ITGumbo: spicing IT up

Mark Hendrickson of TechCrunch posted about the Flash WYSIWYG editor, Sprout yesterday and included invites to use the beta version to the first 200 readers who signed up through a link on TechCrunch. So far, the general sentiment among those who have tested it out is that it is, in fact, very easy to make Websites and widgets (mini web-programs/gadgets on sites that users can interact with, such as weather boxes) among other things.

While Sprout is getting a lot of attention, it is not a new idea and already faces some direct competition. A few months ago, TechCrunch along with several Israeli-technology focused blogs posted about the Israel-based Flash WYSIWYG Web-based editor, Wix. At the time, Wix was still in stealth mode and didn't offer much information on its Website. If you go to the site now, however, most of its features are visible to viewers, and it is quite impressive. The site is still in beta, but anyone can sign up to receive more information and be invited in future beta invitation rounds.

Technology professionals should keep an eye on Sprout and Wix, as both sites can make creating and spreading widgets less time consuming and more cost-efficient. Adam Metz has posted a good overview of enterprise widgets and their benefits on his blog, MetzMash.

It should be interesting to see how these companies will do and how the enterprise industry will embrace and use their services.


Company Facts
Has been in beta since October 2007.

Giora Kaplan, Co-Founder.

Avishai Abrahami, Co-Founder.

Nadav Abrahami, Co-Founder.

Website: www.wix.com