_Tim Shore is the publisher of “blogTO”:http://www.blogto.com, a city blog focused on Toronto culture, recently named by Forbes Magazine as “Best of the Web”:http://www.forbes.com/bow/b2c/category.jhtml?id=323. In his day job, he works for the interactive arm of a Toronto-based ad agency. (Tim is front right along with blogTO Managing Editor Tanja-Tiziana Burdi (left) and contributors Christine Miguel and Paul Fler. Photo by Sabrina Cariati.)_
*One Degree: What inspired you to start blogTO.com?*
I think there was both an opportunity and a need. The opportunity was that there was this great new low-cost publishing platform called a blog (not to mention a great way to experience the Internet). On the need side, there was a lack of good web sites which focused on Toronto culture. There seemed to be general consensus that “toronto.com”:http://www.toronto.com was garbage and that the rest of the media players were treating online as an afterthought.
That combined with my passion for the city and the fact that readership and ad dollars continue to migrate online, it was a no brainer.
*One Degree: Just like One Degree, BlogTO depends on a broad spectrum of contributors. I’m curious about your opinions on whether group blogs should emphasize the individual or the group. How do you balance the personality and talents of the various contributors with the need to present a somewhat consistent and/or authoritative voice to readers – or do you?*
Month: August 2005
I guarantee that if John Markoff’s article about Google in the New York Times is correct this is what much of the blogosphere will be buzzing about this week:
bq.. On Monday, Google is planning to introduce a second-generation version of its downloadable computer search tool, Google Desktop. It will come with both personalization and software “agent” features – learning capabilities – plus an invitation for independent programmers to develop small programs to extend the capability of the system.
Both capabilities are likely to be seen as further competitive threats by Microsoft, which is focusing on similar information retrieval and organization advances in its long-delayed next-generation operating system, Windows Vista.
“We’re really trying to make this into a platform,” said Nikhil Bhatla, product manager for Google Desktop. As with Apple Computer’s popular Dashboard feature, the idea is that it will be simple for programmers to extend the reach of Google Desktop by adding custom applications, known as live content panels.
Google executives say they plan to unveil on Wednesday a “communications tool” that is potentially a clear step beyond the company’s search-related business focus.
While executives would not disclose what the new software tool might be, Google has long been expected to introduce an instant messaging service to compete with services offered by America Online, Yahoo and MSN from Microsoft.
p. My advice to Internet marketers? Don’t get sidetracked by reading the tea leaves about new Google products – leave that to the pundits.
I certainly hope so. Otherwise “this Globe & Mail article”:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v4/sub/MarketingPage?user_URL=http://www.globetechnology.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20030925.gttwrsss25%2FBNStory%2FTechnology%2F&ord=18667536&brand=globetechnology&redirect_reason=2&denial_reasons=none&force_login=false (paid access only now) will make “Chris Pirillo”:http://chris.pirillo.com/ and me look a bit silly.
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