Top 10 Web Tech Stories of 2007

2007 was an eventful year in Web Technology, with the rise of Facebook, some frenzied acquisitions from the likes of Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, and of course the iPhone. To round out the year (and put an end to the December lists!) here is a look at what we think were the 10 biggest Web tech stories of the year. They're ordered in terms of technology impact and innovation - however it's a subjective list, so let us know in the comments what you think should be in there.

This post doubles as the final Weekly Wrapup of 2007 -- it's been a great year and all the best everyone for 2008! Here's looking forward to more Web innovation and startup success in '08!

1. iPhone Launch

On January 9, 2007 Steve Jobs announced at Macworld "three revolutionary new products": an iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator. But turned out it was all one device: the fabled iPhone. This is our number 1, because it finally made the Mobile Web real for the influential US market (and the geeks who bought it in America, then took it overseas and unlocked it! cough).

2. Facebook Announces Platform

Much has already been written about this announcement on May 24, but suffice to say that it ushered in a new era for social networks - where outside companies could deploy advanced functionality inside the Facebook site.

3. Google Acquires DoubleClick for $3.1B

On April 13 Google acquired online advertising company DoubleClick, which set off a target="_blank" href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_online_advertising_bubble.php">frenzy of
acquisitions in this space - notably target="_blank" href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/microsoft_gets.php">Microsoft's $6B
purchase of aQuantive. The Google/DoubleClick deal confirmed that online advertising was in a bubble period.

4. Google Announces OpenSocial

At the end of October Google launched OpenSocial, a set of common APIs for building social applications across the web, in a bid to cut off Facebook's momentum with third party developers. Perhaps the biggest part of this news was the world's largest SNS MySpace joining OpenSocial the day after.

5. Amazon Launches Kindle eReader

Despite mixed reviews of this e-Reader device with internet connectivity from Amazon, the Kindle promises to shake up the e-commerce giant's core business model - by delivering books electronically instead of the familiar brown box.

6. CNN/YouTube Debates

On July 23, eight Democratic presidential hopefuls took the stage in South Carolina -- a crucial early primary state -- for a debate sponsored by CNN and YouTube in which all of the questions were submitted by users of YouTube. The Republicans got their chance in September. In the same vein, 2007 also saw the MySpace/MTV Candidate Forums and the rise of web 2.0 tools in politics.

7. Google Announces Android

On Nov 5, Google announced an open-source mobile operating system called Android. This could significantly change the way that Mobile Web applications are developed.

8. Steve Jobs' open letter against DRM

On Feb 6, Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted his Thoughts on Music in the 'Hot News' section of the Apple website. In it he outlined why DRM should be abolished by record companies. And Jobs' pleas seemed to be heard by the record industry, with first EMI and then later Universal and Warner on AmazonMP3 ditching DRM.

9. Facebook Beacon Saga

Late this year Facebook announced a new advertising system that used retail data collected from its users. But after howls of privacy protests, Facebook had to back off some and make the system opt-in. It's also worth mentioning here another Facebook story that just missed this list: in October Microsoft invested in Facebook at a $15b valuation.

10. Adobe AIR Launches

On June 10, Adobe officially unveiled Adobe Integrated Runtime, or Adobe AIR for short. Formally called Adobe Apollo, it is a cross-operating runtime developed by Adobe that allows developers to create Rich Internet Applications for the desktop. It was a close call between this and Google Gears (the offline browser plug-in), or Microsoft's Silverlight (a Flash-like plug-in) - both of which were also launched in '07.

What have we missed? What were your top Web tech stories of 2007?

Best of ReadWriteWeb 2007, Editor's Picks

2007 has been a very busy year for ReadWriteWeb. We started the year with just one daily writer (yours truly!), a couple of regular feature writers (Alex Iskold and Emre Sokullu) and the occasional guest writer. We ended the year with 2 new lead writers and 3 more blogs (more on that below).

Of course we have more plans for expansion in 2008. But as we're nearing the end of 2007, I thought I'd pick out 12 of my favorite posts over the past year - one for each month. These weren't necessarily the ones with the most page views, but they were significant to me and for RWW. I hope they also show the flavor of this year.

As I mentioned above, in 2007 RWW ramped up. We got two new Lead Writers: after a couple of guest posts in March this year, Josh Catone came on board as a Lead Writer in April; then in September Marshall Kirkpatrick joined RWW in the same role. We also started a blog network: on May 20 we launched last100, a blog covering the digital lifestyle (edited by Steve O'Hear); on June 4 we launched AltSearchEngines, covering the hundreds of alternative search engines taking on Google (edited by Charles Knight); and on August 28 we launched ReadWriteTalk, our podcast show (hosted by Sean Ammirati).

