Timer, Rollover, and OnClick actions that allow you to execute commands accordingly.
To novice computer users, Scrapplet’s wide array of available options can be daunting at first. Immediately after registering, I was presented with a page full of default widgets, asking me to add a profile picture, configure my guestbook, list a few of my favorite things, and so on – there was so much there that I simply didn’t know where to start. Fortunately the site offers a listing of Scrapplets created by other users, which gives an idea of what’s available. Repetti says that while there is a learning curve, once you’ve got the basics down it becomes much more intuitive (as proof as its wide accessibility, he directed me to this canvas, which was created by a user named Rockin’ Grandma). Still, it would be nice if the site offered a better tutorial, or allowed users to go into ‘Easy’ mode by eliminating advanced options entirely.
Besides appealing to more casual users, Scrapplet also has the potential to become very popular for businesses and experienced developers. Because users are free to append their canvases with extra code, developers can enhance their Scrapplet pages, leveraging the platform to quickly build powerful web apps. For an example, check out this sample Gallery Scrapplet, which showcases some of the site’s layering and lighting effects in a virtual art gallery.
Repetti is a member of the board of the DataPortability project, so it comes as little surprise that Scrapplet canvases can be exported to a number of widespread formats, and it’s also easy to share to other social online services. The site also readily supports logins through OpenID, as well as other sites like Facebook. Scrapplet is going to be free for most users, who will probably be fine with only a few canvas pages. Users with more than 7 canvas pages or who want to present their canvases on a custom domain will need to become paid members, with memberships beginning at around $2.95 per month.
Are they using ExtJS framework? (http://extjs.co...products/extjs/)
Nope: using http://www.xWinLib.com, created by http://www.radwebtech.com
Useless.
They should drop the ‘S’.
I use the iMacros firefox addon to compile all the data I need from sites across the web.
No 3rd party website required, and all data is stored in a text file on my PC.
This reminds me of another site builder (the name of which escapes me) that uses ajax/javascript to enable stuff to be arbitrarily dragged around the screen. It’s kind of annoying how you’re able to drag and drop content within someone elses page – essentially screwing up the design – is this intentional, and if so, why?
Chris — being able to move stuff around on someone else’s page is an option that is up to the page owner…they could have just as easily made it so that nothing moved (or only the things they wanted!).. regardless, it would only have affected your instance, not the page itself. All about choice and empowerment…
I think the site builder you’re talking about is Yahoo. I’ve tried it, and it’s ok for the beginner that wants to create an online presence; however, I don’t know that the experienced web designer will have much use for it. But I could be wrong.
The design looks suspiciously like Facebook.
Bill, Scrapplet was originally built as an extension to the Facebook platform, however it was clear early on that it had implications way beyond Facebook. The “windowing” library (www.xwinlib.com) allows me to use any windowing theme that I want. In face, Scrapplet has a window option that lets you embed xp, vista, mac, and even linux-styled windows within the web page…AND, the source is provided to the window theme library for you to create your own….
Isn’t Synthasite somewhat similar? You can embed any javascript from any service, and other popular services are supported even without the explicit embed. Likewise, Typepad allows pages to be composited with many services. I know that this service is somewhat different, but how?
Synthasite is cool… and you could create something with their service and then drag and drop it into Scrapplet as a portion of a larger “virtual” web site… and that’s just getting started. Integrate youe existing sites, social networks and media, images and videos, as well as widgets, gadgets, and mashups… and you’re starting to get there… Scrapplet doesn’t ask you to give up ANY of the good stuff you are already enjoying elsewhere — its providing a place where it can all come together (and play nice too!).
The Jessica Alba 30 second thing on the frint page (and every other page) is hard to find because the link doesn’t work anywhere — you’re going to have a LOT of 404’s I’m sure… but, when looking for Jessica, I know no bounds and so… here’s the actual link…
http://www.scra...JessicaAlba.htm
She’s HOT!
Thanks for the heads up, Paul. The URL is fixed!
Are there some community college classes I can take on how to use this thing?
Jessica Alba page makes it look like the thing might have potential, but I think I could code that page before I could figure out how to make it with their builder.
There is such a thing as too many choices. It will be interesting to see how big the audience is that can actually hang with this high degree of functionality.
I found it very confusing and hard to get used to. Setting up new “scraps” was not very intuitive either. I finally got annoyed and clicked “x”.
Wow, this is kind of slick. I like the advanced properties tab under everything. it reminds me of autocad or old vba, only new and fresh.
I wonder, has there been any successful start with the word “crap” in it’s name?
Is there an option to host my Scrapplet site with my chosen web host?
@luc: Your Scrapplets can be embedded directly into websites, blogs, wikis, and more — and their are account options for assigning your domain to your Scrapplet site (and removing any ads / page headers). You can check out the business area for additional options: http://www.scra...ontent/business
we got something similar going at OblinQ.com.
But we are targetting Social Recommendations, so you can make holiday cards of products, places,photos,videos you like and each of the items is individually clickable.
you can also earn money from your virtual showcase.
omg! i hope i won´t get eye cancer after visiting this site!
this really hurts!
Steve Repetti,
I want to create a new start & home page in the near future. I am using PageFlakes at the moment and I have Netvibes as my main RSS reader. I am thinking of using Viviti as a website creator. Could you compare and contrast this tool with yours?
All the Best,
Martin Lindeskog – American in Spirit.
Gothenburg, Sweden.
http://Martin.Lindeskog.name
@martin, I am certainly no expert on Viviti so I can only offer high level comments. Viviti has received some good press regarding their ease in building professionally looking websites. While you can do this as well with Scrapplet, Scrapplet’s focus is on the following three sectors: (1) users seeking to extend and enhance their existing web presence, (2) users seeking to consolidate and aggregate their larger web presence into a virtual web site, and (3) users seeking a platform for the creation, hosting, and distribution of web applications and mashups.
To that extent, you could easily take Page Flakes, Net Vibes, or Viviti and embed all or part of them within your Scrapplet environment. Without understanding your specific needs I would be hesitant to recommend any one thing over the other and would encourage your hands on in each to help determine the best match for you. Hope this helps.
– Steve
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