Twitter: New User Quick Start Guide
I’m the type of person that doesn’t like to go blindly into new experiences. I do my research beforehand so I know how to make at least a B+ at whatever I’m attempting. With Twitter, I definitely needed a short workshop before I flew into the birds’ nest of tweets and retweets. After I started enjoying the platform and a couple of friends asked me how I got started, I decided to make a step-by-step guide for Twitter newbies.
Socializr Succeeds Evite
Dear Evite,
We're breaking up. It's not me; it's you. And I've found someone better. Her name is Socializr.
Best of luck in future projects,
J. W.
If only it were that simple to get Evite out of my life. Unfortunately, 99% of my friends still insist on using it, despite its numerous flaws. In 2007, Time Magazine renounced Evite as one of the 5 Worst Websites. Following that up, Wired Magazine blasted the site in an article titled Why Things Suck: Evite. There are even sites dedicated to how awful of a service Evite runs, and yet it still remains wildly popular. I'm far from the first person to write about this phenomenon, but I'm here to recommend what I have found to be a far better product: Socializr.
Website Review: Least I Could Do
[NOTE: Several of the comic strips presents in Least I Could Do contain suggestive dialogue and occasional course language. Please read at your own discretion.]
Webcomics normally contain several elements: tech humor, poorly drawn animation, infrequent updates, and ad-riddled layouts. To top it off, many of these sites contain poor code and shoddy design (which is ironic considering that the very same comics mock bad tech users). Thankfully, none of these elements are present in Least I Could Do (LICD), a web comic that proves the diligence of formal newspaper comics can translate to the world of the Internet.
Website Review: Updated Metro Page
There are several websites that I frequent at least once a week for entertainment value (thank you, Zero Punctuation), but there are also several sites that I visit purely for information on a once-a-week-or-more basis. Because I live in DC, one of those sites is definitely the official Metro page.
The website began in 1996, and according to the site, receives over 16 million page views a month. Users can use the site to plan their public transportation trips, read up on emergency alerts, and find out about discount programs and payment plans. Yet, as useful as it was, the site was in need of a major overhaul. Thankfully, as of December 8, my lamentations were heard, and I'm happy to say that I am quite pleased with the result. My favorite parts of the updated site, as well as some screenshots, are after the jump. Continue reading “Website Review: Updated Metro Page” »
A Look At Failed Social Networks
Many social networking sites have come and gone, though it's easy to forget about most of them with monsters like Youtube and Facebook acting like they are the only kids in the classroom. Social networking online began with a site called Six Degrees which basically invented the social-circle networking guidelines that are used by so many sites today. It was named after the popular six degrees of separation theory (which I believe was invented by Kevin Bacon…). More experimental than anything else, the company that made the site grew to a little over 100 employees and was eventually bought for quite a large sum of money.
Since then, many have tried to replicate and improve upon the success of that social networking site. Some have gone on to make their inventors Man of the Year, but others have fallen into the gutter of floppery. Taking a look at some of them can provide some insight into what is needed for a successful social networking site. (Details after the jump…) Continue reading “A Look At Failed Social Networks” »