by 5 people |
The good, the bad, and the ugly of Web 2.0.
Discussion and reviews of the applications and services, and what they mean to you.
What is it?
Say what?
OK, in simpler terms.So...what is Web 2.0 and what can it do for you?
We take the Internet for granted these days, as if it had always existed. Hard to believe it was created around 1990
In the early days of the Internet, it was pretty much a one-way street. The average user could view information, but not "interact" with it. Web pages were not reciprocal. You couldn't comment on, or challenge what was on the page you were reading. The average person didn't have the means to generate content for the web.
Then along came Web 2.0.
New technologies such as weblogs, social bookmarking, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds (and other forms of many-to-many publishing), social software, Web APIs, Web standards and online Web services caused a significant change in web usage.
Suddenly, the average people had the ability to put their own thoughts and ideas on the Internet.
Now we find ourselves overwhelmed with choices! Do I blog? If I do, what platform do I use? What's a platform, anyway? What is Digg? Delicious? Is MySpace just for teenagers?
I'll try to give you straightforward answers, and ask for your opinion on what works best.
Blogging
The word "blog" is a condensed form of "web log" - an online diary that is updated regularly. A blog (short for web log) is a website where entries are written in chronological order and displayed in reverse chronological order.Blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on photographs ((a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoblog">photoblog), videos (vlog), music (MP3 blog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media.
"Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
In May 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 71 million blogs.
MY OPINION:
For a beginner, Blogger is easiest.
If you want to look more professional or be taken as a serious blogger, use Wordpress. I find Wordpress difficult, but am lucky enough to have friends who help me with the coding - LOL
You can vote for your favorite or add another platform below.
Blog Platforms
A blogging "platform" means what system you use as a blog-publishing tool. There are some blog platforms that are free, and others that require a fee. Below is a list of blogging platforms that you can rate. If you don't see your favorite here, you can add it to the list!
Different blogging platforms offer different levels of service. Some like Blogger.com and WordPress.com offer both the platform, domain name and hosting for free. Others like Wordpress.org (note this is different to WordPress.com) offer the platform for free but you then need to find and pay for your own hosting and domain name. Others still, like MovableType charge for a license for the platform (depending how many blogs you have and whether they will have a commercial, personal, educational or not-for-profit use - they do also have a free version) and then you need to arrange and pay for your own domain name and hosting.
http://myspace.com
1 point
http://blogger.com
1 point
Books About Web 2.0
Web 2.0 Heroes: Interviews with 20 Web 2.0 Influencers
Amazon Price: $11.64 (as of 07/12/2009) 
Using Web 2.0 Tools in the K-12 Classroom
Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 07/12/2009)
Wired for Learning: An Educators Guide to Web 2.0 (PB)
Amazon Price: $41.39 (as of 07/12/2009)
CafePress
You can make t-shirts, mugs and dozens of other items customized with your own designs and sell them through this site. It's a great way to make some extra money or make products for promotion.
CafePress handles all of the merchandise - you just upload a picture and choose what products to have it printed on. They will manufacture and ship the items for you.
I like using CafePress. It's fun to make designs - you don't even need artwork - you can use text, like a funny quote!
It's a great way to earn some exra money!
Directory
eBay
Buy and sell electronics, cars, clothing, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods, digital cameras, and everything else on eBay, the world's online auction.
eBay isn't hard to use as a buyer or a seller. I've done both - it's a fun way to make some money or find a bargain!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Flickr
Flickr is a photo-sharing site. You can take digital pictures that are stored on your computer, and upload them to the website. You can store them safely there (in case your computer crashes) and you can share them with other people.
There are also groups, where you can meet people with similar interests and have discussions.
I love Flickr! It is easy to use, has both free and pro accounts, and is a great way to store and share your photos.
Wayne Liew at Nation...
Μηχανικός 2...
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GapingVoid Cartoons
Insightful and irreverent cartoons drawn on the back of business cards.
Latest Media Mentions of Web 2.0
- Is Digg the Jan Brady of Web 2.0?
- NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Digg, the once-hot social news website, has become the middle child of the pre...
- China blocks Twitter, Facebook, most Web 2.0
- ... to find internal monitoring a simple task, however, compared with the monolithic task of filtrat...
- With boost from Obama, Web 2.0 government takes off
- Web 2.0 government is making it easier for citizens to download and search data, slice it and dice i...
- How To Search Engine Optimize (SEO) an AJAX or Web 2.0 Site
- Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) is an advanced web development method which can be used to cr...
Mashable
With in excess of 4 million monthly pageviews, Mashable is the world's largest blog focused exclusively on social networks.
What does that mean? It means sites like MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, hi5, Piczo, Bebo and YouTube.
If you're launching a new social network, or a tool that plugs into MySpace and the rest, Mashable wants to know!
Mashable is written by Pete Cashmore, a new media expert. It ranks among the Top 100 blogs worldwide.
