Published by Malagor April 29th, 2007
in .Web Service.
I did Live search something on Yahoo beta but what I found is a Search project called “Alpha” which lead by Yahoo! 7 Search team. Some info from the team’s blog on April 5:
Yesterday, the Yahoo!7 Search team began testing a beta service called Alpha that was born out of pizza and furious coding.
Whilst aggregating feeds on one page is nothing new, we wanted to take a federated search concept one step further. With this beta, we have introduced personalisation elements that not only allow users to customise their view, but also to add their favourite search service (at least those who syndicate their search results via OpenSearch RSS).
We also decided to add a sharing element for logged in users of the site. Now, if you decide to share your personalised url with others, they can view and effectively use the search configuration you have developed
I have no idea what Yahoo! Search will do or what they think. I found not much info on it’s blog about the idea of this project but seems they start the thing from ground up, not just improving or adding new features to current search. Btw, Alpha has very clean interface– let’s play with it.
Published by Malagor February 22nd, 2007
in .Talk and .Web Service.
I have been using online map and satellite service for long time, mostly Windows Live Maps. But I never realize it were extremely old map I have. I took deep look on map of Pattani, Thailand and suddenly I have seem shrimp Ponds near mouth of Pattani River. Terrible, they never been there for at least five or six years. Those Shrimp Ponds were replaced by dormitory and the new complex building of Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University. Below is the screen I took from Live Maps.
Google Maps (and Google Earth) did the same, only can zoom a bit closer.
I don’t know how you feel when your map never getting updated, something that just a half of decade old. It really annoyed me. And also if the world is just limited to America, it wouldn’t be better Google and Windows Live turn off their service?
Published by Malagor January 25th, 2007
in .Windows Live and .Web Service.
As I posted earlier that Microsoft prepare to launch Windows Live Spaces with Thai interface. Today Microsoft released the latest version with Universal Video gadget but Thai Interface is unannounced. I didn’t noticed it until the owner of Meawdam.com send me a link to her entry on WL Space. So, screenshot I made come from her space. All command and menu had been translated to Thai including the date and year system.
(Click on Image to enlarge)
It’s ideal for the young who which to own a space. I have seen a lot of them getting trouble to deal with English. It’s good sign and good process, but I am getting little worry when I noticed several part are badly translated. Bad translation will lead to more confusing instead of help. A lot of program I use when it come with Thai menu, I always have to switched back to English.
Note to Thai user in the case that you signed in (your Windows Live ID) and you have set your Language and Location reference to English-US, if you visit a Thai space and wish see Thai interface you need to sign out.
Update: Thai user (in above case) will see every space in the world has Thai interface. This morrning I visit Inside Windows Live Messenger space (without sign in), menu and others is in Thai except the contents.
Published by Malagor January 25th, 2007
in .Windows Live and .Web Service.
Windows Live Spaces get latest update by adding few new features together with back-end update. The latest version of Windows Live Spaces have new gadget “Universal Video Player” which allow user to add and display any hosted video from popular video sharing service. From Universal Video gadget:
This gadget will accept embeddable videos from most of the popular video hosting sites including Soapbox, YouTube, Google Video, iFilm, Yahoo! Video, and many others. Copy the embed HTML code to your clipboard and paste it above
Another new feature is “Sign up for alerts”. It allow visitor to sign up and receive latest entry or update from that space. It using power of Windows Live Alert so the alert can be received through messenger, email and mobile. With this feature, the space owner has no need to open up the Windows Live Alert service which the process may take few days to finish.
We here that Windows Live Spaces will release a version with Thai interface any time soon.
Published by Malagor January 24th, 2007
in .Web Service.
Few months after Windows Live Mail team released its M8 and announced for upcoming beta tag-free version in the near future. Benjamin Poon announced on MailCall Blog for Milestone 9 release. According to Poon, M9 focus mainly on improvment of classic version. It’s aim to Hotmail user who upset with Windows Live Mail and opt the beta. The classic expirience is improving look and feel of WL Mail to make it look similar to hotmail but improve the easy of use, security and speed (faster than original Hotmail).
Some of WL Mail user will see the change from now on and will cover all user over next two weeks. Thanks to WL Mail team who care and take respond to those who doesn’t feel “change is good” or “Live is Good”. A girl close to me, whom like WL Mail but don’t like full version will say baig thanks to you when she hear the news. Btw, Windows Live Mail seems close to final and that day Hotmail is no more.
Published by Malagor January 7th, 2007
in .Windows Live and .Web Service.
Nathan Weinberg posted on InsideMicrosoft Blog about Voicemail and Audio support in Windows Live Mail. WL Mail user have this ability to listen their voice mail and attached song. The audio control is powered by Windows Media Player. Weinberg also pointed that user can send and play MP3 song, streaming is also faster than download. I guess the audio control will support all audio file type that have native support by Windows Media Player. This feature remind me about Photomail. Same feature that available across Windows Live service. Also noted, my friend already complained me over reduced size of photos in PhotoMail. Weinberg have a screenshot if you are not WL Mail user.
I guess if there is some similar feature supporting video clip or video mail available for now or close future? Video clip is widely user in mobile phone and also there is Windows Live Mail on mobile. Anyone try this or have fantastic idea?
Update: I have a try. I sending myself (between two email accounts) a small video file (WMV), attached it with WLMd and direct form web mail. The video file still need to download for watching.
Published by Malagor January 6th, 2007
in .Windows Live and .Web Service.
Windows Live Spaces team did a lot of great work over it’s social networking service or blogging system. One of previous hot topic over WL Spaces should considering as blog or not. It fade after the time but there are blogging functions (under a certain definition) exist in WL Spaces. I am interesting especially on ”trackback system”.
Why? is there anything special? No, nothing special but it acting as place for trackback spamming. With honor I own three spaces for different reasons. All of them never get any spam comments. I geuss, posting spam comment is time consuming and less efficiency. The most effective way is using trackback system. Run once and they big number of result.
The trend I noticed from three of my spaces is first send a testing trackback. If it work then following with real spam trackback. The most spam I got from space is clothing advertisement and I got a lot of them daily. I don’t know if WL Spaces team have some records or statistic on this area. WL Spaces itself, it’s backend system lack of spamming filter over trackbacking. I don’t know if it working behind screen. Together with lack of effective way (you may call ease of use) for comment/trackback management. What they missed is bulk delete. If user need to delete ten spam they need to did it one by one. The result? more than 20 clicks before get it done.
Today I got first spam on this blog but Wordpress with plug-ins blocked it and asking me to approve. The spam is viagra ads (trust me something I do not need it, I can perform great work!). Oh, I got 20+ Vigra thing in unknown account on Gmail.
WL Space team should consider in this area before trackback spam is greater and become issue for the next hot topic. It’s means WL Spaces should have some spam filter (for trackback), block them or warn user if the system caught some. Plus, improve the way to manage comment/trackback, give ability for bulk delete. I think is could help a lot. Or you may have some other great ideas please let me learn.
