Now before you write this site off as just another “million dollar homepage clone” take a deeper look and you might be pleasantly surprised. Bla.st is a relatively new website that offers a visual directory of “cards”

Anyone can add a card (a 270×165 image) for free but you can pay to have your card displayed higher up in the directory. I have added a card for the Tap Blog and am paying a measly $0.08 a day. At the moment this card is displayed around half way down the front page.

It would be great if they integrated some social features such as commenting and rating, and then I could truly call it a “web 2.0″ application.

Take a look at Bla.st

I normally don’t report on websites that I don’t fully understand, but when I came across TouchGraph I soon found that it deserved a mention. TouchGraph, although seems pretty complex, basically displays the relationship between websites using a java based application.

I think they explain it better:

The TouchGraph Google Browser reveals the network of connectivity between websites, as reported by Google’s database of related sites.

Although I didn’t much go for how they lay out the data (why use Java when you can use Flash!) but it was interesting to see a visual interpretation of Google’s Related Websites.

TouchGraph.com

Rand8.com is a user generated magazine which showcases content from the Blogosphere, Technorati, Digg, Flickr and the Rand8 Box.

Anyone can submit and vote for stories to be included using a digg like interface at the Rand8 Box

This is another great example of how internet technology can be integrated in the real world.

Check it out at www.rand8.com

Here is a really cool website!  The problem I have with sites such as Finetune and Pandora is that in order to discover new music you need to know an artist or a song.  Why I cant I just discover music based on my mood? Well my prayers have been answered with Musicovery.

Musicovery gives you all the options you could possibly want to discover new music.  Simply choose the mood you would like to listen to and a playlist is generated.  You can also choose which genres, tempo, dance (cant explain but cool) and even the time or era!

This has to be one of the coolest internet radio applications out there! Not sure who’s behind it but they deserve a pat on the back.

Definitely two thumbs up! Discover some new music at musicovery.com  

Technorati Tags: music, internet radio, itunes

Want happens when you combine alcohol and Google Maps? PartyGPS of course.

PartyGPS.com is just another example of the many websites that use Google Maps to create a really useful and simple service.  The site allows you to enter a US city or Postcode and locate bars, clubs and liquor stores.  You can suggest new locations but this isn’t automated (as far as I can see).

I would like to see some more features integrated like the ability to rate and share locations.  And what about a location for the business owners to add additional information like discounts etc.

Get the party started at www.partyGPS.com

Technorati Tags: Google Maps, PartyGPS, Party, Web 2.0

Jott.com is a really cool service that allows you to save and send messages by simply using your voice.  To use Jott you just call a Toll free number, say your message or note and then Jott will transcribe it and send it to email or phones.

Now, I havn’t been able to try out the service as of yet (it is currently only available to US residents) but from the looks of things this is really cool.  I would like to know how accurate it is at transcribing  your messages.

If Jott works as well as they say it does then it could be an extremely valuable application for many people.  I would be interested in getting in touch with someone from Jott and finding out if it will ever be available outside the US.

This ones got two thumbs up.  Check it out at www.jott.com 

Im not a fan of any web service that requires complicated registration processes, downloads and complex permissions so when I came across YouBackItUp, I was impressed.

YouBackitUp uses a super simple (and java based) drag and drop interface to quickly upload files of up to 200mb. Registration is not required and the only catch is if your file lays dormant for 20 days then it will be deleted.

This is a real winner when it comes to file uploading and sharing.  All thats needed is a better looking design and they will have hit the jackpot.

Visit www.youbackitup.com 

Technorati Tags: online storage, file sharing, hosting

Thanks to Alex for tipping me off on another site that offers the ability to chat on any website, Gabbly.com. I previously wrote about Yaplet and Zpeech.

Although all three of these services have their benefits, my question to you is there room for all three?  It would be interesting to know which one of these companies were first on the block.

I also couldn’t get Gabbly.com to work when using it with Go2Tap.com. Kept saying “Connection to server was lost, please refresh browser”.

Dooniz.com’s slogan is “Each Click Helps the World”.  There concept is simple, they will redistribute some of the money made on the internet to charity organizations.  This is achieved by users searching, clicking links etc. through the Dooniz portal. Although i am not 100% sure im guessing Dooniz have simply partnered with various PPC sites and affiliate programs.

But my question to you is: Will Dooniz ever take off, or will it be over by the end of the year?
Visit www.dooniz.com 

Yaplet is simple. Yaplet works.  Yaplet is chat for any website.

If you read this blog regularly you will now I’m a big fan of web 2.0 sites that take what could be a complex solution and make it simple.  And Yaplet has done just this.   So what does it do? Yaplet allows you to chat on any website.  To see what im talking about take a look at this here and have a chat. This URL will bring up a frame on the right hand side of this page.  To see the chat on other site take a look at Yaplet.com.

I talked about a similar product Zpeech.com and although I was very impressed with their site Japlet has one major advantage, registration is not required to chat!

So take a look and why not tell me what you think of Japlet, using the chat app itself.  You can do it here