Google Increasingly Opening up Maps to the Community

Google Maps Opens Up Editing To Everyone by Greg Sterling

Last year in November Google opened up Maps to community editing, allowing people to move the pushpin markers to correct or improve the accuracy of business locations. 

Yesterday Google told us that users will now be able to edit any of the details about a business or location or add new businesses, even if they’re not the business owner.

By increasingly opening up Maps to the community, Google is gradually evolving the product beyond an online “directory” site into something much more flexible, which offers a much broader range of information. Google also views Maps as a repository for data and media beyond text.

Yahoo’s Radio Advertisements… What Were They Thinking???

Yahoo uses the new media Radio platform to go after Google???

Yahoo turns to 19th century technology in effort to kill 21st century behemoth

Yahoo has launched a series of radio advertisements in markets across the United States in an attempt to lure people into using Yahoo Search over the dominant Google Search, CNET is reporting. What’s next? Carrier pigeons?

The ads aim to point out that there are alternatives to doing a Google Search, and that Yahoo, in fact, displays their search results a bit differently. Yahoo states that users may get lost in all of the links Google provides, and that they may instead prefer a nice drop-down menu (such as Yahoo offers) to further refine queries.

Twitter: Mobile Social… At Home, At Work, At Play?

So I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine at lunch today.  We were kind of discussing the adoption possibilities of technologies like Twitter.  I really didn’t see how it would gain wide spread adoption “cross-over-appeal”.  She thought that maybe it would be a good tool for those who are not very outgoing to help them increase their social connections. I stated that for tech geeks like myself it kind of makes sense but am not sure how many others would find this very appealing.  When you get past the novelty and you think of the challenges that most of our friends and neighbors face on a day to day basis; can you really see Tweets as the new conversation revolution…

Interestingly enough this post caught my eye later in the day:

Using Twitter For Serious Stuff – Great Idea or Utter Insanity?

I am reminded of Dwayne Wade’s Fave 5 commercial where Barkley finally let’s him into his Fave 5.  Then Barkley proceeds to call him to discuss ever single detail of his life.  It went from cool to annoyance. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the technology.  However, I think with everything dealing with social networking; the business model challenge will be how to evolve into something that actually adds value to our social relationships and strengthens the connections we already have.

Tweet… Tweet…

Malaysia opposition win shows power of cyberspace

Can’t help but watch with much interest as the “wisdom of the crowd” through the power of Social Media is changing the political landscape not only here but around the world.

http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSKLR6139420080309

Malaysia’s weak opposition was able to bypass the mainstream media and leveraged the Social Media space to stun the ruling party.  It is very interesting when compared to what is going on here in the US.  I was reading Elizabeth Wong’s Blog and saw this quote from the Malaysian Insider; “There were frequent cries of “Just change it” in Hokkien, referring to the political situation.”

It is impossible not to notice the evolution of the “Invisible Primary” strategy used by Howard Dean in 2004 to the strategy now being employed by Barack Obama.  His campaign has completely embraced the Social Media platforms to bypass the mainstream media and to use the “power of the crowds” to promote his blueprint for change; “Yes We Can” and to leave everyone else far behind when it comes to fundraising.  I think the key here is not the power of the campaign but the power of the crowd and word-of-mouth viral marketing.

Hard not to agree that it is going to be very difficult in the future for candidates at all levels from local community races -> national campaigns to be successful without completely embracing Social Media platforms… Politics 2.0!!!  

New China-based Social Networking Site Preparing to Launch

City!N Interesting new social networking site is about to launch in China.  They plan to differentiate themselves by matching users within their geographic area based on tastes and interests.

http://venturebeat.com/2008/03/08/cityncom-prepares-for-launch-in-china/ 

Hello world!

Welcome to our Geo-Social Networking Blog, we have a passionate belief in the importance of the Web 2.0 and Social Media space. In our view, the true meaning of community can only be developed by promoting active participation in the local spaces we live, work and play in every day.