Google releases Google Sidewiki

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Google's been firing out the announcements lately; they've just unleashed Picasa 3.5 and the Google Chrome Frame, and they have no sign of stopping. Today they've let loose a new project called Google Sidewiki, which has been described as a 'universal commenting system'.

Google Sidewiki is a browser toolbar, compatible with Internet Explorer 6+ and Firefox 2+, which is aimed at helping users read other user's comments, as well as making their own, on any internet page. Google said, "We worked hard from the beginning to figure out which [entries] should appear on top and how to best order them. So instead of displaying the most recent entries first, we rank Sidewiki entries using an algorithm that promotes the most useful, high-quality entries. It takes into account feedback from you and other users, previous entries made by the same author and many other signals we developed."

It'll be interesting to see how this project goes, as many people are against browser toolbars, but this could still pick up traction. If you want to try it out, visit the download page, or if you want to know more information, please watch the video included below. Additionally, you can follow the project team on Twitter.

#1 DAaaMan64 on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:05

I am absolutely in love with this idea. Hopefully it catches on.

#2 Deathray on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:27

There are a lot of good uses for something like this

(6 replies) #3 Narutorocker on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:39

This can be abused by internet marketers and spammers..

#3.1 McoreD on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:53

That's what I am afraid of as well

#3.2 busyanuj on 24 Sep 2009 - 02:29

agreed, this could churn out a lot of spam and junk stuff.

#3.3 Electric Jolt on 24 Sep 2009 - 03:15

Well with captchas, and to turn them off by verifying your real with a mobile number of credit card, we can avoid spam.

#3.4 Lastwebpage on 24 Sep 2009 - 08:15

me, too, I am sure this will only contain spam or completely unimportant infos. But it's named "SideWIKI" maybe everyone can edit the entries?

#3.5 P1R4T3 on 24 Sep 2009 - 11:26

Hopefully it will stay clean.

#3.6 M_Lyons10 on 25 Sep 2009 - 05:27

Narutorocker said,

Yeah, that's scary. Hopefully that won't happen, but it definitely has the potential for that...

(2 replies) #4 TonyLock on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:43

What about chrome?

#4.1 Jugalator on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:40

It doesn't support extensions officially in a stable build although, yes, it can be enabled on the beta and dev builds. Maybe not extensions of this kind yet though; it's not really complete yet.

#4.2 McoreD on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:55

Chrome extension system needs a major overhaul to support custom sidebars, hopefully this Sidewiki will encourage them to develop this so that we can have the delicious.com sidebar sooner as well.

(1 reply) #5 roadwarrior on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:49

I kind of like the idea. I don't know how many times I've read something that was totally wrong in an article somewhere and wanted to comment on it, only to find that the site had no comment system or other type of feedback link.

#5.1 M_Lyons10 on 25 Sep 2009 - 05:28

roadwarrior said,

Yeah, that's a good point. That's where something like this really shines.

(5 replies) #6 solardog on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:52

too much google

#6.1 Jebadiah on 24 Sep 2009 - 00:36

#6.2 Clueless Fox on 24 Sep 2009 - 02:01

it instigates competition which is always good.

#6.3 cork1958 on 24 Sep 2009 - 02:25

solardog said,

Way, way to much Google!!
Can't take it anymore!!

#6.4 SuperHans on 24 Sep 2009 - 15:09

Nah google is the bees kness

#6.5 solardog on 24 Sep 2009 - 21:53

SuperHans said,

I hate bees knees, too knobby.

(1 reply) #7 qwexor on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:52

I really like the idea, but the first thing I thought of was spam.

#7.1 DAaaMan64 on 23 Sep 2009 - 22:57

Ya me too. Fortunately, there's a report button, and the spammer would need a google account for it to work. So maybe if google doesn't suck nuts at spam control, the netz'll be saved.

#8 icie on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:22

IMO, a universal commenting system is a natural progression which was inevitable. Looking forward to having comments integrated into Google Reader (which currently has a "Like" function only).

(2 replies) #9 brianshapiro on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:27

Google isnt the first to do this, there are already add-ons for Firefox with the same function

#9.1 Jugalator on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:39

I agree, but maybe this will gain the exposure it needs to be truly useful. It depends a lot on popularity.

