Nov
27
Is Google SearchWiki a Failed Attempt at Web 2.0?
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Last week Google unveiled Google SearchWiki, the first major change in ages. So is this the search engine that anyone can edit? No. Not quite that! Actually when you boil it down, this half-baked attempt for Google to go Web 2.0 is one big disappointment, no matter what Google has to say.
Google SearchWiki lets you personalise your search results by moving individual entries up or down the list, or deleting them altogether. Only you will be able to see these changes and only when you are logged into your Google account. Nothing Web 2.0 about that is there?
You can actually add comments to your favourite sites on Google SearchWiki, but for anyone else to see them, they must be logged into their Google acount click a link hidden at the very bottom of the SearchWiki page. The trouble is that not all searches will have comments of course and getting a message saying no comments found is bound to get tiring in no time.
But the worst is still to come: you cannot edit or delete the comments that other people make, but merely vote them up or down. So much for being a wiki! If this were a wiki, people would be able to make changes to each other’s contributions, discuss the edits, revert to older versions and all that jazz.
As things stand, as ReadWriteWeb rightly points out, Google SearchWiki is all open to abuse:
Try a search for McDonald’s, for example. There are two notes - one from some random web designer that’s spamming the “wiki” with a link to his page, the other from some joker testing the obscenity filter. Neither can be removed, edited, nothing. We presume that the McDonald’s PR department has seen this - but is there anything that even they can do about it? Apparently not. Wait until it’s you that has things you don’t like appended to the page just one click away from page 1 Google for your name - what are you going to do about it?
So is there any hope at all for SearchWiki, beyond a glorified bookmarking service or a dirty way to get back at people or websites you don’t like? Hopefully yes. If Google pay any attention to all the negative comments buzzing around the web they’ll be taking this one back to the drawingboard and reworking it into a the collaborative search engine of everyone’s dreams.
Am I being too optimistic?
Sep
25
Vince and Gabs taking a nap
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Vince and Gabs taking a nap
Originally uploaded by John Beckley
Sunday afternoon nap 
Sep
24
Holiday in Lanzarote Up For Grabs
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They say the best things in life are free. And here´s the chance to not only get hold of a top quality Guidebook to Lanzarote, gratis and for nothing. But also be in with a chance of winning free weeks accommodation at the prestigious Sands Beach family resort in Costa Teguise.
This desirable double whammy is bought to you by the people at Lanzarote Guidebook. Whose new 108 page, information packed Autumn edition is out now. Download your copy free of charge – just visit www.lanzaroteguidebook.com
To mark this momentous occasion they’ve joined forces with the Sands Beach Villas resort, to offer visitors the chance to win a free weeks accommodation for two people at this prestigious beach front location.
The competition is open to all (aged 18 years and over) and is easy to enter.
Visit Lanzarote Guidebook and find out more online.
Sep
12
I am proud to anounce the birth of my son, Vincent Enrique Beckley
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After a long and drawn out wait, Hellen and I are proud to announce the birth of our wonderful son! Vincent was born yesterday 11th of September 2008, at 12:40am weighing in at 3,347kg and 52CM in length.
Aug
18
David Wood and Associates
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We are pleased to announce that David Wood who is well known in the property world, particularly in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, has recently launched dwood-property.com together with its blog, dwood-property.info, which is a Low Cost Fixed Fee Estate Agency Network bringing the world of buying, selling, letting and renting property throughout South Yorkshire to Landlords and private individuals. Renowned for his integrity in this competitive marketplace, David is fully aware of how the property market works and is well respected in the Real Estate Sector throughout Europe and beyond and we wish him well in his new venture.
Jun
26
Paul is going to be sorely missed’
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Well Tuesday saw the “last supper” at Zig Zag´s for one of our programmers´ Paul Clucas, the glasses of coke were overflowing and the chips were in abundance, well Paul´s plate anyway! Since joining Sorted Sites two years ago, our gentle giant certainly knew how to charm the best out of everyone and will be missed by the team in Tenerife. Good luck to Paul and his family in their new adventure, wherever it may take them.
