techboard

Alltop Indexes Blogs Better

2009-06-17T11:07:00.004+01:00

Alltop is a popular attempt at Technorati 2.0 - i.e. how in W3's name do we sort through the bit piles that make up blog mountain. And boy is there a need. You see no one (who knows anything about the massively cluttered blogosphere) would disagree that one of the greatest challenges known to mankind is figuring out how to discover valuable and insightful blogs worth following. You know, not too many, not too few and enough to cover each of our range of interests.

Alltop's spin is to offer a virtual magazine rack and filing system so that we can quickly and easily scan blogs, choose the ones we like and set up a myAlltop dashboard of blogs and Websites we want to follow. Nice, if you have the time to wade through Alltop's thousands of magazines in the virtual rack. I think that they are onto something and yet missing something.

They are a good source for indexing, discovering and scanning blogs and content sites. What they seem to lack is a dashboard and filtering system. If they added reviews of top 10, top 50 sites per category by 'most visited' and 'most popular' that would be a start. Even most regularly updated would help. And imagine if they added to that a user review system for each blog. And how about an Alltop or Alltop-panel-of-experts list of the most interesting or valuable sites. Then they'd hook me. But maybe that's just me. Sometimes less can be more.

Innovatrs.com Launches Web Service for Entrepreneurs

2009-06-11T09:57:00.006+01:00

A new Internet service for entrepreneurs, Innovatrs.com, has just gone live. Being a first or second time entrepreneur is one of the harder career choices available to mankind. Richard Branson once wrote that entrepreneurs are modern day discoverers, requiring just as much grit, determination, skill and risk taking as any Columbus or Cook equivalent.

The problem is that even though entrepreneurship is more vital than ever to our global economy, there are few schools, tools, methods or systems for entrepreneurs. So how do we know how to be a successful entrepreneur? Developing the right idea, taking it to market effectively and building a valuable business from it. Often we don't.

Innovatrs aims to remedy this by offering entrepreneurs and innovation officers a one stop innovation methodology and start-up system, plus Web based consultancy and mentoring as well as a series of tools, tips, tricks and more. The service costs $250 per month which sounds reasonable and potentially more attractive than the piece meal alternatives.

Apple's Latest Innovation - Price!

2009-06-09T13:15:00.004+01:00

Yesterday Apple introduced its iPhone 3G S which will be available later this month and dropped the price on the current model of its smart phone to $99. They also unveiled two new lower-priced laptops and dropped the sales tag on its upcoming OS, Snow Leopard.

Is it only me or has Apple got Innovation block. They don't seem to have announced anything really big since the first iPhone release 2 years ago. Where's the iPhone Nano, the real Apple TV, the mass market Mac Netbook (Air), the 7 or 9 in iPhone/MiniMac etc.

Innovating on price alone is cool but not enough. Maybe Apple is suffering more from Steve Jobs absence than their results show.

Lijit Do Next Generation Blog Search

2009-06-05T09:21:00.004+01:00

Lijit may have a tongue twisting name, but its got a neat Web 2.0 app. It takes blog search tools to a valuable new dimension. Searching on blogs today is simple and a bit too basic. Lijit moves the game on by providing a search tool that you link not only to your blog but also to your other Web 2.o assets - making your blog the centre of your content. This you may or may not like.

Lijit will not only search your blog but also your videos at YouTube, your Twitter account (no surprise), bookmarks, your network of friends and the blogs you read in your RSS feader. Nice. So, if you want your blog to be the portal for your life - then Lijit looks the way to go. If not, stay hemmed in at Facebook.

Why Old Media Will Die

2009-06-04T07:45:00.005+01:00

Old media are staring like frozen rabbits before bright headlights screaming "where for art though - online subscription revenues". Each desperately seeking that holy grail of cash for content. Their knight in shining armor Sir Rupert of The Wall Street Journal. Leader of the Web content charging pack.

So old media huddles as we speak in back rooms across the Western world plotting subscription models and micro-payments to pay each of us back for years of abusive zero cash content. Fuming about their run down print presses and desperate to hang onto their old ways, chubby cost bases and private jets.

Hulu is one of the first to come forth as the next white knight, announcing that they are about to charge their users a subscription to watch their coveted online movies. And while this old media murmuring continues I can't help feeling that for every online news site, video streamer or music player that charges subscriptions for their content another 5 will spring up offering it for free, making money through ads, promo's, merchandise, products and ancillary offerings.

And so old media will one day die. Even Sir Rupert of The Wall Street Journal.

Zhiing - Mobile Location Made Easy

2009-06-02T15:49:00.004+01:00

Zhiing, a Web 2.0 mobile software company, is leading a clutch of ventures going after the mobile location-services space. Most of the other players look a little gimmicky. Not Zhiing. They have a simple, clear and useful app. Use Zhiing to send a message to folk you're waiting for at a meetup, bar, restaurant or park and with your message to 'get a move on' Zhiing embeds your location. Neat.

And best of all your location is only revealed as a one off with the message - so none of this permanent switching on of location services which allow friends and others to Internet stalk you. Finally.

Google Wave - Gmail 2.0

2009-05-29T10:15:00.003+01:00

Google has announced Google Wave - Gmail redefined. And its kinda cool. It is Google's answer to social networking stickiness and an attempt at turning your Gmail interface into a social networking, Web conversation and communication portal - where you go to do mail, IM, share pics, update mates and tweet.

Looks like all its missing is voice calling, blogging and I'm done. More time at Gmail here we all go - and one last goodbye to AOL, Yahoo and Microsoft mail. At least for consumers. At first...

Bing v Wave - the Next Net Frontier

2009-05-29T10:03:00.003+01:00

Microsoft and Google are pitching their futures on two new services that point towards the next Web frontier - convergence. Microsoft yesterday announced Bing as its latest answer to Google search. It is not a direct competitor to Google search, but a competitor in trying to redefine Web searching - not just a search engine but a 'decision engine'. A kind of Web 2.0 Wolfram Alpha.

If, by now, you are totally confused - lets try and simplify. Bing attempts to change search engine into Internet assistant. Not just providing the most relevant links, but exposing the most relevant answers, which includes simple access to the information. Video thumbnails go live as you hover over. Shopping comparison is embedded and travel information comes alive. Try it - it goes fully live next Wednesday.

Animoto Turns Slideshows into Videos

2009-05-27T11:57:00.003+01:00

There is a small crop of new Web 2.0 start-ups going after the slideshow to Web video space. Animoto looks to be one of the cooler players. Their proposition is straight forward - email your photo slideshow over to them, pick some cool (copyright approved) music or musac and bingo they'll mash it all together and create a free Web video. Which could make you look cooler at YouTube, your blog or wherever.

Chez Animoto 30 second clips are free. Thereafter you pay - proving that Fremium models are all the rage. But I'm left with one niggling question. Why doesn't everyone just buy a Flip and go DIY?

iPadio Do Phlogging

2009-05-20T12:19:00.003+01:00

Phlogging (phone or audio blogging) seems all the rage. Recently we reviewed a free service from Audio Boo. And here's another. It's called iPadio which is interesting branding. It rings with I paid. For radio?

And there is the big question - who pays? For Audio Boo it seems no one. iPadio are aptly named because companies do - consumers don't. After all someone's gotta pay right? Ipadio's USP for consumers is that you can apparently use any phone to phlogg - oh and of course its free - whereas Audio Boo is free but just for iPhone users right now - which is a growing and Web savvy audience.

iPadio believe that their phone-to-Web model has multiple business applications including customer service, field agents who need to report, Radio and disability services. But which is their killer app? Beats me. Maybe its too early to tell. Phlogging holds a great deal of promise and the early players are off - it will be interesting to see how Six Apart and Google's Blogger respond. They should be in the mix.

Need a Start Page - Start.io

2009-05-15T15:06:00.002+01:00

Need a Web based, easy and quick to set, public up start page - check start.io. You can get up and running in minutes with all your favorite, publicly accessible links, nicely categorized and ready for you to share with the world. It could even become a link driven human home page.

And this probably points to the future of start.io - your personal portal to stuff that matters most that you also want to share. Beyond this, it could be neat for start.io to allow you to run your blog, twitter feed and more scrolling live, next to your links at your home page.

Then, bingo, forget my Yahoo - it's myPortal. And I'd buy into it for one.

Wolfram Alpha Challenges Google?

2009-05-13T11:04:00.003+01:00

Wolfram Alpha, the next wave in Internet search with a couple of branding challenges, is going live on the 18th May. Just 5 days to go. It feels like a countdown to something, well, potentially huge. Wolfram Alpha could be the next Google. It's a next generation search engine that answers your question by scanning the Web, then utilizes the most advanced computational models to turn Web based data into newly computed answers to your original search query. If that sounds like techno mumbo jumbo let me try and explain it more simply.