So here are my picks for 2007 from the RWW team:

January

The Top 100 Alternative Search Engines

This was the post that spawned a new network blog. Published Jan 29, Charles Knight wrote:

"Ask anyone which search engine they use to find information on the Internet and they will almost certainly reply: "Google." Look a little further, and market research shows that people actually use four main search engines for 99.99% of their searches: Google, Yahoo!, MSN, and Ask.com (in that order). But in my travels as a Search Engine Optimizer (SEO), I have discovered that in that .01% lies a vast multitude of the most innovative and creative search engines you have never seen. So many, in fact, that I have had to limit my list of the very best ones to a mere 100.

But it's not just the sheer number of them that makes them worthy of attention; each one of these search engines has that standard "About Us" link at the bottom of the homepage. I call it the "why we're better than Google" page. And after reading dozens and dozens of these pages, I have come to the conclusion that, taken as a whole, they are right!"

February

Yahoo! Pipes and The Web As Database

Alex Iskold tested out and explored the emergent world of Yahoo! Pipes. He saw some interesting parallels with Relational Databases in the 90's, concluding that with pipes, the Web essentially becomes a giant database that can be queried and remixed in any number of ways.

March

Interview with Google's Matt Cutts about Next-Generation Search

I had the pleasure of interviewing the head of Google's Webspam team, Matt Cutts. The topic of our conversation was Next-Generation Search. We discussed personalization, semantic technologies, alternative interfaces, structured data, and much more.

April

Your Guide to Online TV Guides: 10 Services Compared

Josh Catone set out to discover a new online TV guide. He found 10 services with all the web 2.0 bells and whistles - but was he satisfied?

May

Understanding Apollo

2007 was a year in which desktop apps made a comeback, thanks to technologies like Adobe's Apollo (which was later re-named AIR). During a visit to the US in April, I popped into the Adobe office in San Francisco to find out more about Apollo - the company's new RIA (Rich Internet Application) runtime and development platform. I learned what Apollo is and checked out some of the latest Apollo apps.

June

The Implicit Web: Last.fm, Amazon, Google, Attention Trust

Alex Iskold explored an important, growing trend:

"The basic concept of the Implicit Web is simple. As we touch information, we vote. When we come across an article we like, we spend time reading. When we like a movie, we recommend it to our friends and family. And if a piece of music resonates with us, we listen to it over and over again. We do this automatically, subconsciously or implicitly. But the consequences of our behavior are important. The things that we are paying attention to have great value to us, because we like them."

July

Pivots of the Web: What's Next After Social Networking?

Emre Sokullu took a closer look at the paradigm shifts of the web, especially for the near future. What approaches have dominated the web over the years and which ones failed; and why? Also, since Facebook is already widely accepted as the next big thing, the new question is: what is the next "next big thing"? Is it already out there?

August

The Web 2.0 Election: Does the Internet Matter in Election Politics?

Josh Catone explored the Web in politics - e.g. how the CNN/YouTube debates and the MTV/MySpace candidate's forums have been (and presumably will be) great ways for voters to genuinely connect with candidates on issues that matter to them. He concluded that this form of user generated politics can only be good for the political process in the long run.

September

10 Future Web Trends

We're well into the current era of the Web, commonly referred to as Web 2.0. Features of this phase of the Web include search, social networks, online media (music, video, etc), content aggregation and syndication (RSS), mashups (APIs), and much more. Currently the Web is still mostly accessed via a PC, but we're starting to see more Web excitement from mobile devices (e.g. iPhone) and television sets (e.g. XBox Live 360). This post looked at the near future of the Web.

October

2007 Web 2.0 Summit Review: How the Web 2.0 Conference Has Evolved Over 2 Years

My review of the latest Web 2.0 Summit. In some ways a companion post to the Future Web Trends post in September...

November

The RWW Guide to the World's Most Popular Twitter Clients

The most comprehensive comparison of the top Twitter interfaces that you're likely to find, courtesy of Marshall Kirkpatrick.

December

2008 Web Predictions

An appropriate way to wrap up the year, looking forward to the next. The above post has 67 comments as of now, so why not add your own predictions (if you haven't already)?

