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October 2005 - Posts

Substandard user experiences, by default

I've in been in rant mode the last couple of days , not just writing them, but have enjoyed reading them too. Here's a good rant by Mark Baartse - 'the fault of defaults' is all about how crap user exepriences (that's the technical term) in software are Read More...
Posted Monday, October 31, 2005 5:05 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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'Microsoft Needs to Say No to Web 2.0'

I simply have to have a quick rant regarding Mary Jo Foley's best anti-Web 2.0 shot : "Redmond is looking to extend its applications with Web-based services. But that's as much Web 2.0-ness as Microsoft needs. Microsoft wants, in the worst way, to be Read More...
Posted Monday, October 31, 2005 12:42 PM by alexbarn | 3 Comments

RSS usability (again)

Robert is getting aggravated (aggregated?) by all the various RSS subscription logos cropping up everywhere. I have all the logos on my blog (or a lot at least). Why? Because the vast majority of those that use RSS don’t event know it . I agree with Kevin Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 30, 2005 3:46 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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opmlmanager.com - I like it a lot

I want to let you know of a brand new OPML service that's gone 'tentatively live' but is worth checking out if you are playing with OPML. Created by Bernard Flach and Peter Overbleeke the service is called opmlmanager.com and I like it a lot. I've had Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 30, 2005 10:54 AM by alexbarn | 4 Comments
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Make Firefox Look Like Internet Explorer

Make Firefox Look Like Internet Explorer . Why? 'cause you can. (alt. reason for me: when I'm presenting demos to the VPs I don't *have* to switch to IE ;-) via Digg . Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 29, 2005 11:03 PM by alexbarn | 4 Comments
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Yet another positive of having a deaf ear

Further to my ealier post providing thoughts on the bright side of being deaf in one ear , George (who'd been conscripted to go the Greek army for the next 9 months) brings us news that there is yet another positive side to this auditory ailment: "Something Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 29, 2005 3:25 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments

Seattle Mind Camp OPML (Validated)

I've created my first 'OPML Validated' OPML file. Whee! Its a collection of RSS feeds I've crawled around for blogs/sites of attendees going to next week's Seattle Mind Camp , the brainchild of Andru Edwards (featured in today's Seattle PI ). I'm going, Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 29, 2005 3:04 PM by alexbarn | 15 Comments
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Sometimes I just don't know why things are the way they are

(Weekend rant, off topic:) Sometimes I just don't know why things are the way they are. About a month ago I needed to hire a car while doing business in the UK. As part of filling out the paper work I was asked to provide my driving license. I provided Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:42 AM by alexbarn | 5 Comments

The variation of seven

Below is a picture of the IE team. Not all of them, just those based at the India Develoment Center (IDC) . Apart from their lovely smiles, I noticed something completely trivial about this picture - the number of different ways each has chosen to symbolize Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 29, 2005 7:02 AM by alexbarn | 8 Comments
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MSDN and Microsoft.com years ago

Trip down memory lane anyone? - 9 years ago...(sorry, these links seem to work intermittently) MSDN Online (hey look - 'Personalization' !) Microsoft.com (hey look - 'select your country' ) - 5 years ago MSDN Online (hey look, 'Customize!) Microsoft.com Read More...
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 7:53 PM by alexbarn | 8 Comments
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recommendation systems + tagging = ?

In the first of a series of posts, Rachmi Sinha explores the progress made in the realm of collaborative filtering, recommendation systems and the implications of tagging: "So are tags and collaborative filtering a marriage made in heaven? It's a promising Read More...
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 5:54 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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ClearType improvises your accuteness at cognicating worlds

ClearType improvises your accuteness at cognicating worlds. Hear . Read More...
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 5:40 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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OPML Validator - beta

Davie Winer releases a beta of OPML Validator. . "Because it's a beta, you shouldn't depend on the results." Read More...
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 5:20 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Digg (the 'Slashdot killer') receives $2.8m

