Posts Tagged ‘Bewertungen’
Qype Radar v2 lässt Echtzeit-Bewertungen zu
4 May. 2009 | Author: AWo |
Qype-Nutzer, die über ein Android-Handy oder ein iPhone verfügen, können nun dank der zweiten Version von „Qype Radar“ auch unterwegs Beurteilungen verfassen und Fotos hochladen.
Im vergangenen Dezember hatte das lokale Such- und Bewertungsportal Qype die erste Fassung der Anwendung veröffentlicht (wir berichteten). Mit dieser konnte man beispielsweise per iPhone oder später auch mit einem Android-Handy Adressen von Anbietern in seiner Nähe finden und die Bewertungen anderer User dazu lesen. Eine direkte Interaktion wie auf der Webseite war über diese Applikation jedoch noch nicht möglich.
Das ändert sich mit der aktuellen Version (Qype Radar v2). Wie es in einer Pressemitteilung dazu heißt, erlaubt sie den Nutzern, sich nun auch “on Tour” mit ihrem persönlichen Qype-Profil zu verknüpfen, Bewertungen zu schreiben und Fotos hochzuladen. So sei es möglich, seine Erfahrungen unmittelbar in die Bewertungen einfließen zu lassen. „Ob unsere Nutzer gerade beim Essen sind, einen Cocktail in einer schönen Bar trinken, einen Shopping-Bummel machen oder sich Denkmäler anschauen, wir wollen sie in die Lage versetzen, direkt vor Ort bei Qype zu kommentieren.“, erklärt Stephen Taylor, CEO von Qype, den Grund für die Einführung der neuen Funktionen.
Übrigens hat Qype in Kooperation mit GoomRadio.de ein so genanntes Corporate Radio gestartet, das eigens auf das lokale Such- und Bewertungsportal zugeschnitten sein soll. Laut einer Pressemitteilung gehören zum Konzept von “The Qype Radio” neben internationaler Loungemusik auch Sendungen mit Empfehlungen der Internetplattform und interaktive Features. Bislang ist “The Qype Radio” auf GoomRadio.de und über www.qype.com/radio zu hören – allerdings ist es noch nicht über die Webseite von Qype auffindbar.
MySpace starts a local search and ratings service
The internet community MySpace will soon add a local search and ratings service to its members. Called “MySpace Local”, it is expected to launch in the near future for the USA market for the meanwhile.
As discussed by MySpace in a press release, the new service is a result of a cooperation with the online service provider Citysearch. This local search and city portal will deliver the address data from small companies within the most important USA metropolitan areas.
Accessible on special city pages (“City Hubs”) within MySpace Local, users can search for local companies, write descriptions and ratings, and augment these with photos, videos and other details. Further, it is possible to bookmark one’s favorite undertakings or to add them to the user’s profile.
The beginning of April saw the start of a closed test-version. The USA version is expected to be opened to all USA users within a few weeks, provisionally with three categories: restaurants, bars and nightlife. This is to be expanded within the coming months to include areas such as medical, dry cleaners, hotels or attractions.
German MySpace users can also expect a similar product within the foreseeable future. Mats Wappmann, spokesperson for MySpace Deutschland, in response to questions from the news agency pressetext, said that MySpace Local is expected to launch in 2009 in Europe. The rating and recommendation of shops and restaurants on MySpace will in the meantime be beefed up with additional functions and be accessible via MySpace Mobile.
Android handsets: new local services
There is a new version of Android, Google’s mobile platform, making the use of Google maps easier. Further, the search engine giant has launched “My Tracks”, a new localized service for mobile phones running on this platform.
Android 1.1 has been available since the start of February 2009, as mentioned in by the smartphone platform developer in its blog. This update delivers many improvements and new features, as listed in the release notes. One new function is that for Google Maps, allowing users of local search to display details and ratings for search results generated.
Only a couple of days after this release, Google unveiled a new application “My Tracks” for the G1-mobile phone. With the help of GPS, it tracks the routing of users of the application. How this is implemented is outlined by Dylan Casey in the official Google Blog. Using this application, one can for example, record routes travelled while engaging in sport-activities like cycling, jogging or hiking, and display these for private or public consumption. The app registers also the average speed of the user, distances and altitude. One can export this data via spreadsheets to Google Docs, allowing for a quick overview of training and other stats.
Posted in Local Search on the go, Local Search per Mobile phone, Local Search, News, Local Search Engines, Practical features | 
Tags: Android, Android 1.1, Betriebssystem, Bewertungen, Details, G1, Google, google maps, GPS, Handy, My Tracks, Plattform, Smartphone | 
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Zoodango.com – local search without words
December 2006 saw the launch of the USA portal Zoodango.com, a type of localized social business network – without much success. During 2008, the portal was substantially revised and has rebranded itself as a local Web 2.0 search service with a community slant.
The search delivered is based on a Google Map. After the entry of a location in the search field, diverse icons showing interesting places or companies are displayed on a map, such as restaurants, hotels or cinemas. The user can then mouse-over these icons, activating a popup with the exact address and ratings of the displayed locations.
