New York based Simple Spark aims to make finding web applications easy through an extensive catalog of online application sites.
Over 3000 web applications are tracked and categorized with screenshots, icons, feeds, reviews and concise summaries. Applications are indexed in over 70 categories including Spreadsheets, Workspace & Wikis, Education, Fashion, Green Living and Family & Kids
The Simple Spark search facility is also language friendly, a search for delicious or Flicker delivers the correct results of del.icio.us and Flickr; we’ve all misspelled Web 2.0 application names before.
Each competitive space can be tracked by RSS feeds based on individual categories, searches or the newest additions to the catalog.
Keeping up with the numerous competitors in each space can be difficult for even people working in the industry, let alone an outside observer. I find myself impressed with Simple Spark, as the name suggests it’s a simple idea that I can definitely see myself using in the future when researching a product category.
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You’re right, it is pretty challenging to keep up with everything that is going on with numerous competitors. I see SimpleSpark as another site that is trying to organize the web…and I respect that, however, I believe that in order to succeed, they really need to build a strong following. It seems like a nice, clean, user-friendly interface.
Allen Vartazarian
Famesource.com - Claim your fame!
http://www.famesource.com
Certainly worth bookmarking, it adds a social bookmarking and social community layer to the growing Web 2.0 apps world
The only think I didn’t like about the site is a lack of a social networking catalog category so I could work out who the competition was (if any)
Duncan,
Great post, and I completely agree with your thought process. Directories and catalogs are characterized as ‘lame’ and web 1.0. They’re not sexy like other web 2.0 apps. However, I believe they’re highly useful, relevant, and often overlooked. I devoted an entire post to this topic:
http://www.mappingtheweb.com/2.....should-be/
Let me know your thoughts. Much appreciated.
Cheers,
Aidan
http://www.MappingTheWeb.com
Appears to be a nice idea…of late i too was experiencing the same problem of finding genuine product reviews. Might be this could provide some relief.
There is no doubt in my mind that this could be a very useful service. I’ll have to check it out a little closer before I know if I will be using it though. Bookmarked.
How come I couldn’t find any “concise” summaries on the site? All apps I looked at were unrated and un-reviewed.
I think the major issue with content-aggregation sites like simple-spark is going to be whether or not users are going to participate. I do not get anything out of 143 results for “collaboration” if there are no criteria that help me chose the right application for my purpose.
Here the user or editor must come in. If you don’t have reviews, comparisons by features, ratings, etc. (like on download.com for desktop apps) it is going to be impossible to make a choice and the site will drown in an usability issue.
The main focus has to be, to motivate users to participate; however I do not really see any effort been made…
I have written a review over at our site, but it’s in german:
http://speak-friend.com/archive/2007/06/21/55.aspx
andrej
Very good directory.
Sweet Site! http://www.abstract10.com, We just added our profile, waiting for approval. What is really nice is, I discovered a number of other apps that can be utilized to distribute content in ways I had never thought of. So if you need urban hip hop video content or cool avatars for your site check us out!
THX
Jason Jenkins Live
The Abstract Surrealist
http://www.abstract10.com
as soon as this becomes a significant source for any software - expect that software’s employees to - come and spam with great reviews
I agree, it is low on ratings/comments info, need a 1-click screenshot of app or website, needs options comparison of selected apps. But it has huge potential.
I’ve been using IT Redux for a list of Web 2.0 apps. http://itredux.com/office-20/database/
But this will also be helpful, as it is searchable, browseable…etc.
My resource for new web 2.0 sites has been http://www.go2web20.net/
But as mentioned before those new links are great as well!
Seems useful. Thanks to the comment with other directory links.
Techcrunch articles are more informative, but I sometimes feel out of it reading about sites I’ve never heard of which already have millions of users.
Finally…this is actually useful - simple to use, good search, and overall its well executed.
Much, much better than go2web20.,
Good find.
Looks like a great site.
Their tagline could be: “Like Download.com, but without the downloads.”
If you read through the Terms of Service document (http://simplespark.com/terms/), they have some interesting language. I’m not a lawyer, nor have I gone to law school, but this is an interesting statement:
“You acknowledge and agree that you may be charged for your attempted use of the Service notwithstanding the failure of any such attempt to result in a successful transmission of Content.”
What does that mean?
The next sentence in their published Terms of Use states: “We need information here about how we’re not responsible for applications made by other developers.” That doesn’t sound too legal.
Well, it does look like an interesting service. I just enjoy reading the ToS to make sure I know what I’m signing.
Simple sells!
Is it sad that I think this will change my life? I’ve already wasted at least a half-hour looking at various and sundry web apps.
Wonderful site. Thanks for bringing it to everyones attention!
To Mike: Sorry about the confusing verbiage in the site terms. We’ve since removed the confusing language you pointed out. We’re hoping to simplify the terms as time goes on.
http://www.allreleasedates.com
Looks like it needs some work. Couldn’t get certain features (like associating an icon with site) to work in IE7 or Opera 9.2, though they worked in Firefox 2. The interface in general seems kind of awkward actually.
Anyway, cool idea!
Cool idea but need some work. Also have problems of compatibility with IE.
I have a feeling - { now, this is just a hunch }, that a site I’m developing - Startup Byte - will blow all the afore mentioned web directory sites out of the water….
Just a hunch… I guess we’ll wait and see
good source for 2.0 check out ziipa.com