Briefs: Newstex Adds More Blogs; Google Maps Allow for User Reviews; New Aerial Imagery Coming to DigitalGlobe
+ Google Maps Adds User Generated Reviews (via Search Engine Land)
Excellent, as always, Barry Schwartz. In this post he quietly points out that anyone, even the owner, can write a positive review about their own company. It's also easy to think about how reviews on any site (Google is just one of MANY sites/services that allow for user reviews. see below for a few of them) can easily be gamed/manipulated by both friends and foes alike. Also, we will have to wait and see if users will write reviews on a regular basis, go back and revisit locations/services. Also, are users who write reviews skewed to a specific user group(s)? Will this play a role in what they like or don't like? If nothing else, user generated reviews can be very useful when trying to teach critical information skills and deciding who you can and cannot trust. Services like Wize.com, that aggregate user-generated product reviews from many sites/sources also have the potential to be VERY useful. Reviews on Google Maps/Local are not new. As Barry notes here, since January, they have been aggregating reviews from disparate sources including Gayot, Yelp, CitySearch*, Zagat, and others. Some sources offer both editor reviews and public reviews. Finally, it's one thing to read and make use of a restaurant review but in other situations (finding a contractor, a medical professional, etc.) it's important (not easy) that the reviews are accurate, timely, and fair.
See Also: Add User Review on Yahoo (Example)
See Also: Add User Reviews on MS Live Local (Example)
See Also: Add User Review to CitySearch (Example)
* CitySearch is part of IAC/InterActive the same company that owns Ask.com where Gary works as Director of Online Resources. `
DigitalGlobe, provider of the world’s highest-resolution commercial satellite imagery and geospatial information products, announced today its second half of 2007 aerial flight plan with the commitment to collect more than 276,000 km2 of US aerial imagery at a one-foot resolution, setting the industry standard for the clearest ready-to-purchase aerial imagery available.
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