INTERNET, ORGANIZEDBig buzz on the net: Technorati adds tags. Technorati tracks blogs, through keyword searches and the ability to see which blogs are linking to which other blogs. The addition of tags extends the ability to see who's writing what. Borrowing from the keyword concept developed for Flick'r, Technorati allows bloggers to tag individual blog posts. If I tag this "Technorati tags," for instance, you'd be able to click on that link and be taken to the Technorati page showing all the blog entries about Technorati tags. And, it brings in the del.icio.us bookmark lists, too. (More on that in link below.) Some of those who've checked it out report that the service is still a little rough, but it's a great way of keeping the conversation going, and pointing to other voices. Very cool. The addition of tags to the bundle that includes search, RSS and del.icio.us's "social bookmarking" is another step toward better organization and easier access to the sprawl that is the internet. (The best article I've seen that explains how some of these things are coming together — and how easy they are to adopt — is here.) UPDATE: Dave Winer, who made RSS the thing of beauty that is (and who was also instrumental in laying a lot of the groundwork for blogging and podcasting), is uncomfortable with what Technorati has wrought, primarily because it is a closed system, involving only Technorati, del.icio,us and Flick'r.
Wouldn't it be refreshing if Technorati said "Here's how we work with products we hate." Wouldn't that be reassuring? Don't you wonder sometimes about the backroom deals? Don't tech companies have to work at preserving their integrity and credibility? My suggestion: We don't care if you're "friends" with other products, just tell us how you support open protocols and we'll figure out how to plug you in.
TECHNORATI TAGS | SOURCE: LLOYD @ WORK |
THE "PAY-OFF" CONTROVERSYFirst there was Zonkette, with her post saying two prominent U.S. politcal bloggers were paid consulting fees by Howard Dean's campaign in an effort to influence their posting. It kicked up a storm in Blog World. For instance, Daily Kos, one of those involved, has fired back with a fuller explanation of what went down. Any number off bloggers have taken up the issue (including me; see posts below) as part of the continuing conversation over blogging and journalism. One of those is Dan Gillmor, whose take on the matter is the best I've read.
Check out as much of the debate as you can. As Dan wrote, the overall issue of ethics is an important one, whether you're a blogger or a mainstream journalist. |
Last update: 1/30/05; 10:22:02 PM .
