Black Web 2.0

What a novel idea, making what’s probably going to be one of your most watched programs a Webisode as well as a television program. It looks like BET has really begun to understand what they’re supposed to use BET on Blast for. (Though they still haven’t integrated it (BET on Blast) into BET.com proper yet. Please, just put a media player with most recent video in a multimedia box on your home page. Please. Though I must say major props to finally overhauling the home page and other areas of the site, but I’ll save the rest of my comments for a post exclusively about the new site features shortly.)

BET realizes this will be one of the most widely viewed programs for its network, outside of the various award shows and American Gangster, and well of course those syndicated reruns of The Wire. In that regard, this move makes about as much sense as any business strategy ever could.

As for Hip-Hop Vs. America itselr, I haven’t yet watched the program, but at least now I don’t have to check schedules to find out when it’s airing or even turn on BET on my television. This is a great move for connecting with customers as well as clients. This is an easy 360 advertising play. Say if I were Chevy, I’d buy air time and Web video time in one package, and cut overall costs by getting a deal on purchasing an extended package. Brand awareness hits the consumer in two places — BAM!! I’ve already discussed the benefits for the consumer — the show is now on demand, watchable anytime, anyplace.

Markus and I have been hard at work developing our OPML Analyzer (not so much me, lol).  What is this OPML Analyzer you ask?  It is a very quick way to find out what our readers (including you) think the the top 5 RSS Feeds are.  It is not to hard, all you have to do is export your OPML file, upload it, answer a few questions, and click analyze.

What is OPML?
Click the link above for the long story. The short story — OPML is what your feed reader/news aggregator uses to exchange lists of your web feeds to other feed readers. The OPML Analyzer uses OPML to determine what blogs people are reading.

How do I export my OPML?
Glad you asked. Click this link Google has compiled a list of relevant links with instructions on how to export your subscriptions from various popular feed readers.   If you use a startpage such as Netvibes or Pageflakes you should be able to find specific instruction on those sites on how to export your OPML file.

The long awaited Global Grind launched today and there is much to see over there. More importantly though, this is a great example of why niche startpages and social networks will be successful despite what some may think. Markus (he keeps the back-end under control here, look at our About page if you don’t know who he is) and I reguarly discuss niche web applications and often ask the question “Why would I use this instead of ____fil in your favorite web app here___?” So naturally I did the same when I surfed over to Global Grind this morning and my answer was simple, it feels like home. To elaborate, their content and selection of featured content is in no doubt what the demographic is already acustomed to on random pages throughout the internet (Disclaimer: While I love ALL music, I am an 80’s baby and grew up on Hip-Hop) except that on Global Grind it is all in one place. On with the review…. (more…)

Tomorrow the Hip-Hop web experience will be a bit different. Global Grind is launching and is the first Startpage to launch that targets Hip-Hop Culture. This is a brief description taken from the Global Grind MySpace page:

“No time to surf the web? Let Global Grind bring the web to you all on one page. Put your favorite blogs, social network, news sites, video feeds, photos and any RSS feed on one customizable page. Global Grind is Your Web Filtered Fresh. Global Grind allows you to bring together as much content, we call them “Grinds”, related to your interests on any Tab you wish. To help you out, we have a Gallery of all kinds of different Grinds that you can add to customize your Global Grind experience. Every registered user is asked to select a permanent URL that is unique to his or her Global Grind experience. Your URL allows you to be able to share your Tab creations with your friends and colleagues. “

I am excited! Ok, I know I sound like a total geek right now, getting excited over a web app, LOL! I see this as really being a catalyst for change among the type of website and applications that are being developed or will be developed for African-Americans. Check back tomorrow for a detailed review!

So Hey! Nielsen is out of private Beta with today being their first day in public Beta. As far as which websites are currently featured there are all the typical sites that I expected: Facebook, LinkedIn, Digg, YouTube, ect. I did a search for every Black website I could think of and came up with zilch. This would have been disappointing except for the fact that they allow users to submit websites. I submitted Black Web 2.0, not sure if anyone will rate it or comment on it but I think this is a good example of how Black websites can utilize social communities without actually having to create their own and while getting valuable feedback from general web users. Submitting a site literally takes under 3 mins. and you are not required to be a representative of the company to submit a site. This mean John or Jane who works for Sites’r'us.com can submit BET, Essence, EbonyJet, Black Voices, ect.; promote their own recent opinions made with a widget on their websites; and virtually create a venue in a social community to discuss their favorite Black websites and their likes and dislikes about them. Black Web properties can then take this feedback (all or a portion of) and use it to make their web presence an over all better experience for web users. Hopefully we will see other Black sites other then Black Web 2.0 submitted to Hey! Nielsen in the future.

Dack.com Web Economy Bullshit Generator
Very funny, comes up with crazy Web 2.0 phrases that don’t really exist like “facilitate ubiquitous web services” or “scale frictionless technologies”

visualcomplexity.com
A visual exploration of mapping complex networks such as a favorite of mine “Who Owns the Internet?” Verizon, Sprint, At&t, or Qwest?

Stripemania
Stripe background generator

Walk2Web
Visualizes connections between websites.

I saw this yesterday on Mashable and decided to check the site out today. They have some very good content by very talented teenagers. Here are a few of my favorites.

YC- The Carribean Culture Center

Where My ladies At?

N-word PSA
All video and be shared and embedded like above. They have some really great causes as a whole on this site. Think MTV is powered by Viacom’s FLUX Platform.

On Monday September 24th The Nielsen Company will launch Hey Nielsen, a social network that will allow users to give their opinions on movies, television, music, personalities, and internet. Mashable recently reviewed it and gave a blow-by-blow of how Hey Nielsen will work, however it is self described as “Part opinion engine, part social network, and part buzz tracker, Hey! Nielsen is the place to share opinions on your favorite entertainment.” It should be interesting to see how some of the most popular African-American websites (or African-American websites in general) rank and user feedback.

Hip-Hop is definitely embracing Web 2.0. With the impending launch of GlobalGrind.com, the most recent StreetCred.com launch, and even Jay-z’s Iwillnotlose.org I am sure there will be more Web 2.0-ish sites and applications coming from Hip-Hop in the near future.

Stay tuned to Black Web 2.0 for Website launches and weekly coverage (interviews, insight, reviews, and more) in our Hip-Hop 2.0 column by Lynne d Johnson.

Yesterday Eric Easter over at EbonyJet.com wrote, “The Black Weblog Awards 2007” which not only discussed the Awards but also gave great insight into the history and evolution of black blogging. It is definately a good read.

These words particuluarly resonated with me:

“If there is any common thread in Black blogs other than the blackness of their writers, it’s an unflinching willingness to aggressively examine and challenge contemporary Black culture.

Also, significantly, that there is a wealth of smart, insightful and witty writing talent – the kind that mainstream publications seem not to be able to find when they seek diversity.”