Comments on: Answerpedia: The Yahoo Product That Never Launched http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/ Startup and Technology News Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:31:23 -0800 hourly 1 By: Matthew Hunt http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2573074 Matthew Hunt Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:37:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2573074 Michelle, I like that idea! and I love how twitter works "realtime crowdsourcing" it so fascinating! Okay, it's official...I'm a social media dork. :) Michelle,

I like that idea! and I love how twitter works “realtime crowdsourcing” it so fascinating! Okay, it’s official…I’m a social media dork. :)

]]> By: James Arnold http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2572364 James Arnold Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:34:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2572364 Q&A Systems seem to be popping up everywhere, and I would be conscious of the fact that a lot of these companies are not building their own systems. There are companies and services out there that actually provide the main Q&A engine and then just customize it for the new websites that want a system like that integrated into theirs. Lumin Creative (www.lumincreative.com) is a company that does that, with their product Lumin Answers. It basically has all of the functionality of any of these other Q&A systems and many times even more with all the widgets they build into it. Q&A Systems seem to be popping up everywhere, and I would be conscious of the fact that a lot of these companies are not building their own systems. There are companies and services out there that actually provide the main Q&A engine and then just customize it for the new websites that want a system like that integrated into theirs.

Lumin Creative (www.lumincreative.com) is a company that does that, with their product Lumin Answers. It basically has all of the functionality of any of these other Q&A systems and many times even more with all the widgets they build into it.

]]> By: Michelle MacPhearson http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2570983 Michelle MacPhearson Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:07:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2570983 Lots of folks are saying that they turn to Twitter for answers these days before even a Google search, I know I do at times. Yahoo could consider combining a Yahoo Answers type service into Twitter: realtime, crowdsourced Q&A. Lots of folks are saying that they turn to Twitter for answers these days before even a Google search, I know I do at times. Yahoo could consider combining a Yahoo Answers type service into Twitter: realtime, crowdsourced Q&A.

]]> By: Terry http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569648 Terry Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:27:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569648 Does anyone remember Arzoo.com? This was a Q&A business too many years back - by Sabeer Bhatia (Hotmail fame) - but it shut down soon, and now Arzoo.com is a travel/ticketing site! Anyone knows why? Does anyone remember Arzoo.com? This was a Q&A business too many years back – by Sabeer Bhatia (Hotmail fame) – but it shut down soon, and now Arzoo.com is a travel/ticketing site!

Anyone knows why?

]]> By: Alvis http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569585 Alvis Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:34:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569585 Right on ES, structuring answers is going to be HUGE for someone because there's a big demand for answers in the shortest amount of time possible. It'd figure into the search nicely, returning better results for semantically challenging queries (why not throw massive data at the problem). In general, structuring online output by prosumers into easily understandable (by people, search engines and semantics) will be important for media companies looking to up the value of their existing content libraries. (My former employer MTV is the king of this. ) User-friendly and timely answerpedias, and pedias of all sorts, will proliferate, and you will be proven right in a big way. Right on ES, structuring answers is going to be HUGE for someone because there’s a big demand for answers in the shortest amount of time possible. It’d figure into the search nicely, returning better results for semantically challenging queries (why not throw massive data at the problem). In general, structuring online output by prosumers into easily understandable (by people, search engines and semantics) will be important for media companies looking to up the value of their existing content libraries. (My former employer MTV is the king of this. ) User-friendly and timely answerpedias, and pedias of all sorts, will proliferate, and you will be proven right in a big way.

]]> By: Daves http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569579 Daves Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:31:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569579 Dear Jason, Mahalo's anemic growth won't be fixed with just another ripoff. Dave Dear Jason,

Mahalo’s anemic growth won’t be fixed with just another ripoff.

Dave

]]> By: jk http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569483 jk Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:28:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569483 "In contrast to Wikipedia, Answerpedia was supposed to be a Wiki of experiential knowledge instead of historical fact. " that is what wikihow / ehow already do “In contrast to Wikipedia, Answerpedia was supposed to be a Wiki of experiential knowledge instead of historical fact. ”

that is what wikihow / ehow already do

]]> By: Mark http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569415 Mark Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:12:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569415 Why would Yahoo! want to compete with Wikipedia and Knowl? If you really think this through you can clearly see why Answerpedia is not the answer to Answers question of where to go. Why would Yahoo! want to compete with Wikipedia and Knowl? If you really think this through you can clearly see why Answerpedia is not the answer to Answers question of where to go.

