Foxmarks, one of the most popular Firefox add-ons for social bookmarks, is re-branding itself as Xmarks and making significant additions to its functionality. Since Foxmarks has collected so many urls (600 million to be exact), the company is creating a search feature that turns up pre-qualified results. Since Foxmarks’ launch, the bookmark synchronization add-on has been downloaded over 14 million times, with most downloads originating from Firefox users, though the add-on launched Internet Explorer and Safari browser capabilities in early February.
The Xmarks feature produces search results based on what millions of users in its community are bookmarking. Users can view each result’s number of bookmarks, popularity ratings and reviews, and a user-generated description of the site. The search engine also recommends similar sites to the user. If the user downloads the Xmarks add-on, the technology will mark popular bookmarked sites (with an icon) in any Google, Yahoo or MSN Live searches. Users can hover over each icon to see a thumbnail view of the Xmarks reviews and information on the site. Users can also click an Xmarks icon in their address bar to learn more about any site they are currently visiting. Much of the information on Xmarks, such as site summaries and reviews is user-generated and the hope is that users will create a wiki for website reviews, according to CEO James Joaquin. Currently, the Xmarks add-on is only available for Firefox users but is expected to reach Internet Explorer and Safari users in the near future. They are also in talks to extend Xmarks capabilities to Google’s Chrome browser.
Founded by Mitch Kapor and Todd Agulnick, Xmarks competes with other popular social bookmarking applications like Delicious and StumbleUpon. While Delicious’s search feature is similar, Xmarks’ search result snapshot is more comprehensive and informative with summaries, reviews and similar sites included in the result. And the ability to see this comprehensive Xmarks snapshot in a Google search or in the address bar is unique.
Xmarks’ technology is undoubtedly innovative and useful, particularly to users looking to deepen the information-return of their searches. It is interesting, however, that the company has chosen to re-brand their product line after spending over two years building what could be called a Firefox-related brand around Foxmarks. Joaquin says that Firefox has created a rich environment for the company to distribute its add-on, but the company is now hoping to gain additional momentum from other browsers. Part of that effort includes a less Firefox-centric brand. And as Internet Explorer continues to lose market share and the battle of the browsers becomes more heated, it will be important for Xmarks to diversify its user base.
Here are a few screen shots of Xmarks’s web search features:
Looks pretty good to me. Been a fan of Foxmarks for a while so any increase in functionality is okay by me. Integration with Google search results seems to look pretty impressive too.
I like it
Great plugin
TechFilipino
Is there a firefox search engine plug-in?
This looks to be another great brand monitoring tool!
The bookmark service of choice for Xmen…
With the multiple X’s in the title, X-Men was the first thing that came to my mind too – the Marvel marketing machine must be working well for me!
Xmarks is 2 letters less than Foxmarks – cutting some fat? But looks like it’s offering more functionalities – Great! Less fat but more grunt! (so to speak).
I assume it’s because they’re focusing on cross-platform support. When it was just in Firefox, foxmarks made sense. When they’re on Opera, IE, and Safari, having Fox in the name doesn’t make as much sense
There’s only one xmarks…
www.xmarksthespot.co.uk
I’m glad they’re going cross browser. As much as I love Firefox, Safari and Chrome make sense on other machines. Can’t wait for the plugin.
(Fo)xmarks is great, especially when combined with iMacros (another great Firefox addon). The imacros super bookmarks not only go to the website, but also log in and prefill forms for me.
There are better ways to manage favorites… syncing them is just going to increase the clutter.
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stHrt.com
Change Your Home Page
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No one thinking about privacy issues? I trashed my foxmarks account after they admited to do data mining and making my booksmarks go public.
Only way out of that situation is to have an own server that the firefox addon can connect and synchronize with.
Most of us changed to Firefox also because of privacy and security considerations. Now X-marks exploits Firefox, and some are jubilating. I just don’t get it. Even my mother is more concerned about her privacy when she goes online.
While this is a popular program, I use a standalone bookmark saver program, that allows me to update, check dead links, and transfer them to other computers via a thumb drive.
But what I like best about it is that I am not giving to third parties my bookmarks and favorites.
Besides, why should I so willingly give a third party all my information so they can make money on it.
People for a time were all concerned about cookies (and still are). Why people would so willingly tell this company what they bookmark and their habits is beyond me.
I have about 5800 bookmarks/favorites accumulated since 1995. No way I am giving a marketing company all that information.
Oh, on another Site someone asked me what program I was referring to, that I use. I don’t name names lest someone think I am trying to trumpet a competitor’s product.
But you can look up “Link Stash.”
There is an option to run your own FoxMarks server. A Linutop running on my network takes care of it