Is the LinkedIn Platform Dead?
My Clippings November 12th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
LinkedIn, the business social network, hopped on the platform bandwagon this time last year by opening up its network to developers. It was a move I was excited to see Reid Hoffman’s crew make. LinkedIn, unlike some of the other professional networks that came before it, is actually very useful. It’s a great way to reach people within large companies, and an even better tool for recruiting and finding like-minded business people. Any extension of such a platform, therefore, was great news in my book. So how has it fared thus far?
Let me put it this way: The LinkedIn platform is no different than the Florida real estate market — neither have any building going on. And that is why it gets a solid D from me. D is for disappointing, by the way.
LinkedIn opened up its platform using Open Social and called the effort InApps. (It remains in beta.) It had half a dozen partners, among them SlideShare, Box.net, Tripit and SimplyHired.
How many new partners have launched apps on LinkedIn since then? How about none! And how many apps are there? I just counted again — there are eight approved apps on the web. Eight. And no, that doesn’t include the ones made by LinkedIn itself, including the recently launched SAP Community Connection. A new Twitter-focused app tentatively called TweetIn is likely to make its debut soon. The only other two major developments that I have seen are partnerships with BusinessWeek and The New York Times.
From what I hear, third-party developers have had a tough time working with LinkedIn; an inability to link to the company’s data set is a big issue, according to my sources. The moribund nature of the LinkedIn platform should be a warning to every single developer out there: For companies, sometimes opening up a platform is little more than an easy way to get cheap press.
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LinkedIn is looking to make some changes. Last month, when it announced that it had 50 million professionals on its network, our friend Marshall Kirkpatrick quipped that it was still a roach motel. In response, Adam Nash, VP of search & platform products at LinkedIn, left a comment saying: “I think you’ll be quite happy with our plans for improvements to our APIs. Stay tuned.”
Build a Massive HDTV Antenna for Long Distance Gains [HDTV]
My Clippings November 8th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
One of the great things about digital television is also one of the not-so-great things. When you get the signal, it’s crystal clear. When you’ve a weak connection, you’re out of luck. Boost your reception with this monster homemade antenna.
If you live far from urban centers but you’d still like to pick up some over-the-air digital stations, you’re going to need a pretty sizable antenna. Earlier this year we shared a great antenna design with you, based on the Gray-Hoverman model.
The model you see here is what results when a little Gray-Hoverman antenna visits the beach, gets washed into a deep trench outside of Tokyo filled with radioactive waste, and emerges again, ready to wreak havoc on the world. Well, all except for that last part. This massive build, based on the Gray-Hoverman model, can pick up signals from around 60 miles away, making it suitable for either boosting your local reception or picking up signals from areas you’ve never called home.
If you’re put off by the size of it, it is possible to put this style of antenna inside an attic. You’ll lose a bit of reception, but you’ll avoid your neighbors whispering about the mutant antenna on your roof. Check out the full build guide at the link below.
Chromium Installs User Scripts as Extensions, Bodes Great Things for Chrome [User Scripts]
My Clippings November 8th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
The nightly builds of Google Chrome’s open-source foundation, Chromium, includes a feature that might mean great things for Greasemonkey fans. Click on a user script file, such as at UserScripts.org, and Chromium asks to install it as a working extension.
Judging from the developers’ discussions at the Chromium wiki, Greasemonkey, or at least some kind of user script support beyond the current, very geeky installation method has been a hot topic. The latest builds tackle user script support by re-mapping them into extensions, automatically activated at their relevant sites. You can give it a test by installing the latest Chromium build in Windows. We’ll assume this feature will make its way very soon to those keeping updated on Chromium builds for Mac and Linux.
Before you get too amped, though, it must be said that support is still rudimentary. Scripts that mostly replace one thing on a page with another seem to work fine, but those that pull off custom themes and page manipulations are touch and go. In other words, the more Greasemonkey-specific functions appear in a script, the less likely it is to work in Chromium. That said, it’s reassuring to see some of the great Grease realm opened up to the up-and-coming browser.