John Tintle : Today it is being reported that Internet start-up company, Digg ( digg.com ) has received 2.8 million dollars in venture capital from some big-name investors, including Omidyar Network, the outfit led by eBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar, Netscape Read More...
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 4:43 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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How to Hack RSS and Atom Feeds

Useful intro article: How to Hack RSS and Atom Feeds "How To: From the ExtremeTech book, Hacking RSS and Atom , we give you the scoop on RSS and Atom Feeds, and explain how to build an aggregator, route feeds to your inbox, and subscribe to multimedia Read More...
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 3:06 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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Search Engine for sale on eBay ++ Update - sold for $101,000

Remember this ? The search engine was was finally sold for $101,000 yesterday on eBay. Via Loren Baker . Read More...
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 8:08 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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the Blogosphere in 2010

Dave Pollard crunched the numbers : "1. By 2010, the blogosphere will be read in aggregate as much as the American press. 2. We will have to produce 30 times as much as the American press, to get the same readership . 3. Even if current growth continues, Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 27, 2005 11:24 PM by alexbarn | 3 Comments
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I have no idea what this means

Dan Farber : "Gartner makes a prediction that by 2015, over 100 leading companies will have made or saved at least $10 million due to networked creative intelligence, which leverages virtual communities to create new sources of information and value. Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 27, 2005 9:03 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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you say 'potato', she says 'vegetable', I say 'ingredient'

Metadata is a funny thing. It is one of those topics (subjects?) that gets people to froth at the mouth from time to time. The reason it seems to wind people up so much (at least those in the business of making information navigable) is that we're all Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 27, 2005 7:43 AM by alexbarn | 4 Comments
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Into the bubble 2.0: Proceed with caution

Henry Blodget (who was at the heart of the last dotcom bubble ) advises we all proceed with caution in a Guardian article today : "So why can't we all load the boat with net stocks, make back the money we lost five years ago, and retire rich? Why can't Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 27, 2005 6:21 AM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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Xbox 360 for Dummies

Duncan Mackenzie points to Xbox 360 for Dummies . Topics covered include hooking up Xbox 360, taking advantage of HDTV and Dolby capabilities, using built-in digital video recording and wireless functions (see comments below), storing media files, playing Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 27, 2005 6:07 AM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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How to report splogs and RSS spam

Nicole Lee at Wired urges us all to fight the splogs and RSS spam (RSSpam?): "... for the community's sake, when you notice a splog -- report it. If the splog is on Blogger, you can easily report it by clicking the Flag button on the top right corner Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 27, 2005 5:46 AM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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Telepathethic?

Robert Scoble made me laugh out loud today: "Tim O’Reilly is sitting next to me. For the past hour he was typing furiously. So, I just visited his blog to read what he was writing." It reminds me of story I was told last week. Someone (not from my workplace) Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:31 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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no smoke and mirrors, just 606 takes

James Torio points to a simply stunning Honda TV ad . Not new, but if you've not seen it you really should. After seeing the ad you may very conclude that there is some cgi giggery-pokery going on. As James explains, no smoke and mirrors were involved, Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2005 9:30 PM by alexbarn | 3 Comments
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Microsoft, microsoft

John Carroll : "Microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft, microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft-microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft. Microsoft microsoft microsoft microsoft Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2005 8:59 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Map Chat

Ajax blog : "If you really want to see a cool “Web 2.0" application, look no further than this sweet visual world / global chat system built by The Midnight Coders . It pretty much freaking rocks." Midnight Coders: "...demonstrates bi-directional messaging Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 26, 2005 8:21 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments

'But, does the developer get it ?'

Andrew Anderson : "Like a lot of people, I am kind of sick about hearing about "Web 2.0". Between the hype and people forcing the definition towards whatever they want it to mean, like most buzzwords it is starting to mean nothing. I think the real question Read More...
Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:30 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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Food UI

Food UI . "the consensus was that the UI (user interface) of the food was poor." Read More...
Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2005 6:27 AM by alexbarn | 1 Comments

I remix, therefore I am

Charlene Li has posted a link to a series of videos of presentations given at the Consumer Forum event in NYC about how companies can tap into social computing . This is my pick: " Charlene Li: "Social Computing -- Bubble or Big Deal?" (29 min. 38 sec.) Read More...
Posted Tuesday, October 25, 2005 5:50 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments

Who's your blog daddy?