Jun
5
Facing the property slump head on
Filed Under General Stuff | 2 Comments
Let’s not beat around the bush. This is a difficult time for the real estate industry in many parts of the world, from the US to the UK to here in Spain. The causes of the current property market downturn are complex and varied, ranging from the weak dollar and the US subprime credit crunch (both of which have a knock-on effect on the European market) to sky-rocketing interest rates in Europe and diminished confidence among buyers.
Many property hunters have adopted a ‘watch and wait’ approach as they try to figure out if property prices will keep on falling,  and they are looking for signs of the market’s recovery before they decide to take the plunge and invest.
Of course, this situation will not last forever, and the real estate market is sure to rebound sooner or later as it has done time and again in the past. But in the meantime, it’s a fight to stay afloat for many property developers and real estate agents that are now finding themselves under an immense pressure to shift to more competitive and efficient business practices. So…
How is your real estate business riding out the storm?
If you’re involved in real estate in any way we would like to hear from you about how the current situation has affected your business, and what you are doing about it. Feel free to use the following questions as a guide:
- How has your company changed to become more competitive?
- Have you had to take any drastic measures to make sure you remain in business?
- Did you modify your marketing and advertising practices, and in what way?
- Are you offering any added incentives to attract more clients?
So post a comment, join in the debate and check back to our blog to swap your real estate survival tips with your colleagues. We look forward to hearing from you!
Apr
7
Sorted Sites are happy to sign up to the new Mobile Service offered from Direct Telecom who have finally broken the monopoly held by the top telecommunications companies, bringing cost effective and quality voip to everyone who has a mobile phone. With an easy activation service set up in minutes and the chance to save hundreds of euros each year, how could we resist? Contact Maggie or enquire via their web site www.direct-telecom.es.
Find out more about Direct Telecom on:
Mar
28
This week´s recommend a Blog of the Week goes to Real Estate Tomato
Filed Under Blog News, Blog of the Week, General Stuff | Leave a Comment
The Sorted Sites Blog of the Week is awarded to The Real Estate Tomato during the previous week (Friday to Thursday). Jim Cronin runs Real Estate Tomato and we are envious as can be about this blog! It offers great advice and tips for Real Estate Agents to market their Blog. Well done Jim keep the tomato juice flowing!!!
Mar
19
Actual Properties have always had a gift for finding the best investment properties in Tenerife, now they have a gift for potential purchasers, 500 FREE tickets for London´s leading sunshine homes exhibition, A Place In The Sun.
Docklands ExCel centre is the venue on April 25th, 26th and 27th as Channel Four´s must see property programme stages one of it´s ever popular live events. Once tickets go on sale, they will be snapped up fast, but you can jump the queues by logging on to www.actualproperties.com/a-place-in-the-sun.asp .
Actual Properties are the sole representatives for Tenerife and very appropriately, the London Golf Show is taking place in the next hall. Golf properties are hugely popular in Tenerife and Actual Properties have developments at all the main southern golf resorts, Amarilla Golf, Golf del Sur, Adeje Golf , Golf Las Americas and their luxury residencies at the 5 star Abama Golf Resort. As a special bonus to potential investors, Actual Properties have ensured that the 500 FREE tickets will also give FREE admission to the London Golf Show, so you can make a real day of it.
A Place In The Sun is a relaxed showcase for anyone toying with the idea of buying an overseas property, and to help make a real event of the day, there will be music and dance. Keep an eye out for the celebrity guests who are attending the show and Amanda Lamb, presenter of the TV version of A Place In The Sun will be on hand to add a touch of glamour.
The exhibition is from 10 am until 6 pm on the Friday and Saturday, with the slightly earlier closing time of 5.30 pm on the Sunday. Actual Properties would love to meet as many of you as possible, so get along to their stand, say hello and have a chat over a drink and a nibble.
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