microblog

Scritter Microblogging Twitter Clone

Scritter is a commercial Twitter clone from the same company that brought you the familiar F My Script software. The main site is called Scriptolution and they have some very cool looking scripts for sale. They also post these aggressive looking discounts via coupon codes posted to the site that make it appear there is a big sale going on, but anytime I’ve ever visited the site, the coupon codes (and discounted prices) are always available. Let’s hope it stays that way.

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The great thing about Twitter and similar microblogging clone sites is that there’s not a lot to them as far as the design is concerned. You need a couple of links for users to either join or login and an area with the latest member updates. There’s no need for clutter and that keeps these sites looking clean and organized.

Scritter is no different. It has a very neutral looking updates page that is easy on the eyes. This is exactly the kind of script that makes me want to come up with my own new idea and launch a site with it. When programmers can make their work look simple and very user friendly to the typical end user, they’ve scored high in (at least) the design department in my opinion.

The only thing I wonder is if anyone is really running a successful Twitter clone website out there. Certain kinds of sites are ideal for creating smaller clones dedicated to a specific niche, but I’ve yet to see a successful niche Twitter clone site. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible. I sincerely believe it is, but I’m also a hopeless and unapologetic entrepreneurial dreamer, so be careful when taking advice from me.

I feel like it might take a different spin to have the best shot at success. Even clones need to have their own twist. Maybe if we smooshed the Twitter concept together with some aspects of a dating script we could actually create something that appeared somewhat original even if it began with a clone.

Status Free Microblogging Platform

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Status is a free micro-blogging script similar to the Twitteresque type update platforms out there. I recently installed this script on a sandbox of mine and am delighted with its simplicity. There’s not much to this script, but there isn’t supposed to be either. The install was quick and painless, but there was something in the documentation about needing two separate databases. I created two but when I browsed to the install folder to go through the setup, it only asked for one and it seemed to be functioning just fine. If I was really planning on deploying this script on a site long term, I would definitely go back and read the directions entirely and more about the requirements of Status. I have to admit I often skim the install documentation which is why it can sometimes take me twice as long to figure things out. That is the exact reason why my first ran from Drupal the first time around.

The script is fairly new so there is no administration area to make some common customizations to the header logo, footer, or changes to the color schemes. As far as I can tell with my limited experience, all changes have to be made by opening up the appropriate file and manually changing code. Another thing that I read on the site is that there is currently no way to delete an account which seems strange.

The default look and feel of Status has a billowy blue Elgg type appearance which isn’t too bad, but it would be the first thing I would customize to try and make it my own. The next thing after that would be to try and figure out where I would stick ads in this script. I admit that I always put ads up on a site too soon, but for an infant script such as this, there’s been little to no exploration of ad integration thus far. I want to make sure I can figure out which files control specific areas of the script and what kind of result I will get from inserting code from Amazon, Google Adsense, etc. On occasion, code from certain sites just won’t work or will cause problems I cannot fix. I don’t want to grow a free community site without the ability to properly monetize it later on down the road.

So what could we use the Status micro-blogging script for right now? I think this would be great for a small community site that wants to exchange news, updates, or ideas with each other. It might also be a great way for teams at work to update each other on the status of a project too. The idea I might consider is to add it on to my private family website as a fun way for us to all keep tabs on each other.The biggest hurdle with family members is the same as it is with running any other site; getting people to actual use it.

I think before Status can be accepted further by more hacks like me,  an administration area will have to be created so there could be an easier way to make simple customizations and perform general administrative tasks relating to the pruning of users and groups. While this piece of free software has a great deal to offer us, it still has a few more key features that need to be added.