Last week Global Grind launched yet another redesign/facelift I am guessing to help improve their user experience.  The design and layout is noticeably different, the new look masks the Digg like interface and functionality into a more editorial friendly design, programming submissions as editorial content.  What is also noticeably different is that the navigation is now broken down into Channels, Globalview, Groups, and The Daily Grind.

Channels play into the whole editorial theme that seems to have taken shape across the site.  Some of the “Channels” you are use to are still there while others like Technology aren’t.  I guess I really shouldn’t say technology isn’t there, it appears to be subliminally included in the Entertainment category of all things. 

Globalview is more or less the same as it was, collecting content from a variety of sites across the web.  The Daily Grind, which is the site’s daily newsletter, is published in blog format.  I am not sure if this is a change or not, I don’t clearly remember it being there though it could have easily been hidden.  Not so sure about the shocking change of interface though when you come to this section of the site, mainly because it is in the top level navigation and the user already expects to see more of the same with slight differences at most.

Groups by far is the biggest and most interesting addition to the site though I’m still not sure exactly what it is.  I get the concept of groups, it is a good one.  What I don’t get is the group activity as it relates to Global Grind’s core functionality which is (was) submitting content.  Group activity is categorized by Most Recent, Most Votes, Most Views, and Most Comments but as it relates to that specific group or the content that group is centered around or the users who belong to that group?  Confusing right?  That will need to be hashed out a bit more, hopefully it is not an attempt to recreate a Ning-ish hellish experience on every micro-niche or topic known to man.  Oh, one thing about the groups that I do like is the ability to grab a groups RSS feed.  My guess is that this group functionality will help support the Global Grind Publishers Network that will launch in late September 2008.  A snippet of what they are touting from an anonymous source:

…The GGPN provides a robust partnership - a publishing partnership, as opposed to just an advertising network!  As most advertising networks have shown, they can provide many sites with access to new advertisers and incremental revenue….

In addition to incremental revenue, membership in The Global Grind Publishers Network (GGPN) can provide your company with content syndication - getting your content in front of more readers…

Additionally, the Global Grind Publishing Network adds value by providing traffic generation via widgets, links, and badges across the entire network; delivering ads from premium advertisers; promoting your content in relevant content categories on GlobalGrind, and integrating your content within our blogs and newsletters…

Hmmmm, make sense now?  Lets not also forget about the basis of this publisher network, Glam Media.  Publishers who join the network can surely expect to get many of the same benefits they get from Glam especially regarding the distribution of widgets or syndicating content through widgets.

I also tried submitting content to see if the experience had changed at all but guess what?  I had to verify my account all over again, for the second time no less.  Every time there is a redesign of some sort I get this prompt.  I understand why it is being done, it is just kinda annoying, especially when I just want to use the product…so I skipped it and will get back to that later.  On another note traffic was way, way, way up for GG in July so perhaps these rounds of enhancements are working:

Prior to this story being published Global Grind was contacted for more info on the GGPN with no response as of today.

San Francisco, VC seed DRM Software Co. ByteShield
ByteShield Inc., a provider of copyright protection software, has secured a round of seed financing. Showing that VC’s still think there is a market for DRM technologies.
http://www.byteshield.net

Cupertino, Zend Sends investors a request For $7M
Zend Technologies Ltd., a developer of software for PHP applications, has raised up to $7 million in debt from TriplePoint Capital.
http://www.zend.com

Los Angeles, Shopflick bags $7M To Set Up Video Shops
Shopflick Inc., which has successfully shopped itself to venture capitalists for a $7 million Series A, sees itself as the QVC of the MySpace demographic.
http://www.shopflick.com

Cambridge, OpenCloud Accumulates $10M New Debt And Equity
OpenCloud Ltd., a supplier of real-time application servers to help the telecommunications industry develop and deploy services, has announced a $10 million debt-and-equity second round of funding.
http://www.opencloud.com

Texas City, Virgin Cleantech Funds Acquire DuraTherm
Masdar Clean Tech Fund and Virgin Green Fund announced the buy-out of DuraTherm Inc., a petroleum and metal recycling business based in Texas City, Texas. The transaction, structured as an asset acquisition, was supported by debt from HSH Nordbank AG and completed at an undisclosed valuation.
http://www.virgingreenfund.com
http://www.masdarctf.com
http://www.duratherm-intl.com

