I saw this post from Mashable today (one day after my WebOS post). It’s basically a list of sites offering applications that claim to offer an OS for the web. It seems that these sites have some good use, such as consolidating and organizing different web applications to give a more clearer appearance of an OS for the web, but when it comes down to it, I think they may be taking the whole concept of an OS for the web a little to literally.

Some people may not realize it, but each and everyday we are one day closer to a digital world where the web will be the Operating System of choice. An Operating System is defined as software that manages the sharing of resources of the computer. To associate this definition to the web, we must think of the computer as the entire web. Resources of the computer (or web) are individual web sites that you may choose to visit. The web loosely manages these resources by acting as the bridge between you and the resources (or web sites). When you type a web address in the browser, the web will map the address with a specific device (server), which will send a response back to you containing the data or page corresponding to that site.

So why will the web be the OS of choice you ask? First, let me ask a question of you. What is it exactly that you use your current OS (Windows/Linux/MacOS) for, other than to access the web? Most every answer you give can be countered with an example of web application that can perform the same task. Below are some examples correlating Windows/Linux/MacOS applications/features with web applications/features.

Standard OS: Desktop
Web OS: iGoogle, Live, NetVibes

Standard OS: Word, Excel, Powerpoint
Web OS: Google Docs, Zoho

Standard OS: Media Player, iTunes
Web OS: Pandora, Last.fm, LaLa, MediaMaster

Standard OS: Picasa, Powerpoint
Web OS: Flickr, SnipShot, Picnik

This is just a small example of comparisons between Standard and Web Operating Systems. Not to mention the web has many more advantages, namely, allowing you to have access anywhere there is an internet connection. While web applications aren’t quite up to par with standard desktop applications on every level, they are certainly close, and are closing the gap everyday.

Just to follow up my previous post on Billing Reminders, here is yet another web application, PingMe, to enter the digital reminder market.

[via Web Worker Daily]

Ever had one of those days where everything seems to be going okay when suddenly your realize you’ve forgotten to pay off the credit card bill? It can definitely ruin your day, not to mention ruin your bank account with late fees. These days most people have caught onto online banking and bill pay, but a lot of people haven’t caught onto the friendly email reminders available on most banking sites. Some sites will even text message the reminder to your cell phone. Among the available options, there is usually a reminder that will notify you when a new statement is available, or when a payment is due within x number of days. This can be a lifesaver especially if it means saving you 50 bucks in late fees, or that low interest rate. If you really like the idea of e-reminders be sure to check out Google Calendar where you set up email and text message reminders for any event scheduled on your calendar. Oh, Don’t Forget is another convenient site to check out that lets you send free text message reminders at a date and time you specify.

Over the past year or so there has been evolution occurring in the blogging community. It seems as though that bloggers have caught onto the whole web 2.0 social networking scene. We are starting to see more and more blogs composed of a collaboration of individuals, rather than just a single person.

We have learned from social networking that empowering users to create content can produce massive results. While this can be a powerful resource, it can also result in chaotic content, even if the content is based on a rating or ranking. The problem with the traditional user driven content model is that content submission by users has no regulations. There are no requirements that must be met to become a user, nor are there any incentives or penalties for content submission. This results in a sort of quasi anonymous role for the users. Thus, users are not as motivated to make a conscious effort to submit quality content, instead, content is submitted without much discretion.

The solution to this problem is to limit user membership based on credentials. In addition, create more incentives for quality content submission, and penalties for poor content. This establishes users in a more prominent role and causes them to become more passionate for their contributions to the community.

Here are some specific examples of sites I have termed “Blogging 2.0″ sites:

Metafilter
LifeRemix
Wise Bread
Cluster Flock

Went down to Solomons Island to visit Mehdi last weekend to do some fishing. Joel met up with us Saturday morning, and we tried our luck with live lining spot in the bay, here’s the report:

Had a great day fishing out of Solomons on Saturday. Left the dock a little late (around 9:30), picked up some spot at the mouth of the Patuxent, and made out way over to the Gas Docks to try our luck at some live lining. We couldnt have asked for better weather, no wind and absolute glass on the bay. Very few boats out at the Gas Docks, we tried drifting just south of the boundary buoys between 40′ - 25′ of water. Rockfish were EVERYWHERE, caught our limit easy with a couple close to 25″. We did see what we thought were some bigger fish following the spot to the boat a couple times but never hooked up with any.

Thanks Mehdi, I had a blast!