Tags: Build, Chromium, cli, Google, IO, Linux, ma, Mac, man, Monkey, script, Ubuntu, way, wind
Getting Started With Content Management Systems
My Clippings November 8th, 2009 by System
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The need to update websites faster to keep content fresh has been ever growing. Ever since the first business owner wanted their Web designer to update their website faster, content management systems have played an important role on the Web. Why does this matter to you? How do you know if your company is ready?
In this article, we will look at how to tell if your organization needs a content management system. We will also give you information on the abilities of content management systems to help you better understand what they can do. While content management systems may seem complex, their entire purpose is to streamline your workflow and make your life easier.
A content management system allows you to create, manage, store and edit massive amounts of content without any HTML programming skill. Because you are able to edit your content from any computer with an Internet connection, you no longer have to rely on third-party developers or companies to keep your website up to date. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Every company would like to reduce costs and increase productivity.
Also consider our previous articles:
- 10 Things To Consider When Choosing The Perfect CMS
Goes over what features to look for when choosing a content management system. - 10 Harsh Truths About Corporate Websites
Explains the mistakes we all make when running our websites. The nature of those mistakes varies depending on the size of your company. As your organization grows, the mistakes change. This post addresses common mistakes of large organizations. - Developers Toolbox
Offers tools and resources to help you achieve your goals at a more hands-on level.
1. What Is A Content Management System?
If you have never heard the term before, a content management system (CMS) is a Web-based solution that makes it easy for a company to manage website updates internally. For many companies, updating a website is not something to look forward to because it can be a lengthy and, over time, expensive process. Most companies search for easier means of accomplishing their goals. The solution that many large and small companies have found is a CMS. The easy-to-use application allows your company to control its online identity with little to no knowledge of Web design.
Tags: Apple, Build, cli, CURL, Google, Information, IO, ma, man, Microsoft, module, Photo, php, quick, script, security, ssl, video, way, WordPress, XP
Gokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price
My Clippings November 7th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Review
Several readers have urged me to try the Gokivo Navigator for the iPhone [iTunes link], so today is the day. The app is U.S. $4.99, but that only provides you with GPS navigation for 30 days. After that, the app costs $4.99 monthly or you can purchase a year of service for $39.99. That's quite a bit less that the AT&T nav solution [iTunes link], and makes the Gokivo app quite competitive. The app includes a Traffic Tracking Center, text to speech so street names are announced as you drive, and it has iPod controls so you don’t have to leave the app to change your music.
Like the AT&T app, if you are out of range of the data network, you won't get maps. And like most of the competition, Gokivo gives you an estimated time of arrival, distance to your destination, and your current speed.
The map doesn’t work in landscape view, which I consider a strong negative. It’s easy to navigate to your addresses in your Contacts app, and the feature is nicely integrated.
Continue reading Gokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price
TUAWGokivo updates navigation app for iPhone, lowers the price originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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No Doubt Sues Activision Over Band Hero
My Clippings November 7th, 2009 by System
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Not every rock star is excited about being included in the Guitar Hero franchise. No Doubt this week filed suit against Activision for unauthorized use of the band’s likeness in the new Band Hero edition of the video game.
The game has “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act,” according to a suit filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Band Hero was released on Tuesday and allows players to create their own virtual bands with any combination of multiple guitarists, bassists, drummers and vocalists. You want a band featuring Gwen Stefani, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, and Adam Levine? Set it up via Band Hero, and then select the song you want your newly formed band to perform.
This type of manipulation is apparently the root of No Doubt’s objections.
“They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band…. Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked,” the band’s manager told the Times.
No Doubt pointed to a feature that would allow leader singer Stefani to sing the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women.” The suit said Stefani objected to the Stefani avatar singing “in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes.”
Activision said it held extensive negotiations with No Doubt before the release of the game and is within its rights. No Doubt claims that Activision never told them about the character manipulation factor.
15+ great Google Chrome extensions
My Clippings November 5th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
Filed under: Features, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Google, Browsers, Lists
We’ve already mentioned other ways to power up Google Chrome. Before extensions arrived on the developer channel, Userscripts and bookmarklets were your only options. Both are still great ways to add some kick-ass functionality to Chrome. If you’re running the stable or beta builds, you may want to stick to them for now.
- 10 handy Userscripts for Google Chrome users
- 15+ handy bookmarklets for Google Chrome (and other browsers, too!)
