Category: Internet

Search 2.0: Customize & Refine Your Results Easily

November 28, 2006August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 3 Comments

Searchmashlogo A9logo Last week I pointed out that the easiest way for Google to improve search would be to allow one query to bring up separated results by regular sites, blogs, news, photos, and/or video. I mentioned that the big three for me would be regular search results, blog posts, and news. I’d be able to get pertinent, organized results in one third the time. Why not put in my search query once and get the top 10 results from each category on the same page?

Well, it turns out Google does do some of that through its experimental site SearchMash.com. Though, personally, I’m even more impressed with Amazon’s A9.com, which offers more customizations for even better search results. Here’s how they compare:

Amazon, Do-It-Yourself Tech, Google, Internet, Microsoft, Tech Reviews, Web 2.0

The Easiest Way for Google to Improve Search

November 24, 2006August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell 1 Comment

The tech blogosphere is excited by the findings of Andy Boyd. He has a screen shot of a Google search that shows the search results giving up space for a separate section of blog results (see picture below). Among others, Techcrunch and Google Blogoscoped have their own take on what this means and where it could go.

Here’s my question: Why hasn’t Google done this already? And not only for blog searches but perhaps even for news, pictures, and/or video. The big three, for me at least, would be regular search results, blog posts, and news. I’d say that over half of my searches I do three times. Why not put in my search query once and get the top 10 results from each category on the same page?

Google, Internet, Microsoft, Tech News, Web 2.0, Yahoo

Top 5 Digg-Like Sites Compared & Contrasted (including Digg)

November 20, 2006August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

For an introduction to the concept behind Digg, see A Beginner’s Guide to Community Driven Web Content. This post assumes you know what “Digg-like” means and will dive into the pros and cons / advantages and disadvantages of the top 5 Digg-like sites (read: community driven web content sites; it’s just easier to say Digg-like). The sites to be compared are Digg, Netscape, Reddit, Newsvine, and Shoutwire.

Do-It-Yourself Tech, Internet, Tech Reviews, Web 2.0

A Beginner’s Guide to Community Driven Web Content

November 20, 2006August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell 5 Comments

Back in the day (like two years ago), “browsing” the Internet for news and information was usually limited to using search engines for finding something specific you needed or checking out your favorite sources for the latest news and stories. But that was/is problematic for two reasons: 1) search engines are calculated and cold and don’t always lead you to what you want 2) sticking to a few favorite sources narrows your exposure to what’s really happening around the world both on and offline.

Do-It-Yourself Tech, Internet, Web 2.0

The Economist.com on People “Quitting Their Day Jobs to Blog for a Living”

November 17, 2006August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

Economist_1 The well respected Economist.com (subscription required) released an article today called Going Pro with a subtitle of More people are quitting their day jobs to blog for a living. The article claims that there used to be only two types of blogs: personal diaries with tiny audiences (and no interest in advertising) and niche magazines explicitly run as businesses, quoting Jason Calacanis (the Engadget / Weblogs Inc. guy) claiming such blogs are “the most profitable media business today.” But the Economist explains that a third category is on the rise: “mom-and-pop” blogs.

Internet, Tech News, Web 2.0

Paid Blogging Revisted: ReviewMe

November 11, 2006August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell 11 Comments

Reviewmelogo_1 ReviewMe is a new online service that is in the business of paying bloggers (like myself) to review products or services. The company is owned by Text Links Ads, which was recently acquired by MediaWhiz. I only mention this because both companies are fairly well respected and give the automatically-labeled-as-controversial new business ReviewMe some much needed support.

Internet, Tech News, Tech Reviews, Web 2.0

Hell.com Fails to Sell During Live Auction

October 28, 2006August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell No Comments

Not surprisingly, Hell.com failed to have any bids placed above the $2.3 million reserve set by the seller at a live auction on Friday. Bids were apparently above $500,000 but still a far cry from the $2.3 million minimum. Personally, I would have taken the $500,000, especially considering the site is only getting around 5,000 hits a day with whatever hell-driven community is there (which would translate to significantly less than $500,000 in ad revenue by practically any calculation). But some other names did sell:

Internet, Tech News

YouTube Is Now a Verb And an Adjective

October 17, 2006August 19, 2008 Bob Caswell 4 Comments

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) explains how YouTube is following in the steps of Google and TiVo: It’s now a verb and an adjective. Politicians are calling this midterm election “the first YouTube election.” They are posting videos to YouTube that show their opponents’ less-than-impressive moments. Never before have we had such an easy way to see politicians using insulting racial terms or falling asleep at hearings. But it gets better…

Google, Internet, Media, Web 2.0