Bangalore, Indian Ad Network Ozone Media Packs Up First Round
Ozone Media Solutions Pvt. Ltd. has secured a Series A round of funding from IDG Ventures India for its India-based online ad network.
http://www.ozonemedia.co.in

Loughborough, Intelligent Energy Powers Up $13.6M
Intelligent Energy Ltd. has raised $13.6 million in venture funding to further develop its fuel cell products as it moves toward commercialization.
http://www.intelligent-energy.com

Germantown, Eka Systems Racks Up $18.5M
Improved management of energy infrastructure is a major concern as renewable energy comes online, and Eka Systems Inc., a manufacturer of advanced metering for electric, gas and water utilities, has raised $18.5 million in its latest round of funding to capitalize on the opportunity.
http://www.ekasystems.com

Agoura Hills, Cyber-Rain get “Funky” with Series A For Water Management Tech
With water management a growing issue on the West Coast and legislation expected in several California cities on water-use issues, water management technology developer Cyber-Rain Inc. has raised $1.5 million in Series A financing.
http://www.funkventures.com
http://www.cyber-rain.com

Sunnyvale, Innovalight Secures $5M Equipment Lease Financing
Innovalight Inc., which is developing portable solar power systems using nanotechnology, has secured $5 million in equipment lease financing from Atel Ventures.
http://www.innovalight.com

Lexington, Web Jeweler Paragon Lake Blings Out With $5.4M
Diamonds, it seems, may also be a venture capitalist’s best friend. Highland Capital Partners and Canaan Partners have decided to get friendly with Paragon Lake Inc., a Web-based supplier of customized jewelry.
http://www.paragonlake.com

Bellevue, DepotPoint Seals Series C
Spurred by the mortgage crisis, DepotPoint Inc. has raised $7 million to speed sales and marketing of its recently released foreclosure tracking Web site.
http://www.depotpoint.com

San Diego, Plimus Adds $18M For E-Commerce Infrastructure
Plimus Inc., a provider of infrastructure tools for e-commerce, has raised an $18 million first round of funding for continued product improvement as well as sales and marketing efforts of its products and services.
http://www.plimus.com

Bellevue, Xeround Circles Up $16M Series B
Xeround Inc., a developer of software for communications service providers, has secured $16 million in its Series B round as IP communications networks grow around the globe.
http://www.xeround.com

Exton, IPipeline Grabs $18M Growth Round
Thirteen years after its founding, iPipeline Inc., a provider of software-as-a-service to the insurance industry, has secured $18 million in Series A financing for its strategic growth plan.
http://www.ipipeline.com

Jersey City, IP Network provider DataPipe Collects $75M From Goldman
DataPipe Inc., a provider of managed IT services, has secured $75 million in equity and debt financing led by Goldman Sachs & Co
http://www.datapipe.com

Boston, Spire Attracts $9M For Site Focused On “Ballers Only”
Spire Company Associates Inc. has raised a $9 million Series A round of funding for a Web site it bills as “an exclusive online community,” aimed at providing product and service recommendations to affluent individuals.
http://spire.com

San Francisco, Mevio Tunes In with $15M For Online Shows
Online video start-up Mevio Inc., formerly known as PodShow, has raised $15 million in Series C funding led by Crosslink Capital.
http://www.mevio.com

New York, Buzzfeed Collects $3.5M For Juicy News
Contagious Media LLC, which owns Buzzfeed.com, a site that tracks hot online trends, has raised $3.5 million in Series A funding
http://www.buzzfeed.com

New York, FeedRoom Munches On $12M Series F
FeedRoom Inc., a provider of broadband video technology to corporations, government agencies and media companies, has taken in $12 million in its Series F round as the company moves closer to its exit strategy.
http://www.feedroom.com

New York BountyJobs Collects $12M Booty For Headhunting Service
Bounty connect employers to headhunters, BountyJobs Inc. The start up has raised a $12 million Series B round of funding.
http://www.bountyjobs.com

Pasadena, Perfect Market Reveals $15.6M In Financing
Perfect Market Inc., a company aiming to help publishers get more advertising dollars from archived articles, has announced $15.6 million worth of fund-raising.
http://www.perfectmarket.com

