Since our initial launch, TicketStumbler has included these nifty things called Microformats.  Microformats are basically small additions that can be made to existing HTML to give certain bits of mark-up special meaning.  For TicketStumbler, we use the hCalendar microformat to make it much faster and easier for you to add events to a calendar application.

Using Microformats

So, how do you use (”consume”) these microformats?  The easiest method for the time being is via browser plugins.  There are plugins for each major browser, which I’ll cover briefly below.

Firefox

The easiest plugin for Firefox is the Operator plugin.  Once enabled, visiting the homepage, search page, ticket listings page, and any other page which contains one or more events, the toolbar will show something like the following:

As you can see, it enables export and adding of events to multiple sites.  So, with two clicks, you could add an event to your Google Calendar, for example.

Safari

For Safari, we have the aptly named Safari Microformats plugin.  This plugin allows you to export an event to iCal:

A very minimalist, yet powerful plugin.

Internet Explorer

Perhaps the most interesting plugin comes from Microsoft, though: Oomph.  Not only is Oomph an Internet Explorer plugin, it is also a toolkit that allows you to add Oomph to any site (which we plan to do in the future).  Here’s a screenshot of Oomph in action:

As you can see by the icons under the event, you can add the event to Outlook, Google Calendar, Yahoo Calendar, and others.  There is also a small (and unintuitive) “map” icon which will show the location of an event, if possible.

Summary

Microformats on TicketStumbler make it possible for a microformat-aware browser to export the event date, time, location, and name to various calendar services, so you don’t have to do it manually.  Just bought tickets to the game?  Jump back to the ticket listings page and add the game to your favorite calendar automatically.

We hope you enjoyed this Feature Spotlight.  We’ll be writing some more of these for other little-known but very useful features on the site.  Happy holidays!

As the title implies, we’ve added TicketCity back to the site, complete with direct links to checkout to save you time and frustration.  I hope everyone enjoys their holiday ritual of choice.  I will be returning briefly to Ohio, the source of all human woe*.

Also of possible note, you can now share and save ticket listings more easily using the “Share” button above the table:

*This phrase unceremoniously stolen from Jerry Holkins.

This week I managed to tear myself away from boring back-end work long enough to push out a new feature we’ve been wanting to get out practically since we launched:  Ticket Availability Checking.  Sometimes, between the time that we index a ticket listing and a user clicks on it, the tickets are bought.  In some cases this ends with the user looking at an error page or being sent back to the event listings on the partner site.  Now, instead, we check for current availability where possible so that we don’t send you on a wild goose chase.

I say, “where possible,” because not all providers support a way for us to check for ticket availability.  For those that do not provide a standard way, we often make up our own standard.  Unfortunately, sometimes that’s just not possible.  We apologize in advanced if you get sent to a page that doesn’t contain the tickets your heart so desires; we did our best, promise!

There is nothing you need to do to use this feature.  When you click on “Buy Tickets!” you will be sent to a page that quickly checks to make sure those tickets are available.  It will either send you on your way or implore you to close the window and try your luck again.  As always, please let us know how we can improve this new feature for the benefit of all mankind.

This post brought to you by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Honestly, I don’t even know where the weeks go anymore.

Recently, I’ve been working on some boring backend improvements to the site.  We’ve also done some planning and upfront work to improve local search, including zip code searching and much better geo-location (showing events near you rather than just in the same city / state) so look for those improvements soon.

Until next time… somebody buy me a calendar.  Preferrably with pictures of puppies.