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The design looks a bit dated as well. I think the major thing I didnt like is in the terms and conditions it says that everything you browse will be stored and that information sold on to marketing companies.
your choice but this is not for me.
Franco x
The team at Cuil already have a better product then this. Their some of googles best developers. Give that a go.
Zabidoo is an outdated concept with the onset of newer mobile browsers and faster internet connections on mobile devices. If this product was released maybe 2 years ago it would have been a different story. Its too late now.
I used the zabidoo client to find the best pizza resturant in my area. The results that I recieved were 40 miles away. Yes it is true that google has alot of "Crap" as you said but it works, its free and they dont have my name address and phone number in a database that they may possibly sell as the terms and conditions are subject to change. I performed the same search using google and I had the result I wanted straight away. I had to go through 8 clicks and drill down using Zabidoo.
I work for a government oganisation and something like this would never be allowed on the network due some serious concerns over the results of a risk assessment analysis.
You have to realise as well that the average user does not have alot of screen space so adding another two horizontal and vertical toolbars really restricts the users viewing area.
A GUI should should be simple not clouded by over 20 buttons that will rarely be clicked. If you look at the AOL and Apple interfaces the whole application looks very dated in comparison. The icon graphic on the buttons do not line up correctly. This may be something small but little things like this indicate a culture of lack of attention to detail.
The application may benefit from a usability study.
These comments may sound like harsh critiscism, but they are ment as positive critiscism so that this small startup can improve their software and maybe even find an investor who will provide the resource and expertise that is required to move this business on. As this application stands its first impression is that of a college project and not something that a serious commercial investor should be considering.
My suggestion to the startup would be to just organise a meeting with a company like Agency Republic based in Battersea. The company would benefit from a proffessional marketing influence.
On the "Pizza" search, I did the same search using a new version that the guys at Zabidoo gave me access to and the local search dropdown let me compare results for Pizza delivery in my area from BView, Google, Yahoo, Yell, Touch, Tipped, Thomson - I found that only Google and Thomson actually found my nearest pizza place!
What I don't think they make clear is that Zabidoo doesn't try to do search it simply harnesses the best providers within a single screen. The new version I'm trying is less cluttered but still needs some improvement. And I tried to install it at work and corporate network blocked it - need to look at that one too!
However, I use it once a day at home and am getting more out of the web now than before using just IE + Google to get around! Through Zabidoo started using Getty for image searches rather than just Google, stuff like that. From a marketing perspective I think they'll find it hard to explain the product as you need to "get it" by using it. New version if 1 million % better though!
Try this as an alternative http://www.ukdirectory.co.uk/
Ask mobile is also very good with predictive text and reviewed content.
Use http://www.livesearchmobile.com/ it is whey better.
The zabidoo concept is flawed with so many already established big players who already have every area covered internationally as well as locally.
If its still in a beta phase at this stage with every single one of its competitors each having released a better product that has been established for many many years then they are wasting everyones time. I wish these kids the best but I'm glad its not my money.
I tried the app and I think it can no way compete with
http://uk.mobile.yahoo.com/onesearch
Thats like saying internet explorer is great because it comes with Onesearch + Google + MSN + ASK + KAYAK. These are just 3rd party websites that any app can link too it doesnt come with Zabidoo?
At the end of the day if your happy using it carry on I'm sure your not hurting anybody.
They put some students in a room and paid them to praise the software. Either that or its some of the staff members. They then edited each of the videos poorly because you can tell when anything slighty negative is said the conversation is cut suddenly.
Poor things you can actually see them sweating and under heavy duress. They are stammering and talking quickly and looking around the room for confirmation. Reminds me of those videos you see of captured hostages in Iraq hahaa. leave the poor kids alone, its not fair to do that to them.
People arent stupid, they will judge for themselves.
I'm off to get a pizza
Terry
If you search for information regarding contacts4life it seems they spent 4 years developing an application that took your outlook address book and syncronised it with your online email. If you read some of the tech reviews on the application on the register it seems they were slow in bringing the software to market.
This ment that their window of opportunity was lost as Microsoft and many other bigger players brought out a solution that was more feature rich, while they were still in development.
It does appear that history seems to be repeating itself with their Zabidoo app.
Good for the guys though to be honest as they've managed to stay in business for 6 years without generating any profit or having any of their products downloaded in any great number.
companieshouse.gov
Interesting reading.
Why are so many people talking about this useless app??
Better things to do go out have some fun.
Looks interesting... A bit like Yahoo Go possibly?
http://www.handango.com/client/Home.jsp?siteId=...
Gary Brine
Gyro International
I went to their privacy page and it doesnt work?
http://www.bestforarts.com/privacy.jsp
http://www.zabidoo.com/privacypolicy.jsp
Not quite sure what you found, but this is their policy.
try http://www.skyfire.com/
:(
tez
I dont believe in this product
whys that?
the problem is with Phorm like applications like Zabidoo is the legality of it all.
As a result most reputable companies are not willing to risk breaking any laws opening themselves up for litigation. Currently this kind of activity is frowned on. Concerns have been raised about privacy implications.
Thats why its missing from some of the major players download sites.
for more information visit
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2227514/phorm...
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/ispphorm/
Zabidoo is dead now. I think the investor gave up after 5 years and no profit being made.
more then a little embarrising for him I would have thought.