After months of vigorous testing, the Microsoft Socl (pronounced 'social') has finally launched its social networking site to the public.
Flipping though the site makes it hard for users not to be reminded of Stumbleupon and Pintrest, though unlike the popular pinning site, Socl lets users create their own collages based on sourced images. Unlike popular social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, which only send feeds and updates of other users that are followed or friended, Socl has an endless front page that users continuously scroll to see updates from complete strangers. A few features that the Microsoft Socl site includes are Video Parties where users can compile playlists and discuss them with other users as well as riffs, which are visual responses. The site also includes bookmarklet, which is the equivalent of Facebook's Share function.
Social Media Fusions (UPDATE)
Microsoft's Social Networking Site Socl Is Now Open to All Users
Trend Themes
1. Visual Collage Creation - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating personalized collages from sourced images.
2. Endless Front Page - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in designing a continuous scrolling front page that shows updates from strangers.
3. Video Parties and Riffs - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in facilitating video playlist discussions and visual responses within a social network.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the social media industry by incorporating visual collage creation and endless front page scrolling.
2. Creative & Design - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the creative and design industry by offering new tools and features for personalized collage creation.
3. Entertainment - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the entertainment industry through the development of video playlist discussions and visual response features.