Geneva, Index Ventures Backs Two Cos. From Growth Fund
Index Ventures has made two new plays from its growth equity fund: a $35 million investment in online media company Bestofmedia Group SA, and a EUR17 million ($27 million) financing round for Milestone Systems A/S, a global developer of open platform IP video management software for surveillance systems.
http://www.indexventures.com
http://milestonesys.com
http://www.bestofmedia.com

Berlin, Intel Leads $130M Round In Solar Co. Sulfurcell
Intel Capital goes deep with its commitment to clean technology by leading a $130 million round of financing for Berlin-based thin-film solar technology developer Sulfurcell Solartechnik GmbH
http://www.intelcapital.com
http://www.sulfurcell.de

Microsoft Announces Acquisition of Navic Networks

REDMOND— Microsoft Corp. announced the acquisition of Navic Networks, a leading provider of television advertising solutions. Navic’s technologies include sophisticated campaign management tools that use relevant data to optimize the delivery and placement of targeted interactive television media and through Admira provide a unified ad network for targeting audiences across television advertising inventory. With the addition of Navic solutions, Microsoft’s comprehensive advertising platform will be able to facilitate enhanced digital advertising across online and offline environments.

“Television media represents the largest percentage of advertisers and agencies’ media budget today,” said Brian McAndrews, senior vice president of the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group at Microsoft. “Together, Navic and Microsoft will deliver addressable television advertising solutions to help our partners better manage media spend by increasing advertiser reach and ROI, and maximizing publisher yield on television advertising.”

With this acquisition, Navic Networks becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft and will join Microsoft’s Advertiser and Publisher Solutions (APS) Group, the group responsible for Microsoft’s comprehensive advertising platform that spans all digital media including television and video advertising. The APS Group includes Atlas, a pioneer of Video-On-Demand advertising solutions.

http://www.navic.com
http://www.microsoft.com

Online Gaming vet raises $17.3 to increase it’s unique business model

Online gaming company GameDuell has raised $17.3 million in Series B funding to expand internationally with its unusual gaming revenue model. Wellington Partners provided the new funding. GameDuell received an undisclosed amount of Series A funding in 2004 from Holtzbrinck Ventures and Burda Digital Ventures.

While many online gaming companies generate revenue through advertising, subscriptions or, increasingly, virtual goods, GameDuell has a different approach: contests.

http://www.gameduell.com

(11:58:46) BW 2.0: So how did you get started?
(11:59:23) Ian: Well I guess professionally it goes back to 1996, when I went to work for a company called New York Online, founded by Omar Wasow
(11:59:32) Ian: NYO was a pre-web BBS system
(12:00:05) Ian: Omar founded it in ‘93
(12:00:40) Ian: by 96, the internet/web was moving - so I came on to do design work for NYO’s web clients
(12:01:35) Ian: I was still in school at the time, so I worked for Omar during the summers, winter breaks, etc. until graduation - worked f/t for about one year out of school
(12:02:15) Ian: after that Omar decided to join Community Connect, and brought a few members of the old NYO over with him, including me

(12:02:57) BW 2.0: Did you originally start out as a designer or is your background more so in business?
(12:03:11) Ian: design, some scripting + html
(12:03:36) BW 2.0: Very cool

(12:04:28) BW 2.0: As a Creative Director what do you do on a day-to-day basis, other than the obvious :)?
(12:05:29) BW 2.0: Many people only see the surface of what Creative Directors do, and some don’t really see the difference between a CD’s role in different mediums.
(12:07:08) Ian: well my role at R/GA is a bit different in that my background and strengths are in the product development realm
(12:07:33) Ian: so I tend not to work out ‘campaigns’ and more tools/applications
(12:09:05) Ian: on a day-to-day that means collaborating with visual designers, interaction designers and developers – a lot of zooming out and seeing the macro view on a project, then zooming back in to pixels etc.
(12:09:14) Ian: looking for opportunities to push our thinking

(12:10:11) BW 2.0: Interesting, I am noticing designers and CD’s being more involved in product development on the web lately, do you think this is a trend since many companies are trying so hard to be design-centric or do you feel like their role in that realm is warranted?
(12:10:44) Ian: well I guess it depends on the type of company
(12:11:05) Ian: for agencies, etc - CDs are always involved
(12:11:23) BW 2.0: right
(12:11:44) Ian: for other businesses such as media companies, it may be a new thing in some ways - because these companies are just learning to do product development
(12:12:02) Ian: so they are going through a transition period, trying to figure out roles and process