Wolfram Alpha will attempt to give you real answers to real questions - not just a list of relevant links. So, if you type in 'how long does it take to fly from New York to London' you will get a real answer such as 7 hours, not just a bunch of relevant links a la Google.

The huge question is is Wolfram Alpha competitor to Google or partner? Given that Google is desperately, behind the scenes, trying to come up with a similarish service - they see them as competitor first. For us users they should be hugely complimentary Wolfram Alpha gives you direct answers to your questions, Google gives you links. But guess who Google's gonna try and buy damned soon??

Stupeflix Does Video Mash-ups

2009-05-08T13:59:00.003+01:00

Stupeflix, (stupid!) is a Web 2.0 start-up offering mash-ups of your latest pics, words and videos to produce a professional looking video - stupid! It reminds me of Apple's iMovie for the Web. So for all of you who do not own a Mac or are too lazy to figure out iMovie here's one for you.

Also, if you use your smartphone to shoot movies and take pics they have a nifty way to mash 'em together without the vid/pic/word thing looking to kitsch. Or amateur.

For the rest of us I guess we'll hang onto our MacBooks and use iMovie a while longer. But they're worth watching...

Audio Boo Does Podcasting on the Go - iPhone

2009-05-05T17:49:00.003+01:00

So here's a cool new Web 2.0, Brit tech, start-up - with a splash of iPhone. It's called Audio Boo and it's a podcasting tool for the masses. You sign in at audioboo.fm, then download their iPhone app, and presto it turns your iPhone into a podcasting recording device. After recording some fruity voice messages/snippets/personal radio rantings it automatically loads and plays your track at your personal Audio Boo page.

It's kinda like a YouTube for podcasting - assuming you've got an iPhone of course. But, hey there's enough of those around the place by now and if it takes off they can probably port to other smartphones. Recording quality is OK but cramped by iPhone speaker ruggedness and we're not quite sure how long you can podcast for at any one speak'ing. Other than that its a start-up worth watching and an iPhone app worth downloading. Unlike most of the rest of the 35,000 plus out there!

Building a Successful Start-up is About Context

2009-04-30T12:37:00.003+01:00

I read a couple of interesting articles today on tips from a failed entrepreneur and how to bootstrap a company by a venture guy - which seems a bit of an oxymoron. Or is it moron?

Either way, they got me thinking. Both are right and yet they lack something. And I think that something is context. You see entrepreneurs today all too often fail because they lack context. They either lack domain expertise or a broad understanding of the process by which to build a particular company at a specific point in time.

What are the exact steps required, what are the do's and don'ts, which tools are required and how do you know which is the right decision at any one point in time. Check Innov@te's blog. They seem to have some ideas. And remember it's all about context. Surround yourself with those that can provide context and you stand a chance.

blur Group Launching Online Start-up System for Entrepreneurs

2009-04-29T13:29:00.005+01:00

blur Group, a crowdsourcing group out of London, is about to launch an online innovation and start-up service for entrepreneurs and Innovation Officers around the world. They call it Innov@te Online and it is based on a 48 phase business build methodology and system which takes users step by step from concept through to exit.

They spread the 48 phases across six core start-up stages including @ha idea, concept, market entry, market development, market dominance and exit. With some neat tips and tricks along the way.

They even have a system called CREATE-IVITY which helps folks generate innovative ideas. If it works, this could be quite a breakthrough for innovators and entrepreneurs alike. Venture Investors should sit up and take notice too. For launch details and more check Innov@te's blog.

Online Video Goes to the Next, Next Phase

2009-04-23T07:13:00.003+01:00

Online Video is changing. Two guerilla's in the space, Comcast and Youtube are taking some nifty steps that could shift the landscape. The latter today announced that they will be adding social features to Youtube.com - enabling real-time communicate amongst friends while watching a Youtube movie. This way it should feel a bit less like you're all alone watching videos while hunched in front of your laptop. Youtube are tapping into a growing trend in which all manner of sites are lifting a page out of Facebook's playbook and bolting on social features.

In the mean time Comcast, the cable dinosaur, might just be yanking itself up a decade or two. They're close to launching a free Web based movie service for their existing cable customers allowing them to watch certain prime movies on their TV, PC, Laptop and one day even phone. They are apparently also taking the Web and an associated app store to the TV thanks to Adobe and Flash. The online video revolution has just begun - really.

Kindle to iPhone

2009-04-21T07:32:00.006+01:00

I have been reading a bunch of blogs and opinion pieces on the Kindle 2 recently. There seems to be a growing body of consensus that believe Amazon have come up with Gutenberg Press 2.0. For the Kindle 2 is about to usher in a new digital dawn for writers, readers and books. Well, actually, the folks to thank for that may be Google more then Amazon, but let's set that aside for a moment.

For it struck me that the Kindle may not prove to be the runaway hit that everyone imagines - or at least not medium term. Because the Kindle is starting to feel a little like the iPod a few years back. After all the iPod introduced us to Music 2.0 and its digital dawn. But, you see, the iPod just proved a transitionary device leading us all to the iPhone. So what's the future of the Kindle? I guess iPhone 3.0.

Etendi Does Distance Parenting Online

2009-04-16T07:51:00.003+01:00

Here's a neat Web 2.0 start-up for parents who do not live with their children but want to keep regularly in touch. Do it online with Etendi. They provide distant parents with cool online tools to stay in touch. And there is no need for their kid(s) to provide an email address - just the parent. Then they can video call with their kids, share pictures, create albums together, chat, do homework and even share gifts online.

As a kid I went to boarding school from the age of 12 and would have appreciated something like this. So, for all those parents with kids away at boarding school, on travels, or otherwise this ones for you. Add up the number of parents that are divorced or on military duty and Etendi could find quite a market for their application.

Twitzap Does Live Twitter Ticker

2009-04-14T07:59:00.003+01:00

For those of you Twitter nuts who don't think its instant enough for you then Twitzap could be the answer. It's (according to them) the first real-time Twitter client and you don't even have to instal anything. Just log in with your Twitter username and password and get Twitzapping.

It is a handy way to watch live Twitters scrolling down the screen as they happen, meet other Twitter folks and create Twitter channels. It's like a universal, live ticker for Twitter. Cool for those brokers who still have a job. We'll keep a watching brief. If Twitzap works out - no guesses who's gonna buy them.

Google's Schmidt on Paid for Internet News

2009-04-08T18:37:00.004+01:00

Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, spoke today at a convention of leading newspaper bosses (sounds like an AA get together) and stated that '... many publishers were increasingly thinking about charging for their content, and he said he expected the newspaper industry to eventually resemble television, where some content was free, some was purchased by subscription and some was paid for every time it was viewed. But he said he expected that advertising would remain the leading revenue model in online media.'

I think he's missing a trick. And its called the blogging universe. TV has no competition from blogs - just Youtube amateurs as yet. But citizen journalism via blogs is a powerful global force which probably means that simple, commoditized news will be hard to charge for online. Hi value added info yes, straight news no. Luckily for Google its advertising that's gonna keep news groups alive on the Web. Tricking themselves that they can get away with charging subscriptions online is a little head up their...

Lifestream at Storytlr

2009-04-07T06:11:00.004+01:00

Lifestreaming's the new base jumping for Web 2.0 digital nomads. Sites like Storytlr could prove the next self promotion rage. They bring together all your Web 2.0 communications from favorite hang outs such as Flickr, Twitter, Blogger, Wordpress, Tumblr etc into one aggregated page.

Yep, yap away at each of your favorite, disparate services and send your previously confused mates to just one space. Nifty. Could aggregation plays such as Storytlr be central to Web 3.0? Maybe.

You can also post blogs and photos directly to storytlr which means they have aspirations beyond just aggregating your feeds - they wanna have their Web 2.0 cake and eat it. Will you let them?

Google Buys Twitter

2009-04-03T12:12:00.004+01:00

The word creeping through the blogosphere is that Google is about to buy Twitter - making Evan Williams, Twitter's co-founder, a rare breed - a second timer Google acquisition dude. After all, he flogged Blogger to Google just a decade ago.

Twitter has become so much the rage that someone had to grab them. And if Google do see it through they could prove as canny a buyer of cool tech as they are search kings. And they haven't exactly done badly with Youtube.

Next on the Google wish list - surely a social network platform or innovator.

Netbook Sales Soar

2009-04-02T12:39:00.005+01:00

Netbook sales are due to surge by 60% this year - with laptop sales sluggish at 3%. It looks like the mini-Internet devices have finally hit mass acceptance and should account for over 20% of total laptop sales in 2009.

Expect Netbook volumes to match those of their bigger brethren by 2015 - but by then the next, next portable device will be the 7 inch hand held a la Kindle. And no doubt Microsoft and Apple will focus hard on this segment starting later this year. Cheap portable computers are hear to stay - and so too my shoulder!

