Comments on: The new yahoo home page http://www.dronamraju.com/blog/2006/05/the-new-yahoo-home-page.html Opinions on Business, Technology & Life from Ravi Dronamraju Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:23:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Stanley http://www.dronamraju.com/blog/2006/05/the-new-yahoo-home-page.html#comment-3768 Stanley Mon, 03 Jul 2006 22:31:50 +0000 http://www.dronamraju.com/blog/2006/05/the-new-yahoo-home-page.html#comment-3768 One of the reasons the directory was de-emphasized due to the challenges of keeping it updated. Everday Yahoo! would get thousands of submissions without any possible way to keeping up with the evolving web. The same fate happened to DMOZ. In many cases, tag clouds are a decentralized replacement for the directory generated by users. Tag clouds reduce the rigid bounds but still have many issues in terms of consistency and completeness. One of the reasons the directory was de-emphasized due to the challenges of keeping it updated. Everday Yahoo! would get thousands of submissions without any possible way to keeping up with the evolving web. The same fate happened to DMOZ. In many cases, tag clouds are a decentralized replacement for the directory generated by users. Tag clouds reduce the rigid bounds but still have many issues in terms of consistency and completeness.

]]> By: Leonard http://www.dronamraju.com/blog/2006/05/the-new-yahoo-home-page.html#comment-2236 Leonard Wed, 07 Jun 2006 05:25:13 +0000 http://www.dronamraju.com/blog/2006/05/the-new-yahoo-home-page.html#comment-2236 While the directory might have moved off the home page, I think that the AOL comparison is wrong. I think the directory has dropped off because it's just not very useful in finding the useful things on the web (I don't even *remember* the last time I used the directory). Search has become the primary way users get to "good stuff," and I think that in that regard, the new home page is definitely an improvement. Also worth pointing out in that regard is the prominence that Answers is given. That, along with MyWeb and del.icio.us and many other properties is part of a big commitment to social search, which, far from a throwback, is the next level of decentralization - it not only distributes editorial to individuals, but allows users to participate without even having to be a site publisher. To me, that, and Yahoo's other moves (especially with their developer network) signal an *increased* commitment and engagement with the web rather than the reverse. Of course, my opinion is that of someone from the outside moving in (I started working at Yahoo! in November) rather than inside moving out, so maybe there's some of that coloring the difference of opinion. While the directory might have moved off the home page, I think that the AOL comparison is wrong. I think the directory has dropped off because it’s just not very useful in finding the useful things on the web (I don’t even *remember* the last time I used the directory).

Search has become the primary way users get to “good stuff,” and I think that in that regard, the new home page is definitely an improvement.

Also worth pointing out in that regard is the prominence that Answers is given. That, along with MyWeb and del.icio.us and many other properties is part of a big commitment to social search, which, far from a throwback, is the next level of decentralization - it not only distributes editorial to individuals, but allows users to participate without even having to be a site publisher.

To me, that, and Yahoo’s other moves (especially with their developer network) signal an *increased* commitment and engagement with the web rather than the reverse.

Of course, my opinion is that of someone from the outside moving in (I started working at Yahoo! in November) rather than inside moving out, so maybe there’s some of that coloring the difference of opinion.

]]> By: SK http://www.dronamraju.com/blog/2006/05/the-new-yahoo-home-page.html#comment-1738 SK Thu, 18 May 2006 20:48:57 +0000 http://www.dronamraju.com/blog/2006/05/the-new-yahoo-home-page.html#comment-1738 You said it, Ravi. Felt exactly the same though not as poignantly as yourself. Yahoo! yellow pages used to be so well organized but now most of the services except Yahoo! finance is a clutter. I am still a big fan of Yahoo but dont like the direction they are headed in. With the largest profile base, yahoo could be so much cooler in addressing consumer needs than go around with a stomping foot showcasing only their network. Sigh ! You said it, Ravi. Felt exactly the same though not as poignantly as yourself. Yahoo! yellow pages used to be so well organized but now most of the services except Yahoo! finance is a clutter. I am still a big fan of Yahoo but dont like the direction they are headed in. With the largest profile base, yahoo could be so much cooler in addressing consumer needs than go around with a stomping foot showcasing only their network. Sigh !

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