(12:14:00) BW 2.0: You were previously at BlackPlanet.com however what has been your experience with diversity in either the design or interactive industries as a whole? If you have experienced a lack of diversity how do you think this can be changed or improved?
(12:18:16) Ian: I think I’ve had some amazing experiences working in design, and working in interactive, however these industries are not what I would call ‘racially diverse’. But often, they are industries where your ideas, thought processes and creativity matters more than racial or ethnic background.
(12:19:29) Ian: The goal is always to be undeniable at what you do. In some contexts, the bar is raised a bit higher based on characteristics that have nothing to do with your intellect, talent or expertise– but I’ve found this to be true everywhere in life.
(12:19:55) BW 2.0: great outlook!
(12:20:32) Ian: The thing is, I would not be where I am if ppl didn’t give me the benefit of the doubt at various junctures in my career.

(12:21:09) BW 2.0: What advice would you give to our readers who want to transition into a design role or product development role?
(12:21:58) Ian: I think if you are new to the industry then you must obsess about it
(12:22:25) Ian: Stay hungry to learn, and hone your skills
(12:23:21) BW 2.0: What about for individuals who are maybe…mid-level?
(12:24:02) Ian: Well I think then you need to test yourself, find the largest stage possible to display your skills, and don’t allow yourself to half step
(12:24:14) Ian: find places where you can be surrounded by people who will push you
(12:24:19) Ian: and kick your ass

(12:24:46) BW 2.0: Ok, now for some more fun questions
(12:24:54) Ian: haha uh-oh
(12:25:00) BW 2.0: Fave color?
(12:25:10) Ian: blue?
(12:25:22) Ian: or maybe like #666666
(12:25:38) BW 2.0: LOL, omg I am using #666666 right now
(12:25:54) Ian: see - always a good place to start

(12:25:59) BW 2.0: Fave desgin- trend/style?
(12:26:42) Ian: hmm “simplicity”

(12:27:00) BW 2.0: Who are you listening to right now (music)?
(12:27:26) Ian: ( checking ipod )
(12:29:40) Ian: Tv on the Radio, The Roots (75 Bars!), Santogold, Celebration, MF Doom, Ghostface, Diplo mixes, MOP

(12:29:51) BW 2.0: 3g iPhone or Gen 1 iPhone?
(12:30:31) Ian: neither. I got an iPod Touch.. nice and slim - but given the app store I am tempted to go 3G
(12:30:46) BW 2.0: LOL

(12:30:48) BW 2.0: last one…
(12:30:56) BW 2.0: Favorite website?
(12:31:24) Ian: overall? Come on - I have a couple hundred feeds in google reader right now
(12:31:33) Ian: hmm
(12:31:33) BW 2.0: ROFL
(12:31:38) BW 2.0: ok…
(12:31:41) BW 2.0: most used?
(12:32:51) Ian: gmail, google reader, facebook. - combined they are often like an information refrigerator.. I open the door again and again looking for something good.

(12:33:12) BW 2.0: Thank you so much for participating!

Submitted-

Favorites-

Bloggers love widgets and cool stuff like this that they can play with or help syndicate what they do, I won’t lie I love widgets but have to try to keep my addiction under control so I won’t overwhelm a user’s experience.

We are told by Navarrow Wright, the company’s CEO, that these new widgets have a use beyond just putting them on a site:

“Another application is if blogger currently does not have RSS feeds or widgets on their site they just create a profile on GG. Grind their content then place the widget code on their site or others.”

Nice, though I would love the opportunity to skin them as well.  We were told this is coming in a larger enhancement roll-out very soon.

Back to the interface…

It may just be me but since I have a design background, but I immediately noticed all the changes that were implemented, I naturally tend to look at UI first though.  However, on the other hand when discussing with Markus the changes weren’t immediately apparent to him.  I am not going to point out any of the interface changes in this post just because I want to know from you:

Do you notice the difference?

and

If you do, does it help you find what you are looking for on the site easier?

