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Figuring out Web 2.0 - Another misguided article from Backbone Magazine - another Globe and Mail tech magazine

Wed, 2006-05-10 11:40 — Roland

Instead of regurgitating material from big companies like Yahoo who are doing "Web 2.0 by acquisition", why not profile Canadian Web 2.0 startups like eqo, sxip and Dabble DB (at this rate the Globe and Mail will write about them in late 2007!) where the true innovation is happening? And also why do none of these Globe and Mail magazines ever talk about open source? Without open source there would be no flickr, in fact there would be almost no Web 2.0 companies. Finally, it's not right to preach at organizations that they "better wrap their heads around Web 2.0 or they will find themselves stuck in a 1999 frame of mind" when the same author advocated an 1999 style SEO strategy in the Globe's TQ just a couple of weeks of ago. The "authority" of the Globe and Mail is seriously undermined by flawed articles like this one.

FROM Backbone Magazine business technology news consumer technologies e-marketing news online.:

QUOTE

In short, Web 2.0 may be a coined phrase, but it is also a way of using online tools in a creative and collaborative manner. Software and hardware developers, researchers and scientists, businesses -- especially those with an online customer base -- not-for-profit groups, and even political organizations had better wrap their heads around Web 2.0, or they will find themselves stuck in a 1999 frame of mind.

END QUOTE

Comments

Sat, 2006-05-27 22:56 — colligo CEO

I hope we qualify as a Canadian web 2.0 startup...

Roland, I read your comment about Paul Lima's article for Backbone and must say that I don't agree with your point of view. When Paul asked to interview us for the article, I thought he was going to take it from the web 2.0 technology angle, since our products are based heavily on web services. However, as the interview unfolded, I realized that the G&M were trying to describe the trends from the non-technology angle. They wanted to see how businesses, from many sectors, might leverage Web 2.0 technology. Given the Globe and Mail's audience, which is largely non-tech, and the assignment he was given, I think Paul did pretty good job. Of course, I'm biased since we ARE one of the Canadian Web 2.0 startups that he profiled. ;-) Barry Jinks Founder & CEO, Colligo Networks, Inc. web: www.colligo.com blog: www.offlinesharepoint.com
Sun, 2006-05-28 19:59 — Roland
Roland's picture

We'll just have to agree to disagree then :-)

because Paul's writing consistently misleads non technical folks about technology.

Not mentioning the role of open source and the Vancouver companies I mentioned (or the many other Canadian Web 2.0 companies elsewhere) and the fact that the real innovation comes from small companies is misleading the non technical public in my opinion.

Anyways, love to discuss these points with you and Paul (if he wants to fly in from Toronto) at a session at BarCamp  Vancouver in August. 

Mon, 2006-05-29 15:40 — colligo CEO

Let's agree to disagree then ...

I guess your comments depend on your definition of Web 2.0. According to Wikipedia "To some extent Web 2.0 is a buzzword, incorporating whatever is newly popular on the Web (such as tags and podcasts), and its meaning is still in flux." I think you and I have different definitions of "newly popular". For example, I don't agree that open source is an essential part of Web 2.0. It's simply a software development and distribution model invented in the '90's. It's a not-so-new way for people to collaborate on the development of software, and it's no more "Web 2.0" than standards committees are. In fact, to me it's kind of "Web 1.0". With the exception of Sxip, I'm not sure I agree that the list of companies you have there are any more Web 2.0 than hundreds of others in Vancouver, either. Great companies (I know some of the folks at eqo) to be sure, but Web 2.0? I don't think so. **On second thought, I'd agree that the social networking aspect of eqo's product definitely qualifies as Web 2.0, so I guess I'd retract this statement** Other than my short interview with Paul, I don't know him, so I'd suggest you give him a personal invitation. You can certainly speak to me anytime as we are located in Vancouver. Barry.
Wed, 2006-05-17 19:20 — wselent@www.urb...

Globe and Mail

I find the G&M to be frustrating in their tech coverage. Some of their content is interesting but there's also lots of obvious filler.

Right now they have a press release from WinZip masquerading as a News Brief: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060516.gtwinzip0516/BNStory/Technology/home

WinZip should be paying for this as advertising. If you want to write a story about Zip software then you should also cover free open source competitors like 7-zip.

Wed, 2006-05-17 20:38 — Roland
Roland's picture

sad but true!

n/t

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