Web X.0

One reason why Hotmail sucks

I used to be a big Hotmail user. Now I use only Gmail. There are probably 100 reasons why Gmail is better, and probably a few in favor of Hotmail too.

But if I had to put my finger on a single reason why Hotmail sucks, it would have to be that damn leaderboard ad on the top of the page (screenshot below).

The traditional 3-pane layout in email apps causes the most precious asset to be the vertical axis. These vertical pixels have to accommodate both the list of emails, and the email itself (not to mention all the regular stuff like menus, logo, etc).

The leaderboard ad kills 90 vertical pixels. On my 1024x768 screen resolution, the vertical viewable browser area (after deducting browser menu bars, Google toolbar, tabs, windows start bar, etc) is 518 pixels. Which means that one stupid ad reduces my precious vertical real estate by nearly 20%. As soon as the Hotmail window loads, it's apparent how annoying this ad is.

I'll bet you that the designer of Hotmail (er - Windows Live) is using Gmail.

Outbrain Mixer #2

Last night we did our 2nd outbrain mixer and had ~40 outbrain friends over for beer. I was particularly happy to have Dr. Nahum Sharfman (founder of Shopping.com and Chairman of eSnips) who joined us to talk about Web2.0 and the future of social web apps, as well as Uri and Arik - two great local bloggers.

Our next Mixer will probably be in 2-3 months. If you want to join us, drop me a note: galai (at) outbrain (dot) com.

Supermarket 2.0

Unfortunately I missed Yossi Vardi's Kinnernet event last week (actually 'booted' would be a more appropriate term... ;-).

Here's one video that came out of that... it's absolutely hilarious if you've been drinking the web2.0 koolaid, and probably meaningless if you haven't... (link via Gogelmogel... thanks!)

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

Graffiti 2.0

MomentaryExposure.com is an addictive little experiment from my fellow Quigo'er Yigal. It'll take me more time to explain what this does, than it would for you to check it out. So go and graffiti something, and get your 15 moments of fame!...

This post seems to have been dugg:

TWS 2007 - Israel's DEMO'ish conference

the.co.ils, one of the finest of Israel's tech blogs, has announced an upcoming startup event called TWS2007 (Hebrew only...). In Yaron's words (not me, Orenstein):

"The idea is to Identify and present up to 10 small startups with great technology and strong teams, who are seeking for funds and on the other hand, allow all other web entrepreneurs to mingle and approach the VCs and angles with no formal barriers. It is a "pro bono" event with the sole purpose of promoting the Dot Com industry in Israel."

They've also launched a TWS group on LinkedIn for folks involved in the Israeli startup world, which you can join here.

TWS2007 will be held in the Interdisciplinary Center (Merkaz Bentchumi) in Herzelyia, on April 10th. I'm not sure I'll be in the right side of the world on that date, but if I do make it - see you there!

I don't get Twitter

There - I said it.

(BTW - this is becoming a nice little mini-series... started with my long and thoughtful confession about Second Life).

I'm going to make the following predictions:

1. Within a year, people will vaguely remember what that whole Twitter craze was about (and those that do will be terribly embarrassed they ever wasted time twitting bugging each other). It'll sit comfortably in the dustbin with the Tamagotchis and The Macarena.
2. Or - I am going to look very very stupid in March '08.

Anyhow - feel free to twitter me at: http://twitter.com/galai

What a shitty day...

Kids wouldn't let me sleep all night. Took an hour and half to get my boy out to day care. In torrential rain. Which caused the subways to stop working. Waited for 35 minutes. With a million other people. Couldn't squish in the first train. Waited 10 more minutes for the next one which was squishable. Sort of. Got to the office. LAN cord vanished. Need to get to a Staples, so - back to the subway.

10am, and that was all the better part of the day. From there it quickly went down hill...

OK - I get the hint. Tomorrow I start using Dilbert's advice:

Eat one live toad the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.