2009 May

Wolfram Alpha: Exciting for Scientists, Boring for Everyone Else

posted on May 12, 2009

Let me ask you something. Do you think we need Wolfram Alpha?

I know that’s the equivalent of asking someone circa 1999 “do you think we need Google?” but I’m just not sure what role the much anticipated search engine will fill.

Oh, excuse me. It’s not a search engine. It’s a “computational knowledge engine.”

The NYT tells us that Stephen Wolfram–Alpha’s creator–is “not keen” on the comparison with Google. But, even if it’s not a true search engine, will the average web user find value in Wolfram Alpha?

Consider some of the examples given to demonstrate the potential of Wolfram Alpha:

Type in “Pluto” and Alpha calculates the dwarf planet’s distance from Earth at that very instant…If you type “LDL 120,” it will return a graph showing the distribution of cholesterol levels among the United States population.

by Andy Beal

20 Comments

Why Display Ads are the Lifeblood of Online Publishing

posted on May 12, 2009

There’s an interesting debate going on about a potential new feature for Adblock Plus–a Firefox plugin that automatically blocks web site ads from displaying.

I’m not so much interested in the proposed new feature–it would allow webmasters to ask for permission to display their ads, in case you care–but the discussion that followed in the comments.

The majority of commenters reacted negatively and really opened my eyes to the sentiment many people have towards online ads. Comments included…

I use Ad Block Plus because I don’t want to see adverts, any adverts at any time. I will never click on them, I will always be annoyed by them. The tiny minority of a tiny minority (ad block users of firefox users) don’t want to see them either. If ad block plus starts allowing ads or constantly nagging me then it will be forked – because it’s defeating its whole purpose – and I’ll use the fork.

by Jordan McCollum

7 Comments

YouTube Appealing to Advertisers, Naming Music Video Site Chief

posted on May 11, 2009

mccafe-youtube In a story that has dragged on even longer than the Yahoo/Microsoft saga, YouTube continues to search for its monetization sweet spot. This January, they started a deal to run masthead ad units, which seventeen brands have utilized. Now they’re offering a synchronized homepage placement, and McDonald’s has signed up as the first advertiser.

Most of the brands already advertising with the masthead units are similar (or possibly competing) businesses: specifically entertainment brands EA, Apple, Lionsgate, Universal and Sony, many of which have deals with YouTube already (and more notes on the latest Universal/YouTube deal in a minute!). But McDonald’s advertising shows a departure from this. As Clickz points out,

by Jordan McCollum

7 Comments

by Frank Reed

8 Comments

by Frank Reed

0 Comments

Poltics as Unusual?

posted on May 11, 2009

While we barely have a presidential election that felt like it was never going to end in the rear view mirror, politics are always cooking in the background. Based on the past success of some efforts to more accurately target issue oriented voters and their web habits a new ad network, Resonate Networks, is getting some attention. The New York Times tells the story of an a mix of party strategists from both sides of the fence have joined forces to start this company. Politics certainly makes strange bedfellows as the saying goes but apparently so does a business venture that can generate some cash.