Get your social networking and other Web 2.0 profiles in one place

And share them with friends, family, relatives & colleagues on your blog, web site and MySpace using Aggregator Widgets.

I had earlier mentioned about the Wink Widget which helps you organize a list of links to your profiles on various social networks in one place. However, it has some shortcomings.

1. First off, you have to sign up on Wink.com to use the Wink widget.
   
2. It is pretty complicated and takes time to get it up and running.
   
3. It does not let you add profiles from services other than the default ones on the list.
   
4. It's a "blatant Wink advertisement" - Paul Stamatiou
   
5. Since it is hosted on the Wink server, its sluggish and sometimes slows down the performance of your web page / blog and if the Wink server goes down, so does your widget.
   

In order to overcome these shortcomings, Dustin Bachrach created a simple CSS/HTML widget, ShowYourself.

1. It has 25 default built-in Web 2.0 sites/services/networks and also gives you the flexibility to add ones not on the list, the ajax function automatically fetches the favicon image for the sites not on the default list.
   
2. The widget automatically displays a logo beside your AIM and Skype profiles indicating whether you are online or not.
   
3. It uses plain CSS & HTML, no hosting required.
   
4. Lets you customize the colors.
   
5. The favicon (logo) images can be hosted on your own web server.
   
6. There is no need to sign up for anything to use the service.
   
7. There are no advertisements. You just need to leave a link back to the ShowYourself web site.
   
8. Its free!
   

Get yourself ShowYourself now!

Do you know of a better aggregator widget? Share it here, now! » Continue reading

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Finding your long lost friend in a blink of an eye

Did you every try searching for a long lost friend or the guy you had a crush on in school? Isn't is so difficult to search for people on the web using Google or social networking sites like MySpace, Orkut, Hi5, Twitter, Facebook, MyBlogLog, Bebo, LinkedIn, Live Spaces, Friendster etc?

What if you can search across all the social networking sites and the web with just a single search? Yes, its possible through Wink. Currently the wink search engine searches across the MySpace, Bebo, Friendster, LinkedIn, Live Spaces networks. More networks may be added to this list in the future. Search for people by name, location, school, work, and interest anywhere on the web. Not just that you can also have your profile on Wink which is searchable from traditional search engines like Google, Yahoo, Windows Live (MSN) and Altavista.

You can also add a Wink widget to your blog which lets you organize a list of links to your profiles on various social networks in one place and let others know about them too.

Update (April 15, 2007): I just came across this new People Search Engine called Spock which is yet to be unveiled. More details available here. » Continue reading

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Social networking for cats and dogs!

Fluffy has the latest, most fashionable collar, more toys than some kids do and his very own bed. But have you given your pet a home page? Yes, animals are going online in droves. Dogster.com is a free social networking site for dogs, while sister site Catster.com is for cats. Check out the intriguing statistics of Dogster here and Catster here.

These technologically savvy animals, with a little help from their humans, are sharing photos, diaries, travel tips and more. Owners use the forums to schedule play dates and discuss topics such as grooming, training and bereavement. When Little Bit, a terrier mix, was diagnosed with lymphoma, the owners stumbled upon Dogster. The site has given them a place to show pictures, keep friends updated on Little Bit's condition and reach out to others in their position. What's next? Doggle, a canine search engine? » Continue reading

Read more on Internet, Pets, Social Networking, Technology, Tid Bits, Web 2.0