SEATTLE - Would you be willing to create a Facebook poll, quiz or game if you had a chance to share in the advertising revenue generated by that application?
The people behind Seattle startup AppBank, which launched this week, are banking on it. They help members of Facebook, the world's biggest social media network, create applications for those quizzes and polls that your Facebook friends are no doubt sending you.
There's no need to know how to write computer code. AppBank gets you started with templates. And if your application is accepted, you share in the advertising profits with AppBank. One creator has made close to $800 so far, but it depends on how many of your apps get approved.
Co-founder Fred Hsu said that keeping up with the news can be profitable.
"We encourage people to sort of ride the momentum of recent events, it's what's going to spread the most, it's what's on the minds of friends of friends, and spreads into their networks, and we've seen stuff that has gone out to millions of users in just days, so we encourage users to use the news to their advantage," he said.
Tuesday was AppBank's first day online. They signed up more than 2,000 creators and more than 420,000 game players.
The Window Channel
All that pressure to make money off of social media can make you want to chill out in front of a large-screen TV, watching high-definition video of relaxing scenery.
That's the premise behind the Window Channel. Based in Edmonds, it provides what executive Jim Wilmer calls an ambient, scenic video and auditory environment, which basically means static, soothing shots from around the world, all shot on location by HD cameras manned by Window Channel staffers and freelancers.
Right now the only place to see this is hotels, resorts, and hospitals. Window Channel has a couple of clients right now but that number will grow substantially November 1, thanks to a deal signed with the Hotel Network, which is in more than 1 million upscale hotels and resorts in North America.
But the ultimate goal is to have a broadcast channel airing this video and negotiations are underway with Comcast.
VholdR
A quick update on the company VholdR, which makes the contour wearable video camera for extreme sports junkies.
The company announced this week it is launching another version of the camera. This one shoots 1080p video, the highest-definition HD resolution, and it's configurable, meaning you can adjust it to any HD setting, along with contrast, lighting options, etc. It sells for $329 and will be available in mid to late October.
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