Twitter Tips

2009-03-31T14:44:00.004+01:00

I was sent a Tweet on Twitter Tips by Problogger. Particularly relevant was the section on 'Provide Value'. God, I wish. The number of meaningless, endless, ego driven and pointless tweets that I have to put up with most minutes of each day defies gravity.

Proving, as ever, that boatloads of people, since blogging came along, are on an endless treadmill to achieve the next big 15 minutes of Internet fame. But can't they do fame with brain? OK, bad idea...

And for my alter (not) ego hit twitter.com/philipletts. Yaargh.

Time For A New Bank

2009-03-27T09:14:00.003Z

It's time for a new bank. Everyone seems to think that the reason banks are so stuffed is because of rogue traders, megalomaniac managers, non existent regulation and good ol' greed. And they're right. But there's something else missing - competition.

What we need is a new bank. A start-up. How refreshing. One with an innovative brand. God forbid an aspirational brand. An online bank that uses the latest technology to benefit its customers, not trick them. A bank that takes deposits and helps us make and receive payments - instantly. A bank that offers a simple credit card with the lowest interest rates and no frills. A bank that gives better interest on savings and low cost loans with clear repayment terms and simple guarantees.

A bank that does online and mobile banking standing on its head and provides the best, most rapid service over the phone from a professionally run call centre. Its Website points us to the best independent mortgage brokers and insurance companies that they continuously vet and approve or not.

A bank with values - simple, fast, no-frills and customer obsessed - supported by the smartest technology available to keep service great and costs minimal. Now that sounds like my kind of a bank. How's yours?

Artists Online at b-uncut.com

2009-03-25T07:32:00.003Z

b-uncut seem to have it down. Artists are flocking from around the world to hang (and their art) at b-uncut.com. The Web 2.0 art site is creating a small storm in the art world and we can see why. It's well designed, active as a tamale and much needed.

If you have ever been to an art fair or listened to one too many car-salesman like art dealers you'll understand why. b-uncut looks like a welcome breath of fresh air in an all too stuffy art mart. Check it and we'll keep a watching brief.

Netvibes Takes on iGoogle

2009-03-24T07:35:00.003Z

Netvibes does personal portals - well, personal landing pages to be more exact. The Web 2.0 Euro Tech company plays off the philosophy that you don't want Google - well actually iGoogle - to monopolize. 'You can have my email, contacts, calendar and even apps, but you'll never get my desktop too!' Right.

Apparently the Netvibes environment is more flexible, universal and richer. Plus, if you're a company seeking branded desktop offerings for your users this could be the way to go. If your none of these and just some lonesome geek - they have a widget store. Who doesn't?

mydeco Does Web Home Decorating

2009-03-19T10:38:00.004Z

mydeco, Brit Tech home decorating pioneer, takes homestore to Web 2.0 to you. Led by serial UK Web entrepreneur Brent Hoberman of lastminute.com they have a vision to aggregate homestores, decorators, designers and shoppers online through mydeco.com.

They don't offer product themselves - but do provide you with easy access to loads of furniture and home decorating stuff from a bunch of different retailers, as well as expert advice and tools to help you choose that paint colour, toilet seat, sofa or fridge. Yeah, fridge. It's Brit stores only for now - but the US should be up next.

There's even a mydeco Web deco magazine and social network for interior designers and home deco fanatics. Nice if ya have the time! For the rest of us it could provide a nifty slouch potato mechanism for getting your home sorted online and freeing up time for more football/clothes shopping. Yah.

iPhone 3.0 - Is It?

2009-03-18T09:40:00.003Z

The old adage that it takes 3 releases to get a piece of software right looks to be the case with the iPhone 3.0 announced yesterday and due out this summer. iPhone 3.0 fixes all the core issues and gaps in the iPhone 3G. The release is all about stability and maturity - no new groundbreaking features.

From a users perspective a bunch of niggles and gaps have been dealt with - particularly MMS, cut and paste, searching using Spotlight across apps, horizontal keyboard mode for all apps and particularly email and a nifty little dictaphone app. But that's it. No new iPhone Nano, no major Safari upgrade and few new breakthrough's to cloud based services. At least you will be able to synchronize your calendar with Google Calendar - Yaargh!

Let's hope Apple shine with hardware innovation and 'cool' factor in the next version. They're gonna need it to keep iPhone sales rising and the competition at bay. Cos Microsoft and Palm are hot on their heels.

From a developers perspective this is a major step forwards with a 1,000 new API's covering everything from subscription charging models to embedding maps and email into app synchronized updates and loads more. Proving that the future of the iPhone is as platform. Period.

b-uncut Takes on Saatchi Online

2009-03-18T07:59:00.003Z

Talking of Ning (last post) - b-uncut, a fast growing social platform for artists around the world, seems to be moving at a clip. Apparently they're growing by 2-3 new artists per day. And could soon prove the real pretender to industry heavyweights Saatchi Online and Artinfo.

Making the case that focused, independent, Web 2.0 social innovators can strike big. And perhaps the future of social networking and social media is niche. You know small is beautiful and all that jazz.

And b-uncut artists sure are prolific - they have approaching 5,000 artworks loaded at the site and growing like a weed. Is there a future e-Gallery in the offing. We'll keep our watching brief on these creative folk.

Ning Takes on Facebook

2009-03-17T06:52:00.003Z

Ning, you know the Web 2.0 dudes with some serious branding issues, have finally removed their sheep's clothing. And the fox has got ambition. Ning is Andreessen's latest gig and up until now has been the leading platform provider for other social networks and intranets. They have approaching 1 million networks on their platform, from granny collecting groups to serious artist hangouts. And on the back of these specialist networks they have quietly gathered 20 Million members.

So now they have flicked the switch, turned themselves inside out and changed Ning.com into a Facebook for the 20 Million. Voila! And in one fell swoop the world has yet another social network to contend with. And you thought you could get away with just your Facebook and Linkedin accounts.

Apple's iPod Shuffle - Bigger - Smaller!

2009-03-12T07:48:00.006Z

The iPod Shuffle just keeps getting smaller. Or is it bigger? The all new Shuffle now packs 1,000 tunes, but fits in the change pocket of your jeans. No clip, zip or pip. Just loads a tunes.

And a voice announces which song is about to play. Step aside Kindle - another text-to-speech app?

Simple, cool, cost effective... Apple.

Crowdtsorm's Crowd-controlled Comparison Shopping

2009-03-11T10:23:00.004Z

Crowdstorm is another cool Brit Tech company worth watching. Founded by UK comparison shopping entrepreneur, Philip Wilkinson (you know Shopgenie, Kelkoo etc), it does crowd-controlled comparison shopping.

To use their jargon-ness its all about "impartial buying advice from a crowd of trusted people - cos Crowdstorm help ya find 'what' to buy through aggregating expert reviews, user reviews, thoughts, videos and q&a's from a crowd of trusted people and sites". Yo..... cool.

The test for Crowdstorm should prove to be in the quality of the crowd, relevance of early product categories, iterative-quality system comparison improvements (mothfull YAH!) within their engine and some cool marketing - cos these ain't the only guys onto crowd-controlled comparison shopping.

iPhone App Store Stumbles

2009-03-10T06:49:00.003Z

The iPhone app store, which launched less than a year ago is all the rage. It touts app after app after app. App-arently (yeah, yeah...) there are now 15,000+ apps available for your iPhone from iTunes/the Apple App Store. 15,000! And if app development keeps going at this rate there could be approaching 50,000 by the end of next year. That's nearly 1,000 new ones to go through every week.

If you do the maths we'll soon be spending more time pouring through the Apple App store directory than reading the news, spending time online, watching movies and even going to work... You get the picture. In fact we now think the App store will stumble purely because there are too many apps!

You see no one wants to see iTunes packed with more apps than movies or tunes. So Apple, please chunk it down - has the recession not woken you to the fact that less could even be more? Please.

Windows Mobile 6.5 Looks Ready!

2009-03-05T14:25:00.005Z

Windows Mobile 6.5 has created some positive press. And it probably should because inch by inch the Seattle outfit has developed a half decent mobile operating system. With 6.5 Microsoft have proven that they can (and probably will) narrow the gap with Apple's iPhone. And with it Microsoft may have finally reached the end of the beginning in the mobile space.

After all, the user interface is now up to snuff and a developer community is being launched. The browser is better and sync works. So what could hold Microsoft back from re-taking the smartphone market from Apple and RIM. Well, probably Google.

But even that may not be enough - as Microsoft's charge begins. Apple's only hope to remain from PC-rerun-oblivion is to keep re-inventing the smartphone space, developing their media features (how about adding speech-to-text) and moving out of the smartphone box with a Nano phone. And Steve thought he could have a rest!

Squace Get Universal Mobile Interfaces

2009-03-04T06:54:00.003Z

The dudes at Squace - you know the smallish mobile software team from Stockholm with meagre aspirations to become the universal mobile interface layer have started blogging after a quiet winter.

