Is Flagr a Mashup?
Posted by Dave Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:26:00 GMT
So almost everyone refers to Flagr as a mashup, but I beg to differ... A mashup, by definition, is a service that combines at least two services...diggdot.us is a good example. So why do people call flagr a mashup? Is it because we use a google map? If so, Google maps API use has become synomymous with a mashup, no matter what the case. In other words, the word "mashup" has lost it's original meaning. It's simply a loose buzzword, like web 2.0 and ajax. I'd like to hear it from you. Do you think Flagr is a mashup?
Definitely not. Of course Flagr uses other sources and is not a primary web 2.0. applications like flickr or google maps but is not a parasite just showing others' content in the new interface.
“Mashup� is defined as a hybrid of services. Flagr as whole creates a “service� that was unavailable before, but it is created from many tools. These happen to be used on other services, like the map tool of Google Local. Google Maps is a tool and not a service. Is LAMP[R] (rails) a mashup?
No mashup. Dave's right: people see Google maps and reflexively think it's a combo app like housingmaps.com. On the flip side, I could see a mashup of flagr and other existing apps. But that's another question.