Yahoo 360 user reviews (beta)

1.5 stars

"Evil Yahoo cuts corners where they think they can get away with it!" on August 30, 2005 by abeburnett

Pros: Slick looking

Cons: Flawed interface lacks features, and bites users in hiney when least expected

Summary: Let's see, a MAJOR shortcoming of the blogging interface is the lack of spellcheck. In this age of the vast majority of people being spellcheck dependent, it's ridiculous not to have spellcheck available for blog compositions.

Another MAJOR boo-boo is that the seemingly convenient and handy means to post blog entries directly from Messenger will almost certainly bite you in the gluteus maximus because it requires you to be "logged in" to Yahoo 360 (it doesn't automatically use your Messenger account apparently). So, because it's impossible to tell if you are, or aren't, logged into Yahoo 360 in a way that Messenger will recognize you stand a good chance of writing up a blog entry and then loosing it to the void when you click "Post this Entry" and are directed to a "Please Log In" page. See, it doesn't seem to me that the Yahoo Messenger-Yahoo 360 interface should allow you to compose a blog entry if you're NOT logged in. This would seem like the idiot proof way to keep people from loosing blog entries. Since Yahoo Messengers interface doesn't operate as a browser one can't just use the "back button" to go back and reclaim an entry. Maybe it's just me but it seems that Yahoo goes out of their way to make it difficult for customers to contact their support/feedback departments, thereby revealing their inherent attitude of apathy toward their users/customers. The only way they'll overtake Google is if they start caring about their users as much as Google, and attempting to be as NON-evil as possible. Ultimately, Yahoo 360 is another great IDEA from Yahoo that comes off half-baked, and lacking in it's implementation. Sorry Yahoo (actually, I'm not, it's all your own fault anyway), but you get low marks from me again.

Here's an idea--rather than crapping out such a plethora of ideas and half-baking all of them, why don't you give us a few fully developed and well executed ideas?

2.5 stars

"nice looking blogs, but they own your content" on December 1, 2005 by awriteny

Pros: many designs/styles to choose

Cons: yahoo retains the copyrights to your copntent

Summary: This is a big thing. Most blog services allow you to retain the copyright to your own thoughs and writings. Yahoo does not. I find it offensive that they do this.

4.5 stars

"Great integrated product from Yahoo!" on June 12, 2005 by chchan0

Pros: Excellent experience

Cons: Still in beta, wait to see it come out of beta

4.0 stars

"Y!360 is great" on June 5, 2005 by reggiemina

Pros: Converges Yahoo services for people who have been using them for quite some time.

Cons: None as of the moment. This is simply because its still in Beta. Only a full offering would deserve a rational negative review.

Summary: Your (Cnet) published review is inconsistent with facts. I recommend that you actually "use" the service, and only then should you toss your two cents. For example, NO it does not let you view Y! Messenger Instant Messages (not now nor during the time you reviewed it).

Users want convenience. Thats what Yahoo is trying to do, albeit frustrating in some areas. But then again, one place for everything is a real good deal. I wouldnt mind giving up a few bells and whistles for that.

In Beta, it is truly promising. Telling by how active the Beta testers are, I'm sure Yahoo is getting the right information from a good group of people who are testing its potential even at this level.