Are they the next Microsoft? Is it a browser? Android? Well, if you are as confused as.... just check out the new blog they've started called, surprise, surprise - UniversalMobileInterface (no branding issues here - please!).

Apparently they have a universal software layer, ring Java download, that can run across a ton of mobile phones and gives users universal access to backed up links, contacts, email and more. Hey, if it supports my Gmail contacts and calendar you've got me. That is until Android devices improve... Apparently they're due to launch commercially in about a month - so check em out at Squace.com.

Spotify Versus iTunes

2009-03-03T07:30:00.003Z

We first talked about free Web 2.0 music service Spotify last year, soon after they launched. And they've come on a way. Now anyone can sign up for their free service (which is the most impressive). And it looks (listens) to me like its the best music model on the Internet for 'free tunes' while their iPhone app experience takes the service from your home to the mobile.

Spotify lets you hook into playlists, genres, albums and more all for free as long as you're OK putting up with a short spoken ad every half hour or so. I have hardly noticed hearing one, but that may be just because they don't have any advertisers as yet, and the listening experience has never really been compromised. So, it looks like iTunes finally have some competition - Spotify for your general, free, play-all-day offering and the Apple service for your favorite catalogue of owned tunes. Beware iTunes - it may be time to innovate once more.

Ning Launches Persistent Chat

2009-02-27T10:53:00.004Z

Ning has just announced a major series of updates - taking their white-label social networking platform even further ahead of the competition. Today they launched an all new persistent chat service, new music, video and photo players and a slick, simple site search.

All this should help the Marc Adreessen venture power to around a million networks running across the Ning platform with between them more than 20 million users. That does though mean that the average Ning network has only 20 members. Probably a similar profile to the average blogger site.

The big question is what next for Ning? Perhaps VOIP telephony services as well as a greater drive to enhance their developer community. And what about a merger with Six Apart or an outright sale to Google? Watch this space.

Skype To Go Gets a Boost

2009-02-26T18:47:00.003Z

Skype has just announced an extension (Yah!) to Skype To Go which allows users to make dead cheap calls via their Skype To Go number to any other landline or mobile phone. Lets hope this works better than Skype's core free pc-to-pc service which tends to bounce around like a yoyo.

And maybe they're feeling the heat from Swedish pin-up cheap mobile-to-mobile VOIP player Rebtel - now these dudes we dig. Check em out!

tumblr - A New Spin on Blogging

2009-02-25T07:31:00.005Z

And who said Silicon Alley was dead? Life according to tumblr - who just raised a few million dollars - looks pretty good. They have a Web 2.0 app which is a mix between Blogger and Twitter and seems to be taking off.

If you can't be shagged to write a whole blog and feel that Twitter is too short - then tumblr's for you. You can also have your cake and eat it cos you can bang on longer at Typepad/Wordpess/Blogger and RSS it into your tumblr page - while simultaneously zapping your tumblr feeds off to Twitter.

It looks like tumblr want to position themselves as the blog/tweet/posting hub for your life. If they add universal IM as well - they could be onto one. Oh and check mother ship's tumblr page - click this link.

Thisadwillchangeyourlife.com Does Personal Web Ads

2009-02-23T17:34:00.003Z

Here's one for those of you seeking 15 minutes (or is it seconds) of fame. A Brit tech company with Web 2.0 aspirations and the brand challenged name of thisadwillchangeyourlife.com has created a neat, and cheap way (fiver a month) to run personal ads promoting yourself, your blog, or anything else yours.

So for those of you with a healthy ego, some spare beer/spritzer money and a knack for writing snappy ad copy - this ones for you. Oh, and let us know how your ads do. Cos these guys may even be worth watching.

Popjam Gives lol

2009-02-20T18:30:00.003Z

Popjam.com has just gone live - its a Web 2.0 lol site. I.e. load a funny post, get rated and follow the rankings to see who's the funniest dude in tinsel town. A kind of virtual Euro song contest (except its global) for laughs.

And there's some cool folk behind it. Sign up and enjoy. Another notch for Brit tech? Let's see.

iPhone Feels the Heat

2009-02-19T07:24:00.005Z

Look out iPhone! The competition is finally hotting up in the smartphone market. At the annual mobile shindig in Barcelona HTC, Microsoft and Google each made key announcements that point to iPhone's technical lead finally narrowing.

Vodafone has just landed an exclusive for the all new HTC Magic running Android - which for the increasing number of consumers and small businesses using Gmail and Google Apps looks the way to go - meanwhile Microsoft launched Windows Mobile 6.5 and finally announced their app store proving they too they have caught up.

Lastly the LG Arena touted a nex gen screen with cube and elastic features - all shifting the spotlight to Apple this summer as they launch the iPhone 3.0. They had better re-invent the smartphone once again.

Facebook Frenzy over User Content Rights

2009-02-17T19:21:00.004Z

It's time to wade into the Facebook privacy debate. Because you see it matters little what Facebook's legals say or don't say - what matters is perception. And if Facebook come over as a privacy/personal content abuser they will lose the battle longer term.

Users use Facebook because they trust that Facebook own the platform but all their content belongs exclusively to them. Like with a phone company, we utilize their network, but do not expect them ever to sell recordings of our conversations.

So Facebook had better be careful, lest the next wave of social networks win our hearts and copy souls with greater security and 100% privacy and copyright protection guarantees. So sort it fast Zuckerbeck and end the debate!

Masabi Does Mobile - Securely

2009-02-12T17:22:00.003Z

Here's another cool UK mobile software company - Masabi. They do a few things mobile software and all very securely - apparently. So with hot security comes cool mobile ticketing apps, gaming apps and more. Maybe they could even help develop mobile banking to the next level...

They'll be at Barcelona next week and look worth a drop by. Scoot.

Amazon's Kindle Sparks Text-to-Speech Battle

2009-02-11T08:57:00.004Z

Amazon has only just launched Kindle 2.0 and its already creating a stink. Apparently its cool new text-to-speech feature is upsetting a few publishers!

The Author's Guild, an advocacy group for writers is insisting that 'they don't have the right to read a book out loud. That's an audio right, which is derivative under copyright law.' Which is mumbo jumbo for publishers wanting to charge more for books sold on e-readers with text-to-speech features.

Come on! So what about all of us that read out loud. Ooops - I guess that cat's out of the bag.

Jobopz.com Pioneers Social Recruitment

2009-02-10T03:48:00.003Z

For those of you looking for work here's a new Web 2.0 concept - social recruitment - at Jobopz.com. The site acts as one massive, virtual job/careers fair. Companies and recruitment professionals set up virtual stands (profiles) of themselves and jobseekers go to check them out, promote themselves, network and generally build relationships. There's also a social media dimension where members can share tips and tricks, get neat tools to enhance their job search, including training videos and more.

Jobopz seems to have been born from the premise that employee loyalty spans have shortened to the extent that most people need to more actively market and develop their careers (and themselves). Apparently this includes regularly networking with recruitment folk, prospective employers and even other like minded jobseekers who we might one day partner with on a new business project or venture! So check it out - go to Jobopz.com.

blur Group Launch New Website

2009-02-04T19:44:00.004Z

blur Group, the new kind of Intellectual Property conglomerate that mushroomed out of London, has launched a new Website. And its kinda cool. It takes a slice out of Apple's coverflow copy book.

Also, take a look at their nex gen brand - its abstract! We are though a little biased given that blur Group is our mother-ship. Check it out - go to blurgroup.com.

Mobile Davos and Dell Smartphones

2009-02-02T08:31:00.003Z

The world seems to be going mobile all at the same time. Yo, catch up dudes. Davos saw a session of the great and good from the Internet and software industries banging on about how mobile is the future - Yaargh! Sadly it revealed more about just how little they understand the cellphone universe than anything else.

And now it seems Dell-desperately-trying-to-become-cool- again is about to peg its future growth on flogging smartphones. Well they can't do worse than their past attempts at the PDA market - can they?

Youtube Make Movies with Hollywood Stars

2009-01-29T16:47:00.004Z

Youtube seem close to announcing a deal with William Morris Agency, you know the dudes that represent big Hollywood actors, teaming up with them and their actor clients to produce Youtube movies and shorts purely for their online channel.

For a while Techboard been predicting that Youtube and iTunes will ultimately become producers of content as well as distributors. iTunes' toe's in the water with exclusive song deals and iTunes concerts and Youtube now look set for their foray.

If I was a Hollywood studio I'd watch developments closely and be concerned. 'Cos once Youtube crack online video advertising (which they will) - a whole new dawn in movie streaming could unfold. And about time.

The Universal Address Book

2009-01-27T16:54:00.004Z

People have for years been touting the merits of a universal address book. Even my ancestors at Letts Diaries had an early go with the Letts address book. Yet somehow, billions of dollars later and endless iterations via PDA's, office systems, free email and calendaring and most recently mobile phone address systems seem to have, if anything, taken us further away from the dream of a universal address book.

