Sunday, March 6, 2005

Doc Searls weighs in on the Google Toolbar AutoLink feature The Doc Searls Weblog posts Markets are Relationships, Part N. "Anyway, here's the problem: Google is an advertising company, more than a search company. That's becoming clearer with this feature, and the company's apparent lack of interest in the feedback they've been getting." Insightful column, with many references and links to other thinkers on this matter. I'll be interested in Google's response. Doc missed the boat on the last item, though: "Note: Microsoft dropped whatever-it-was [later: SmartTags] that Autolink does as well. Why? Because Microsoft listened to its customers." I don't think so. I think Microsoft dropped SmartTags from IE and from visibility because they were taking too much flack in the media. Like HailStorm or Palladium or other MSFT maneuvers, they are alive and well and being repackaged, renamed and slip-streamed into other products. Keep an eye on them. 1:54:33 PM    comment []

How NOT to run an un-conference I've attended a couple of professional get-togethers lately (like BOFs Birds-Of-a-Feather at LinuxWorld) and running these meetings is tough. Typically, you've got a lot of smart people with a lot of interesting things to say, and a lot of smart people who might drag the discussion off-focus. Halley describes a classic problem here, but notes the next day that things are improving. I'm hoping to make a few visits this year to what Dave Winer calls UnConferences, and hope the benevolent dictators in charge of these events take note. Imagine - a conference where people actually confer! 11:17:29 AM    comment []

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