3) Textcube.
Yes. It was very popular in-and-of itself before G. But now with Google backing I hope to see good things. THIS is the most interesting to me and has the most potential outside korea (imho).
As I said, Textcube was very popular blog platform prior to Google scooping it up ...no small feat given it an independent system (not made by the portals themselves). Think Wordpress of Korea, but without the massive plugin library or developer community. (but the make up for it by just sticking most of the it all in the default blog system to start).
And with good reason.. its quite good. slick and robust. Like many Korean web services imagine any blog platform you've seen and put it on steriods, speed and stick a lot of pretty paint on it to boot. (openness, connectivity (other networks), and open-support community customizations (eg: plugin development) was always the downside. BUUUUT when Google bought it..I was hopeful of the potential to open it up (relatively speaking) once implemented with the big G machine.)
hmm... yes, I guess it really toes the line of a full blown CMS.
And now its live with Google integration (Woot!) and it looks like have kept the most (if not all) the bells-and-whistles of the original textcube, but with google id logins, networking, an open api, etc. (still checking it all out). [note: I was able to use my google id to signin and register... so I don't see why anyone couldn't. Its all korean but you should be able to register).
textcube google integration stage 1: WIN!
It should be noted, this by FAR is the MOST "localized" ...or better yet "nativized" an offering Google has put forth in Korea to date. As such, I give it the best chance of actually making some headway.
Note, I said, "chance". As good as it is though, I doubt it will have too much traction within Korea. There is just not enough people using Google and too many people entrenched in Naver or Daum blog systems.
However, this DOES have exciting implications for the "rest of the world" if they ever roll it outside the Korea walled-garden.
"regular" Blogger (or even dare even many many wordpress folks) will take one look at the slick out-the-box textcube (with google login and I'd assume US social media network connectivity by the time it reaches the US) and be "blog with envy", so to speak.
Also, another point to mention is that this could be another well timed release as there are still a lot of bloggers migrating to US blog services to escape to the "real name" legislation that passed. And most of the them complain about having to "downgrade" or lack of features. Google release provides them the best of both worlds. "Freedom" of service and wealth of Korea style features.
I'll try to pull up some screenshots of the dizzying array of gfx tools and templates that come as default with it. Even has pretty robust analytics and tracking tools by default (doesn't look to be connected with GAnalytics though). I just spent 20minutes customizing my test blog and I feel I've barely hit all the DEFAULT settings.
Note: the settings are super easy, intuitive and no programming necessary. There are just a lot of things you can tweek. just about EVERY element of the blog can be customized. Anyone who blogs now or thinking of it can easily set up in 30 seconds with a blog that looks better than 80% of all existing blogs. but if you get into the tweeking there you could easily spend hours with it.
If this rolled out worldwide... many of premade "skin/theme" type companies/services you find for Wordpress ... just wouldn't be needed (at least, there would be far fewer). You can make blogs better looking than 80% of the ones out there with the default settings and templates.
so sayeth GrendelKhan{TSU}
