"comScore Widget Metrix" Service Flawed

comScore today announced the launch of comScore Widget Metrix, a new service to track the usage of widgets across the Web. comScore currently tracks Web widgets, which are data files that can be embedded into a site’s HTML code and are typically displayed in a small viewing pane on the site.  They are most often used to display customized or personalized content on a Web site, such as to share photos or music recommendations, and are commonly found on blogs, social networking sites and other personalized pages. 

The problem is that comScore defines widgets as embedded flash (.swf) objects. This does not include HTML and desktop widgets. Sites like Yourminis, Widgetbox, Pageflakes etc. are predominantly html based widgets and even include widget tools that allow you to build your own widgets from rss content.

With that in mind its clear that Web widgets represent a huge market opportunity – the Flash widgets alone reach over 117 million people!