The Next Web

Google starts another battle, watch out MyBlogLog

Written on September 11, 2008 – 5:18 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief

Google has just challenged Yahoo’s MyBlogLog in a face-to-face battle by posting a very peaceful-like announcement on the Official Google Blog:

At Blogger we’re passionate about helping communities form around blogs. To further that goal, we’ve introduced a new feature that lets you easily follow your favorite blogs and tell the world that you’re a fan. To follow a blog with the Followers’ Gadget, simply click the “Follow This Blog” link. You can show your support for the blog by following it right from your Blogger Dashboard or in Google Reader.

So as you can tell by this message, Google starts the battle in a guerrilla manner since the MyBlogLog rip-off boxes are only featured on Google Blogger blogs. Probably just to test the service for a while and preparing it for the real clash with MyBlogLog.

Not another rip-off

I think this follow box will particularly popular with beginning bloggers (like Blogger.com bloggers). The ones who are more experienced have their MyBlogLog tracking script running and aren’t waiting for yet another “connect to your friends”-tool.

Google’s secret weapon

But.., Google has one secret weapon, a deadly feature that might after all wipe out MyBlogLog: the address book. Calender, Reader, Gmail, and Docs all revolve around this feature. That’s what gives the Google tools structure. The address book is the glue that keeps them all together. No, it’s even better. It’s the DNA of Google’s web apps collection. Whether you want to share a Google Doc, invite somebody for an appointment or tip a good article from a feed, all your contacts are easily available for your sharing-needs. And now, your blog friends are included.

I hope you like that post!

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blog, blogger, Blogger Dashboard, blogger.com, gmail, google, Google Doc, google reader

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Live blogging: Greek Blogger Camp 2008

Written on May 30, 2008 – 8:59 am
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten,

Patrick and me are currently waiting for our morning flight to Greece. We are attending Greek Blogger Camp 2008 at the island Los. We will be staying at the fabulous Ios Palace hotel on the golden sand beaches of Mylopotas. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi in the conference area and next to the pool.

No, we are not complaining!

I’m not just attending the conference to blog about it. I am also one of the international speakers there next to Timothy Ferris (”productivity guru” and author of The 4-Hour Workweek) and Matt Mullenweg (founding developer of WordPress and founder of Automattic, the business behind WordPress.com and Akismet.), to name a few. I’m very proud to be mentioned in the same sentence as those two guys.

We will blog about the conference here (Tagged: gbc08) and we will post photos to Flickr (Tagged: gbc08) regularly too.

blogger, blogging, gbc08, greece, greek, Matt mullenweg, timothy ferris, wordpress

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