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Archive for the 'startup' Category

How to land a job at Google?

Published
by
Ken
on 18 May, 2006
in my ideas and startup
. 0 Comments

Do you want to work at Google?

Nowaday the surest way to land a job at Google is to do something that catches their attention and have Google acquire you.

We had already seen it happened to Writely. The latest (which may not be by the time I write this) is Gtalkr (see also list of sites ending with “r”) according to news from the horses mouth. TechCrunch spoke to Gtalkr founder and gained some insights.

The Gtalkr team, Dudley Carr and Wes Carr, now pursue new projects as Google employees.

Meebo perhaps has lost a chance. Or will Google do a MeasureMap again?

We already know that Sean, the developer of Gaim, works for Google on Google Talk.

Start thinking. What else does Google still need?

Stumble and Annotate Along

Published
by
Ken
on 25 March, 2006
in idea sites, ideas, startup, thoughts and web 2.0
. 0 Comments

Wikalong

The idea behind Wikalong, as they put it, “a wiki-margin for the internet“.

Wikalong is a Firefox extension. When installed, it links to a wiki page on the sidebar of Firefox corresponding to the site that you are looking at.

Wikalong screenshot - click to enlargeFor example, this is how this blog look like with the Wikalong on the sidebar.

Anotation can be added, in wiki style, corresponding to the page. In this way discussion or commentary on the page can be added.

One thing to note though, Wikalong cannot distinguish between http://59ideas.com/blog and http://59ideas.com/blog/index.php. Although the same page, it will lead to different Wikalong page.

An interesting aspect of Wikalong is that the wiki page store can be customised. This means that the annotations can be saved to a different server other than the default.

Can you see any applications for this?
It can certainly use it to comment on web projects among a group of developers.
StumbleUponAnnotation and surfing with a Firefox extension is not a new idea. Another similar idea, StumbleUpon, had been around for a while and is also more advanced.

StumbleUpon also creates conversation around a website although not in a wiki manner.

After installing the StumbleUpon extension, users can annotate or leave comment corresponding the the page they are looking at.

StumbleUpon screenshotIf you have StumbleUpon installed, you can share 59ideas.com by clicking on thumbsup.

This will lead you to this page (screenshot right) where you can leave comment.

But that is not all. StumbleUpon build upon the social aspect of surfing. By linking sites and people together, you can meet people that go to the same site or explore sites visted by people of similar interest.

Now I am thinking,  del.icio.us and StumbleUpon, each has features that I like. Wouldn’t it be cool if there is a tool to integrate them.

Riya - face recognition photo search

Published
by
Ken
on 22 March, 2006
in beta, idea sites, ideas, startup and web 2.0
. 0 Comments

Riya

This is a good week to release beta. Last night I receive the invite to Riya. I downloaded the Riya Uploader but I do not have that many people photo to upload.

I take mainly scenery photos. The few people photo I have I do not want to upload for privacy reason.

The idea behind Riya is really cool, Check out the Tour. This is one of those Web 2.0 ideas that actually has serious technology content.

What I mean by technology content is that there is some technology not within easy reach of scripting wizards.

This is not to say idea that social bookmarking, photo sharing, online calendar are inferior. It does mean that however that there will not be many Riya look alike as compared to, say, Digg look alike.

Zoho Sheet

Published
by
Ken
on 21 March, 2006
in beta, idea sites, ideas and startup
. 2 Comments

Zoho Sheet

Receive an invite to Zoho Sheet yesterday. You can get one here.

Since Google acquired Writely 2 weeks ago, web office suite is getting hot. Now, will Zoho Sheet be the next target?

Interestingly, Zoho has a very nice suite of applications in Zoto Writer, Zoho Planner, Zoho CRM, Zoho Virtual Office. Maybe owning Zoto Writer can be detrimental to acquisation by Google since they now have Writely. But hey not everyone is after Google.

Zoho Sheet screen shot My first impression of Zoho Sheet is “Wow!”. A every well done interface. Function wise it is nowhere near a fullbrown spreadsheet like OpenOffice Calc.

Online sharing is an interesting aspect that web applications like to highlight. Right now however I do not see myself having a use for an application like this.

Another RAM saving application snapped up

Published
by
Ken
on 12 March, 2006
in beta, ideas, startup, thoughts and web 2.0
. 5 Comments

2 days ago I mentioned about how web applications like GMail, 30Boxes, Meebo can save some RAM on the computer and are replacing desktop applications.

Of course saving RAM is not the only motivation for web application. No install required and up-to-date software are very attractive factors.

WritelyWritely is a web word processor like Word. And guess what?

It is the latest in the line of web applications acquired by Google.

What is Google thinking? Many people have their guesses. Predictions of Google dominating the desktop had been floating around for a long time.
No, not by creating an operating system. But by domainting the web. Web applications that is.

Now let see who Google acquire for the web-based spreadsheet and presentation application.

Oh, have you heard? They are already rumoured to be creating a calendar application.

Evangelizing the Long Tail

Published
by
Ken
on 2 March, 2006
in neologism, startup and thoughts
. 1 Comment

Every self-respecting online entrepreneur should had heard of the Long Tail by now.

No? Head over to Wired and read the story that ignited the idea.

The phase “Long Tail” very nicely and succinctly captures the essence of the idea. Like many coined word it’s catchy - gets people wanting to find out more and talk about it. Once you get the idea, it sticks.
Recent I found myself evangelizing the idea behind the Long Tail. I told friends and associates the concept behind it. The most recent being Anju.

Why am I doing that? Mostly to share idea and to encourage people thinking of starting something themselves. Other times to explain why I do things certain way.

Mainstream education and business thinking almost never think in terms of the Long Tail, yet.

For anyone trying to start something, the Long Tail is worth keeping in mind. It is another manifestation of the great equalizer - the Internet.

When you own Urchin, why buy MeasureMap?

Published
by
Ken
on 16 February, 2006
in startup and thoughts
. 4 Comments

I’m still waiting for a Google Analytic account to peek at what’s inside. But that’s not what I’m going to talk about.

I am talking about the question I asked when I saw this post.

Google, if you recall, brought Urchin early last year which became Google Analytics later that year.

Few days ago, Google blogged they just brought MeasureMap.

No wonder searches for “MeaureMap” started showing up the past couple of days. People must be searching for what Measure Map is all about.

I once questioned how is MeasureMap going to stay around with Google Analytic. Guess I got the answer. If you can’t beat them, join them.

This is a one smart move by the people within MeasureMap. What is the insider story like? Did they planned for this along? Who approach who?

Someone like to spill some beans?

Ma.gnolia is.the.new del.icio.us

Published
by
on 9 February, 2006
in beta, idea sites, startup and web 2.0
. 0 Comments

Ma.gnolia

Got an email today to sign up for Ma.gnolia Beta.

My first impression: Yet another del.icio.us (YAd)

The about tells a good story but that is it. Here’s an insider’s view.

I’m not a fan of del.icio.us, but just became a new convert because of its post to blog feature. If any of the YAd implements this, I will seriously consider jumping ship.

Personally I think the concept is too shallow and will not gain enough traction from the “the rest of us” to fly. Wait and see what more is up it’s beta sleeve.

I have nothing more to add about Magonlia.