Zeus of the ‘NetReviews of the Coolest Sites on the Net

Similar to Flipboard in terms of aesthetics, Zite is different in that content is compiled using automated algorithms that find & deliver articles that have “buzz” (i.e. pieces of content that are being discussed on websites, blogs, and social media).  According to their website Zite “is a free, personalized iPad magazine that understands what you like and gets smarter every time you use it.”

Since content isn’t chosen by a person on Zite, personalization plays an important role.  This means that when a user engages with a piece of content, shares it on Twitter, and/or (most importantly) when they give it a “thumbs up”, that user will be more likely to see similar content in the future.  On the flip side, when they don’t engage with certain pieces of content or when they give content a “thumbs down” they will begin to see less and less of that type of content in the future.  This personalization based on user interaction is what differentiates Zite from all of the other news reader apps (very similar to what Pandora does in the music space).

So if you’ve got an iPad, I’d recommend downloading Zite to test out for yourself.  And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

*Update* Yesterday (12/9) Zite released their new app for the iPhone. After downloading it I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re an iPhone owner!

If you’ve ever tried to keep up with the endless number of blog posts, articles, video clips, etc. that are out there on the web, you know it can be a daunting task.  I’m sure there are many like me who try but often are just unable to keep up with the flood of information that is published on a daily basis.  Instapaper tries to address this issue in a simple and straightforward way.  First create an account, second click the “Read Later” button when you come across something you’d like to read at a later time, and third come back to read the article, blog post, etc. when you have time.  It’s a simple process and their website speaks to that simplicity.  They also have apps for the iPhone and iPad ($4.99/app).

With Instapaper you can now read that article, watch that video, or read that interesting blog post, when you have the time to do so.  For those who use this site or one with a similar service, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Have you ever dreamed of being a well-renowned writer known all over the world for your excellent insight and vivid descriptions?  Maybe long desired to be an editor-in-chief of a prestigious newspaper?  Or fantasized about owning your own newspaper?   Now you can do all three!  Well, kind of.  A new website called Paper.li (still in alpha) organizes links you share on Twitter and/or Facebook into an easy to read newspaper style format.

Personal newspapers like this one from Brian Solis can include pictures, videos, as well as your own twitter feed.  Paper.li segments the links you’ve shared into different categories such as:  business, art & entertainment, politics, technology, etc, and then through proprietary means, surfaces the day’s most relevant articles and constructs your personal newspapers front page.  Another cool feature is that you can login and edit the titles of any article you want (that editor-in-chief dream just became reality!).  Also all of your previous “editions” are archived for you and can be accessed from your front page.

So what are you waiting for?  Get started and who knows maybe someday you can give William Randolph Hearst a run for his money (hey you gotta dream big right?).

This social bookmarking website has elements taken from other similar sites (Digg, Reddit, Fark, etc.) while at the same time mixing in some newer social sharing features (Facebook, Twitter).  The design on the category pages is very clean and puts the focus on each story that users have “spotted”, which I like.  The homepage is a tad bit cluttered, but is still engaging enough for people to find a story of interest.  The ‘Livestream’ feature that runs along the right-hand side of the site is a really good idea that balances out the ‘Top Picks’ and ‘Editor’s Picks’, so that way users can have an unfiltered stream of info to choose from as well.

All in all, I think this site has what it takes to be added to the short list of social bookmarking sites that constantly fights for our attention.  There are so many funny, weird, crazy, and interesting stories out there…why not let Spotery.com do the work for you!

If you answered yes to both of these questions then boy have I got the site for you. If you only answered yes to the first question, I think this site might change your mind about the second one. MyDunkTank is a site with a very cool and philanthropic purpose (which I think is very cool and much needed) that lets people create a list of “dares” that they are willing to do for money that will then go to a charitable organization. The “dare” which receives the most donations from family, friends, and fellow DunkTankers, wins! And by wins I mean that’s the dare that has to be done. Pretty interesting concept, right?

To give you an idea of some of the “dares” currently running there’s one for Dare to be Aware of Spina Bifida, which so far has raised $4,563, with the top dare coming from an older lady who will assume a Lady Gaga identity at an official Spina Bifida event. I hope they post pictures after the event. Actually I think that would be a good idea. It would be another incentive for first time visitors to the site to donate and then to come back to the site.

This website is a little different than most that I usually share however whenever I get a chance to give back I try to do my best to do just that. And I thought what better way to give back than to share with my readers.

P.S. Would love to hear in the comments about any “dares” that were undertaken!

For those of you out there who are obsessed with cars, as well as those who just have a healthy appreciation for them, this site will help you get your daily dose of all things car related.  Covering a wide range of topics, Jalopnik has something for everyone.  From diehard enthusiasts to casual observers, this site has something for all the car lovers of the world.  From this interesting article about deciphering your cars VIN number, to this article (with plenty of pictures included) about an American muscle car classic, the Corvette.

Updated with new information, articles, and pictures on a regular basis, Jalopnik is a great way to find out what’s going on in the world of automobiles.

Fark.com Homepage

This unique site offers it’s users a sarcastic spoof on the “news” of the day.  Users submit links to stories they find throughout the internet, from top websites like cnn.com or nytimes.com, down to smaller niche blogs.  The submitter then writes a brief description (usually less than 30 words) along with the link.  If the submitter’s link is deemed worthy enough, it will be included on the fark.com homepage.  There is a paid option as well, for $5 a month users can view every single link submitted, and those can be viewed at totalfark.com.

Fark is broken up into several categories, the main category ‘Not News’, followed by seven subcategories: Sports, Business, Geek, Showbiz, Politics, Music, and Video.  Each category is broken down by date, showing the links in chronological order from the last week.

The site is completely free to use, however if users want to submit links to stories they find, they first have to create an account.  Fark has been around since 1999, and its concept and entertainment value have only gotten better over time.  For the most random news stories, there’s only one place to go, and that’s Fark.com.