Time to enter the browser wars...

Apologies to everyone affected by the lack of IM Chat on Youniverse at the moment - it is something the team here are working on.

For anyone who can't wait until we've resolved the issue, there is something you can do. This problem seems to be affecting Safari, Internet Explorer and older versions of Firefox - so you could try downloading a new browser. The newest version of Mozilla Firefox and Google's Chrome come highly recommended and the Chat function works on them.  If you don't want to change (which is fair enough), then it's still worth checking you have the most up-to-date version of your choice of browser.

If you want to compare browsers before you choose a new one to use, then you should check out David Naylor's blog posts (here and here) to help your decision -  he compares starting-up times and page loading times for versions of Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera and Chrome on some of the web's most popular sites (Facebook, Wikipedia, Youtube, MSN and eBay).  

Oh, and if you're not sure what a browser even is, you're not alone, as this TechCrunch article and brilliant Google video show...

Discover things...

An exciting new page launched for Youniverse users today - Discover Things.

If you like the VisualDNA quizzes on Youniverse, you'll be thrilled to hear that we've created a new product for bloggers using the same technology. VisualDNA Shops are fun, insightful, community-driven shopping widgets, designed to help you monetise your blog. You can find out more here.

Now, on the Discover Things page, we've put up all the widgets we currently have available so that you can try out the quizzes for yourself and see if you'd like to have them on your web page.

There are two versions available... The Free Edition does what it says - you simply copy and paste the free code we provide into your website, et voila! A fully customisable and functioning shop is ready to go, pre-stocked with products recommended by VisualDNA.

There is also a Professional Edition - you get 30 days' free access to this when you register - which gives you all the free widget stuff, as well as enabling you to choose and add extra products to your Shop, manage these products and assign them to different VisualDNA customer types or images, and access detailed analytics data for your site, so that you can understand more about your users.

As with Youniverse, we really appreciate all the feedback we get - you can get in touch with us here with any comments or questions you might have about our Shops...

"Personalised ecommerce and analytics like you've never seen before" - TechCrunch

Digital content welcome in UK, justice less so (apparently)

As essential as electricity and water - that's how Britain's Prime Minister sees t'internet, according to a government-commissioned report outlining strategies for broadband and digital content, which is to be unveiled today.  I'm sure Jacqui will be thrilled...

For anyone with an interest or career in digital content, this is definitely a welcome step in the right direction in terms of addressing the internet's influence... (and much more user-friendly than Brown's overly chirpy political broadcasts on Youtube of late, it has to be said).

However, it seems to be a case of one step forward, two steps back today, as a much less praise-worthy decision was also announced by the UK Government.

So Westminster's new era of transparency and accountability seems to have lasted all of a week - but they do appreciate the value of a good broadband connection.

VisualDNA Shops - right here on Youniverse

I wrote an earlier post about an amazing new project from the VisualDNA team that have brought you Youniverse - VisualDNA Shops.

These widgets can be placed on your blog or website and you can make money through them. Simple as that.

People on your blog can take our quiz (and you only have to try the ones on Youniverse to know they're amazing - if I do say so myself...) and are recommended products at the end to match their personality type.  If they buy these products, you get a cut as an Amazon affiliate. We're also looking to add more retailers, so the potential for growth is huuuuuge!

I've put some Shops on the side of this blog, so you can see what they look like - enjoy!

Also, listen to Stephen Fry's guide to how to use them - if he's a fan, you know you should be too!

Feedback, as always, is much appreciated!

Federer avoids Haas-kicking... just

Er... how many people didn't read the script for Roland Garros?? Just me? Or most of the players on the ATP tour this week?

Top seed, and the man generally considered totally invincible and the undisputed king of Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal was sent crashing yesterday by Swede Robin Soderling ("Robin Who-derling?" I heard several bemused people mutter, some of those even claiming to be tennis fans.. . ahem), following on from Novak Djokovic's shock straight sets loss to Kohlshcrieber the other day.

For a while, it was looking bad for the second seed Roger Federer when he was two sets down to Tommy Haas .  Then, it seems he remembered how to play tennis (always a bonus, especially when it looks like you're about to throw away your best opportunity for the Slam that's eluded you throughout your career).

All of which makes me wonder... is this really the most wide-open Slam for months (now that two of the big four seeds have crashed out)?  Or is it just the clay surface throwing up another unexpected result?  Or, now that another potentially epic Federer-Nadal installment is not an option, has it become a less interesting contest?

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Your body's blank canvas

Got a tattoo?  There are plenty of Youniverse users who proudly display their skin art - check out snowboarderjohn's arm or tdjma's back for some examples.  This self-expression joins poetry in being among the top forms of artistic expression on this site - photography is still by far the most popular creative output here, but hey, this is a visual site.

If you're in the Philadelphia area, why not head over to see "Skin and Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor"?  This exhibition at the Independence Seaport Museum showcases the culture and history of skin art in America, focusing primarily on sailors' roles in promoting it and transporting it around the globe.  

The New York  Times' review highlights the breadth of the exhibited objects and archival pieces, as well as the balance struck between showcasing the sensationalist aspects of tattooing (something always to be expected with any controversial art) and a carefully documented historical journey.

Inspired? Curious? Got some unanswered tattoo questions keeping you awake at night? Then I recommend you check out that exhibition, or just start on Youniverse by paying a visit to tattoo artist irishroadtrip...

Got a blog? Make it pay with VisualDNA

Today's the day! We at Youniverse can now reveal a brand new product using VisualDNA.  If you have a blog, then we have the monetizing widget for you... 

VisualDNA Shops - fun, insightful and community-driven shopping widgets for bloggers and web publishers.

Simply choose the type of shop you would like to create, then copy and paste the HTML code we provide into your blog's sidebar. Et voila! A VisualDNA Shopping widget, which not only looks fantastic, but understands your users through the images they pick.

Well, would you expect any less from VisualDNA?

Check it out - there's a free version (so you really can get money for nothing) and a Professional Edition, if you want to maximise your potential and profits... you can find out more here or follow us on Twitter for updates.