- Image via CrunchBase, source unknown
Ok, so I didn’t try ALL the top Semantic web applications from Read Write Web as I promised (still making my way through). But here’s what I got so far:
1. Zemanta:
It works! It actually helps you blog. I installed it in my WP blog and I like how it detects words I type and suggest not only links, but also articles and pictures to add to my post. For example, as I type this it detected I wrote Zemanta (duh) and it suggested I add this nice little image from Tech Crunch. To complete the experience it would be good if it suggested videos and Slideshares.
One thing I definitely did not like is when I tried to import my Facebook contact Zemanta asked me for permission to gather information from all my friends. That gave me the creeps, so I didn’t do it. I didn’t want to be the one giving permission to a third party to pick up my network data, one thing is giving up my info, another one is other people’s info.
The other issue I could not figure out is the unavailable bar sign. Not sure what that is about, and I frankly don’t want to take the time to find out.
2. Glue:
I haven’t found it as useful as Zemanta because not many people seem to have it. I only came across two people where that table came up for. Also it doesn’t seem contextual so I didn’t get it much. However, I like the Page Actions. I’ve been using it to post on Twitter and del.icio.us, but I haven’t much luck with finding related pages. Still, I kept it and will continue to give it a try, but I’m yet to find the big aha! moment with this app.
I found that these two services work best together. Honestly, they should merge. Tripit was super easy to use. Not sure I will use to share it, but for someone that is always planning complicated trips with more than one stop and trying coordinate with family, friends or co-workers it works wonders. At first I didn’t get it, but once I used it was really great. I think they should market this application more specifically. I’m going to suggest using Tripit for an upcoming friend’s destination wedding. We’ll see.
Anyway, so I used Tripit to put together all my flight, hotel, car (all booked on different sites) and road trip for our holiday trip to Sedona. We decided to fly into Las Vegas for some fun before we get all family-mushed in Sedona. Then I used Uptake to look up for activities in Las Vegas. Since I’ve only been there for conferences, I figured I should check what is there to do shopping-wise, food-wise and Spa-wise. Well,
- Image via Wikipedia
Uptake gave me some good suggestions in much shorter time that it would have taken me to click around to review sites. I really liked that Uptake doesn’t require login to get the info.
So overall, I think the shemantics applications are making my time on the net a little more efficient.
December 16th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Thanks for giving Zemanta a try
Just wanted to briefly comment on your review:
- for facebook integration, we need a list of your friends and their blogs so we can then recognize their names while you blog and automatically recommend you a link to their blog or facebook profile. While in Twitter, friends list and information is public, in Facebook you have to authorize access.
Just wanted to explain why we’re trying to read your friends data. We can’t recommend their names, without knowing who they are ..
- what do you mean by “unavailable bar sign”? It must be a glitch somewhere as I don’t remember anything like that in relation to Zemanta before. I would really appreciate if you could email me a screenshot of it - jure@zemanta.com , so we can figure out what’s going on and fix it!
Let me know if you have any other questions or ideas what we could to to make your blogging easier.
Jure Cuhalev, Zemanta
December 16th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Thanks for the clarification Jure. Perhaps this needs to be a more clear in the Facebook popup b/c it really sounded scary to me. Still, I’m not comfortable giving access to that information.
I definitely felt more comfortable with the Twitter part because as you say the information is already public, therefore I’m not giving up any sensitive information from my contacts.
I sent you the screenshot you requested.
Thanks again for responding, Zemanta it’s a great app and will continue using it!
A
December 29th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
We really hope you’ll find the time to review Juice (http://juiceapp.com), which was also on another semantic list by ReadWriteWeb. We heard reports from many bloggers, that it helps them complete their tasks. Let us know, what you think!