Hopefully Google's brand name will help. I think I'll try out the Firefox extension at least.

#9.2 M_Lyons10 on 25 Sep 2009 - 05:29

Jugalator said,

Yeah, I think that's an important point. The other solutions don't have the traction that Google I'm sure can get. This might have a chance of really taking off.

#10 perochan on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:33

isnt that the same music Apple used for their iphone commercial?

#11 Max™ on 23 Sep 2009 - 23:58

This is like, a website on the side about a website you are viewing. Why not have two sidewiki's, and have a sidewiki about the sidewiki?

(3 replies) #12 E.Fahd on 24 Sep 2009 - 01:27

The idea is good, but in away it is sad. Because there are already plugins that do exactly this, but nobody seems to care until Google make their own, why ?

#12.1 Clueless Fox on 24 Sep 2009 - 02:03

it's about filling the gap between the "proficient" users to the masses. i don't know many casual computer users who are comfortable with looking up and installing plugins. hell, for them even firefox is unheard of. it's whatever that takes them to the internet - internet explorer, because it came with the OS.

#12.2 E.Fahd on 24 Sep 2009 - 02:49

Well IE does support plugins, and there are plugins doing this for IE. Moreover, SideWiki is a plugin itself.

#12.3 DAaaMan64 on 24 Sep 2009 - 06:11

Because I noticed now.

(1 reply) #13 necrosis on 24 Sep 2009 - 03:36

Nice. But until it is a stand alone plugin (not requiring the full google toolbar) forget it.

#13.1 M_Lyons10 on 25 Sep 2009 - 05:32

necrosis said,

Ewwww No more toolbars. When will that fad finally die??

(1 reply) #14 thenetavenger on 24 Sep 2009 - 04:00

I used to think this was a good idea when it was first released by Microsoft under IE4 about 10 years ago; however, in practice, it was very bad giving people shared and un-controlled comment ability on websites. From the liability to the insane type of comments that it generated, it became worthless fairly fast.

I'm surprised so many are sitting here thinking Google is genius for introducing a feature Microsoft tried and abandoned years ago...

If Google comes out with Google Bob, will people also go, wow, it is so brilliant?

#14.1 _dandy_ on 24 Sep 2009 - 11:42

I was thinking of the "Discuss" feature currently in IE, but it doesn't go all the way back to IE4.

Bottom line...nothing new, and it's never taken off...

#15 Medfordite on 24 Sep 2009 - 04:20

It requires your first and last name which I am not keen on providing. I think I will skip on that part for now.

#16 ]SK[ on 24 Sep 2009 - 06:46

Joe Public has just become Google's new search bot.

#17 tuxplorer on 24 Sep 2009 - 07:20

And if people put malicious tiny URLs in there, will Google warn us "This site could harm your computer"?

#18 anewhope on 24 Sep 2009 - 09:18

Is there any form of moderation or is it just going to be a deluge of utter tripe?

4Chan are going to think Christmas has come early..

(1 reply) #19 McoreD on 24 Sep 2009 - 11:48

hmm... what browser is this? http://www.google.com/sidewiki/intl/en/images/screenshot.jpg

#19.1 lunamonkey on 24 Sep 2009 - 12:00

Generic Browser. It's a mock-up.

(1 reply) #20 barteh on 24 Sep 2009 - 12:37

Does this not open your own website up for abuse and in approperiate comments?
What if spammers were advertising porn on your own website, can this be stopped?

#20.1 _peder_ on 30 Sep 2009 - 01:21

Looking forward to people suing Google over "incorrect" sidewiki entries.

#21 max84 on 24 Sep 2009 - 18:32

Can't wait for it to come out for Chrome.

#22 Calum on 24 Sep 2009 - 21:14

Google are full of great ideas lately. This is another fantastic and useful tool which I look forward to trying out.

(1 reply) #23 TC17 on 24 Sep 2009 - 21:46

Most likely more Google spyware to track and record for life.

#23.1 _peder_ on 30 Sep 2009 - 01:28

2030: Google releases Google ToiletPaperÂ® (beta), the last piece of their master work: "There is only Google".

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