Microsoft launched a “social search network” on Sunday – So.cl.
Here’s how Microsoft describes it:
So.cl (pronounced “social”) is an experimental research project, developed by Microsoft’s FUSE Labs, focused on exploring the possibilities of social search for the purpose of learning.
- So.cl combines social networking and search, to help people find and share interesting web pages in the way students do when they work together.
- So.cl helps you create rich posts, by assembling montages of visual web content.
- To encourage interaction and collaboration, So.cl provides rich media sharing, and real time sharing of videos via “video parties.”
We expect students to continue using products such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other existing social networks, as well as Bing, Google and other search tools. We hope to encourage students to reimagine how our everyday communication and learning tools can be improved, by researching, learning and sharing in their everyday lives.
It sounds like a mashup of features from Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and other popular networking places, combined with search (especially Google’s new Knowledge Graph).
The description says it’s focused on students. Indeed, the FAQ says:
We are formally partnering with selected schools (including University of Washington, Syracuse University, and New York University).
It does add that anyone can join.
There’s a very good in-depth first-look walk-through of So.cl by Marketing Land: http://marketingland.com/microsoft-launches-so-cl-social-network-a-quick-look-12499
Interesting, Microsoft. I’ve signed up to kick the tyres, etc.
Have you signed up? Let me know what you think of it.
Embedded Link
Microsoft’s So.cl Goes Live
Microsoft’s social networking site, so.cl which gone live accidentally few months back is in fact launched by Microsoft and available to all at present, you can sign into this service with your Facebo…
Google+: View post on Google+
Post imported by Google+Blog. Created By Daniel Treadwell.
25 responses to “Microsoft launches social search network So.cl”
I found 19 glitches in So.cl in about one hour.
A "Video Party" just means you link to a YouTube video and invite your friends to "co-watch" it with you and chat about it like you're at an online slumber party. Seems silly.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/117689417145181059475/posts/JXUM5ymCqDo
Wow. All my Messages (posts) on So.cl just vanished. This site is the mother of all glitches.
RT @jangles: Microsoft launches social search network So.cl: Microsoft launched a “social search network” on Sunday – So.cl. … http:/ …
RT @jangles: Microsoft launches social search network So.cl: Microsoft launched a “social search network” on Sunday – So.cl. … http:/ …
+Steven Streight maybe they're not too keen on criticism ;)
LOL Why didn't they just delete my whole account?
+Steven Streight they want you to say nice things :)
Right now, nothing is working on So.cl and I've clicked every single link. Something seems to be very messed up over there.
I have never seen anything so unready for public release in my entire time as a web usability analyst (since 2000).
Horrible piece of social media – what was I thinking? it’s MICROSOFT! these folks know little about “experiential” have you ever heard of Microsoft going viral????
Horrible piece of social media – what was I thinking? it’s MICROSOFT! these folks know little about “experiential” have you ever heard of Microsoft going viral???? FREE advice: stop this nonsense and bring it back when it’s at least functional – you lose trust and reputation. Right now I’d brag to my mates about any Apple product – never microSoft.
RT @jangles: [http://t.co/vb7vIImO] Microsoft launches social search network So.cl http://t.co/LMiRR8vW
Microsoft launches #social search network So.cl http://t.co/Ftx8XQG1
Log in with your Windows Live ID. My what? Oh yes, I vaguely remember. But what was it?
RT @DaveBerold: Microsoft launches #social search network So.cl http://t.co/Z8NCN8ZQ
RT @jangles: Microsoft launches social search network So.cl: Microsoft launched a “social search network” on Sunday – So.cl. … http:/ …
+Armin Grewe I signed up for it with Windows Live, first time I've used it this year. Useful for this :)
Microsoft probeert het nog eens met nieuw social network: So.cl http://t.co/DOgInUwQ #in
RT @j0hn: Microsoft probeert het nog eens met nieuw social network: So.cl http://t.co/DOgInUwQ #in
Microsoft launches a social search network mashup. http://t.co/B05QIEUV
+Neville Hobson managed to find the id again and logged in. Not a lot seemed to work although for some reason I had a feed full of people I'd never heard of posting things I hadn't the slightest interest in. Weird.
Microsoft launches social search network So.cl http://t.co/9VzI9klZ
This thing needs a health warning, don't log in when in the office. As pretty much any searches from others just pop up as do the video chats some rather dodgy things might appear on your screen. Certainly as long as you don't have any "friends" (which don't seem easy to add?) just about everything seems to just pop up.
General impression? Nice try MS, try again. G+ I figured out the basics in about 30 seconds. Socl (why that is pronounced social is beyond me) I didn't get even the very basics after 5 minutes.
RT @jangles: Microsoft launches social search network So.cl: Microsoft launched a “social search network” on Sunday – So.cl. … http:/ …
I just went to the URL and got an error message.
Error binding ‘function(){}’ view
[object Error]
RT @jangles: Microsoft launches social search network So.cl: Microsoft launched a “social search network” on Sunday – So.cl. … http:/ …