Things that makes me go Hmmm…
Searchme, is a new visual search engine with clustering. I always looked at google and search engine as a browser that takes me wherever i need to go. Sometimes I even type the name of the site i want to go to in the search field and not in the address bar, it’s easier and faster. Searchme seems to take this one step ahead and become a better “browser” than google (if the search result are good).
here is a demo
via: boomtown
I just finished watching the Zuckerberg keynote at SXSW 2008, captured by Nick ONiell. I was so curious to watch it and to see why this keynote was described as infamous but, to tell you the truth I think Sarah Lacy did a great job and provided a good show. Watching it remotely, on my computer, and not as a part of the crowed that whisper comments while it is happens might be the reason. This is the biggest difference between SOCIAL/LIVE and VOD. I was also surprised that not many attendees uploaded a full video of the keynote that day.
A powerful way to make people interact and connect in and outside facebook is a great goal, mission and vision but my personal view as a facebook user is that there must be something else.
Facebook communication tools and news feeds are soo great but, since most of them supply basic, clean and efficient features, they do not replace my email usage or other core communication tools like my IM. The applications are also great but most of them are noisy and..well not really efficiene or entertaining. This made me ignore the invitations to install them. I think and hope that facebooks move with the musician profiles and music player will take the to the place that users will have more reasons to use their platform: to be entertained for example. I also hope that the “facebook desktop” utopia will create full, rich communication tools that will not only be efficient but also will replace or work seamlessly with the current standard communication tools.
Anyway. Good (long) keynote.
The IOC Blogging Guidelines just fell into my mailbox. It was clear to me the the Olympic committee must adjust it’s rules to the emerging world of social media, blogging, photo sharing and video sharing and to use it as an advantage. In the first part of the doc, the Olympic committee opened it’s door to the world of bloggers by stating:
“The IOC does not consider that blogs by Accredited Persons, in accordance with these Guidelines, will compromise Paragraph 3 of Bye-law to Rule 49 of the Olympic Charter which states that “Only those persons accredited as media may act as journalists, reporters or in any other media capacity”
Here it is:
The second part of the doc proved that they just don’t get it. The door was locked and locked again..and again by stating:
“No Sound or Moving Images of the Games | No Still Pictures”
There is no doubt that they just cannot stop it. Millions of Chinese with camera phones will make this year Olympic games the biggest UGC covered sport event ever. Thinking that these user generated videos, pictures and sounds will hurt the traditional media is childish. The right way was to use those uber connected Olympic visitors in an exciting and engaging ways to become citizen reporters.
Any thoughts?
Here is the original Doc:
blogging-guidelines-beijing-final-clean-vis-eng-06-02-2008.pdf
The bubble is flat. In 2008, the the only advantage in developing web apps in the US is the marketing and funding advantage - being close to the web 2.0 clique in the silicon valley. In huge emerging markets like China and Russia quick and smart entrepreneurs are taking existing, trendy apps and localize them. Is this a blocker for the facebooks and bebos? It might be if they will gain momentum and will adjust their features and content to the local culture.
Here are the cloned facebooks of China and Russia:
http://hainei.com/
http://vkontakte.ru/
Bradley Horowitz and Salim Ismail are leaving Yahoo brickhouse - Yahoo’s elite products teams. This is just few days after we visited there during the Israelwebtour.
via Techcrunch
The first ever LIVE UGC content for cellular phones is available at m.blogtv.com / It supports LIVE streaming video, multiple sources of hosts, co-host and chat feed /
Hello world! We are officially announcing our newest and coolest breakthrough achievement:
1. Starting today we are providing LIVE interactive video feeds for mobile handsets (http://m.blogtv.com ). For the first time mobile handset owners will be able to watch User Generated content, happening LIVE! The live content that is being produced and broadcasted on blogTV.com is available for free, without any installation of software, for all major mobile carriers, worldwide.
Here is my short demo of blogTV on mobile phones:
“ON-AIR EVERYWHERE”, is the vision that inspired us into taking mobile initiative. LIVE content that is happening now should be available everywhere and with minimal technical barriers. Our mission is to find new, innovative and convenient ways in which to access creative outlets, thereby making it simple to both watch and broadcast life, LIVE, in all its glory.
We see this as a great way for content creators to distribute their content and for the Entertainment, music industry and other brands to reach their audience wherever they are, Live!
Type m.blogTV.com on your mobile browser to watch live streams. Here is a list of mobile phones that support our service,
Yo! after 24 hours of traveling from Israel to Palo Alto and lots of caffeine, I recorded this video. I’ll try to do recorded conversations with interesting people during our stay here and to do LIVE stuff at blogTV.com Stay tuned.
Nir.
So I arrived to Palo alto after 24 hours of travel and the first thing I did was, of course, go the apple store at Stanford shopping center and caress the new macbook air. It is amazing. So slick so thin but for now, I’m keeping my macbook pro.
The Israel Web Tour is an Internet competition organized to bring 15 Israeli startups to Silicon Valley. CEO’s of the chosen companies will be flown to the US for exclusive meetings with the Valley’s hot startups, VC’s and potential partners. The Tour will also include a Public Showcase and culminate in an evening soiree. (More here)
90 Israeli companies applied, blogTV is one of the chosen ones. The tour starts on 2/4 and the highlight of the week will be a public showcase on 2/6 hosted at Microsoft where each start-up will present to the industry and press. On this showcase we are going to announce two, extraordinary announcements so stay tuned. If you are planning to be there, come and say hi.
I’ll try to do some blogging while there and write about some of the interesting panels and companies that we are about to meet. Here are some of the highlights:
- Seeding the Global Web: Discussion with Private Investors
- Meeting Ben Ling & Net Jacobson at Facebook
- Meeting Michael Arrington
- Term Sheet 101 with partners at WSGR
- A google complex Tour
- A visit at Yahoo(soft?) Brickhouse
and many more…
I'm Nir Ofir. Social Media and the way it transforms our culture excites me and keeps me busy. I'm in the process of launching my new startup company iamnews.com - Open newsroom, powered by you. In the past I co founded blogTV.com , and created blogDay. I'm always involved in other exciting UGC & web communities projects. This is my blog.
|
FriendFeed
