Launched: GlobalGrind.com

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….

Their homepage allows users to select what they want to do first or they can just simply enter the site without a selection.

I choose to enter the site whitout a selection and the result was a beautiful user experience. The first tab, “How to Use G.G.” is embedded video powered by Metacafe on the most popular ways to use Global Grind: How do I add a Blank Page, How to I add more Grinds, How do I remove a Grind, How do I change the Appearence. There are 8 in total including a video as basic as How to add a Feed.

The tab G.G. Highlights has highlights from across the web: Video of the Day, Wikipedia Search, Flicker Search, Last FM, and other content.

The G.G Daily news tab features hip-hop news and also get this…. regular news!!! From a hip-hop perspective that is.

They have a large amount of feeds, Grinds, and applications that can be added to a new tab at one click. If your a techie like me you can also upload your OPML file and get all your favorite feeds that you are already subscribed to in one place. I decided to search the feeds in the technology section just to see what came up. Twenty-seven feeds of the most popular Tech feeds including GigaOm, one of my favorites.

And this is why web users whi identify with the Hip-Hop culture will probably switch their start page. I am on the computer most of my day and when I get off I don’t really watch that much T.V. I think that goes for a lot of people these days, since Global Grind targets a niche I can still stay update on news and whatever else I want by importing my OPML and reading Global Grinds selected content. I think this is the best example I have seen in a while of a mash-up of niche content and a web application. I am curious to see what you all think as well?