Who's your blog daddy? Good question. There were some crazies blogging years ago at my old work place. But I remember following Steve Bowbrick and *hoping* I'd one day be linked to by him. And he did - I was so happy. So I'll have to call him my Blog Read More...
Posted Monday, October 24, 2005 10:44 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Innovation is happening again

Don Dodge (from Microsoft's Emerging Business Team): "The last 4 years have been brutal, but innovation is happening again. Lots of new companies are emerging and you can feel the excitement again. VCs are investing again. Life is good.The innovations Read More...
Posted Monday, October 24, 2005 10:28 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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'a renaissance'

Chris Pirillo, I say to you, what an excellent post ! : "What we're in the middle of is not a version update - it's a renaissance , and that's what it should be called (if anything): A rebirth or revival. A revival of intellectual or artistic achievement Read More...
Posted Monday, October 24, 2005 9:42 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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Del.icio.us offers keyword search

Niall Kennedy : " Del.icio.us now offers keyword search for its database of annotated bookmarks. Every search result page includes a list of related tags, providing an interesting snapshot of how the universe of del.icio.us users classifies you and your Read More...
Posted Monday, October 24, 2005 6:51 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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The world is going to blow up. Discuss.

IT Conversations : " In this keynote address from Accelerating Change 2005, Vernor Vinge discusses the potential for a "technological singularity" - the event at which the creation of artificial superhuman intelligence changes the world so dramatically Read More...
Posted Monday, October 24, 2005 6:19 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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top 17 slashdot sigs

For some reason I've been collecting slashdot sigs I like over the last few months. Here is my top 17 in no particular order: top 17 /. sigs according to me: This frog goes for a job interview, and the manager says "So you worked in a shipyard, what did Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 23, 2005 11:41 AM by alexbarn | 3 Comments
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No Xbox Live tomorrow, upgrading for Xbox 360

Via Inside Microsoft : "Microsoft has announced a planned single day closure of its online console gaming service Xbox Live and the associated Xbox.com website, in order to make changes in preparation for the Xbox 360 launch. Scheduled for October 24th Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 23, 2005 12:02 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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It is possible to be a Web 2.0 enthusiast and be cynical of the dotcom Bubble mentality?

Richard , I ask: It is possible to be a Web 2.0 enthusiast and be cynical of the dotcom Bubble mentality? I'd say yes. And that's where I'm coming from. I read what you wrote: " The serious and worrying thing for me is that I'm writing a book about Web Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 22, 2005 10:21 PM by alexbarn | 3 Comments
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More listening (markets really are conversations)

Further proof on the ' markets really are conversations ' front. I got this email today: "You reported on the Google Maps Demographic site that we in association with SRC authored back in September and lamented that there was no comparative Virtual Earth Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 22, 2005 4:59 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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R2-D2 Case Mod

I have to get my 4-year-old son one of these R2-D2 Case Mods . (not me of course - I'm faaar too mature to want one of these). Read More...
Posted Friday, October 21, 2005 3:41 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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introducing it

introducing it . via Business2.0blog Read More...
Posted Friday, October 21, 2005 3:29 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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GANs - Global Area Networks

You've heard of LANs, (Local Area Networks) and you've probably heard of WANs (Wide Area Networks). But have you heard of GANs (Global Area Networks)? You have now, and they're coming our way.. Wired : "Telecom giant Inmarsat is weeks away from launching Read More...
Posted Friday, October 21, 2005 11:03 AM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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How online applications model human behaviour

Joshua Porter has been recently exploring the notion of how online applications model human behaviour: "An interesting line from the founder of Memeorandum , Gabe Rivera: “If you read blogs, you know that there is this conversation and that some articles Read More...
Posted Friday, October 21, 2005 10:41 AM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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Friday Web 2.0 tickles

Bubble 2.0 blog has rendered a new version of the Web 2.0 Meme Map . It tickled me. Via Pete Cashmore . In the meantime we have Dan Grossman, confirms a bubble is forming: "While most of us fully understand both the theory underlying investment bubbles Read More...
Posted Friday, October 21, 2005 10:22 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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RSS feeds: concise summaries or vague excerpts?