Tata Motors' $2,500 1-Lakh car gets detailed

Filed under: Transportation

Remember that uber-cheap, almost entirely plastic car that India's Tata Motors was working up? Turns out, the still codenamed 1-Lakh automobile is expected to launch in mid-2008 and get around 15 miles-per-liter, which should give the Maruti 800 some serious competition in the budget car arena. According to R. A. Mashelkar, a nonexecutive director on Tata Motors' board, it should provide ample room in "both the front and rear" for a six-foot individual, and he also noted that a "new kind of welding" would be used instead of bolts in a variety of locations on the motorcar. Still, there's just something about the idea of riding in a brand new $2,500 vehicle that doesn't sit well with us -- probably something to do with the dearth of safety features, but who knows.

 

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Godkut - Social Networking Meets Religion

It’s probably not a coincidence that Godkut was launched a couple of days after Christmas; you can’t get better timing for a faith-based social network.
Unfortunately, and although Godkut calls itself “the world’s most advanced faith based Social Network,” I really can’t report anything out of the ordinary about it. It’s your standard, run of the [...]

Xbox 360 Devil May Cry 4 bundle hitting Japan in January

Filed under: Gaming

For all you Devil May Cry fanatics out there (wait -- are there Devil May Cry fanatics out there?) you're about to get a super-special, unicorn explosion from Microsoft. That's right, babies, it's the Devil May Cry special edition Xbox 360. Actually, it's more like a bundle of the boring, old, non-special (though HDMI equipped) Xbox 360, coupled with the brand-spaking-new Devil May Cry 4, where the Devil, crying, and the possibility of crying meet for a fourth -- but probably not final -- time. Right now it's looking like a Japanese-only deal, but you never know when something this gooey will drip over to these shores. Available January 31st for ¥37,800 (or about $330).

 

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Vibrating Earphones Have Wood, Give Your Ear Canal a Good Time [Victor]

Victor (JVC to you and me) has brought out a set of earphones with a vibrating plate, apparently to enhance the listening experience. The plate is made of birch wood, with a thin film stretched over the top and, according to the blurb, gives you a rich sound while reducing noise at the same time. I'm not sure about shelling out $131 for a pair of sticky-in earphones, though. The HP-FX500 will be out some time in February next year. [Victor via Impress]

How to Set Up Your New Computer [Merry Christmahanukwanzaakkah]

So Santa left a brand new computer under the tree this year, eh? Lucky you! If you're spending the holiday setting up a new Mac or PC, it's time to get filled with free software cheer. While the Lifehacker editors take today off to throw back some eggnog, you can point your clicker at a holiday feast of power tips and downloads. Trick out your new rig with our favorite system tweaks and downloads for Windows XP, Vista, Mac, and Linux.

Windows XP and Vista

• Top 10 Free Windows Downloads
  "Our top picks of free Windows software downloads that will make your PC faster, stronger, more functional and productive."
• Power Replacements for Built-in Windows Utilities
  "How many times have you wished Notepad had tabs, Paint supported layers or Windows Explorer let you bookmark frequently-used folders? Power users need power utilities, and Windows' default system programs barely get the job done. Over time third-party developers have stepped up and built superior replacements to programs like Notepad, Paint, Windows Explorer and the Command Prompt."
• Top Windows tweaks
  "Hop in for a quick ride around Windows dialogs, tabs, menus and toolbars to get your XP fitting like a glove."
• Windows Vista Power Tips
  "After weeks of test-driving Windows Vista full-time, there are several tips and tweaks I wish I'd known before I started."
• Top 10 Free Windows File Wranglers
  "Windows Explorer and its weak band of file manipulation functions just doesn't cut the mustard for people with lots of data and only a little time, but several free utilities can help out."
• Automatically Load and Update Your Windows Systems
  "One of the best parts of getting a new computer for the holidays--other than that new computer smell--is setting up a fresh, clean system exactly how you want it."

Mac

• A Guide to Switching to a Mac
  "There's no need for you to waste your precious time figuring out the minutia of a new operating system. To ease this transition for all of the new Mac owners out there, here's a quick guide for Mac newbies making the big switch."
• Build Your Mac with 20 Useful Downloads
  "So you got a new Mac running a fresh Leopard install, and now you've got to load your Mac up with all your essential software."
• Top 10 Mac OS X Tweaks
  "Mac OS X is a great operating system out of the box, but a few simple customizations can make it even better." Ed: This guide was written regarding Tiger, but most of it will still apply to Leopard.
• Top 10 Mac Utilities
  "The system utilities that add extra polish and convenience to your Mac's working environment. Most (but not all) of these little suckers are free, many live in your Mac's System Preferences pane and on the menubar, and all of them greatly enhance your overall Mac experience."
• The Complete Guide to Mac/Windows Interoperability
  "Today Mac OS and Windows can work together in harmony on the same home network, sharing files and printers, mounting one another's drives and using the same equipment, like wireless routers and USB drives."

