AlertThingy = FriendFeed API Plus Adobe Air

Web strategy firm Howard Baines has just released to the public their FriendFeed API application named AlertThingy. It uses Adobe AIR to run as a desktop application and basically shows you whatever is in your friendfeed on your desktop. That's about it. I won't even ask how they will monetize it (see below) or how FriendFeed will monetize themselves because it's the same issue as Twitter has. It seems everyone loves FriendFeed these days.

This is a smart idea and more Web agencies should be creating simple Web apps built on other platforms to keep their agency top of mind. While the traditional Howard Baines client may not give a hoot about FriendFeed, it can be a great sales strategy. It can also help build very valuable inbound links like the one above.

I noticed that the customization is very limited. For example, the screenshot below is the smallest you can make the window. There are no color selections or transparency settings and when minimized in Windows, you can't click to bring it back, you are forced to right click and select Show.

Update: NicoleSimon notes on Twitter: #alertthingy: does not use my "hide" settings, does not have the links, colors hurt my eyes, hate opaque - ping me again with version 5.0.

Sobees launched a FriendFeed app last week and you can read our initial Sobees review as well. You don't need the full Sobees installation to use it. Here is an example: