Forum Moderators: open
It seems that Circles are not dead after all. Lycos/Daum have replaced them with the much gaudier (IMHO) Planet. We're going to have to ask our resident CyWorld expert to tell us if this is any closer to the ideal or not.
whoa. great find. thanks for the heads up.
1. cyworld expert? lol. thanks for the vote of confidence...but soooo not. I think its I'm just one guy that bothers to tell anyone outside korea it exists at all. lol ^^
2. without even looking.... the fact you say it is much gaudier means I'm sure its much closer to the original. haha. (sad, but true). lol.
3. without even looking.... its called PLANET? well, since this the name of DAUM's (lycos' parent company) local mini-hompy system means I'm sure its much closer to the original. lol
4. ok...took a VERY quick look. Yup, at least on superficially, it seems much closer. Still no where near what we got going here...but definitely closer. Don't have the time to delve deep into what its actual features or offerings are in comparison to the original cyworld stuff.
If someone else wants to let me know what the big feature offering differences are that they are offering.. I can give a quick "yup or nope" to them. Don't really have time or gumption to get into a feature breakdown myself. I got 8927498237 mini-hompy/blog stuff to update here as is. :/
that said, the BIG ones it would NEED to make a significant move towards cyworld/mini-hompies here:
--unlimited upload space for images with built-in autoresizing and editing tools.
--a customizable and personalizable mini-room.
--free music jukebox with a huge library of free, legal songs to play on your site.
--purchasable acorn items. (avatar, skins, decorations).
--fluid mobile integration.
--mini-games (flash games)
--easy "jump links" to friends' sites back and forth.
--system to easily add built-in modules (like a forum, diary, photo album, guest book, drawing board, mini-board and more.)
they got that stuff in there yet?
Cause that be a good START. heh. :p
Seriously though.... this is a cursory statement, but overall I think its pretty cool that they relaunched at all...and with a much better approach imo (might be more gaudy..but at least its distinct and unique---and thus, better and easier to brand) and I'm happy to see that they are still at it.
For the record, I hope it DOES continue to make progress cause that be a great coup for Korean tech/internet stuff branching out the western world proper. ^^ woot!
from my other post: "Though there is a chance it really is just ending its beta and gunna release the cool versoin later....I wouldn't hold my breath."
Glad I didn't hold my breath. =P It seems that they went with the second option "release the cool *gaudy ^^* version later".
heh. maybe they'll have better luck with this iteration...cause as I mentioned cyworld, proper, IS coming stateside, so Planet is gunna need some market share to fend them off and compete with Spaces. (can you say SQQQUUEEEZZE play?).
Its finally getting interesting out there. wonder if we are witnessness the start of the next big thing? ("mini-hompy" model worldwide?). That'd be pretty cool.
(hmm..now if I could just figure out how to get a piece of it. lol jk. =p)
no idea. But they seem pretty confident (my sources) and I'm sure its gotta be someone significant as SK telecom (parent company) is a conglomerate itself. I would THINK that they had to resources, reseach and clout to get themself a decent partner.
Well... come end of this year, beginning of next (my guess) I think we'll all know. ;)
3. without even looking.... its called PLANET? well, since this the name of DAUM's (lycos' parent company) local mini-hompy system means I'm sure its much closer to the original. lol
Is that the parent company's name in English? I looked at planet.co.kr and it looked like a game portal site. I'm not sure how you would say "Planet" in Korean.
no no...this method won't get you any closer. As I've said, the Korean internet is tough to access from the "outside". Basically, you can only find Daum Planet going through Daum's portal directly. You'd be very hard pressed to find it via google or anything.
(also, its called "planet"--the romanicized the word, they didn't translate it--writing things in English is "cooler" in many cases, so to speak)
[planet.daum.net...]
but that's just the entry page... the actual meat of if all are the personally made mini-hompies that pop-up (that'd be like going to blogger and not actually looking at a blog).
that said..I'm happy to say for the first time...
I actually found a mini-flash demo of some its features!
YAY! (FINALLLY shhesssh). Its in Korean, and doesn't cover all of it, of course, (just some of the main and newer features)...but you get a better idea at least just watching the animation: (be sure to click through all the menu items...doesn't seem to go through the whole thing automatically)
[planet.daum.net...]
