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Filed under: Utilities, Features, Web services, Social Software, Search, web 2.0

Twine reaches 1.0, opens to public


Twine Overview from Twine Official on Vimeo

Almost exactly one year ago, we wrote about Twine, a social network built on the semantic web. After expanding the private beta back in March, the Twine team has spent the last eight months really working on site usability, interface and performance. Today, Twine 1.0 is officially out of beta and open to the public.

I had a chance to talk to Nova Spivack, the CEO and founder of Radar Networks-- the company behind Twine -- last week and he walked me through the service. I have to say, as someone who was intrigued by the idea of Twine before, but frustrated by its interface, the new Twine kicks ass.

Twine describes itself as an "interest network," you could also call it a semantic web portal. I like to think of it like Delicious on crack. Like Delicious, and Stumble Upon and to a lesser extent, Digg, Twine is a way to manage and share links of interest. Unlike those services, Twine will also work to scour the web for information related to your interests and can help organize information into more useful snippets.

Gallery: Twine 1.0

  • Twine Home
  • Profile
  • Interest Feed
  • Explore
  • Bookmarklet

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Filed under: News, Social Software, web 2.0

Facebook added comments to the mini-feed. Add a new comment?

Facebook feed comments
Facebook is at it again, rolling out features in advance of the redesign we've been hearing so much about. The latest addition is comments in the mini-feed. Now when you find out that "Ashley changed her profile picture" you can click a little + icon next to that item and add a comment. This doesn't go for all mini-feed items: it seems to be only for profile and status changes. At least you can't comment on a mini-feed item about someone's comment (yet.)

Well, ok. It's one more way of communicating on Facebook, but what does it imply about the future of the wall? What used to be the main point of communication is now one of many, with photo comments, mini-feed comments and messages all in the mix. Will more places to comment make things easier for users? On the plus side for Facebook, users will stay on the site a few seconds longer to check one more place for comments, but is it a plus for you? Weigh in with your comments about comments.

Filed under: Internet, Video, web 2.0

Download Squad talks Data Portability at SXSW


Download Squad talks to Chris Saad of Dataportability.org from Download Squad on Vimeo.


We've written about the DataPortability Project before (we even linked to a video explaining the concept) but at SXSWi 2008 we were lucky enough to talk about the project with co-founder and chairperson, Chris Saad. The project is still in the early stages of development, but the premise is powerful and the momentum that has taken place in just the last 90 days is extremely impressive.

Filed under: Web services, Social Software

Mzinga : What enterprise companies don't know about social media


Enterprise companies fall into two camps; those who are competent in the social media space, and those who aren't. Mzinga aims to bring competency to enterprise social engagement. I caught up with Aaron Strout on Mzinga in the hallway at a rockin SXSW, and he gave us the low down on what enterprise users need to know now about managing their social face in the future.

Filed under: Internet, Video, Blogging, Social Software, Beta, web 2.0

I uses Poodz. Srsly. 'Scuse mah French, plz.

I can has Poodz screenshot. KthxbyeForgive us, great Ceiling Cat. We discovered the only way you can even attempt to introduce a service called Poodz is to use LOLspeak. And even then... we're totally fearing for our mortal souls.

Poodz (oh come on, stop giggling) is a microblogging service. Clear on that? Yeah, we weren't entirely sure what microblogging was either, but since a few of us here are pretty short, we decided to check it out..

Turns out there are no height restrictions with a microblog. Truth be told, we still don't really know what a microblog is as opposed to a plain ol' videoblog. That's what Poodz is, when it's all boiled down.

It's kind of a Twitter-esque, YouTubey, Facebook-infused service. It's kind of like Seesmic in a way. Well, actually, in a lot of ways. From country of origin to general functionality and concept it is, there's no denying, a lot like Seesmic.

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Filed under: Internet, Blogging, Web services, Social Software

Ning is pro-freedom, and porn agnostic

Marc Andreessen of Ning is our hero. Ning, the online platform that allows users to create and maintain their own social networks, seems to have a few naughtier communities its midst. We'd be more shocked to hear it didn't, quite frankly. This is the internet, after all.

Some do find it surprising, however. Enough people, in fact, that Andreessen issued a statement on his blog today.

Andreessen's response is calm and well-argued. The short version: People who violate the terms of service will be dealt with accordingly. People who do things that are outright illegal will be reported to the authorities. He isn't, as he puts it, "pro-porn" but is "pro-freedom."

The Ning blog outlines a little bit about the "Red Light District." Adult-oriented sites must have warning pages, and must not appear in the search results on Ning.com. Additional tips are given on keeping non-adult sites free of racier material.

Interestingly enough, some of the high-traffic sites that Valleywag pegged as being pornographic simply aren't. (We will warn you some are, so if you're not supposed to be checking out that type of site for whatever reason, don't.) The most noticeable mis-categorization: GirlonGirl, a site where you can vote for the sexiest (fully clothed) girl. The other? Pomoworld, which looks a bit like Pornoworld if you squint. It's dedicated to a post-modernistic lifestyle.

Cheers to Andreessen and Ning for taking a position on the issue, and explaining that position like a rational (dare we say it?) adult.

[via blog.pmarca.com]

Filed under: Social Software, web 2.0

Social networks go a little too far at Pet Files


Christmas Eve 2007 will live in infamy as the day social networking went too far for us. We woke up this morning, not to the sounds of Christmas music, or the sight of brightly wrapped presents under our tree but, to a press release from Pet Files, a social network for pets. Pet Files lets you build unlimited pet profile pages, publish unlimited photos and videos of your pets, along with several other features we find infinitely baffling.

We love our pets, don't get us wrong, but unless Fluffy learns to type and masters the English language, Pet Files misses the mark for us. We burn far too much time on social networking sites promoting ourselves as it is. Even if everyone got together and slowed down the planet, adding several additional hours to the day which we could use to keep up with social networks, we'd be hard pressed to burn those extra hours in our day making e-friends on Fluffy's behalf.

Filed under: Social Software

Open Web Awards : Mainstream and Large Scale Networks

As we've mentioned previously, Download Squad is participating in the Open Web Awards. It's kinda like the Oscars, except you pick, not that stuffy academy. Oh, and it has nothing to do with movies. Well, that and there won't be any ridiculously long acceptance speeches where people forget to thank their dad, but remember to thank their mom. But, aside from those minor details, it's exactly like the Oscars.

The first round of voting opens tonight. Take the jump to cast your vote.

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Filed under: Web services, Social Software

Social networking goes geriatric

So, your octogenarian parents or grandparents may not be clued in to Facebook, or Myspace but, a new player in the field is hoping to capitalize on just that segment of the market. Grandparents.com, launching in fall, promises to provide grandkid friendly activities, travel ideas, expert tips on grand-parenting and a social networking component which allows granpap and nana to share experiences with others.

Currently the site offers a frequent newsletter to entice would be subscribers to stay in touch while the polish is applied to the final product.

Featured Time Waster

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

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