Comments on: Retrevo Raises $8M More for Aggregation of Consumer Electronics Information http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/ Startup and Tech News Sat, 17 May 2008 06:29:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Fredrik http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2052716 Fredrik Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:25:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2052716 In respone to Mike A: Yes, and I really think that Retrevo rocks the scene in many ways. I personally think their value map is genious! And as you say, the previous posts surely come from people with interests from the other review sites. But this doesn't mean that Retrevo has everything right. Most people find them to be a bit too complicated. I am the CEO for another one of those review sites: http://www.testseek.com We relaunched a couple of weeks ago in US with many new features. Our main focus with our new web platform was to make the service REALLY simple to use, for instance, to find the best digital camera, just compare our listing with retrevos: http://www.testseek.com/cameras/digital_cameras-c-201.html?sid=938faa44040676d43e808e2b26d55fe2 (set filters to 2007, 10 or more reviews and TS Score > 80) http://www.retrevo.com/s/digital+cameras I think both alternatives are good, testseek's approach may be a little easier to grasp for the not so tech savvy consumers, but Retrevo's do have more data. What also needs to be considered is the detail of the data collected, check out the product pages of their highest rated camera, the Nikon D300: http://www.retrevo.com/s/Nikon+D300?rt=oa http://www.testseek.com/cameras/digital_cameras/Nikon_D300-p-91631F99-D997-AF4C-3625-9255E4C0102E.html?sid=938faa44040676d43e808e2b26d55fe2 What you can see is that retrevo have included links to "expert reviews" that are not really expert reviews, but product release news and announcements and even som "spammy sites". Testseek.com do not include product news or announcements since it's of little value to the consumer. All review sources are manually approved before included to our index. Even the reviews are manually checked before added. Also my opinion is that testseek.com gives the consumer a better idea of what the experts actually thought about the camera, since we include conclusions (like good, bad, bottomline) from the reviews as well as awards. I know that my opinions are somewhat subjective to my cause... but they are still my honest opinions. As I said before, I really do think that Retrevo is doing something very good. I will definetely keep track of them in the future:) Another big difference with testseek.com and retrevo.com is that we do not have any VC capital backing us... "we" are actually just two guys from Sweden who started out doing this at our spare time... So I guess we will have our hands full with keeping up with retrevo in the future:) Cheers Fredrik Engdahl, CEO testseek.com In respone to Mike A:

Yes, and I really think that Retrevo rocks the scene in many ways. I personally think their value map is genious! And as you say, the previous posts surely come from people with interests from the other review sites.

But this doesn’t mean that Retrevo has everything right. Most people find them to be a bit too complicated. I am the CEO for another one of those review sites: http://www.testseek.com We relaunched a couple of weeks ago in US with many new features. Our main focus with our new web platform was to make the service REALLY simple to use, for instance, to find the best digital camera, just compare our listing with retrevos:
http://www.testseek.com/camera.....2b26d55fe2
(set filters to 2007, 10 or more reviews and TS Score > 80)
http://www.retrevo.com/s/digital+cameras

I think both alternatives are good, testseek’s approach may be a little easier to grasp for the not so tech savvy consumers, but Retrevo’s do have more data.

What also needs to be considered is the detail of the data collected, check out the product pages of their highest rated camera, the Nikon D300:
http://www.retrevo.com/s/Nikon+D300?rt=oa
http://www.testseek.com/camera.....2b26d55fe2

What you can see is that retrevo have included links to “expert reviews” that are not really expert reviews, but product release news and announcements and even som “spammy sites”. Testseek.com do not include product news or announcements since it’s of little value to the consumer. All review sources are manually approved before included to our index. Even the reviews are manually checked before added.

Also my opinion is that testseek.com gives the consumer a better idea of what the experts actually thought about the camera, since we include conclusions (like good, bad, bottomline) from the reviews as well as awards.

I know that my opinions are somewhat subjective to my cause… but they are still my honest opinions. As I said before, I really do think that Retrevo is doing something very good. I will definetely keep track of them in the future:)

Another big difference with testseek.com and retrevo.com is that we do not have any VC capital backing us… “we” are actually just two guys from Sweden who started out doing this at our spare time… So I guess we will have our hands full with keeping up with retrevo in the future:)

Cheers

Fredrik Engdahl, CEO testseek.com

]]> By: Mike A http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2049520 Mike A Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:44:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2049520 Why does everyone feel they need to use comments to 'plug' their self interests? It's also apparent most of you haven't even checked out retrevo or if you did clearly don't get what they do. I've checked all these "review" sites and retrevo is far and away a better experience. But the big difference which everyone that has commented has *avoided* is their value map. None of the sites all of you referenced have anything like their map. Before I read reviews I first want to find a product that I like. retrevo lets my do that in a way no other site I've shopped or publisher I've read (cnet, pcmag, etc.) can touch. I trust the techcrunch readers are more intelligent and when they check the site they'll realize for themselves the uniqueness of the site. Mike Why does everyone feel they need to use comments to ‘plug’ their self interests? It’s also apparent most of you haven’t even checked out retrevo or if you did clearly don’t get what they do. I’ve checked all these “review” sites and retrevo is far and away a better experience.

But the big difference which everyone that has commented has *avoided* is their value map. None of the sites all of you referenced have anything like their map. Before I read reviews I first want to find a product that I like. retrevo lets my do that in a way no other site I’ve shopped or publisher I’ve read (cnet, pcmag, etc.) can touch.

I trust the techcrunch readers are more intelligent and when they check the site they’ll realize for themselves the uniqueness of the site.