Bill Higgins on RSS feeds, concise summaries and vague excerpts: "Maybe it's just me, but frequently reading the short form of a blog entry, there's not enough there to even determine if I should follow the link and read more." Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 20, 2005 11:25 PM by alexbarn | 4 Comments
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WTF is Web 2.0? Web 2.0 = Bubble

Robert Margel emailed me earlier this week. He asked me a question, something along the lines of "so WTF is web 2.0. I keep seeing you mention it in your blog but WTF is it???" . Rob, good question. I'm going to answer by way of a series of posts, because Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 20, 2005 10:48 PM by alexbarn | 4 Comments
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Do a screencast, fly to NYC or Boston or Philadelphia or Washington D.C or...

Thom Robbins : "Are you a video jockey! Create a screencast starring Microsoft Visual Studio Team System, Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005 or Biztalk Server 2006… and you! I am happy to announce that the East Region Evangelism Team and TechSmith have Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 20, 2005 9:44 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Video: Windows Vista Sidebar and Gadgets

Robert Scoble has posted video on Channel 9 : " Sidebar lives! But it's even better, here Sean Alexander , David Streams, and special guest Sanaz Ahari of the Start.com team, demonstrate the new sidebar and gadgets that come in Windows Vista . Plus, we Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 20, 2005 9:26 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Saw this tagspam today :-(

Saw this tagspam today :-( Not good . Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 10:58 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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5 bln txt msgs snt inda us mntly

5 bln txt msgs snt inda us mntly . datsa lotov txt. Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 9:26 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Search Engine for sale on eBay ++ Update

Yesterday I posted about this search engine up for sale on eBay. It started at a dollar, and at the time of posting yesterday it edged up to $511. As of now the bid is at $26,000 . Now, where did I put those bubbles ... Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 8:04 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments

Geek Dinner in London with Molly Holzschlag

I won't be to make this Geek Dinner (London, Nov 24th) organised by Ian Forrester . I wish I was. Molly Holzschlag is the guest of honour who is on the steering committee member for the Web Standards Project (WaSP). Molly's working closely with a number Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 7:48 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Windows Media Connect 2.0 released

Sean Alexander has a great blog covering digital media. Sean is a Group Program Manager at Microsoft focussed on Windows Vista consumer market. He's just posted the news that Windows Media Connect 2.0 has released and is now available for download : "The Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 5:38 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Coat Idol

Coat Idol. It's all a little weird . (del.icio.us/tag/coatidol) Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 5:04 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Microsoft simplifies code-sharing plan

ZDNet: " Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative is a program to allow third parties, such as other software companies and large customers, to see portions of Microsoft source code. Viewing the code enables other companies to create closer integration with Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 7:42 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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125 APIs and counting

WSFinder: 125 APIs and counting . Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 7:34 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Mini-AOL: 'now just do it'

Mini-AOL : "Since AOL bought Weblogs Inc. they now have made a large enough "wave" to get noticed. This ontop of the Dating Game that everyone seems to be playing with AOL seems to be getting AOL quite a bit of attention lately. However now AOL has seemed Read More...
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2005 6:35 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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7 reasons 2006 will be a big year for OPML

Following on from Christian Vidmar 's prediction regarding OPML earlier this week... "I agree with Alex Barnett :2006 will be a big year for OPML. The format is getting more and more traction, ideas start to flow and applications are just around the corner. Read More...
Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2005 8:51 PM by alexbarn | 5 Comments
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Two good, short, sensible essays on the topic of Web 2.0 businesses

Umair Haque has posted a couple of good, short, sensible essays (hard to find these days ;-) on the topic of Web 2.0. The Problems With Web 2.0, pt 1: Geeks vs Droids "I think what smart players will do is look to drive growth through alliances which Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 8:40 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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'The best way to get attention is to give it.'

