OStatic

Ever heard of the BackType API? It's a free and open API that allows you to build mini applications around HTTP GET and POST requests. As TechCrunch notes, there is a very useful new applet built around it called ConvoTrack that allows anyone to instantly see what people are saying online about particular articles, blog posts and the like. I've been using it in conjunction with sites I visit frequently and articles from online writers that I like, and it's definitely a quick way to leap out of the localized comments found on blogs and many sites, and get a much larger picture of what people are talking about. It's easy to try it out, too, with no software installation needed. Here's how.