(its long btw so I didn't actually watch all of it).
Note again, this Daum's mini-hompy version. Cyworld's version has lots of cross-over but lots of other stuff as well.
Also, here's a page to its "item shop" where you buy decoration items for your mini-hompy for reference.
[mall.planet.daum.net...]
again.....
I doubt the Lyco Planet is anywhere near this.
I took a look at a few more Planet sites, and it certainly does look Asian. I think this is going to limit it's appeal to the younger gamer/manga audience though.
tough to say. mostly younger certainly, but if its very customizable as it is here. Even though the default is more "manga-esque" you can certainly slap a different skin on it to give a serious as you need feel.
It should be noted that nowadays cyworld (and perhaps Daum planet) has so much clout and usage and packaged tools to use, that many companies are using it a preferred (or at least required added) channel for advertising.
That is, many companies are opting NOT BUILD WEBSITES (per se)!...but develop a cyworld and/or planet mini-hp instead. This is especially so for promotion events or for say....movie or special product/item release. E-commerse sites are still forced to have their own site as mini-hompies don't offer any merchangt account tools or the like (you can sell your stuff direct through them).
Think about that. The implications are HUGE. But it makes sense...why build a website? You can just use the vast tools of a mini-hompy for a fraction of the cost and get better exposure as it has built in exposure tools/methods (like giving away free "acorn" items to visitors). Its like having website templates, forum modules and design elements, and promotional tool AND easily accesible inclusive audience of 13,000,000.
Now, don't get me wrong I'm not saying this will REPLACE web sites or anything (that's like saying web sites were going to replace books, or email replace paper)...but it is fast become a mainstream channel that one would be at a loss to not take advantage of.
So, most companies still do both of course (web site and mini-hompy: mostly in the sense of using the mini-hompy to send traffic to their website. Hmmm kinda like an a way to have a really really robust ENTRY PAGE. lol)....but I've heard and seen on many occasion that the web site traffic....eh. but the mini-hompy traffic......BAAAM! ^^
so the main site is just a "needs to be there" thing but the mini-hp is where the actual action happens.
I have no idea why thesse portals still refuse to make it easier for foreigner to access their stuff (or at all). It could be so much easier then launching a whole new initiative stateside.
heh. maybe one day..... but at least, you heard it here first. =P ^^
but we are definitely seeing something much more a DIRECT port of the original Korean version this time--which is interesting.
in particularly, the left menu module items, (notably) MYTV are straight outta Daum Planet. Also, the SCRAP feature (VERY important of PR of one's planet), voting and explosion of buddies listing. Even the format is basically the same.
Most importantly, there IS a monetary system. I notice you get 50 tokens when you sign up for a free account. You can use those to buy skins and items etc. The library is sparse yet, but I'm sure that will explode soon enough. This is the bases of most of the mini-hompys revenue here in Korea and its something that implemented it alrady.
the MyTV seems to be pretty popular already too (its actually a pretty cool and robust tool). The design of the myTV is the same as it is here.
just signing up and browsing for two minutes and I can alrady feel the pull of addiction to want to do some simple customizations and jazz up my "planet". And that is good new for lyocs
this is I give the GK seal of authenticity....its the true first mini-hompy stateside. ^^ lol
congrats Lycos and good luck...
so far, so good I say. I think its worth keeping an eye on.
I might even RECOMMEND slowly but surely building up one. Early goers on cyworld have HUGE followings and consist traffic to there mini-hompys. Its a GREAT PR tool as I've mentioned.
now if only anyone but me and bill would read this. :p lol
Lycos launches new service "Planet" based on the WILDLY popular "mini-hompy" system in Korea (Cyworld, the largest, has over 13,000,000 unique active members). This so called, "Mini-hompy" model is CHANGING THE NATURE of the internet landscape here in many ways (and SEARCH)...and has become a legimate and mainstream online marketing and PR channel. It has affected search industry to an extent as it completely outside of the search engines grasp....totally proprietary.
And its very viral.
<<< aside: WHAT THE HECK IS A MINI-HOMPY? do a seach there are other threads on it.
