andStartup

JuniorU - The Final Piece to Education and Safe Social Networking

JuniorU is probably going to take a lot of the burden off of parents in this age. Adults and teens of all ages understand that the Internet is a vast and brilliant network full of great tools, information, videos, music, and interesting people. However, there are also scams, phishers, perverts, and so on. JuniorU.com has created a haven for parents, teachers, students, and those individuals only. The parents and children register and enroll through their teachers, and the teachers are previously verified through Junior U’s own strict security system.

I met some of the founders at a networking event in NYC a few weeks back and they are an amazing team.  REALLY dedicated, REALLY bright and REALLY focused.  It’s a recipe for success.

Students will have the opportunity to play games, build profiles, message friends and classmates, teachers, parents, and view their grades. Parents are able to view their child’s grades, build profiles, message the teachers, and have some fun in a safe social network where they can be sure of their child’s well-being, and the people they interact with. Teachers can post grades, assignments, organize lesson plans, and of course interact with students and their parents.

What’s the concept?

Creating a safe social network for parents, teachers, and students -only-.

Why should you care?

If you’re not a student, teacher, or parent, then you shouldn’t. If you are, or have younger children in school that you want to be able to experience the Internet without having to constantly worry, or interact with your child’s teachers, then JuniorU is for you.

How do they make money?

Can’t say yet

Will this company last 5 years?

Most likely. I see JuniorU becoming a very popular resource for parents, students, and teachers.

Suggestions for improvements?

They seem to have everything covered, but a slightly more web 2.0/AJAX layout wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

Posted in Web Connection, education | No Comments »

CauseCaller.Com - Get In Touch With Democracy

I absolutely love this idea, and the selflessness of which is was brought to life, but we’ll get to that later. There have been so many worthwhile causes lately, regarding our Internet rights, but also hundreds of others, for any individual in the US to care about. Often, it seems like really getting active in our democracy is too much of a pain, too inconvenient, and utterly festooned with red tape, for any of us to actively get involved. CauseCaller actually makes participating –really participating,– in democracy so much easier, for all of us.

CauseCaller is actually the thesis of its owner, a student at NYU. How it works is, you register, then form a cause by filling out the necessary information, –some of the most recent causes are “Boycott Kellogg’s” and “Protest Starbucks” for instance. Enter the names that you want to contact, then click and call. You can also copy the available link and send it to whomever agrees with you, so that they can call and support your cause too.

What’s the concept?

Making it free and easy to call politicians in order to actively participate in democracy.

Why should you care?

Because this is a great idea, for really improving the way we interact with our own government. Instead of saying, “Someone should say something”, it’s within easy reach to say, “I’m going to say something”.

How do they make money?

They don’t. The entire program is free, and paid for entirely by its owner presently.

Will this company last 5 years?

I really hope so. This could make a huge difference in how people think of politics. With any luck, it might even start a trend.

Suggestions for improvements?

Less video content; it makes the site load a little too slowly, even with cable. One video, per page would be easier to manage and not take away so much from the site.

Posted in Politics, Web Connection | No Comments »

DailyLit.Com - Read books by email (or RSS).

With DailyLit.Com, you finally have time to read all the great classical literature you’ve been meaning to, –in your email. Or on RSS feeds, with your news. Over time, newspapers have become almost obsolete with all the various news over the Internet, so it makes sense that the time you spend going over your latest emails, or RSS alerts, you can now catch up on all the reading you have been meaning to check out. Books coming by email; fast and easy.

Basically, how it works is, you register and sign up for DailyLit, giving an email where you know you’re going to be able to find your DailyLit installment. Each segment will be sent daily to your inbox, and they don’t take hours to read. Most pieces can be finished in under five minutes, and if you want more of the book to read, installments can be received in minutes to suit your literary needs. You can get any book also; either classics in the public domain, or bestsellers and new books with a paid subscription.

What’s the concept?

Reading all the best books by email.

Why should you care?

Because finding time to read gets harder and harder as the world becomes more fast paced; reading by email is much more convenient for many of us.

How do they make money?

Through paid subscriptions..

Will this company last 5 years?

I hope so; not as many people are as literature inclined as they used to be, but hopefully, this will help spark some interest.

Suggestions for improvements?

More books, of course. The collections keeps growing, and I hope to see them collect as many free books as they can.

Posted in Publishing | No Comments »

GroupCard.Com - Add Your Ink

We all know what a group card is; maybe not by that name, but the basic principle, because we’ve probably all signed one at some point. Remember that big pink card you sent your mom a couple years ago that everyone in your family signed? Or maybe a card to a co-worker who was sick, signed by the entire office staff? That’s basically what the group card is; a greeting signed by all your friends, family, co-workers and sent off to someone you love.