And by universal address book we mean one software tool that allows us to automatically synchronize all our addresses from wherever they may reside - into one master, searchable, structured, segmented system that we can update from anywhere - work, Web, phone, home, TV, plane, train, you name it.

Google is apparently working on something - so of course is Microsoft and presumably Yahoo. (Though no one seems to know what's really going on at Yahoo). But it may be that the big Web guys interests are woah too entrenched in their insular universe of users and platforms to allow them to become the trusted, independent universal provider. That would also be the case for mobile phone operators, hardware providers and games console dudes.

Which leaves us with a couple of independent Web 2.0 address book synchronizers including Mobyko. They look interesting at first glance but may lack scale or a trusted brand. So maybe I should return to where I began and have a whisper with my ancestors about sorting it out!

Is the iPhone Stalling?

2009-01-22T06:44:00.006Z

Apple fans breathed a small sigh of relief last night as their beloved electronics company reported another set of sexy quarterly numbers. Laptop sales soared thanks to the new range and iPods rocked. But, hidden in the news, was a weaker set of iPhone sales. Has the mighty iPhone stalled?

I think so. You see, the mobile phone market has a strange edge to it. The Western world, where most iPhones are sold, is used to mobile phone models changing and upgrading faster than a geek on speed. And the iPhone, revolutionary when announced 2 years ago, hasn't really changed much since then (perhaps other than the app store).

Apple need to move the iPhone on. They need at least 2 iPhone models - one all-touch and one with a fold out key board. They need to offer a couple of different colour options - one predominantly female and one male. And they've gotta unearth some revolutionary new features.

Then they need a sexy, rockin' iPhone Nano for the masses. Simpler to use, with less funcionality and a smaller screen (maybe not even touch) but with the Nano range of colours - a basic phone, music player and Internet device.

With these changes the iPhone might pick up momentum again and fight back the onslought from Blackberry, Nokia, Samsung and Google's Android.

Apple learnt fast with the iPod that you need a range of devices to cover then dominate the market. The mobile phone sector is much more competitive and if anything they'll need a larger range to make a meaningful difference there too.

Obama and the Internet

2009-01-20T14:09:00.003Z

Today, finally, Barack Obama will become the 44th US President and the worlds first President or head of government to come to power through the Internet. Were it not for Obama's innovative and wildly successful approach to grass roots support from the Web up extended by text based communications and online fund raising - he would not be being sworn in today.

And given his Web site's popularity, were it a commercial entity, it would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. So how much will he get paid as President? I guess, not enough...

Lets all just pray he can be as innovative with Washington as he has been getting into power. Good luck to ya! And who said the Internet does not change everything. Bah.

Syncplicity & Dropbox; Sync - Back-up - Run

2009-01-19T16:34:00.003Z

The latest Web 2.0 pin-ups could be a couple of leading PC sync companies that pretty much allow small companies to do away with the IT server and manager - Yaarghh. Syncplicity is the Windows play - enabling you to manage files and document/spreadsheet versions across PC's, company servers, home systems etc. While Dropbox are the Linux and Mac guys - taking them head to head with Apple's MobileMe.

If you're a small company sans the patience to wait for Windows 'Live' Office or the desire to switch to Google Apps, then Syncplicity in particular looks the way to go. Mind you, presumably Syncplicity will get gobbled up by Microsoft so it may not really matter either way.

If these guys don't get snapped up anytime soon then their real future could lie in not just seamless syncing, but more importantly syncing seamlessly between platforms and disparate applications. I.e. Mac to PC to Linux box and out to Smartphones - shifting MS Office to Apple Works to OpenOffice etc. Bingo - Nirvana!

Apple After Steve

2009-01-15T09:57:00.006Z

Apple's universe has been rocked with yesterday's news that Steve Jobs will have to lay off work for 6 months. I guess it looks like stage 2 cancer may have kicked in. Tragic.

So it got us thinking - what might Apple look like after Steve? Is there anyone on this planet capable of filling his shoes or should Apple merge away with another tech leader?

You see there's still so much that Apple has to do for us all. They've only just scratched the surface of touch screen capability and need to make it pervasive across all their hardware. They need to finish the job of seamlessly interconnecting all our Apple devices and they have to kick out the iPhone Nano whilst truly re-inventing the TV.

But they also need to get into services, turning all their software into cloud based media service engines - iTunes as content publisher as well as distributor. iMovie helping you sell movies as well as producing them and iPhoto as photography marketplace. Then they need to mash software such as iMovie, Script writing software, iPhoto and iTunes together to deliver a full, online service for scripting films, photographing locations, shooting and then distributing - you get the idea.

So who, post Steve, could best help Apple make this transition whilst maintaining its hardware prowess and innovation. Well, Eric Schmidt springs to mind. Apple's next CEO? Mmmm...

What Should Bartz to at Yahoo?

2009-01-14T17:36:00.002Z

Now that Carol Bartz has agreed to lead Yahoo what should she do? Is it a quickie deal with Microsoft and back to Autodesk. Or should she build Yahoo as a potential leader at the next phase of the Internet.

We'll go with the latter. So she should shake up the organization, streamline it to perform better and build a product roadmap for the next wave of the Internet. Then go on a buying spree. Perhaps first up a merger with AOL to give Yahoo stronger content and a social networking platform thanks to Bebo.

Then strengthen this base by buying a blogging platform from Six Apart and finally a look at Ning - that way she could get Andreessen's brain as well as a stronger bounce into the next wave. Other than that she needs to keep driving Yahoo into the wireless space with more deals with operators. Then Bingo - an all new Yahoo!

Where Next For Sun Microsystems?

2009-01-13T14:15:00.003Z

Sun Microsystems have drifted for nearly a decade now. Hardware sales are underwhelming, Java is pervasive but largely free and open source offerings are slow to deliver results. So what should Sun do next?

Pull an Apple and bring Scott McNeally back to right the ship and find a new direction for the company as the rain in cloud computing - no longer the dot in dot Net. Sun systems should power the cloud from the office, across the Net and over mobile devices.

Java can be the glue and servers and storage systems the work horses - what's missing is the cloud software infrastructure - so go buy one. I can think of a couple. Come back Scott.

Has Microsoft become Apple?

2009-01-08T18:52:00.003Z

How things have changed... So Apple look like Microsoft at MacWorld and Microsoft look like, well, Apple (at CES). 'I'm a PC's back on track, making high profile announcements while launching a half decent looking Windows 7 in beta and dropping cool apps onto the iPhone. Apple mean time have nothing to announce. (At least, not yet.)

Can Apple get the spring back in their step. Or is Microsoft the new Apple? My money's still on Apple in the short term, but it may be that pin ups Apple and Google will face a resurgent Microsoft going forwards. Lets see. Ray Ozzie may even have a last laugh.

Why Steve Jobs Avoided MacWorld?

2009-01-07T07:42:00.003Z

We all heard the inconvenient truth about Steve Jobs not attending MacWorld. First it was 'cos Apple apparently no longer wants to make world altering announcements in such public forums even though they always have - yaahh... No one quite bought into that so the rumour mill went into overdrive re Jobs health or lack of. So, we then discover that he is actually a little ill with a hormone imbalance - hence the skinny ness.

But finally, at MacWorld, it all became clear - its because Apple has nothing in particular to announce. Standard upgrades of iLife, iWorks and more DRM free tracks on iTunes is not exactly earth shattering. And a 17" MacBok Pro is cool but - hate to say it - just another laptop.

Even Steve couldn't have put a spin on these product announcements. There was no iPhone Nano, no re-juiced Mac mini and no subscription service for iTunes. Has Apple lost their innovation? Are they a a product of our more subdued times? Or has the Apple product juggernaut smacked out so much in the last decade that they've run out of new concepts?

I doubt it - there is still so much to do when it comes to touch technology across all screens, 3D, new phones, an oversized tablet style iPod Touch, taking all their software to the Web and an Apple TV (a real Apple TV). Maybe Apple and Steve just need a breather. And we'll have to wait until later in the year for more Apple jigs.

Techboard's Big Prediction - iPhone Nano

2008-12-23T08:41:00.002Z

Techboard's big prediction for 2009 is that Apple will debut the iPhone Nano (by the summer).

That's it! Have some cool holidays.

b-Uncut Does Web 2.0 Art

2008-12-20T11:42:00.004Z

b-Uncut is a new kind of Web 2.0 social network. It kicked off in 2008 with a handful of artists and a big idea - to build the worlds coolest and most dynamic (virtual) art commune.

Today they boast 185 great artists from all over the world, adding at least one new artist a day. They have over 1,500 artworks loaded and showing online to the world at large. Over 2,000 art lovers visit b-Uncut.com every month and growing.

b-Uncut seem to have one of the more dynamic, lively, talented and inclusive communities around. And the industry is starting to take note. They feature both recognized and emerging artists.