Mike

]]> By: Sarah Meyers http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046971 Sarah Meyers Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:28:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046971 I love retrevo! I met them when I was reporting with Robert Scoble and the gang at Show Stoppers while at CES. Retrevo was the best booth by far! If you want to know more about gadgets its the place to go for the right information. I even interviewed them in this video: http://www.podtech.net/home/4824/showstoppers-at-ces-2008 I love retrevo! I met them when I was reporting with Robert Scoble and the gang at Show Stoppers while at CES. Retrevo was the best booth by far! If you want to know more about gadgets its the place to go for the right information.

I even interviewed them in this video:

http://www.podtech.net/home/48.....t-ces-2008

]]> By: March 20, 2008 | next media update http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046876 March 20, 2008 | next media update Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:01:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046876 [...] Retrevo Raises $8M Series B for Aggregation of Consumer Electronics Information TECHCRUNCH Retrevo, a site that aggregates information about consumer electronics from sources found across the web, has raised $8M in Series B funding from Norwest Venture Partners and Alloy Ventures. Both of these investors were also involved in the company’s Series A round. The company has raised $11.9M to date. The purpose of Retrevo is to provide consumers with information about electronics before and after they purchase them. During the shopping phase, the site serves as an advisor and maps products visually according to how expensive and feature-intensive they are. Source> [...] […] Retrevo Raises $8M Series B for Aggregation of Consumer Electronics Information TECHCRUNCH Retrevo, a site that aggregates information about consumer electronics from sources found across the web, has raised $8M in Series B funding from Norwest Venture Partners and Alloy Ventures. Both of these investors were also involved in the company’s Series A round. The company has raised $11.9M to date. The purpose of Retrevo is to provide consumers with information about electronics before and after they purchase them. During the shopping phase, the site serves as an advisor and maps products visually according to how expensive and feature-intensive they are. Source> […]

]]> By: Tom http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046684 Tom Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:55:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046684 you didn't mention ViewScore.com and Wise? I used to work at a patent law firm that filed the patent for ViewScore at 2004 - interesting to see how they will use their patent with this new competition.... Tom you didn’t mention ViewScore.com and Wise?

I used to work at a patent law firm that filed the patent for ViewScore at 2004 - interesting to see how they will use their patent with this new competition….

Tom

]]> By: Bankie http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046559 Bankie Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:45:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046559 Jean: So Retrevo must be owned by Home Depot...? Interesting space indeed. alaTest seems to be frontrunner internationally, http://www.alaTest.com. A lot of buzz (and cash) for these kind of services right now. Manageable info on quality of products, I wish I thought of it myself :-) Jean: So Retrevo must be owned by Home Depot…?

Interesting space indeed. alaTest seems to be frontrunner internationally, http://www.alaTest.com. A lot of buzz (and cash) for these kind of services right now. Manageable info on quality of products, I wish I thought of it myself :-)

]]> By: Jean Myers http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046555 Jean Myers Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:37:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046555 They seem to be copying the model of review aggregator alaTest.com. alaTest seem to have over 2 million reviews from a lotta countries. Must be an interesting market. alaTest is Swedish, so must be owned by Ikea :-) They seem to be copying the model of review aggregator alaTest.com. alaTest seem to have over 2 million reviews from a lotta countries. Must be an interesting market. alaTest is Swedish, so must be owned by Ikea :-)

]]> By: Kristy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046520 Kristy Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:06:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046520 This space seems to be promising. I have played in the past with another similar site: http://www.SmartRatings.com This space seems to be promising. I have played in the past with another similar site:

http://www.SmartRatings.com

]]> By: osman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046456 osman Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:50:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046456 I have used retrevo and it is totally a cool way to find electronics. I love the graphing technology to give a high level overview. Community based reviews also pretty cool. I have used retrevo and it is totally a cool way to find electronics. I love the graphing technology to give a high level overview. Community based reviews also pretty cool.

]]> By: unitedBIT’s RoundUp » Blog Archive » Retrevo, aggregator of consumer electronics information, raises $8M http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046417 unitedBIT’s RoundUp » Blog Archive » Retrevo, aggregator of consumer electronics information, raises $8M Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:36:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046417 [...] more at TechCrunch and [...] […] more at TechCrunch and […]

]]> By: del.icio.us bookmarks for chrisjroos http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046380 del.icio.us bookmarks for chrisjroos Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:50:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046380 <strong>Retrevo Raises $8M More for Aggregation of Consumer Electronics Information...</strong> I wonder if/how this will impact us at reevoo?... Retrevo Raises $8M More for Aggregation of Consumer Electronics Information…

I wonder if/how this will impact us at reevoo?…

]]> By: Shimi http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046368 Shimi Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:40:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046368 Hmmm - 8M$ hua? I wonder on what basis... Omgili has as a sub-domain reviews aggregation from multiple review sites and other discussion based sites: http://reviews.omgili.com Not to mention Summize: http://www.summize.com/ Well the more the merrier :) Hmmm - 8M$ hua? I wonder on what basis… Omgili has as a sub-domain reviews aggregation from multiple review sites and other discussion based sites:

http://reviews.omgili.com

Not to mention Summize:

http://www.summize.com/

Well the more the merrier :)

]]> By: Syndicated Post http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046338 Syndicated Post Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:04:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/retrevo-raises-8m-more-for-aggregation-of-consumer-electronics-information/#comment-2046338 Information aggregation and content syndication do have their markets.. nice. Information aggregation and content syndication do have their markets.. nice.

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