richardgoodwin.com

Feb 20

blog://

Tag: General — Richard @ 8:03 am

So obviously Trackback is a fantastic idea, and helps connect the Internets ™ for those that are savvy enough and/or not-lazy enough to actually go through the hoops of using it. Depending on your blog authoring method, that could be as time consuming as:

Locate Trackback URL/URI (sometimes it’s hidden!).
Right click the link.
Copy Link/Shortcut.
Open .
Author entry (which may include more copy/paste tomfoolery).
Open options dialog or tab.
Paste in Trackback URL/URI.
Post your entry.
Pause for heavy breathing from exertion.
Repeat.

While it seems like a fantastic way to spend a morning, I can’t help but think that there has to be a better way.

What I really really would like to see (and haven’t so far) is some magic wherein:

I read an article
I click the trackback link
My favorite blog editor opens, prepopulated with:

the trackback link
the blog entry title
perhaps a small snippet from the entry
if we’re generous, maybe some Technorati tags like breeeport

Of course there are various Firefox extensions and Greasemonkey scripts that will do something that is somewhat, but not entirely, unlike what I am talking about. What I am thinking of is something more straightforward, which, for lack of actually knowing what I’m talking about, I’ll call a blog url handler. I.e.:

blog://

When you click this, your browser/feed aggregator/what have you automatically opens your primary registered handler for the link type (for example Performancing for Firefox) and off you go. Not only is it better, which all things should strive to be, but it makes it that much easier for people to talk about the topic and link to and fro all the live long day.

Now, I’ve only read approximately 1/3 of the Internets ™, so I may well be missing why this is a good thing (or bad), or how someone has already created and sold an entire dot-com based on this idea, and I’ll leave it to some experts like Scoble or Winer to come along and knock me down. Or really anybody who wants to comment :) So speak up and let me know.

And of course, trackback, if you have the time…

Technorati Tags: blogging, firefox, breeeport

Update 2/24/06: Damned if Yahoo doesn’t do something a little similar with their Social Media Tools. Of course, it’s limited to Yahoo 360 but it’s along the same lines.