Software / Services

Flickr Plants an App Garden

The app concept continues to grow: photo social-networking site Flickr has announced an App Garden where developers can show off their Flickr-friendly wares.

Similar Articles:

Flickr has had an open Application Programming Interface (API) since 2004, allowing developers to create applications that interact with the site. The App Garden provides an organized place for these homegrown creations to thrive and find new audiences. App designers can obtain a key, get to work right away, and then publish their apps. An app can be a free-standing Website, a program for your desktop machine, or even software for your smartphone.

All the apps are tagged for easy searching and the site is tidy and easy to navigate. Existing applications already run the gamut, allowing Flickr users to view, manage, and play with content in a variety of new ways. For example, there is the very functional Mobile Fotos, which is a browser and uploader for the iPhone; among the myriad of photo viewing apps is Flickriver, which generates a seamless stream of images against a black background; and Picnik gives Flickr regulars a Web-based way to edit photos and add effects.

There has been no shortage of speculation and outright condemnation of Apple for its opaque app approval process. In the case of Flickr's App Garden, however, there is no formal review and approval. Flickr does ask that developers comply with their community guidelines and copyright restrictions, but Flickr takes no responsibility for third-party apps. Indeed, when you click on an app in the garden, you leave the site and get a pop-up alert before reaching the app's own Website.

I'd expect the App Garden to grow in leaps and bounds (though perhaps not quite as fast Apple's App Store, which has already reached the astounding milestone of 100,000 available apps). Application ecosystems will probably continue to multiply going forward, as there's no shortage of late-night programmers with big dreams--just as there's no dearth of users who like to play around with apps, especially when the price is free.

Sponsored Resource: Do-it-yourself guide to home networking.
Sponsored Resource: How to choose the right server for your business.
Sponsored Resource: How to protect your PCs and servers in minutes.

Comments

Stellar Tech Deals

Don't miss out on great deals from around the web.

Subscribe to the Bargain Bulletin

Business News Daily

Get the latest technology news that's important to you and your business, fresh seven days a week.

Best Prices on Groupware

Latest in Business Center Blogs

Security Alert - February 14, 2012 1:56 PM
Microsoft Says 'Happy Valentine's Day' with Nine Security Bulletins As expected, Microsoft has released nine security bulletins today. Security researchers and experts offer guidance on which updates are the most urgent.
Simply Business - February 14, 2012 12:19 PM
Sync Your Outlook Data Among Multiple PCs Astonsoft's EZOutlookSync makes simple work of synchronizing your contacts, calendars, notes, e-mail, and more. And you can test-drive it free for 30 days.
Linux Line - February 14, 2012 10:28 AM
Five Good Reasons to Download LibreOffice 3.5 Targeting power users, this new release of the free, open source office productivity suite is built to be 'cleaner, leaner, and more feature-rich'.
Net Work - February 14, 2012 9:37 AM
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Doomed by Price? If the leaked pricing for the Galaxy Tab 2 turns out to be true, the poor tablet is doomed to fizzle before it even launches.
Linux Line - February 14, 2012 8:39 AM
Six Ways to Show Your Love for Free Software Today Valentine's Day is also 'I Love Free Software Day,' according to the Free Software Foundation Europe, and there are many ways you can take part.
Net Work - February 14, 2012 7:45 AM
Microsoft India Store a Victim of Poor Data Security, Not Hackers Customer data from the online Microsoft Store in India was compromised by hackers, but the blame lies with shoddy data security practices.