And apparently they have recently been approached to increase the profile of relevant b-Uncut artists by featuring them at art fairs and gallery shows. They even have art critics researching artworks at b-Uncut for future projects and concepts.

If that's not enough b-Uncut plan to launch a publishing label - just for b-Uncut artists. Check them out - go to b-Uncut.com.

Linkedin Reshuffle

2008-12-18T18:26:00.003Z

Linkedin's a changing. The CEO's out, a new President's in and the founders back. Linkedin have spouted the usual mumbo jumbo about their ousted CEO having achieved everything he needed to achieve blah, blah so he can now stuff off into semi-retirement - right.

So what's really up at the pros networking site? Well, not enough. Linkedin is a great idea that's made little real progress in the last few years. Dare I say it - Linkedin's become a bit boring. Ya know - corporate boring. They are about as design-driven as IBM is and even Facebook are eating some of their lunch.

As a Linkedin user I find them still little more than a dynamic roledex site. And I want more. I want to be able to communicate with my contacts in more dynamic and diverse ways than sending them an email or telling them what I'm up to. And why should Linkedin not help me meet new interesting folk as well as connect with those I already know. Oh and how about the mobile world dudes? Kick it up a gear guys or others will.

iPhones hit Wal-Mart

2008-12-17T08:40:00.005Z

Apple's iPhone is about to start selling in Wal-Mart stores at a discounted price. (Good 'ol Sam). They should hit the stores just in advance of holiday sales. This will give the iPhone even broader distribution and mass market appeal.

And Apple are gonna need it since iMac sales are slipping. Finally their premium pricing versus cheapo Dell and HP laptops is starting to bite. Proving that they should have introduced more aggressive pricing with the new range of laptops and desktops that came out this fall.

Talking of mass market iPhone sales surely 2009 will be the year Apple launch a cheaper, slimmer even-more-mass-market iPhone Nano. Come on Steve!

Microsoft Back iPhone

2008-12-15T17:46:00.006Z

Microsoft just launched their first iPhone app - even before it was launched on Windows Mobile. Yaagh... Live Labs dished up Seadragon Mobile a free image-browsing app that allows users to 'deep zoom' images while online. Nice.

Seadragon is a slick backbone for Microsoft's Photosynth - allowing users to take a grouping of photos and stitch them together into a 3D environment and it has a steal on Photoshop in photo-meshing for dynamic flow.

Now apparently Microsoft have so caught the iPhone bug that they're planning a bunch more including voice-activated search from Tell-Me. Jobs must be smiling.

Google Chrome Leaves da House

2008-12-12T07:58:00.004Z

Google's Chrome left da beta house yesterday, which for a Google product is a record dash coming only 100 days after launch. Why so rapido? They say its because they had so many internal users smash around at it before launch that they could accelerate the process. Yeah, right.

I mean Picasa and Gmail took years to get out of beta and in Gmail's case with tens of millions of users its still idling in official pre-release. So what's the vig.

Chrome is probably the single most important product launch Google have made since search. Chrome should hook hundreds of millions of PC users, another few hundred million with wireless devices and finally entice corporate folk. Chrome's their single most leveraged path, with Google Apps running across, to attempt to chip away at the heart of Microsoft's dominance and aggression. Google know its a matter of little time before Microsoft (perhaps with Yahoo search in arm) chip away at their search advertising lead and there are God knows how many start-up's trying to re-invent search tech. Yaah.

So, its time to beat Microsoft back at their own game and Chrome with Google Apps is the pack. So look to see tons more action in the Chrome camp through 2009 - beyond just funky bookmark app improvements.

Who's Gonna Run Yahoo!

2008-12-11T07:26:00.003Z

Headhunter Heidricks is on the run trying to find Yahoo's next CEO. But which industry stones should they roll over? Last time Yahoo tapped big media. Now it could be mobile telecoms, Social media, software or beyond.

Crystal ball gazing is a dud bust - but given Yahoo's search sprint v Google is pretty much over there are probably just a few ways they can go to differentiate tomorrow. Portal media one stop shop, getting increasingly personal, social solutions or mobile Internet leader.

Should they der think out of the box they might even merge with a nex gen social network (how about Ning?) - surprise the market and add juice to an otherwise languid search (pun intended). If not they're gonna end up with another dud media dude or worse Arun Sarin, who did not a lot for Vodafone and clearly doesn't get the mobile Internet - just check Vodafone Live!

Speedbreak.com does Speed - Break - Date

2008-12-10T08:11:00.004Z

For any of you who can't wait any longer to get the friggin' depression/recession/any-references-whatsoever-to-1930's out of your heads - then here's one for you. Speedbreak.com. And it does exactly what it says on the tin. Speed - break - date....

Yep, its for singlers with a need for speed - both gettin' out of the country fast and doing 'fast' holidays - i.e. on skiis, snowboards, jetski's, bungee (hey, if its cool for Beck's it's cool for you too). Anyway - you get it.

So, need a break - check em out!

Blogging Platforms go Social

2008-12-09T08:27:00.004Z

Blogger's launched Friend Connect - Wordpress has partnered with KickApps and Typepad has just launched Typepad Connect. Each initiative a clear pointer to the fact that mainstream blogging platforms are finally going social.

And this is just the first step to converting 1st generation static content blog sites with a little comment interactivity action into fully blown, multi-media, social Web platforms that will one day even include Wiki style features turning every blog into a community of interest and its own niche, multimedia Which guide.

Then Blog 2.0 can develop and blogging platforms will become fully blown, all singing all dancing, media publishing platforms. Nex gen media ventures will start-up from kitchen tables and be powered by Blogger or Wordpress. Broadband, software platforms, laptops, digi cameras, camcorders and smartphones as granted - all costing but a few hundred dollars. New, new media founders imaginations the only limit. Welcome to the new dawn.

Web 2.0 Social Start-up for Entrepreneurs

2008-12-08T17:46:00.003Z

Letts' hot new London based incubator, blur Group, has just launched a Web 2.0 start-up venture, called i-Revolution, aimed at tech innovators and entrepreneurs. It's in closed beta, but looks interesting. Already a bunch of pretty cool entrepreneurs and even investors have signed up and started using the tips, tricks, content and network to help them develop and hone their ventures.

Social sites have a useful role to play for entrepreneurs and innovators in helping them develop and brainstorm ideas, enhance their network of potential partners and peers as well as gain greater profile as a network to prospective investors, corporate bus dev guys and even standards bodies. Makes sense. The key for sites such as i-Revolution will be the quality and filtering of their members. So, tech entrepreneurs, check out i-Revolution.org.

Ultraknowledge Another Google?

2008-12-04T11:37:00.002Z

UK based start-up Ultraknowledge - (are they?) have come up with some powerful search technology which could enable media companies to monetize a greater portion of their content. Apparently they can tag and search deeper down into the bowels of your current and archived content to enable more relevant search and deeper monetization of your digital assets.

And if you think that sounds too jargony for you - just wait... Ultraknowledge use a content indexing and data storage engine that retrieves relevant content by comparing so called 'Concept Signatures' that are created for each indexed article. These signatures can be thought of as 'Digital DNA' (apparently) with each article creating its own unique set of patterns which allows for the analysis and comparison of content at multiple levels. I.e. they search deeper into your content layers. Watch out Google? Not quite yet.

But if you're still reading - good on you. Either way, we think they're worth a look in 'cos big UK media is starting to buy into them and we like the approach. We'll keep a watching brief.

Power A Dashboard to your Social Life

2008-12-03T09:22:00.003Z

As Internet users gather increasing volumes of applications, services and media to their data cluttered lives there is, apparently, a growing need for order. Orwellian order it seems to free us from our Internet jumble. And the oddly named Power.com (no, not some new Greentech venture) wants to chip in and de-clutter our prolific social networking lives.

So if you're active on multiple social networks Power could help you multi-task your Facebook, MySpace or Orkut existence and friend wagging. 'Cos they provide a universal dashboard to these services and others so helping you sign in once and access them all in a single neat dashboard. Bingo, you can then communicate in parallel rather than Website sequence. Potentially neat. The bad news is Power only tidies your Web life if you are a Latin American or US user.

Squace are trying to do something similar as a universal interface to the mobile Internet utilizing their neat square and grid system. It all reminds me of the corporate portal days - anyone remember Plumtree? God, what happened to them...

Google Friend Connect Live at Techboard

2008-12-03T08:24:00.004Z

Google Friend Connect is now live here at Techboard. Implementing it was slick and simple - be careful to size the application right for your column - 'cos it seems tricky to resize.

This is a small leap for Google into the social networking space. It'll be interesting to see how Friend Connect will evolve. Perhaps looking more like KickApps. Either way, Friend Connect in its first version is a neat little cross platform app to drive relationships within your site or blog - but little more.

It'll need to get deeper to make a real impact on the likes of Facebook or MySpace going forwards. Let's see...

