New updates:
Hey everybody, we just unlocked the Xanga Boost beta. Invitations are no longer required to check it out. This is the point where we really need to start getting some consistent usage.
Remember, until we integrate Boost with the rest of Xanga, we’re relying on you to use the manual paste-a-URL Nomination process. Thanks again for helping us test Boost.
Thanks to those of you who tried Boost and especially everyone who left feedback for us. We take your input seriously, and you have probably noticed we are rapidly changing things and adding features. If you’re interested, we could use more beta testers again to collect feedback over the weekend. So, let us know and we’ll add you in.
On a side note, I’ve been spending too much time at work with Boost. How do I know? Because a few minutes ago, on my way home, I headed to the completley wrong floor in my apartment complex. Which floor? Yeah, the one with the same number as the Xanga offices…
UPDATE: As I write this, Matt’s currently inviting everyone who requested to try stuff out a couple days back. Sooooo go check it out when you get a chance.
So, Boost statistics became a little more exciting today. Check out the constantly-updated activity graph on Boost today. We’re actually getting a few users now, so it might even stay above zero for a few minutes in a row. 
So, Matt and I rolled out the first beta version of Xanga Boost today. Actually that’s a lie, because Monsur and Jon helped us push things out the door. I’ve had a lot of fun working with the guys here to put this together.
Like John was saying, we’re really impressed by the power of communities to self-identify content. The goal was simple: do a better job finding great content on Xanga. I remember going over some crazy ideas with Matt when I first arrived in NYC. We had previously met to talk about this stuff in Ann Arbor — we are part of a small invasion of University of Michigan students (me,Matt,Adam,Vikas) — and we had a billion ideas. The funny thing was that most of them pointed back at Xanga users. The best way to find good content was to just ask.
So, with Boost, we’re asking users to find the best content on Xanga, bring it to the attention of other users, and find out what they think.
How Boost works is a 3-step process.
One of the coolest parts is that when you nominate something, and when you boost things, we’re able to tell how accurate you are. You get to see a little of this on your personal stats page, but more (fun) things are in the works.
Plus, safety is very important. We’ve already integrated Ratings into Boost, and we’ve enabled a way for you to tell us immediately if inappropriate material slips through the cracks.
Now I just need to turn that 64-LED display into a sweet boost-o-meter that tells me how many people are using boost. 
UPDATE: If you get “Please sign in to Xanga before using Boost beta” over and over, don’t worry, we’re onto it, and will fix that tomorrow. Check back after 10AM EST.
This is how I keep in touch with my inner electrical engineer*.
* does this count as emotional?
If you often use public transport, you likely find yourself with a good amount of downtime. You can’t spend the entire time talking with friends unless you really have a lot of friends, else you will annoy them away. And really, even if you were so popular amongst friends, you might upset the passenger next to you more than a little.
What happens when you’re sitting there, likely with a phone in your pocket, with nothing better to do? If you’re like me, you think of things idly, and inevitably you have a few such things that you’d like to write down. Like an interesting topic you want to bring up later when you next speak to a friend. Most people satisfy the urge with a pen, but we can do so much better.
So, where are we? public transport + cell phone/laptop = opportunity to take notes and increase future productivity.
BUT, public transport implies motion and almost inevitably, loss of signal for wireless devices. Web applications, in the usual sense, are pretty much dead to this terrain, or at least it’s largely terra nova.
A few problems:
1. Why sketch notes or blog with a keypad if you can just sketch on paper? What’s so much better about using a cameraphone or laptop?
2. Why use some silly note-taking application on a phone if it isn’t designed to make your ideas accessible everywhere?
3. If you have some net-centric private notetaking tool, how do you deal with intermittent connections?
These problems are near to the reason we haven’t seen a move towards largely electronic notetaking of the post-it note, back of a receipt, temporary tattoo with a pen, flavor. I think a killer app is what is really needed to exact the tipping point. Think a little bit about what a smart notepad might be able to do for you, and how this an ultramobile (blog-connected!), connection-independent mobile version of Ziggy might actually be worthy of your spare time.
hello world
