TsFTD: Google, Youtube, Bitly and Digg
So once again I am setting off on the “A blog post a day, for 30 days” challenge. I have attempted this before and have failed miserably, but am hoping that this time better time management will help me succeed.
I am going to see if I can identify a blogging format that works better for me than my past formats. I think I place an onus on blog posts to be lengthy and well argued (whether I achieve this is questionable), and therefore I am put off by the time commitment necessary to write a post.
I am going to try something relatively new for me: rather than post on one topic, I am going to try and post many short paragraphs on various topics. My inspiration will come mostly from my news reader, which is as good a place to start as any. I won’t limit myself to this format, but expect to see it more often here.
“TsFTD” stands for Thoughts of the day, by the way.
Here goes.
In Google’s words, the service…
..is designed to develop mobile applications that serve the needs of poor and other vulnerable individuals and communities, most of whom have limited access to information and communications technology.
The power of the Internet extends beyond cool mapping technology, wikipedia at our fingertips and online shopping. We should not forget that it offers the potential to save lives, improve economic conditions, educate and uplift. It’s heartening to see Google spend efforts to connect the poor, and it is another example of how the Seacom cable is already affecting and improving Africa.
Sticking with the Google (which owns Youtube). From tomorrow you will be able to include a link with any video you post, so that your viewers can click on it and be taken to another website (preferably one that has *something* to do with the video itself. This will drive traffic away from Youtube of course, but since it seems Google has a footprint everywhere, they probably really don’t care. My understanding is that the link will be in the format of the layover ad we are used to seeing already..but you’ll have full control over the text.
Super insightful article from Techrunch exploring the potential of Bitly as a competitor to Digg. Digg gets 20,000 unique URL submissions per day. Bitly gets close to 3 million. Now both services are trying to emulate each other, and I will be watching with interest to see this unfold.

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