According to TechCrunch, Typepad is launching new blog widgets, which enable bloggers to add features such as search engines, music lists and feed directories, to the sidebar of their blogs more easily. SixApart, which runs the Typepad service, has also opened up its API to allow third parties to develop more widgets. This comes hard on the heels of the launch of WordPress Widgets too.
These initiatives are aimed at lowering the technical barrier to entry for bloggers, and enabling them to customize their blogs without too much difficulty.