I had the pleasure of being able to talk with Brett Wright of UptownLife.net. UptownLife recently relaunched, a little over a couple a weeks ago, and is more or less the online version of Uptown magazine. See below for the full email exchange:

BW20: How were you all able to successfully transition your print creative direction on to the web? Did you run into any challenges across mediums that modified how certain design elements were treated on the web?

Brett: Our goal was to do the complete opposite. We did not want to have a magazine site online. Our objective was to have the Uptown brand represented online leveraging some of our assets but making it a lifestyle site for the Luxury Lifestyle. We have information that you can access on a more frequent basis and a wider range of content. Our goal is to inspire, inform and interact with consumers.

BW20: Aside from design what is UptownLife.net and it’s overall web strategy?

Brett: Our strategy is to be the premier destination for (AAA) Affluent African American consumers online. Rich Media, Features, Blogs and Lifestyle.

BW20: What is Uptownlife.net doing differently than other online publications?

Brett: We are different in a sense that we are not trying to be an online publication. We want to be a destination for information and discovery.

BW20: I noticed that Uptownlife.net also has additional offline presence in the form of a restaurant, how will this venture play into your web presence?

Brett: We are developing the brand vertically and horizontally. The magazine is the first phase and the foundation that will establish our credibility, the site will entrench us and the other ventures will connect us. Restaurants, Commerce, Products and Events eventually.

BW20: Are you able to delve into your plans for brand extension a little further?

Brett: At this point I can’t about future projects but the current ones include Uptown Restaurant in ATL, A Guide Venture with BlackBook, TV Show Uptown Life and Online Movie Production Partnership with Nehts.

BW20: Lately I have been noticing a trend of luxury lifestyle brands either extending a presence online or creating that presence online from scratch. What types of differences in web strategies (between “luxury” and typical) are there?

Brett: Not sure about the others but we are trying to figure it out as everyone else is. We strongly believe that there is great opportunity for luxury online as well as in the untapped AAA online.

BW20: So is UptownLife.net strictly a content play in regards to it being an online destination for AAA or will it possibly expand to something further and more interactive?

Brett: Right now it is content primarily we are looking at some other options around social interaction but not sure when or how that will net out. We will take our cues from the consumers as we roll out. As you know you have to be nimble and open to changes in the tech space.

BW20: What are your internal goals for user interaction with the site, with various forms of content being the main offering right now, what will keep your users coming back and engaged longer than a typical session?

Brett: We are focused on 3 pockets: Clique our photo section, Uptown TV our Broadband/Rich Media section and Our Blogs. This will evolve to include restaurant guide and more to follow.

BW20: With that said what does a profile of your typical user look like?

Brett: It is still to early to predict user profile but it will probably mirror our readership.

BW20: How is UptownLife.net involved in online social media if at all? If so what elements of your brand are extended into that realm?

Brett: The social media piece is covered slightly with our Clique application and we are evaluating whether or not we will delve deeper into the genre.

There you have it…A Luxury Lifestyle Destination on the web for the Affluent African American. Do you think this “destination” will play into your life or work its way into your website rotation at all?

Though I have been dedicated to Netvibes for a while now I may be making a switch back to iGoogle. Not long ago we covered Netvibes’ launch of Ginger, it’s not shabby by any means and also has lots of cool features, but if you are looking for a start page that can match your personal style or clothes you may want to consider switching to iGoogle. Why you ask? iGoogle recently launched (not sure exactly when but I just noticed it yesterday) Artist Themes. Artist Themes are basically skins by fashion designers and artists. Some notable designers and some of my personal favorites are:

Mark Ecko

Dolce & Gabbana

Diane von Furstenberg

Beastie Boys

NIGO

Tory Burch

Todd Oldham
Oscar de la Renta
Coldplay
I am rocking the Desre Buirski skin today (see first image above). Google even gives brief background info on each artist, here is a little about the Desre:

Since 1995, Desré Buirski has designed one of a kind, hand-painted shirts for Nelson Mandela. Each “Presidential Shirts” branded design displays colors that express the African Renaissance and symbolize the beauty of the “rainbow nation”.

It will be interesting to see if any Urban fashion brands other than Mark Ecko create skins especially since there is an eagerness to extend their brands on the web beyond e-commerce. You can explore the full range of Artist themes on iGoogle.