Terry Heaton , from " All I really need to know I learned in the blogosphere " : "The best way to get attention is to give it." Tags: Attention Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 8:22 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Is Slashdot losing its edge to digg.com?

Is Slashdot losing its edge to digg.com ? Andy says yes , I agree. Technorati tags: blogs , slashdot , digg Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 8:16 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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Microsoft's WSYP (We Share Your Pain)

Microsoft TechNet UK team has made a video I saw internally a couple of weeks ago, reasonably amusing: Microsoft's WSYP (We Share Your Pain) ... Passport required. Via Mitch Tulloch . Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 7:47 PM by alexbarn | 4 Comments
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Search Engine for sale on eBay, starting price is 1 cent.

Search Engine for sale on eBay, starting price is 1 cent . I've just looked and the current bid is $511 . I'm not saying there's a bubble or anything .... Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 7:23 PM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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Philip and I were chatting

Philip and I were chatting on IM about some crap so he decided to post it up . I don't know which of us is the less wise. Him posting it or me blogging it. Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 6:31 PM by alexbarn | 3 Comments
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Dave Winer on Nerd TV

I'm a big fan of Dave Winer . He's pioneered a number of technologies that have helped tranform the shape of the internet including SOAP , XML-RPC , RSS , OPML and podcasting (watch out on the OPML front, I think 2006 will be a big year for this) and Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 6:08 AM by alexbarn | 2 Comments
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Goldman Sachs: Internet IPO Market Is Back

Techdirt : " The signs of the new bubble are coming fast and furious these days. Startups are getting money they don't want or need , buyouts are starting to happen, and now Wall Street has woken up. Goldman Sachs has declared from atop the mountain that Read More...
Posted Monday, October 17, 2005 5:39 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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Unknown unknowns

Unknown unknowns . (on my other blog) Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 16, 2005 8:13 PM by alexbarn | 1 Comments

Virtual Earth hacks, the video

Robert Scoble has uploaded a pretty cool Virtual Earth video onto Channel 9: " recently we invited some of the best map hackers onto campus to show us how it's done." (See more of my Web 2.0 or MSN API posts or others' at Technorati Web 2.0 or MSN Virtual Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 16, 2005 4:06 PM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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This splog thing is getting totally out of hand.

This splog thing is getting totally out of hand . My rss reader is getting crapped in too . Blogspot: please sort this out :-( It is doing Terry's head in too . In fact, this is becoming one big splog crapfest . Update : Chris has just uploaded a screencast Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 16, 2005 10:07 AM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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Web 2.0: The Desktop / Web Mash-ups

Nick Bradbury thinks it is time for some minor revisions to Web 2.0, and posts Web 2.01 Release Notes . I'd like to highlight the points he makes regarding the web vs. desktop and share some further thoughts on this topic (below): " WEB 2.01 RELEASE NOTES Read More...
Posted Sunday, October 16, 2005 7:27 AM by alexbarn | 1 Comments
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Markets *really* are conversations

Since the publication of the Cluetrain Manifesto , the phrase 'markets are conversations' has been cited widely. In the last two weeks I've been reminded on three separate occasions about how these market conversations are happening, quite literally. Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 15, 2005 10:50 AM by alexbarn | 8 Comments
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His data, his interfaces.

John Dowell (of Macromedia) has a nice little rant for the weekend: "It's my data -- I want my record under my physical control as much as possible. I don't want to spend more time decrypting your interface than I do in determining what I want. The website/webapp Read More...
Posted Saturday, October 15, 2005 7:26 AM by alexbarn | 0 Comments
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10 Steps to a Hugely Successful Web 2. Company

James points to " 10 Steps to a Hugely Successful Web 2. Company ". As soon as I find "10 Ways to Blow Up an Hugely Enormous Bubble " I'll post it here ;-) Read More...
Posted Friday, October 14, 2005 7:22 AM by