14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is getting ready to take new social bookmarking tools out of the oven, and serve them via its Microsoft Developer Network and TechNet portals. John Martin, the Lead Evangelist for Server & Tools Online (STO) at Microsoft revealed that the Redmond company is getting ready to unwrap the tools this week, as a preview version designed for testing purposes. In terms of social bookmarking solutions, Microsoft already has Windows Live Favorites, but this is geared toward a different audience, addressing general users. In contrast, the tools which will be delivered through MSDN and TechNet are focused especially on developers and IT professionals.
"We will release a preview version of Social Bookmarks for both MSDN and TechNet and showcase it at TechEd North America the following week. While the preview will not have full functionality (it is also English-only), it will allow members of the community to bookmark any URL on the web, apply tags and save bookmarks in the new My Bookmarks tool," Martin revealed.
The screenshots integrated in this article, courtesy of John Martin, represent the Social Bookmarks home page for both MSDN and TechNet. As you can see, a common user experience will be available via both channels. At the time of writing this article, the Social Bookmarks were not yet live on either of the two websites. Martin failed to offer an exact deadline for the implementation of the tools, however, promising only that they are just around the corner.
"All bookmarks, bookmarkers, and tags will also be enabled as links and can be 'surfed' to discover new content and people. Social bookmarks will also be integrated into the new Profile page and give every member of the community a great new way to increase their visibility, impact, and influence," Martin added.
