MappingTheWeb //

Top (insert number) lists are a hot ticket item right now, but their appeal and popularity are getting saturated by an over-abundance of such posts and articles. I’m fairly certain that their seductive powers will soon fade and the trend will slowly die off.

But what is it that makes these posts so enigmatic and enticing? Here are 5 reasons why they we find ourselves constantly clicking and reading these (frequently) useless tidbits:

1. Easy-reading - Lists are bullet points or quick points. You don’t have to hurt your head trying to deal with an in-depth analysis of the newest application framework.

2. Comfort - People find comfort in numbers. A quantifiable list relaxes the nerves. A beginning and an end are apparent.

3. Exclusivity - “I know something you don’t.” People like to be in the know. If you know something others don’t, you have the upper-hand - or at least you think you do (in your mind).

4. Appeal - For the most part, lists tend to be quirky and interesting. This is a far-stretch from tedious newspaper and magazine articles.

5. Sex Factor - Let’s be honest. Lists are sexy. People naturally gravitate toward them. It’s no wonder they’re all over the front page of Digg. Furthermore, they’re a conversation piece. Lists are often easy to remember and provide huge gossip value.

Note: If you fail to recognize the irony in this post and choose to scorn me in the comments, it’s your own fault.

Montreal-based Defensio launched on November 7th to much fanfare. The company promises to “end annoying comment spam”. This is a great goal that we can all get behind (except the spammers, of course). The Akismet rival cannot guarantee better results than its popular counterpart, but early testing has indicated that performance is high and improves over time.

Defensio touts an average accuracy of 99.56% and product characteristics such as:

• Easy management
• Personalized filtering
• Transparency through statistics

Blogging platforms supported include:

• Wordpress
• PixelPost
• Umbraco
• Drupal
• Mephisto
• Movable Type
• TextPattern

In addition, developer plug-ins are available for:

• Ruby on Rails
• Microsoft.NET
• Java
• PHP
• Python

An API allows developers to integrate Defensio into their own application(s). Specifications are available here: Defensio API Specifications. 

To follow company progress, visit their blog and/or add the feed to your reader. I have yet to download the plug-in for this Wordpress blog, but once I have I will give you all an update. Until then, feel free to try it on your own blog and let me know how it goes…

When you think “blog search engine”, you think Technorati. This is unfortunate. The way I see it, the space is in desperate need of a new leader. Although Google Blog Search is a superior service to Technorati, I still believe that an innovator is needed to step in and push the boundaries.

Simplicity is key. Technorati riddles result pages with endless amounts of clutter. What ever happened to the days of simple, clean result pages?

In my opinion, the homepage should contain a search box and a simple text navigation bar. If I want to view the most recent posts or most popular search terms, I am willing to dig a bit deeper.

The interface and navigation are mind-boggling. I really think they need to go back to the drawing board on this one. Although blogs are categorized as “web 2.0″, Technorati is making an overt attempt at “web 2.0″-izing the site and service. The faded background, large fonts, and ocean of tags are overkill. I’m also not convinced that elements such as the author name, “Authority” level, and blog screenshot need to be present with every result. In fact, the blog screenshot is completely useless, as it is too small to view clearly.

Dig around…navigate the site… come to your own conclusions. I’m sure some will disagree with my view, but many will recognize the oversights.

Are there any other blog search services out there that you would recommend?

Google has been on a tear recently. The stock closed at a 52-week high today (just over $740 a share). The announcement of OpenSocial catapulted the stock to new heights. The upward climb has been fueled constant earnings blow-outs. But these can’t last forever. With every consecutive positive surprise, more and more pressure is placed on the company. Mark my word - one of these earnings reports will fall short of expectations and will stock will get absolutely hammered. A $300+ drop in a day is not out of the question. As they say, nobody stays at the top forever.

What are some potential flaws, faults, concerns, or dangers that the company needs to address or guard against?

• Revenue diversification - still completely dependent on advertising
• New search players and search technologies
• Click fraud issues

Their long-term strategy is still an enigma, although the platform move may give some indication. Nevertheless, it may also simply be a move to take the spotlight away from Facebook and regain superiority status. Google’s ability to work together with other companies and services is crucial. This brings us to another piece of news - or lack thereof. There is no GPhone. However, the announcement of Android may ultimately be a smarter move in the end. Finally, the integration and strategy surrounding recent acquisitions will be interesting to watch.

As I say, Google will not be at the top forever. What brings the company down is still a question mark. My gut tells me Google may even experience a similar fate to Microsoft - user backlash. The Internet giant used to be the wonder child of the net. Now, users are starting to voice their concerns with the bureaucratic Googleplex that has emerged. 

Do you ever arrive on a website and the feel just screams ‘web 2.0′? There is no need to read the text or delve further into the content - already, you are certain that you are dealing with a web 2.0 product/service.

It seems that some designers are now working in reverse in an attempt to leverage the whole web 2.0 phenomenon. Instead of focusing on the offering first, they are designing a lovely web 2.0 experience, then shaping the the service around the site. This is the opposite of what should be done.

Here are some obvious signs of a typical web 2.0 design:

• Rounded corners
• Big fonts
• Bright colours
• Faded backgrounds
• BETA logos

I have no problem with the use of these design elements (apart from the BETA logo). What I do (often) have an issue with is the process by which the experience is created, as well as the mindset of the designer.

Usability needs to be the key issue. Focus needs to be placed on making the offering as easy and intuitive to use as possible. Aesthetic design is secondary. Nevertheless, the two must complement each other in order to maximize the end result.

Basically, I’m sick of the web 2.0 cloak. If a site is easier to navigate based on a historical web 1.0 design, then so be it. For that matter, I think we should drop the terms altogether and truly focus on the design itself. I think the net will be a better place if we can overcome this obstacle.