]]> By: לכל שאלה תשובה. עוד כשלון של Yahoo » בועות - הייטק , אבל ממש בקצרה http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569333 לכל שאלה תשובה. עוד כשלון של Yahoo » בועות - הייטק , אבל ממש בקצרה Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:48:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569333 [...] את המנוע , אלא מנסה כבר הרבה זמן למכור אותו. לאחרונה טק קרנצ' דיווח על פרוייקט חדש מבית יאהו : Answerpedia. הכוונה היא לקחת [...] [...] את המנוע , אלא מנסה כבר הרבה זמן למכור אותו. לאחרונה טק קרנצ’ דיווח על פרוייקט חדש מבית יאהו : Answerpedia. הכוונה היא לקחת [...]

]]> By: James http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569262 James Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:42:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569262 Google Answers discovered that the paid model for Q&A is flawed so lotsa luck Mahula. Google Answers discovered that the paid model for Q&A is flawed so lotsa luck Mahula.

]]> By: Jugar http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569219 Jugar Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:37:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569219 Ifor comment http://www.jugargame.com/ Ifor comment http://www.jugargame.com/

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569117 Jason Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:51:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569117 Ask the SEO: please do not bring up facts like I sold a company for a reported $30m in 18 months, or built a $12m a year business before that and sold it to Dow Jones. Seriously... if you post facts than what will happen in the comments?!?!? how we will trash people if you're gonna bring up facts.... ... next thing you know you'll start talking about the five million unique visitors we get every month! seriously.... chill out!!! best jcal ;-) Ask the SEO: please do not bring up facts like I sold a company for a reported $30m in 18 months, or built a $12m a year business before that and sold it to Dow Jones.

Seriously… if you post facts than what will happen in the comments?!?!? how we will trash people if you’re gonna bring up facts….

… next thing you know you’ll start talking about the five million unique visitors we get every month!

seriously…. chill out!!!

best jcal ;-)

]]> By: kg http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569083 kg Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:10:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569083 Better example would be some one using google search and dont know who the founders are and best of all search for the term "google" Better example would be some one using google search and dont know who the founders are and best of all search for the term “google”

]]> By: huh http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569071 huh Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:01:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569071 "And why would any self respecting idiot use a site where you CAN’T find out who owns it???" Are you for real? Some idiots out there probably use Facebook everyday and couldn't care less who the founder is. “And why would any self respecting idiot use a site where you CAN’T find out who owns it???”

Are you for real? Some idiots out there probably use Facebook everyday and couldn’t care less who the founder is.

]]> By: Ask the seo http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569061 Ask the seo Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:57:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569061 It was probably because Calacanis successfully launched and sold 2 previous companies. It was probably because Calacanis successfully launched and sold 2 previous companies.

]]> By: huh http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569051 huh Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:51:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569051 Whatever, man. You're spamming this site just like I am. Whatever, man. You’re spamming this site just like I am.

]]> By: fjpoblam http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569036 fjpoblam Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:43:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569036 A failing of Yahoo! Answers IMHO is that it doesn't have a provision for *conversation*. Once answered, a question is closed. The perpetrator has no chance for followup. In some cases, reconnection via reposting just doesn't cut the mustard. A failing of Yahoo! Answers IMHO is that it doesn’t have a provision for *conversation*. Once answered, a question is closed. The perpetrator has no chance for followup. In some cases, reconnection via reposting just doesn’t cut the mustard.

]]> By: Jeremy Goodrich http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2569003 Jeremy Goodrich Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:16:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2569003 http://www.quantcast.com/picanswers.com George: who the hell runs that thing anyway? And why would any self respecting idiot use a site where you CAN'T find out who owns it??? There is no about page. Just why & how did they get coverage from mashable anyway? The site is practically dead, 12 months post launch. http://www.quan.../picanswers.com

George: who the hell runs that thing anyway? And why would any self respecting idiot use a site where you CAN’T find out who owns it???

