Nir Ofir

iamnews.com is looking for alpha users: Writers/Bloggers that wish they had resources like CNN.com (well….sort of). email me:nir.ofir at gmail dot com

I am looking for developers to join my new startup ( Yes, I’m leaving blogTV for creating my own first venture).

If you want your technology and skills to be recognized like that unknown guy in the left contact me

More details about my plans to rewire some things will be announced soon.

Hello my blog followers.

Are you still there?

Feeling abandoned?

Well, You should, and I’m sorry about my poor blogging skills.

I shifted most of my social media activity to the micro blogging service twitter leaving this space for more “serious” posts and thoughts. I invite you to follow my twitter micro posts at http://www.twitter.com/nirofir

BTW: Does anyone knows about a tools that takes my daily twitter post and post them in my blog?

Funny (and sarcastic) Microsoft Surface video spoof made by SarcasticGamer.com

Via: Kris Hoet (Hi Kris!)

Searchme, is a new visual search engine with clustering. I always looked at google and search engine as a browser that takes me wherever i need to go. Sometimes I even type the name of the site i want to go to in the search field and not in the address bar, it’s easier and faster. Searchme seems to take this one step ahead and become a better “browser” than google (if the search result are good).

here is a demo

via: boomtown

I just finished watching the Zuckerberg keynote at SXSW 2008, captured by Nick ONiell. I was so curious to watch it and to see why this keynote was described as infamous but, to tell you the truth I think Sarah Lacy did a great job and provided a good show. Watching it remotely, on my computer, and not as a part of the crowed that whisper comments while it is happens might be the reason. This is the biggest difference between SOCIAL/LIVE and VOD. I was also surprised that not many attendees uploaded a full video of the keynote that day.

A powerful way to make people interact and connect in and outside facebook is a great goal, mission and vision but my personal view as a facebook user is that there must be something else.

Facebook communication tools and news feeds are soo great but, since most of them supply basic, clean and efficient features, they do not replace my email usage or other core communication tools like my IM. The applications are also great but most of them are noisy and..well not really efficiene or entertaining. This made me ignore the invitations to install them. I think and hope that facebooks move with the musician profiles and music player will take the to the place that users will have more reasons to use their platform: to be entertained for example. I also hope that the “facebook desktop” utopia will create full, rich communication tools that will not only be efficient but also will replace or work seamlessly with the current standard communication tools.

Anyway. Good (long) keynote.

 http://www.vcwear.com

The IOC Blogging Guidelines just fell into my mailbox. It was clear to me the the Olympic committee must adjust it’s rules to the emerging world of social media, blogging, photo sharing and video sharing and to use it as an advantage. In the first part of the doc, the Olympic committee opened it’s door to the world of bloggers by stating:

“The IOC does not consider that blogs by Accredited Persons, in accordance with these Guidelines, will compromise Paragraph 3 of Bye-law to Rule 49 of the Olympic Charter which states that “Only those persons accredited as media may act as journalists, reporters or in any other media capacity”

Here it is:

The second part of the doc proved that they just don’t get it. The door was locked and locked again..and again by stating:

“No Sound or Moving Images of the Games | No Still Pictures”

There is no doubt that they just cannot stop it. Millions of Chinese with camera phones will make this year Olympic games the biggest UGC covered sport event ever. Thinking that these user generated videos, pictures and sounds will hurt the traditional media is childish. The right way was to use those uber connected Olympic visitors in an exciting and engaging ways to become citizen reporters.

Any thoughts?

Here is the original Doc:

blogging-guidelines-beijing-final-clean-vis-eng-06-02-2008.pdf

The bubble is flat. In 2008, the the only advantage in developing web apps in the US is the marketing and funding advantage - being close to the web 2.0 clique in the silicon valley. In huge emerging markets like China and Russia quick and smart entrepreneurs are taking existing, trendy apps and localize them. Is this a blocker for the facebooks and bebos? It might be if they will gain momentum and will adjust their features and content to the local culture.
Here are the cloned facebooks of China and Russia:

http://hainei.com/

http://vkontakte.ru/