Gdgt Tracks And Creates Discussions Around Your Gadgets
New data-geeky gadget site gdgt (pronounced either G-D-G-T or just “gadget”) doesn’t deliver giant pictures with the latest news on brand-new devices. It tracks what gadgets you had, have and want, and filters tips, gripes and discussions around them.
After signing up, you’ll want to dig around the gadget finder or text search for the computers, digital cameras, gaming systems, mobile phones, and other devices that you own. Hit “Add to list” below the main gadget pic, say whether you had, have, or want it, then read on to find general discussions, tips and hacks for using it, and see price comparisons if you’re looking to buy or sell.
You might end up with a profile stuffed with gadgets, depending on how far you go in registering your gear. Don’t see your gadget listed? Add it yourself and submit for review. There are, of course, plenty of social opportunities for sharing, embedding, discussing, and otherwise geeking out about the stuff you love (or secretly hate). Veronica Belmont details signing up and using the site in the video below:
The site was founded by Ryan Block and Peter Rojas, alumni of gadget sites Gizmodo and Engadget, and they claim that many more features are on their way. Though it launched yesterday, gdgt spent most of the daylight hours struggling under a traffic crunch, but looks to be moving smoothly this morning. Tracking gadgets and contributing requires a free account sign-up.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
If you treat gdgt as a Facebook for gadgets, then I can see why you'd find it stupid. I see it more as a community for people to read and write about their favorite gadgets. It's a place to find tips and tricks on gadgets I currently own, and to read reviews for gadgets I am considering to buy.
@AndyMan1: get used to it. That is the epitome of the internet. One person makes some money off the idea, then 1000 more do it because it could make them some money. And the sad thing is that those 1000, and another 10,000 will make money! Because people are tools.
atomicrabbit
@Barron Bichon: thanks for posting the link to your query. I just read through the responses, and it looks like you are getting some useful feedback. I would see this site as worthwhile for the "should I buy" and the "I need help with" questions.
Dan Butcher
Gdgt (gadget) with spokeswoman Gdgt (Gidget).
jupiterthunder
I checked it out, signed-up...aaaaaand...that's all. Probably won't be back.
@SigmundTheSeaMonster: you've hit the nail right on the head. Say hi to all the fellow tools here!!
atomicrabbit
you guys are all missing the point. a handy "please steal from me the following:" list is something EVERYbody needs.
i may not join but i WILL be browsing... mwahaha
eideal852
Good for finding out about which type of next new toy you want to get, I suppose?
Otherwise feels like a neh-neh-I-have-this-and-you-don't... show-off site.
delightt
Vowels dammit, USE THEM!
This vowel-less web 2.0 thing was cute for the first 500 websites, now it's just annoying.
AndyMan1
I feel like a gadget. Someone else is making money off my use.
SigmundTheSeaMonster
Isn't veronica (from the video) either Ryan or Peter's girlfriend?
ossavir
I read gadget blogs all the time to hear about new gadgets. And you can get great expert reviews that way. But the comments are absolutely atrocious - impossible to wade through to get good user feedback. gdgt could provide a good mix of the two.
Additionally, this system allows you to actually post questions about a gadget to these same users and experts - directly to a list of people that have the same gadget you are interested in (and theoretically went through the same decision process you are going through). This is a great base of people to get information from, but has been previously tough to tap into.
Hopefully it actually works - here is my first attempt to tap into this knowledge base: [bit.ly]
Barron Bichon
Here's what I see as the potentially biggest advantage of this site: not needing to be a member of a hundred different user forums, just to get basic- to intermediate-level user experience information about a gadget. If this could be a one-stop resource for information about new firmware updates, alerts that a bug has been resolved, or hints at how to use a feature most effectively, all with a low "annoyance" overhead, then this site will be great.
In addition, I'm *always* looking for more information when I shop for a gadget, and it seems like this site would provide a good perspective, based on the type of people it would draw and based on your ability to see what other gadgets a reviewer owns. It's tough to glean that from Amazon, cnet, epinions, etc.
On the other hand, if it doesn't pan out, then it's just another user forum website that I've signed up for as a member :-P Plus, as others mentioned, it's like Facebook for your toys. There's got to be at least a *little* shame in that.
saifrc
@JellyDoodle91:
That's a great description of the site...it would be great for people who want to show of gadgets they own, but not much else. If I get a "Check out my new earbuds on gdgt" notification on facebook from any of my friends, they are immediately getting de-friended.
I'm a Giz/Endgadget junkie, so I created an account on gdgt yesterday, and immediately started marking gadgets I owned and wanted, during which I realized it was stupid. I couldn't think of a single reason why I wanted to do that. I mean, I don't want to discuss the gadgets I have with other people who happen to have the same gadgets. I don't need yet another shopping portal. I don't care how "popular" my phone, keyboard or alarm clock are.
Oh, it's also a pain to navigate.
I registered, but I'll never go back. It's really odd, I don't feel the need to have a Facebook full of strangers just to visit discussion boards about my tv.
It's a pretty stupid idea. I expected something better from Ryan.
Jonathan Moll
I don't really get this, guess I don't really look at gadgets as collectables. not like games, music or movies.
JellyDoodle91
@Ch Ase: "This video is not available in your country due to copyright restrictions." and im in the UK.
JellyDoodle91
the whole internet is a shopping portal
@jonthomasdesigns:
wahoo-yahoo
Im not feeling it .. I love all the work they have done in the past , but this just seems like a shopping portal to me ..
jonthomasdesigns
@Simieski:
Here's a similar site for our friends in the UK.
[tr.im]
Ch Ase
This is a pretty good idea. Shame we don't have something like this in the UK.
Simieski