Ok so thats not a cool post title but I need to get this thought out of my head.
Why is Google Maps or Flickr at the center of every cool mashup ever made? My answer: because when you mashup you are gluing together components and usually making a very thin pseudo-application. Since Google Maps and Flickr is such an awesome applications/component your +1% of coolness rides the coat tails.
Programmable Web has a little pie chart showing the breakdown of its mashup index. Together Mapping (40%) and Photo (10%) make up 50% of mashups today.
I wish there we other compelling mashable components. I’m thinking of making one and would love to talk it out with a friendly collaborator that can tell me how stupid I am. Let me know if you have (or could formulate) opinions around mashups, rich graphics, infoporn and charting – especially if you think Google Charts is a nice first step.