Now, onto the extensions!
If you have a favorite that I left off, feel free to share it in the comments!
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Continue reading 15+ great Google Chrome extensions
15+ great Google Chrome extensions originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Chrome – Google – Linux – Microsoft Windows – Macintosh
Tags: Bookmarklet, Bookmarklets, Build, cli, email, Google, Inc., IO, Linux, ma, Mac, man, Microsoft, php, script, way, wind
WordPress Exploit Scanner helps you keep your install clean
My Clippings November 5th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
Filed under: Security, Blogging, Web services, Web
WordPress has become a victim of its own popularity. The blogging-based content management system powers a huge amount of websites, and has become a target for hackers. Site hacks have been around for a long time, but recently they seem to have evolved.
In the past hackers would gain control of a site just to prove that could, then typically post a quasi-incoherent message on the site to prove their hacking prowess and illiteracy. Now hackers have become more advanced, and hacking has become financially motivated. Hacks include embedding links (some hidden, some not) for the purposes of gaming search engines, and instead of crowing about their conquest, hackers are now trying to hide and cover their tracks as much as possible.
This means that site owners are losing their confidence that their sites have not been compromised. With recent highly publicized exploits that allowed hackers to take control of out-of-date WordPress installations, it became even more important to make sure your site is clean.
If you’re running a WordPress site on your own server, one step you can take to make sure that it is clean is to install and run the WordPress Exploit Scanner plugin. Beware, the exploit scanner is very thorough, and it will likely report a lot (and I mean a LOT) of false positives. It essentially reports any hiding behavior, which some of the plugins on your site might be doing for very normal reasons.
Even with the false-positives, the WordPress Exploit Scanner is a useful tool in any blogger’s toolbox.
WordPress Exploit Scanner helps you keep your install clean originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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WordPress – Download Squad – Blog – Website – Content management system
Tags: cli, email, Google, Inc., IO, ma, man, php, security, WordPress, XP
Apple breaks Atom Hackintoshes with upcoming OS X 10.6.2 update
My Clippings November 5th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
Filed under: OS Updates, Hardware, Apple
According to OSXDaily, Apple’s next scheduled update to Snow Leopard, OS X 10.6.2, doesn’t support Intel Atom processors. This is no problem for anyone on Apple hardware, because no Mac product runs an Atom. If you’re on a hacked netbook, though, it looks like this is the end of the line for your OS X updates.
Although it’s not confirmed, rumor has it that next update to Apple’s previous Leopard OS (10.5.9) will also knock out Atom support. Until a workaround pops up from netbook hacker circles, Atom machines running 10.6.1 and 10.5.8 should probably avoid upgrading. Is Apple sending a message to users running its software on third-party machines? It seems likely, but it also doesn’t seem like it will do much to stop determined netbook enthusiasts.
Apple breaks Atom Hackintoshes with upcoming OS X 10.6.2 update originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple – Operating system – Mac OS X – Intel Atom – Download Squad
Tags: Apple, cli, email, Google, Hackintosh, Inc., IO, Leopard, ma, Mac, man, OSX, Photo, php, Snow Leopard, workaround, XP
Clicky is Google Analytics all grown up
My Clippings November 5th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
Filed under: Utilities, Blogging, Web services, Commercial, Freeware, Social Software, Web
Clicky is a new web analytics package that is looking to give the current king of web analytics, Google Analytics, a run for its money. Like any site tracking service, you create an account, insert some code into your pages (or if you are using one of the popular blogging platforms, simply install the relevant plugin), and watch as Clicky gathers statistics for your site in real-time.
The service sets itself apart by being very well designed and easy to read, but also by including extra related features, like the ability to include your FeedBurner statistics, tracking Twitter statistics, and providing an integrated link shortening service based on its related domain name clicky.me.
The free version of Clicky is ad-supported, but a Pro version is also available.
A few of Clicky’s more obscure features need a Pro account to use. For example, with a pro account you can set up Twitter searches for your brand name or URL, and then see how many mentions you are getting.
Clicky is Google Analytics all grown up originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google – Google Analytics – Download Squad – Twitter – Social Software
