Wired.com editor-in-chief Evan Hansen has reported in an interview with Foliomag.com that Wired.com is looking at launching a series of widgets that they believe could change the way the site approaches content and is a direct challenge to Google.

Wired.com are looking at a Web reputation ranking tool - similar to one that Google recently launched - which takes the user data from big social networks using open API, analyses it, and produces a list-style ranking broadcast across Wired's widget network.

"We're trying to one-up Google," Hansen says. "We want to talk to a bigger pool, and have a broader reach."

Wired.com are also allowing their developers to spend 10 percent of their time on "anything they want." Hansen wants to introduce a culture of experimentation and inspiration.

Hansen also reports that the company is looking at launching a number of new blogs on subjects such as extreme sports. "No one really covers that area well." Hansen says, "It would also open up new advertising for us, sports drinks, things like that."

Source. Foliomag.com