Xing Go for Growth

2008-12-02T08:49:00.003Z

Xing are changing their management team for growth - starting with a new CEO.

It looks like Xing are gunning to catch up with Linkedin. They have 6 Million members versus Linkedin's more than 30 Million. Proving that Web 2.0 style online networking is still hotter than ever. Particularly for professionals.

Mind you both need to add services and value fast - 'cos Facebook is after their patch.

Huffington Post Closes $25 Million Round

2008-12-01T17:16:00.004Z

The Huffington Post, the worlds No1 blog site, has just closed a $25 Million Series C round of financing which apparently values the worlds leading blog site at around $100 Million. They want to use the cash to expand beyond politics, including sports and a new world page. Der, covering world news.

Top blogs are hot. TechCrunch now has more then 1 million techo's reading it every day. So get scribbling - maybe your blog could be worth a buck or two when the worlds stopped feeling all depressed with itself. Burn that midnight oil.

Feels to me like leading blogs could go the way of CNET - maybe even getting snapped up by the likes of NBC for a couple of billion in another 5 years. I mean traditional media juggernauts have done dumber things. Right?

Techboard's No 1 Black Friday Gadget

2008-11-28T08:01:00.005Z

As black friday kicks the holiday splurge (not) off today we thought we'd challenge ourselves to come up with the Techboard Numero Uno Christmas gadget. Assuming you can afford it.

Ta ta......

It's Apple's Macbook Air that takes the podium. It's thin, slim, light, packs a real punch (thanks to the latest release) and is truly design-driven. It even makes your iPhone look clunky. And, it points the way to the next generation of computing - 'not about the storage'. It's the cloud.

And Happy Thanksgiving. We thank all our readers wherever you are.

Umee Rocks .tv

2008-11-27T07:45:00.005Z

We've stumbled across another neat UK tech company whimsically name umee - yep, you and me. Because their software helps you and me share rich media at social networking sites.

That means they trot along with their box of tricks to big media companies (I think mainly newspapers for now) and help them post and share their content to social networks so when we see something (media) we like we can share it with our mates.

umee then take a slice of the ad revenues. OK. So they could help shift more content around social networks, potentially increasing stickiness while enabling old media to get in on the social networking act that they royally missed or stuffed up by buying Friends Reunited.

Sounds reasonably cool. I have but one issue - the content better be hot or I'll be damned clogging share cred with my busy, media savvy mates. But maybe that's just me.

KickApps Kicks Ass

2008-11-26T15:25:00.003Z

KickApps has just raised $14 m which in these markets means they kick ass! And they probably do. They hit Ning head on with a more open and customizable/modular platform which can socialize your site with community, video, photo-sharing and blogging for mainstream media companies as well as one man shows.

A combination worth looking at is Wordpress with KickApps. And bingo a blogging/content platform with social networking and media apps on steroids. One for would-be digital media entrepreneurs.

Those seeking a total community networking platform out of the box, drag and drop, with no programming skills - stick with Ning.

What Does Linkedin Search Point To?

2008-11-25T16:57:00.005Z

Linkedin have been busy the last month - with a new app store and an advanced search service tweaked to help (nearly 33 million of you) network. Network? Apparently so.

And these technical developments also reveal where Linkedin is heading. Now that they have network mass - the next phase for the professionals networking site will be services. Services which help professionals find each other more effectively, discover partners more easily and scout for talent. Sorry Recruitment folk.

In the end though Linkedin is all about extending members existing network. For new relationships and partnerships other Web 2.0 sites should perform better. For jobs see jobopz.com. For creatives b-uncut. For innovators i-Revolution. You get the picture.

Windows Live Search Moving to Kumo.com

2008-11-24T17:58:00.004Z

Windows Live Search looks set to be rebranded Kumo @ Kumo.com. Apparently its Japanese for cloud or spider - struggling to get that connection (but thanks CNET). Either way any branding that isn't Windows Live Search should help - that and the new dude they hired from Yahoo to run their search division.

Mind you given the hash Yahoo have made of it I'm not sure he'd be top of my list - unless of course task numero uno is integrating Yahoo search post an acquisition. Now we're talking...

Perperitus Pioneers with Performance Management Software

2008-11-21T17:34:00.002Z

UK based Perperitus is a pioneer in the emerging performance management software space. They have a nifty online service with a subscription model that delivers best practice performance dashboards across desktops and throughout the organization.

Their approach looks quite revolutionary and we like the way they model top performers in your company and then build knowledge based systems and process templates around a nifty Web 2.0 dashboard to improve the performance of other employees. They started with a sales dashboard (mashing top sales performer approaches with sales methodologies, info and tools) and now have performance management solutions in place for many other functions too.

And it looks like later next year they'll be offering a full DIY platform over the Web for any organization large or very small to build and tailor their own solution in matters of hours. Performance management and employee productivity should be hot in this down and out downturn!

Blackberry Storm Misses

2008-11-20T07:56:00.002Z

The first Blackberry Storm revues are in (see CNET) and it seems like it's, well, a bit clunky. Clunky? Well, at least, squidgy. And the keyboards too small. Other than that its great - right. I guess I'll stick with my Blackberry Bold for now. No great storm here.

And iPhone challenger? Not. Vodafone/Verizon miss again...

Bebo Founders Focus on BirthdayAlarm.com

2008-11-19T08:05:00.003Z

I met with one of the Bebo founders yesterday and chatted about a few things. It seems that life post the deal with AOL has the Birch brothers a little more relaxed. Not.

And their attention is swinging to BirthdayAlarm.com. Which is a simple way for people to remember birthdays. Need that. In addition to birthday reminders, absent minded users can set holiday and anniversary reminders (people need reminding about holidays??), send animated eCards and invitations, play games, send flowers and vote for the next US President (joke).

Apparently BirthdayAlarm's technology was the foundation for Bebo - and BirthdayAlarm at its height had over 100 million users and revenues in the handful of $ millions. BirthdayAlarm was a semi-abandoned venture baby when Bebo took off but now has Birch magic finger attention again.

Let's see...

Yahoo's Yang Dumped

2008-11-18T07:17:00.003Z

Yahoo's Jerry Yang has chucked the towl in and resigned/er, been dumped as CEO of his cheer-leading, tree-hugging portal on steroids (once) - proving that even celeb founders can get promoted beyond their jock straps. He's handed the search for a new CEO to jobopz, I mean, Heidricks and is off on an ice skating trip. Nice if you can.

Eric Schmidt apologized profusely and simultaneously sniggered, while the Valley is hot with rumors over who will be the next poor dumb-founded Yahoo chief jock. Palin? The bankers desperately seeking an Xmas bonus are circling with a Facebook mandate in hand. After all the Facebook team fresh from trying to raise money in Dubai have just figured that a reverse into the Yahoo public not-quite shell may be less depressing.

What's the Future of Blogging?

2008-11-18T07:04:00.002Z

Blogging's come a long way thanks to enthusiastic and dangerously prolific amateurs and citizen net-head junkie journalists. But what's the future of the worlds top 500 blogsites? Here goes:

- They'll become increasingly professional, staffed by journalists fallen out of shrinking traditional media outfits.

- Blogging platforms such as Typepad and Blogger will become ever more powerful replicating all but the best online news and media platforms - and,

- Voice blogs will grow as companies like Textic voice enable an increasing number of blogsites.

So for those out of work hacks - get blogging. Or check out new age job sites such as jobopz. I know what I'd do.

Spotify Challenges iTunes

2008-11-17T17:15:00.003Z

The Swedes are at it again. This time they're taking on iTunes with a free, ad based streaming music service called Spotify that also has a premium, a la Real Networks, subscription service. It looks a bit like iTunes - with Web 2.0 bells on.

Spotify have raised a bunch of money (which is no mean feat in this market), bought a ton of music rights and gone live in closed beta (i.e. give 'em your email address and they'll get back to you one day with a free login/code... Zzzzz...).

Their premium service looks a bit pricey, they need to let us know how big their archive is and they need to get beyond closed beta. Other than that it looks cool - check it out!

Jobs Go Social at jobopz.com

2008-11-14T08:10:00.003Z

According to a brand new jobs site - jobopz.com - traditional job seeking sites are too static and controlling. Monster and Hotjobs have basically taken the agency model and applied it online. Time for something different.

So jobopz, a Web 2.0 startup, has decided that jobs should go 'social'. i.e. we should democratize the process by which we find jobs, employers, agencies etc. And communities should be built around careers, cool employers and even cool employees. Each helping the other in the age old cause of finding employ.

jobopz.com is in beta and has decided to treat careers as a cause we can get behind together and help each other develop whether we are actively or passively seeking. Looks timely - check it.

iPhone No1 Selling US Handset

2008-11-12T09:47:00.004Z

The iPhone has just defied gravity - again. In October the iPhone overtook the Razr as the US' No1 selling mobile handset. And in one fell swoop the smartphone has stormed the fashion device. Proving that form and function is the new cellphone reality.