This form of search, that is one without the definition of a special search term, is what differentiates this service from comparable competitors, according to a press release from the operators of Zoodango.com. Contrary to other search operators, Zoodango.com users do not have to know exactly what they are searching for, and are able to visually cruise a range of areas around their initial location specified. This allows the user to ’stumble upon’ previously unknown places or services. Zoodango believes itself therefore to be an effective marketing platform for companies who would not normally be discovered or noticed as a result of a specific search term. At present, the areas covered by this protoype are Seattle, Spokane, Portland, San Francisco and Oakland. Though presented as a unique innovation, it is reminiscent of the German search portal geoflags.de (see our post).
More interesting however is the new ratings method for the different locations/services. According to Zoodango, many ratings platforms such as Yelp or Citysearch use a system of 1 to 5 stars. As a result, users often find many providers with similar ratings but contradictory descriptions. In contrast, Zoodango compares the popularity of a location with similar ones in the vicinity and awards points automatically on a scale of 1 to 10. The number of users ratings is also listed, adding to the depth of the recommendations. Parallel to this community rating, Zoodango also offers registered members the possibility of personally rating, reflecting their individual choices and preferences.
Qype releases API; announces new CEO
Qype is on the move: alongside its announcement of its new head, it has also released its API and is offering to reward developers for the best mashups.
It was recently announced that Qype-founder and CEO until now, Stephan Uhrenbacher has resigned his position. He will become Chairman of the Board, as described by the company in a press release. The new head of Qype is Stephen Taylor, whose credits include Regional Vice President and Managing Director von Yahoo! Europe as well as Managing Director of Overture Europe.
Just a few days before the change in management was announced, the company released their API. As announced in a press release, content from Qype, such as places, ratings, locations, place categories or photos become accessible for integration in mashups and other apps. The recently released ‘Qype Radar” application for iPhone (see our post) is based, for example, on the API.
Developers can download version 1.0 of the Qype API, and start designing applications. In fact, the best apps will be rewarded: first prize will receive a prize of Euro 3.500, second prize Euro 1.000 and third prize Euro 500. To participate, developers must submit their completed new apps by February 28, 2009 to Qype.
The API is not going to remain at v.1.0. As Stephan Uhrenbacher announced in the company blog, the first quarter 2009 should see the appearance of the Qype-API 2.0. Using the innovations of this API, it is planned to also integrate photos and reports from Qype.
Posted in Local Search per PC, Local Search per Mobile phone, Local Search, News, Practical features |
Tags: API, Bewertungen, Bewertungsplattform, Bewertungsportal, Community, Empfehlungsportal, lokale Informationen, lokales Such- und Bewertungportal, Qype, Qype Radar, Stephan Uhrenbacher, Stephen Taylor, User Generated Content, web2 0 |
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Create websites using Brownbook
Since mid December 2008, the UK-based local search and ratings portal Brownbook (see our post) has been offering companies the possibility of implementing up their own web presences.
The reason: there are still countless small and medium-sized undertakings without their own websites. This new feature was discussed in a recent press release. According to the operators, the feature “Web Site Creator” is easy to use. Within a couple of minutes, one can set up and design one’s own Internet portal. How this is achieved can be seen in a short video, as described in the company blog by Brownbook co-founder Marc Lyne.
This new service is however not free – Lyne announced a price of US $98 per year. Everything is all-inclusive, including hosting fees. Clients can post unrestricted numbers of pages, and updates are also included.
Google Maps becomes a translator
Recently Google Maps added an automatic translation function for ratings that were written in a different language to that of the user.
This new feature is accessible after a search, in the left results list or on the overview page of the found companies (“More info”) under “Ratings”, called “Translate ratings”. This is most practical, for example, when preparing/researching a foreign journey. Most ratings are usually posted in the language of the respective countries. However, the delivered automatic translations are often quite idiosyncratic, but all-in-all the reader can usually get the gist of the original rating.
The new function is to be found in numerous localized Google Maps editions. Alongside the German and North American versions, it can also be found, for example, in the Italian, French, Russian and Spanish Google localized searches.
Qype’s iPhone app is here
Announced a while ago by Qype-CEO Stephan Uhrenbacher (see our report), the app has finally made its appearance. The geo-sensitive application has been released, tailor-made for the iPhone.
As Uhrenbacher details in the company blog, the app is called Qype Radar. Using GPS or triangulation, the app recognizes the location of the user and automatically show the best addresses in the user’s vicinity, including ratings of other Qypers. Through this, one has the choice of varied categories such as restaurants, bars, shops, hotels or clubs. Thanks to the integration with Google Maps, at a click of an address one can navigate to its location on the map and generate route plans.
iPhone users can download this free application from the App Store.
Qype has also been busy on the (non-mobile) web. The local ratings portal continues to target the international sphere (see our post). In November 2008 a Brazilian version was launched, following the German, English, French and Spanish versions. And as of mid December 2008, there is now a Polish edition as well.
Posted in General, Local Search on the go, Local Search per Mobile phone, Local Search, News |
Tags: Apple, Beurteilungen, Bewertungen, geosensitiv, google maps, GPS, iPhone, Kritiken, Mobilfunkzelle, Ortung, Qype, Qype Radar, Local Search |
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