Linux

• Top 10 Ubuntu Applications
  "While Ubuntu comes jacked with useful applications out of the box, there's a big selection of free, thriving Linux desktop software which matches or betters their Windows and Mac counterparts in terms of features."
• Power Up Your Linux Desktop With Compiz Fusion
  "Not only can desktop decorator Compiz Fusion add eye candy to your system that leaves Windows and Mac users drooling on their keyboards, it can seriously boost your productivity."
• Top 10 Gnome Desktop Tweaks
  "The desktop environment for many Linux users, Gnome, is fast, organized and very easy to learn. But Gnome is also very powerful and highly customizable."
• Slim Down and Speed Up Linux
  "While Linux is pretty efficient with a computer's resources out of the box, there are still ways you can make it run leaner and meaner on your desktop."

Finally, if it was a widescreen monitor that you unwrapped today, find out how to make the most of your dual monitors, and de-smudge that new glossy screen.

A merry happy day to all of you, whatever you're celebrating. Back tomorrow!

Enter Key Cell Phone Strap for the Type-Happy [Peripherals]

Did you know that most Japanese people can type faster on a cell phone keypad than on a standard keyboard? This is not just because QWERTY is hard to use, but because the original Japanese keyboard configuration was actually much more complex and impossible to master than anything we can imagine. But even the most computer illiterate businessman knows where the ENTER key is, and that's why it has quickly gone up the ranks as a national favorite. Favorited enough, in fact, to be worthy of becoming its very own cell phone strap.

Also worthy were the SHIFT key and the ESC key, all now available for purchase in the US.

Strap-Ya via TokyoMango

Fake Steve Jobs gets takedown letters from Apple. Or not?

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Seems like a lot of the noise being made today is coming out of Fake Steve's camp, where the man behind the curtain, Dan Lyons, has dropped the act to pen a few fairly disturbing posts. According to Lyons, Apple is riding him to shut down the blog, and sending him all manner of C&Ds and even legal documents outlining his personal finances, which they're threatening should he not comply. Sucks a ton for the dude if true -- he's something of a chum 'round here, and always has a kind word for Engadget -- but before you grab your pitchfork and torch you ought to know that something doesn't sit quite right with us.

First, and most obviously, the site is complete satire, and unlike this week's Think Secret shutdown, there are no possible or probable trade secrets published that would get Apple lawyers up in arms. Sure, Real Steve Jobs may have grown tired of the FSJ act, but as far as we know, constitutionally there's not a lot he or anyone else can do until Dan Lyons actually exits satire and enters the wonderful world of libel.

Second, this isn't the first time Fake Steve has accused Apple of trying to shut down the site -- Lyons later admitted that faux shutdown was a hoax he perpetuated while he was still anonymous so he could quit doing Fake Steve before his editors at Forbes found out it was him.

Finally, FSJ is clearly labeled "A Forbes Site" and is known to be such, and its author, Dan Lyons, is a full-time Forbes editor. Meaning all the hullabaloo about Apple threatening Dan's personal finances and whatnot seem kind of moot since he shouldn't have personal legal liability in this case. In other words, lawsuits and C&Ds should go to Forbes's legal team, not to Dan directly -- just like the billions of C&Ds Engadget is sent all go to Weblogs, Inc.'s legal team, not to Ryan Block.

Look, we'll apologize in advance if that's not the case and Apple is really going after Dan, but right now we're just not buying it. What say you, Stevetards?

P.S. -Yes, we've hit up Dan for comment, but have yet to hear back.

Read - FSJ gets "an offer" from Apple
Read - Dan Lyons has his personal finances threatened
Read - Dan talks more about the legal predicament

 

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Asus announces U2 hotness

Filed under: Laptops

We're not sure why Asus damned its hot new laptop by announcing it prior to CES (unlike its predecessor, the U1) -- and on a Saturday, no less -- but you can't question the quality: Core Duo ULV or Centrino, 802.11a/b/g, Vista (from Basic to Ultimate), 11.1-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backlit display, 32GB SSD option, up to 4GB RAM in a 2.75 pound 1.1-inch thick footprint. We'll spare you the Bono ref or jokes about the lack of Edge data.

[Thanks, Jimmy]

 

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