Does this mean that the smartphone category could grow to become half the size of the cellphone market in the Western world? Yep, could be. That rising tide will benefit Apple, Blackberry and Microsoft. And Google's hot on their heels. Nokia could prove a loser.

Apple, yet again, have demonstrated a canny knack for catalyzing consumer tech sectors. Time to hit the TV guys. Oh, and GM could do with just a little help. The iCar?

Travel Writers Launch Wandermelon

2008-11-11T11:04:00.004Z

A group of four travel writers (some also photographers and film dudes) have just launched a brand new travel site called Wandermelon. Why not? It's a mouth watering trip down Internet lane allowing those of us too depressed about the world's collapse to join them (virtually) in ranches, canyons, beaches or any other planetary hideout. Ya.

The site looks like Tyepad on steroids (?) and could perhaps do with some more content and more visual entertainment and interactivity. But one definitely worth watching even if just to make us all realize that we're in the wrong job. We'll keep you posted on this one - site visit? Please.

How Obama should use Social Technology as President

2008-11-10T08:48:00.003Z

Arianna Huffington at the Web 2.0 Summit talked about how effective Obama was in using social media and social networking (aka Web 2.0) to win the Presidential race.

But how should he use the Internet and social tools once in office? His approach should add to the press conference - which is fine for formal, state of the nation announcements and foreign dignitary visits (Zzzz...) - but for a more personal, regular dialogue they should use the Internet. 'On dude.

Twitter and Facebook for weekly updates on government achievements. The Web in general to garner and shape the nations input and feedback on specific policies. And the new tech tzar, kong duder should not only ensure that the US continues its technology leadership position worldwide, but that the administration uses the latest tools and technologies to dramatically alter and improve the way in which the President and his cabinet/teams dialogue and interact with their people.

Shove that in your pipe and smoke it Arianna.

b-uncut.com - Social Networking for Artists

2008-11-07T18:22:00.002Z

b-uncut.com launched last year with the improbable dream of becoming the social network and Web platform for artists around the world. A Facebook for creatives.

Well, it seems to be working. They're growing at a pace - collecting a handful of new artists every day. And some of them are good! Founded by artists, b-uncut allows their members to load artworks, rate each other through a simple yet nifty peer review system, build personal home pages, promote their upcoming shows, video's, playlists and more.

The coolest artists even get featured.

This is one to watch. So for you closet artists - sign on and get creative.

Will Facebook Connect Connect

2008-11-07T16:10:00.002Z

Facebook are about to launch Facebook Connect. This is the beginning of their hub and spoke strategy so that Facebook users can connect their Facebook pages and content/apps to other sites. This is a smack in the chops to Google's approach but one that Facebook feels powerful enough to pull off.

It should work and make Facebook an increasingly important part of our lives. Just - how in dosh name do they plan to make money out of it? No answers form Facebook. Little surprise there - but apparently all's OK 'cos the Facebook CFO is off raising cash in Dubai - or is it Bahrain? Then they can finally kill all the rumors and buy Twitter who by the way have figured out how to make money - corporate twitters. 'Pub time'.

Yahoo Get Dumped Again!

2008-11-06T13:17:00.004Z

The same geniuses @ Yahoo that jilted Microsoft a few sweet (not) months ago have just been dumped by Google. Der frigtards springs to mind. Microsoft they lost over price - $33 a share - which proved to poor for Yang and his mob. Given the markets today that now looks like a, duh, wild deal thrown away.

And now Google have been buzzed by the anti-trust cops which leaves Yahoo with a few less flattering options:

a. tail-between-leggit back to Microsoft,

b. merge with AOL (Aaah!),

c. frig an all share deal with Facebook - yeah right.

So I guess our money's on plan d - new management! Dudes.

Linkedin App Store Scores

2008-11-05T11:08:00.002Z

The Linkedin app store is live n' kickin. It actually works quite well - even though I'm not sure they've thought hard enough about the design and usability of our page once we've loaded an app. Some of them can be annoyingly intrusive.

Features apps include Amamzon's Reading List, Huddle Workspaces, Slideshare, Blog Link and Company Buzz. Most work well and should do the job for the typical profile of a Linkedin user (Zzzzzz....). I can see the myriad of consultants on the site with a desire to soup up their Linkedin pages getting into this - but not busy execs.

Venture guys with time to sit on their hands (given the market) and fear of getting caught on the golf course might as well app doodle - at least it'll look like their working.

Textic Talks

2008-11-04T17:03:00.003Z

We recently came across an innovative software company called Textic based out of little 'ol London - well, actually, Maidenhead.... which for our readers around the world is just left of Heathrow. Anyway, Textic do 'text-to-speech' (yep, talking Websites) in a catchy software-as-a-service wrapper squirted onto a Web server which instantly speech enables any Website - i.e. it yaps its content to you in real time!

They claim that 20% of the population have some kind of problem reading text on computer screens - whether it be sight issues, dyslexia or more and by Textic enabling your site you can support them. Quite a responsible statement. Could it be the Web's equivalent of wheelchair ramps?

Either way Textic are apparently running at a clip, looking at the US and thinking of going mobile. Now that's the future. We'll keep you posted.

Why is Motorola so Stuffed?

2008-10-31T09:44:00.006Z

Motorola announced frighteningly bad results yesterday. Market share, revenues and earnings each caved in. Once the leader of the mobile handset space, they now struggle in 4th place on an anaemic 8% world share.

What went so wrong? Design darling - design. Not since the Razr, launched earlier this century, have they managed to produce any kind of a handset hit. Fashion and design are the key components to the consumer electronics space and Motorola failed on both counts. Frightening. The rest is history.

Their new CEO, recently drafted from Qualcomm (who are not exactly known for their consumer design skills), announced that their future will rest on 3 operating systems - one of which is not surprisingly Google's Android, the latest mobile O/S pin-up.

O/S's are important but design is more important and until Motorola gets back the flair for edgy, sleek, bold, black or silver, ice cool handsets they will keep sinking. Shame - they should have been the Apple of the cellphone space. Too late for that - iPhone.

Asus and Intel Jump on Crowdsourcing Bandwagon

2008-10-30T12:28:00.003Z

Asus (don't even think it) have decided to jump on the crowdsourcing bandwagon by allowing consumers and designers to help them design their next generation of PC's. Crowdsourcing is the latest cool thing on the Internet, whereby a site gathers a network of volunteer designers to help them design their future products - groovey.

Threadless do it for t-shirts, letting a crowd of graphic design design their t-shits online which they then manufacture and sell on - yep, online. Smart cookies. Sites have popped up using crowdsourcing to design car stickers, clothes and more. Asus' attempt, in partnership with Intel, is the latest spin and if you wanna have a go at designing their next PC go to wepc.com. I'm tempted to say these jocks could do with the help. Apple - not!

Motorola Bets On Google's Android

2008-10-29T12:21:00.004Z

Motorola have decided that their survival strategy will hinge upon Google's Android. Nice one for Google - race on for Motorola. Given T-Mobile's decision to move early with HTC's version of the Android - excitingly named G1, they will have to get their's out fast and differentiate hard.

Apparently the Motorola Android will have a similar look and feel to the G1 (yawn) but with a social network spin. i.e. they'll hook directly into Facebook and MySpace. Big surprise.

Motorola's gonna have to be a boatload more design-driven with their Android phone to reverse their fortunes. Think iPhone sex appeal, not G1 functionality. Form over function dudes - not the other way round.

Linkedin Launches App Store

2008-10-29T12:10:00.003Z

Linkedin has gone live with the Web's latest app store! Developer platforms and app stores are the latest Web 2.0 rage across both the fixed and mobile Internet. And Linkedin wants in.

Being the buttoned down, older man of Web 2.0 Linkedin has decided to go with a closed developer platform a la iPhone. Which means those of you wanting to develop the first nude-office-party-photo-competition-app might struggle to get in. Shame.

In the mean time serious app developers should get going and you may even be able to charge for more serious/profound/branded apps. Ooh - money. Mind you Linkedin users will only be allowed to download a total of 15 apps on their page. App gridlock? Na, Linkedin platform constraints.

Windows Azure - 'I'm not a PC'

2008-10-28T15:09:00.004Z

Now that Microsoft have officially announced the launch of Windows 7 and come to the executive decision that 'I'm a PC' - proving why Stevie gets the big bucks - it's back to business and up for something completely different. Windows Azure.

The new operating system and app development environment that screams 'Who Needs a PC?', because, isn't it all just up in the air? Well, sort of. Actually it's stuffed into Microsoft computers in innocuous data centers scattered across Kansas or Missouri or wherever. Meaning Azure may just work better than your PC alone. Do theirs run Vista?

At the least this all proves that Microsoft are as confused and confusing as ever when it comes to explaining new technologies. 'I'm a Mac!'