- TechCrunch launches a podcast, called TalkCrunch, that will profile and interview Web 2.0 startups. Mike Arrington seems like a pretty nice guy (almost to a fault) and he couldn't be more connected to the startup world, so this should be good depending on his interviewing skills.
- Rafat at PaidContent.org is reporting that AOL (owner of this blog) is going to relaunch Netscape.com as a Digg-style hub for user selected content with Weblogs Inc. founder Jason Calacanis at the helm. Nice, sounds like Netscape could be relevant again. Unfortunately, Calicanis is on the record as saying he thinks the new Digg comment moderating system is worthless. Perhaps that means we can expect a load of worthless comments to remain above the fold on the Netscape site.
- The shockingly smooth new OMPL reader Grazr is available online. See a couple boxes worth in action over at Darwinian Web. Can't wait to see this puppy put to a variety of uses.
- John Furrier gets a bunch of cash to turn his small tech-podcasting network, Podtech.net, into "the NPR of podcasting." I'm always interested in Furrier's guests, but can't listen to his show because he really grates on my nerves. Maybe I've just been getting jealous in advance.
- Blog software provider Six Apart gets even more money, in part to move forward with plans to offer private blogs. Cofounder Mena Trott believes that blogging is unlikely to ever go mainstream until it was easy for people to limit access to their content online. Maybe I don't have enough LiveJournal experience, but I question how widespread the practice of regular posting is going to be on personal sites that aren't publicly visible.
Afternoon news round-up: a lot is happening today
Whew, what a day it's shaping up to be! Lots of interesting developments.
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Thanks for your insiteful comment here, LJAB. A click through to your blog is an interesting view into some of these questions as well.
Posted at 6:01PM on Mar 17th 2006 by Marshall Kirkpatrick
1. "I question how widespread the practice of regular posting is going to be on personal sites that aren't publicly visible."
LiveJournal allows users to set up a number of filters on their posts, so they can make public posts, and non-public posts which only a certain set of friends on the site can see. For many users it's their most valuable feature, because you can combine blogging about current events or your chosen topic with public posts, and allow your friends to read more personal thoughts on the same page. For people writing about personal experiences like mental illness or abuse, it's a great tool. LiveJournal thrives on the sense of community it builds up, rather than any serious blogging content.
Unfortunately the sense of community, and privacy on some posts, is spoiled by them having an abuse team made up of volunteers who can read users' private posts, and who are known for suspending journals for breaking rules not mentioned anywhere in the Terms of Service.
Posted at 5:54PM on Mar 17th 2006 by LJAB