:: TechBlog ::

[ page last updated: Dec. 30, 2005. ]

Count ‘em, 4 new features added to NetVibes in the last 7 days – now that’s just impressive.

I’ve actually been casually using netvibes to for simple stuff like checking the weather and comparing prices between 2 similar products (like ipod nano vs. ipod mini prices). I also had a few RSS feeds loaded up just for convenience and a couple of notes in the “webnote” section.

But the following New Improvements finally got me to sign up:

1. Managing your Feeds (i wasn’t going to add feeds if i couldn’t move, rename, or delete them – it would just get too disorganized)
2. OPML import/export (i think the import feature may have been around all along but the export is new)
3. New Webnote features (being able to give each note a title makes them easy to spot and making hyperlinks clickable/live lets me add quick links to the side of my page)
4. The Bookmark Module (just added, this module lets you add or import your bookmarks as well as tag them for easy browsing later on)

I especially like the “alternative use” for the tag list area described on the netvibes blog. Using this technique you can pick from your existing tags instead of re-typing commonly used tags over and over again. This is similar to the way you can pick tags in del.icio.us and is a huge time saver for me.

Other Features in the Works to look out for include:

1. the Stock Quotes module
2. the Flickr module [ update: this feature was added on Dec. 8/05 and it looks pretty cool. ]
3. the ToDo List module [ update: this feature was added on Dec. 30/05 and is also cool. ]

There are a lot more features on the way that i haven’t even mentioned here but you can visit their blog to get more info.

The best part about netvibes is that you get an enormous amount of control over your personal page without ever having to register, fill in an email address, pick a username/password, or any of that jazz. The result is, you can’t help but customize it, reorganize it, and sort of grow attached to it. So much so, that i eventually begin to worry about accidentally clearing my browser cache and losing “all that work” in the blink of an eye. As soon as that happened, wouldn’t you know it.. i found myself right back on the sign up page looking to fill out that blasted registration form. doh.

On the upside, i can now login to my netvibes page from anywhere with an internet connection. Oh, and i can finally clear my cache.

[ For more on Netvibes, you can read my most recent article entitled: "Netvibes is on the move again." ]