There is no about page. Just why & how did they get coverage from mashable anyway? The site is practically dead, 12 months post launch.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="26308312">Erik Erikson</fb:name> http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2568991 Erik Erikson Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:06:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2568991 this is cool this is cool

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2568983 Jason Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:02:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2568983 That is exactly what we're doing, and that has always been the plan with Mahalo. Our goal is to pull together three things on a search result: 1. curated, spam-free links 2. content (i.e. our Guide Note and Fast Facts) 3. Q&A (i.e. Mahalo Answers). take a look at the Bob Dylan page here: http://www.mahalo.com/Bob_dylan You can see in the questions section the following: -- What's your favorite Bob Dylan song? (2 answers) -- Why did Bob Dylan choose to rename himself "dylan"? (1 answer) -- What is your favorite Bob Dylan cover? (5 answers) -- Who are Bob Dylan's main influences and what Dylan songs can you hear them in? (3 answers) Over time we'll have hundreds of Bob Dylan questions, and we have a licenses to all the answers in Mahalo Answers. This means our production costs for our wikipedia style content is going to get greatly reduced--while we make 25% of the fees and 100% of the advertising inside of Answers. That's why we're really excited about the project: it's a win-win-win-win: a) users get answers b) we get content c) the person answering gets a tip d) we get the adverting revenue best jcal That is exactly what we’re doing, and that has always been the plan with Mahalo.

Our goal is to pull together three things on a search result:

1. curated, spam-free links
2. content (i.e. our Guide Note and Fast Facts)
3. Q&A (i.e. Mahalo Answers).

take a look at the Bob Dylan page here:
http://www.maha...o.com/Bob_dylan

You can see in the questions section the following:

– What’s your favorite Bob Dylan song? (2 answers)
– Why did Bob Dylan choose to rename himself “dylan”? (1 answer)
– What is your favorite Bob Dylan cover? (5 answers)
– Who are Bob Dylan’s main influences and what Dylan songs can you hear them in? (3 answers)

Over time we’ll have hundreds of Bob Dylan questions, and we have a licenses to all the answers in Mahalo Answers. This means our production costs for our wikipedia style content is going to get greatly reduced–while we make 25% of the fees and 100% of the advertising inside of Answers.

That’s why we’re really excited about the project: it’s a win-win-win-win:

a) users get answers
b) we get content
c) the person answering gets a tip
d) we get the adverting revenue

best jcal

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2568978 Jason Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:58:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2568978 Actually, I would encourage you to look at the Answers on Mahalo Answers since launch--they are VERY high quality on average. We are taking a zero tolerance approach to membership in Mahalo Answers. Membership is a privalage, not a right, and if you're off topic, mean spirited or--gasp--not considered (read: intelligent) we will not allow you to participate. We've removed about 1-2% of the activity in the system that I would consider either stupid, inane or not helpful. What his does is set a tone of helpfulness and camaraderie amongst the community. We're going to curate Mahalo Answers the same way we curate our search results. That is to say, no spam and no bad behavior. If someone wants to be a jerk or give answers like "why don't you google it?" they can hang out on Yahoo Answers--we don't want their page views. Long term growth is about creating an environment for the good people--not the bad actors. all the best, jcal Actually, I would encourage you to look at the Answers on Mahalo Answers since launch–they are VERY high quality on average.

We are taking a zero tolerance approach to membership in Mahalo Answers. Membership is a privalage, not a right, and if you’re off topic, mean spirited or–gasp–not considered (read: intelligent) we will not allow you to participate.

We’ve removed about 1-2% of the activity in the system that I would consider either stupid, inane or not helpful. What his does is set a tone of helpfulness and camaraderie amongst the community.

We’re going to curate Mahalo Answers the same way we curate our search results. That is to say, no spam and no bad behavior. If someone wants to be a jerk or give answers like “why don’t you google it?” they can hang out on Yahoo Answers–we don’t want their page views.

Long term growth is about creating an environment for the good people–not the bad actors.

all the best,

jcal

]]> By: George http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2568969 George Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:52:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2568969 An interesting QnA site for pictures questions is http://www.picanswers.com it help for questions that you may have that can't be answered with traditional QnA sites. An interesting QnA site for pictures questions is http://www.picanswers.com it help for questions that you may have that can’t be answered with traditional QnA sites.

]]> By: Rodrigo http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2568955 Rodrigo Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:33:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2568955 I Love Y! Answers!!! I Love Y! Answers!!!

]]> By: Rodrigo http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2568954 Rodrigo Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:32:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2568954 I like Yahoo! Answers is the best!!! I like Yahoo!

Answers is the best!!!

]]> By: the world beyond recruiting » Blog Archive » Around the Creative World today http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/16/q-what-was-the-name-of-the-secret-yahoo-answers-project-that-never-launched/comment-page-1/#comment-2568945 the world beyond recruiting » Blog Archive » Around the Creative World today Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:19:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=33851#comment-2568945 [...] reminds us of a promising Yahoo! project that never [...] [...] reminds us of a promising Yahoo! project that never [...]

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