Flikzor

Tried to use the widget. There are a few annoyances. For one thing, it’s annoying that they’ve not used code to solve the problem of IE requiring the user to click the control once before being able to interact with it (let’s not start a “so use FF debate” here.)

Worse, though, I did click it, and it took me to the page to record. I did activate the Flash controls it prompted to enable my mic, and I recorded something brief. Sadly, after the record, the little pane it had opened went blank. I couldn’t tell if I’d left anything. I hit is “back to player” option, which took me back to record another.

I came back to this page and refreshed, and my comment does not show up. If there’s a lag (you or they have to approve it), they should really make that clear, as it instead leaves me wondering “did it work?” Most users will lose patience quickly, I fear.

Plus I can see most worrying that the option in the Flash popup to let it access their mic and camera is one that could be permanent, and they may fear that they’re still being recorded after they’re “done”. (Sure, I know that they are not, but most users?)

After typing these thoughts here (for other makeuseof readers to benefit), I will now offer them as well to the flikzor folks. Sounds promising, but indeed still clearly beta.

Thanks as always, though, for the effort and makeuseof.com!