I just signed up, and am finding a lot of fascinating people! Look into it for a new way to network!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySlashdot
- Is Cataclysm the Next World of Warcraft Expansion?
- ajs writes "There has been no official announcement yet, but a number of moves by Blizzard Entertain...
- Robotic Glider Set To Break Autonomous Flight Records
- SoaringIsAwesome writes "Dan Edwards, a student at NC State University, is attempting to break two r...
- Swearing Provides Pain Relief, Say Scientists
- Hugh Pickens writes "Scientific American reports that although cursing is notoriously decried in the...
Seth Godin's Blog
Squidoo
Squidoo is where you are right now!Squidoo is a unique site where you can bring together information about a single subject from dozens of different sources.
The pages that users build are called "lenses" because they "focus" attention on a single subject. They are put together with building blocks called "modules".
You don't need any special training to build a lens, and yo can earn money for yourself or your favorite charity.
The site gets great traffic and is a terrific way to promote your blog, book or business!
Social Networking
In these communities, an initial set of founders sends out messages inviting members of their own personal networks to join the site. New members repeat the process, growing the total number of members and links in the network. Sites then offer features such as automatic address book updates, viewable profiles, the ability to form new links through "introduction services," and other forms of online social connections.
http://43things.com
43things.com is a social networking site that is b more...1 point
Classmates - High School Military College Reunions - Find Old Friends - Search for People - Class Reunion
With over 40 million members from over 200,000 hig more...1 point
Twitter: What are you doing?
Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging more...1 point
StumbleUpon » Welcome to StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon is the best way to discover great webs more...1 point
Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking is a way for internet users to store, classify, share and search Internet bookmarks. On a social bookmarking system or network, users store lists of Internet resources that they find useful. These lists can be accessible to the public by users of a specific network or website. Other users with similar interests can view the links by topic, category, tags, or even randomly.
Other than web page bookmarks, services specialized to a specific subject or format - feeds, books, videos, music, shopping items, map locations, wineries, etc. - can be found.
Below is a list of social bookmarking sites that you can rate. If you have a favorite that isn't listed, you can add it!
del.icio.us
A social bookmarks manager. Using bookmarklets, y more...1 point
reddit.com: what's new online
Reddit is a social bookmarking website where users more...1 point
http://digg.com
Digg is all about user powered content. Everythin more...1 point
http://www.stumbleupon.com/
Channel surf the internet with the StumbleUpon too more...1 point
YouTube
Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us
Final version now available! http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g http://mediatedcultures.net Web 2.0 in just under 5 minutes. This is the 2nd draft, and I plan on doing one more final draft. Please leave comments on what could be changed or improved, or what needs to be excluded or included. Subscribe if you want to be notified when the revision is released. UPDATE: I just added this video to Mojiti where you can actually write your comments into the video itself. It is an exciting experiment in "Video 2.0". Go check it out at http://mojiti.com/kan/2024/3313 and add your voice! Transcripts are now available as well: http://mediatedcultures.net/ksudigg/?p=78 A couple of people have noted that the statement, "XML was created to do just that" (separate form from content) is misleading because CSS enables the same effect with HTML. I tried to integrate CSS into the video, but it ruined the flow. Perhaps in the next draft. My statement on XML is based on the following from xml.com: "In order to appreciate XML, it is important to understand why it was created. XML was created so that richly structured documents could be used over the web. The only viable alternatives, HTML and SGML, are not practical for this purpose. HTML, as we've already discussed, comes bound with a set of semantics and does not provide arbitrary structure." Thank you all for the comments. With your help the next draft will be cleaned up and hopefully free of factual errors. A higher quality version is available for download here: http://www.mediafire.com/?6duzg3zioyd Please note that this is the second draft and the final version will not be available until late February after I review all comments and revise the video. Please return for a new download link at that time. The song is "There's Nothing Impossible" by Deus, available for free at http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/103/ Deus offers music under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 license, yet one more example of the interlinking of people sharing and collaborating this video is attempting to illustrate. CC: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ Michael Wesch Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology Kansas State University
Wired News
- Video: Hands on With the Vibram FiveFingers "Footglove"
- We review the Vibram FiveFingers, a creepy looking "footglove" designed to protect your feet, but ke...
- To Run Better, Start by Ditching Your Nikes
- Those high-tech shoes you've been running in may not be better than the feet you were born with. A g...
- Plastic Gorilla Feet Give You Twinkle Toes
- Running barefoot is one of the most efficient ways to jog. But it does hurt your feet. That's why Vi...
My Latest Links
Here are some of my latest links I wish the whole world could see!
1
Get Started Blogging | YourNicheBlog.com
I will build you a top-class niche blog on whatever your topic is, and pack in secret features most bloggers dream of. Your jaw will drop. Take a look...6 points
2
Opt In Forms On Your Lenses | SquidooTricks.com
Get real live opt in forms on your lenses. Build your mailing list faster, be a better marketer, and become better looking (not really).2 points
