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On SocialNets & The Power of The URL

Net — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 11:02:19 +0000

Robert Young, a frequent guest columnist on OM Malik’s Blog, has written a very accurate description about the changing media landscape and the power balance between consumers and corporations. The post is called: Social Nets and the power of the URL.

According to Young, one of the most effective ways to measure the shifting balance of power between consumers and corporations it to look at the web as a huge collection of URL’s (I would call it the WebDNA), and then distinguish those URL’s that are controlled by corporations vs consumers.

Simply put, each and every URL should be viewed as a container for content that, in turn, can be distributed and redistributed. And the control of such distribution is increasingly in the hands of consumers, not corporations.

I like that precise definition, it really is what it all boils down to. That is why I prefer to call the URL’s for the WebDNA. Towards the end of the post he envisions the future of people powered community based-distribution networks:

Looking out several years, it’s not too difficult to envision a media landscape where the majority of traditional media distribution outlets reliant on the benefits of natural monopoly economics have largely been replaced with a highly-fragmented layer of people-powered community-based distribution networks.

I really believe that this is what we are going to see, in a way one could refer to “people-powered community-based distribution networks” as a true democratic economy, really even going beyond democracy in the sense that it is both empowering and rewarding the individual.

Boardtracker

Net — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:01:25 +0000

Boardtracker specializes on tracking discussion forums. I think that is a great idea. While we have endless trackers for blogs etc, many conversations today still take place in forums and not on blogs.

China Internet & Techology Key Take Aways

Net — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 10:27:57 +0000

Piper Jaffray held their third Annual China Internet & Technology Conference in Beijing last week. From the discussions & presentations held at the conference, the following key take aways emerged:

1. The economy is less of a risk, compared with last year
2. Leaders are emerging within the sector
3. Companies are more realistic about market opportunity and margin leverage
4. Regulation is helping moderate growth rate, preventing potential bubbles
5. New areas are emerging in blogs, social networking, etc.
6. Adoption of advertising and online medium by small businesses is increasing
7. Local companies enjoy home-grown advantage

Focus Media and Ctrip are emerging as leaders, Baidu and TOM Group as well. Baidu is dominating search and Google will have a difficult and uphill struggle in challenging Baidus domination. Online advertising is expecting to grow 35-40% during 2006 (an amazing oppertunity here). What I find particulariy interesting is the new areas that are emerging in blogs and social networking. According to Piper Jaffray, blogging is the big new trend catching on very rapidly. They also believe that it will continue to grow, and the existing players such as Bokee, Blog CN, Sina and surprise: MSN Spaces are likely to be market leaders. Other rapidly growing companies are: online match making, phone agencies and travel search engines.

Against this background I must say that Maxthon is very well positioned in China, we are already driving a huge percentage of Baidu’s search traffic, we are the second biggest browser in China and our user growth in China (as well as outside of) are just exploading.

Tags: Piper Jaffray Tags: China Tags: Internet Tags: Technology Tags: Focus Media Tags: Ctrip Tags: Baidu Tags: Tom Online Tags: Advertising Tags: BlogsTags: Social networks Tags: Bokee Tags: Blog CN Tags: Sina Tags: MSN Spaces Tags: Maxthon

15% of Baidu Searches From Maxthon

Net — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 12:06:36 +0000

Agaist the recent Baidu IPO I just thought it would be worthwhile to know that Maxthon is responsible for 15% of all Baidu’s search traffic….and we are growing fast, very fast…

Yahoo Audio Search Beta

Net — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 14:20:07 +0000

Yahoo just launched it’s Audio Search Beta. Looks very good, making it possible to search music, podcasts, interviews, eBooks and even sound effects. Its is also nicely integrated with My Web and enables you to find music you are already listening to Preferred Audio Service and use the Add to My Web to save and organize your music. Obviously you can add your own podcast or audio file feed to the directory. I must say that I have started to like Yahoo more and more over the past year, and this now I like it even more. Needless to say, this will give all the podcasters out there a further boost.