This iteration from Lycos is the best and closest attempt yet (Circles, MSN Spaces, and 360 are ALL pale pale toeinthewater test copies of this busines model, as I've been saying)..but this one is different...its the most of Lycos' Planet is a near direct port of its parent company's product in Korea (down to the name "Planet", layout and main features).
we'll see how well it catches on but from the little browser/testing I did... I think its very much worth watching.
IF--big IF---this hits as big stateside as it did here... people may want to jump on early. I kid you not. This is not the last we are seeing of this business model. Mark my words.
cyworld will launch stateside (with an unknown big partner) and things will get very interesting.
mini-hompys have no upload restrictions (unlimited)...and good tools for editing. (also auto resizing). Maybe if Planet teamed up imageshack or someone like that...that'd really be something.^^ hint hint to the lycos/daum guys.
(I've been waiting for a while now for a really mini-hp system stateside before I got into this stuff...so I'm kinda letting some of it out now.... :p)
also, one of the BIGGEST hurdles in korea and I can imagine...even MORE so for "the West"....is the size restriction.
I've always found mini-hompy clausterphobic. I've gotten used to it. but again...I see it as a hurdle.
Further, from a biz perspective, mini-hps are well integrated with mobile phones for making micro-payments here---which as well all know is much further along in Asia. Don't know how they plan on making SMALL (50cent) type payments accessible with the Lyco version (if they do at all).
again, note...though the current features of lycos planet are many and much more a direct port of the original.... there are still TONS more in the Daum "inventory" of modules they could probably fairly easily add that are currently available in Korea. (other mini-hompy companies even have complete 3D interactive worlds in their systems. think gaia online)
that means, if Planet's (or mini-hompy systems) do catch on...other companies (other than other korean companies) are going to hard pressed to catch up.
I think I saw a lot more functionality in that FLASH demo you posted of CyWorld. That looked like a more comprehensive interface with calendars and blog-like tasks. I guess my failure to get much done in the way of customization thwarted me. ;)
I think I saw a lot more functionality in that FLASH demo you posted of CyWorld. That looked like a more comprehensive interface with calendars and blog-like tasks.
oh definitely. Its still waaay short of the Korean version's total offerings. But this one is for the first time, a clear copy (direct) of the original. Just with only a few features so far.
I'm sure they are going to keep adding more modules as it gets going and more stable.
I did sign up and made a page but I was getting errors trying to customize the thing. This whole system seems like it's still in beta.
btw...what browser you use?
I wondering if they are going to support or make sure it works fine in FF. There are ALLL KINDS of problems with FF and sites here.
First, you are correct that Planet is close to a straight port from the Daum Planet version, with the exception that the entire front-end has been recoded to support Firefox and standards-compliant browsers. That accounts for much of the feature set difference because doing the recode was significant effort. (For example, our MyTV is based on Flash, not ActiveX. We also don't have any VBScript and our JavaScript and HTML is significantly cleaned up, etc.)
Second, Music licensing is much harder in the US than in South Korea. That said, we have announced that we will have music support soon, but it will be handled a bit differently. Mobile integration is similarly more difficult in the US than in Korea, but that too will come in time.
As for upload limits, there are currently none except some issues where Flash has problems with large photos and maybe some other similar constraints. There are no current plans to "charge" for disk space, as such, even just tokens. We want users to build nice albums and share them. Once there are more users, the "token economy" will begin where users will get tokens based on things like popularity, user referrals, making top-ranked photo albums and MyTVs, etc. Users will also be able to buy tokens. For these early adopters, tokens are free and more are given if you run out (within a day or two). Like the Daum version, there will be more things which you can spend your tokens on to improve your planet.
This is all very early. We've only been online for a week and more modules are being worked on.
I'm glad that you seem to like the product and we're extremely proud of it. I personally think this is a fitting replacement for Circles which never managed to connect people well.
JP
welcome to the boards.^^
thanks for the direct reply...I got plenty of questions that hopefully you'll be able to address. For now though...I'm just the guy postin and rootin for all things korean internet. heehee.
so ...welcome and GOOD LUCK!
(questions soon ^^)
