All posts tagged ‘Wikipedia’

File Under: Software & Tools
Aug
28
2008

Users Demand OpenID: Google, Twitter Among Top

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OpenID enthusiasts have been spoken and they’re demanding OpenID support from Google, Twitter, and other popular websites. The Demand OpenID site was created by provider JanRain and has been active for several months. Will less than 500 people be enough to convince the internet giants to open up to OpenID? Probably not, but it’s a step.

Here’s the top five sites where users would like to see OpenID:

  1. Google
  2. Twitter
  3. Facebook
  4. Wikipedia
  5. Flickr

Some of the site on Demand OpenID currently half support OpenID. For example, you can login with your Google account on any site that supports OpenID. However, you can not take an OpenID account from another provider and login at Google. It’s like a store giving Canadian dollars as change, but then refusing to take the loonie as payment.

At least one of the sites listed has implemented OpenID. Customer service site Get Satisfaction added OpenID earlier this month, though we can’t say it was due to Demand OpenID.

OpenID may never be something the average user demands. Most people just want it to work. So do we, but it’s going to take a full embrace from these popular sites. Go demand OpenID for your favorites. Of course, to login you’ll need an OpenID login, but you probably guessed that.

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File Under: Humor, Software & Tools
Jul
23
2008

Google’s Knol: ‘Who Needs a Search Engine? Ctrl-F’

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Browsing through Google’s Knol, released Wednesday, you’ll find the most curious thing above the “Plain old bag o’ knols” section: the distinct absence of a search box.

Actually, it is the pronounced absence of a search box. Instead is an advisement: “Who Needs a Search Engine? Ctrl-F.” See the irony? Knol was built by Google, a company known for its search engine? Funny, Google. Funny.

Pressing Control-F (or Command-F for Mac users) will initiate your browser’s search function, and will scour a hodgepodge of knols on the page. “Knols” are what the site is calling articles written by an assortment of contributing professionals on a range of serious topics.

Also markedly humorous is the prominent display of serious medical articles by surgeons and med-school directors on topics such as diabetes and lung cancer next to an article on toilet clogs. Editorial choices notwithstanding, the site launch features a good deal of interesting information and provides a author-centric, and therefore source-driven, competitor to Wikipedia.

Of course, search engine company Google wouldn’t really leave users completely high and dry. Knol’s search is located at the very top right of the screen. Google’s joke rings true, though. Why bother building a search function on your site if your browser has a pretty good one built in?

Now’s a good time to check out Wired’s coverage of Google Knol and browse the Wikipedia threat yourself.

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