How it works is, you start the GroupCard, select a great design for it, then invite people to sign it. Thousands of people could sign one GroupCard, so you probably have to pay attention to what greetings go on it, which is part of “managing” the GroupCard. The signers can add their greetings, and their photos if they’d like. The only issue I have with it, is how sincere is a greeting that comes from hundreds of people you don’t even know?

What’s the concept?

Sending a group greeting card to a relative, friend, or co-worker, that can be signed by hundreds of people.

Why should you care?

It’s a fun concept, if you send eCards often, try this instead.

How do they make money?

From affiliation programs with Amazon.com.

Will this company last 5 years?

Definitely; it’s going to be the next big thing in eGreetings.

Suggestions for improvements?

None really; there’s the small issue of whether there’s a lot of sincerity in a card signed by hundreds of people you don’t know, but then again, if it’s just for fun, then that’s cool too. I think a “private” group card setting would be cool, if they don’t already have one.

Posted in Leisure Time | 1 Comment »

TextPayMe - Amazon Payments

At first glance, TextPayMe looks all at once both complicated, and impossible. Depending on the perspective, the idea that you can buy goods or transfer money with a mobile phone can be extraordinary. However, as Amazon has shown us recently, it can be done. With the punch of a button, you can send money to a friend, or relative, or instead, you can buy that CD that you just now remembered while taking a jog! You can also receive payments from other people for goods you might be selling on Amazon, or just receive funds from friends and relatives.

Signing up is a little vague, and seems complicated, but generally, if you already have an Amazon account, then you can go ahead and get Amazon Payments, which works a lot like Paypal. You attach your bank account to the Amazon TextPayMe program, and adds funds from your bank, then pay for  Amazon goods, or send funds to others. There are also multiple types of TextPayMe accounts available, but they refer to it as “enhancing” the account. If you think this review is vague, you haven’t seen anything until you read the FAQ on TextPayMe.Com. Still, the basic point is there; it’s generally a Paypal for Amazon. Despite Amazon being the more reliable Internet surplus for shopping –eBay has lost a lot of its popularity due to being overrun with scams, this looks more like an attempt to compete with the new Paypal plug-in.

What’s the concept?

Paying and transferring money quickly, and safely with your mobile phone.

Why should you care?

Well, that’s a good question. This definitely makes an interesting alternative to paying for something you want on Amazon, or transferring money while on an elevator, or just generally not near a computer.

How do they make money?

From percentages acquired from sales on Amazon.

Will this company last 5 years?

Definitely; it’s Amazon, the safe alternative to eBay; this is just one of the many mobile phone apps that are going to become highly popular during the 3G cell technology wave.

Suggestions for improvements?

A better, and more informative web page.

Posted in Shopping | No Comments »

ImInLikeWithYou - Play Games. Meet People. Hang out.

First off, before I forget, the loading page for ImInLikeWithYou.Com is absolutely adorable. I started out just playing a couple games on here, and generally feeling my way around the whole game and chat set up. It’s very easy to grasp what is basically going on, –most of the games are sort of Tetris related, so there’s lots of games that involves smashing, connecting, or popping blocks, gems, etc., that sort of thing. But there are several other ways to interact on ImInLikeWithYou.

You sign up, and then you begin building your list of contacts; earning points for things like uploading photos, playing games, sending drawings to friends, and things like that. Points go towards game related ends; not quite sure what the point of it is just yet, to be honest. So far, the site somewhat resembles the soft curves of Twitter, which is integrated into the site so I assume it’s an affiliate. The only real complaint is that the noise of someone signing in every two seconds gives me a major headache.

What’s the concept?

Chatting, playing fun little games, just generally entertaining all around.

Why should you care?

If you like chat, and games, this is definitely for you.

How do they make money?

It’s currently still in its beta phase, so there’s no actual revenue to speak of just yet.

Will this company last 5 years?

Definitely; I see it as becoming very popular, it’s adorable.

Suggestions for improvements?

More games, losing the beeping noise for sign-ins!

Posted in Leisure Time | No Comments »

GetDropBox.Com - Secure backup, sync and sharing made easy

I was blown away at this new web concept; if it works that is, Dropbox is going to revolutionize the industry of syncing files, and sharing them, as well as storing back up files to the web. Do you remember those commercials, where some guy is always saying “join us, and we’ll make it so that with your IP, you can access your computer from anywhere”? Dropbox has taken that idea to a whole new level. You can store files on the Internet with your Dropbox account, and then access them from any computer, anywhere in the world, –as long as it has net access, obviously. And there’s no mucking about with IP addresses, either. It’s just as easy as signing into any other online account.

