What is a Mashup, Anyway?

This past Thursday evening, I was giving a presentation on how technology/the web has advanced since the “PC era” and how we got to this age of Twitter, Facebook, Cloud Computing and awesome mobile applications.

During this presentation, a member of the group asked me to explain what a mashup was (because it was on my slide) and thankfully I had a URL (padmapper.com)  coupled with a funny story (the developer and I became email pen pals when I asked him to add a new city to the app so my friend could find an apartment) on hand — but it made me realize that to a majority of the population, it’s pretty confusing.

A Mashup combines multiple sources of information and displays it in a single web page or application. The easiest (and sometimes most useful!) example mashes together GoogleMaps and something else.

Plan a wine tour (saves a lot of Googling) with Wines and Times. Find where you live (or where you want to go) and see what’s around so you can start sniffing, swirling, and tasting some vino.

Track your package as it’s moves across the map. BoxOh: Type in your tracking number and watch your package travel from it’s origin to it’s destination (you!). Mashes together FedEx/UPS/USPS data and GoogleMaps.

Find Free Internet in your city with HotSpotr: Mashes together a list of free WiFi hotspots and displays over GoogleMaps.

Sometimes, when you’re passionate about something, you just have to share it. Henceforth the birth of a new monthly post – techyness’ monthly crushes.  They may or may not be of the techy variety, but that’s what keeps it interesting.

1) Google Wave. Yes, I have it. Be jealous. he is.

2) Oolong Tea Shot via ito en teas: Magical. And if you buy an entire case @ Whole Foods, you get 10% off. bonus.

3) Information Mashups: Can it get better than a bunch of information displayed visually?

Probably not. Check out trendsmap, real-time twitter trends on a map; spell with flickr, a web app that spells your name with flickr photos (who would have guessed it?).

4) You by Crocs Heels: Most comfortable shoes, ever. And yes, crocs makes these (people always ask me). And these are on their way to me :)

5) Piano Bars. I visited two in the matter of a few weeks (one in Austin and the second in Houston). Sheer entertainment. Especially when college rivalries get involved, and people spend all their money to represent in front of a crowd.

6) American Apparel. Found the houston store while exploring the area for good coffee shops.