Furthermore, are the file sharing options as well. Between friends, you can share not just one tiny file at a time, that has to be stuck to emails or IM’s as a transfer, or attachment. Dropbox allows you to share entire folders with friends, quickly, and efficiently, and right there on your or their desktop. Not only that, but Dropbox also keeps backup changes for deleted files, as well as changed files; so if there’s an accident and you mistakenly delete something you need, there it is again, and you can quickly and safely restore it.

What’s the concept?

Sharing, and backing up files easily, quickly, and efficiently.

Why should you care?

Anyone who wants to either keep their PC or Mac’s contents safe, or share files with friends, family, or projects with co-workers, should definitely care.

How do they make money?

They have yet to release Dropbox, but my guess is a small monthly fee, so far.

Will this company last 5 years?

It’s not quite out yet, so who knows. Right now it’s looking really good though, so hopefully, yes.

Suggestions for improvements?

A quick release is all I’m asking for!

Posted in Productivity | No Comments »

IntroIn - Get rental referrals

So when hunting for a place to live, a lot of people ask for information from friends and family.  Some people even ask the people living in the to-be-rental about the living conditions, the area and their general satisfaction.  That’s exactly what IntroIn is about.  They allow you to browse rental listings and ask the current tenants about what it’s like to live there.  What a GREAT concept!

If you live in an apartment complex, you can list yourself as a referral resource and get PAID when someone rents a place near you.  How fantastic is that?!  The way I see it, there’s no reason NOT to list yourself as a referral resource if you enjoy living where you’re living.
What’s the concept?

Rental referral resource.

Why should you care?

Either you’re looking for a place to live and could use some advice or you live in a great place and want to get paid for talking about how great it is!

How do they make money?

Presumably they take a cut from the leasing office or renting agency.

Will this company last 5 years?

That’s a hard one to say.  They have A LOT of listings, but not many referral resources listed yet.  It’ll take some time to build the traction they need, but if they do hit a critical mass, they’ll definitely be around for 5 years.

Suggestions for improvements?

Advertise, advertise, advertise.  Get the word out and build the network!

Posted in Web Connection | No Comments »

uShip.Com - The Online Shipping Marketplace

The idea behind uShip is very unique, in and of itself; this is definitely something you don’t see every day. Basically, it’s a place where shipping service providers bid to ship one’s items. Like eBay, customers are encouraged to leave feedback on how well the shipping company that handled their shipping needs performed. There are also over a hundred thousand active providers listed, so there’s plenty of competition for your shipping needs.

How it works is, the people who need a shipping service provider sign up, and create a listing. However, unlike other sites, the listing is free, you don’t have to pay anything to get your listing made. Afterwards, the shipping providers on uShip compete to provide you with the best services, at the lowest prices.

What’s the concept?

Shipping providers battling for your business.  Essentially, an eBay for the shipment marketplace.

Why should you care?

Well, if you ship things ever, and you want to get the best value, and the best price, then you definitely need to join.

How do they make money?

Affiliations with eBay, and provider memberships.

Will this company last 5 years?

Most likely; it’s an eBay off-shoot, and since eBay has been around so long, uShip is most likely going to last a while too.

Suggestions for improvements?

They really seem to have all bases covered.

Posted in Business, Web Connection | No Comments »

yoName.Com - What’s yoName?

I rarely gush about any of the websites I review on here, but yoName is absolutely fantastic. Honestly, how many high priced reunion sites have all of joined, trying to find our long lost high school friends? And how many times have we been disappointed with a bunch of wrong results, that look suspiciously generic, and have no useful information at all? yoName.Com takes the eraser, and sweeps clean through obnoxious, and expensive reunion and people search websites.

All you have to do is type in a name, email address, or phone number, of the person you’re trying to get in touch with. Click one of the search options, or just hit enter, and yoName.com does the rest. yoName scours the most popular social networking sites for your friends, or acquaintances, and then brings it back to you. For free; not $36 a month, or higher. And, unlike just searching for someone on Myspace, you can instead search Bebo, Facebook, and Myspace all at once.

This concept is similar to PeekYou, which was reviewed earlier last month.

What’s the concept?

Free people searching tool.

Why should you care?

If you’ve ever tried looking up someone from your past, then you should definitely care.

How do they make money?

Ad revenue, and link sharing.

Will this company last 5 years?

I think so; they’ve already entered a revolutionize market with some we all desperately need.

Suggestions for improvements?

Maybe a few less ads, but otherwise, it’s terrific.

Posted in Search Engine | No Comments »