Service: Weblin, still in beta, is an app that lets users create avatars that accompany while they surf the Web. If other Weblins are on a site that a user visits, they will see each other and can carry on conversations, much as on Second Life. According to Mashables, there are future plans to become more like Second LIfe, including virtual currency and selling of avatars. No doubt, some group will arise and complain that selling avatars constitutes some form of slavery.
Members: unknown
Pros: Available as a Firefox extension. Cool idea.
Cons: Just launched. Few members. Windows only.
Service: IMinent is a free add-on for instant messaging applications, so you can create and send multimedia messages to your buddy list. Nice idea. They also have a service called "EMOvids" From their website: "EMOvids are a new way of expressing yourself on IM. It is a short video expressing your feelings, emotions or other personal moods, better than winks and emoticons. You can create an EMOvid from any videos you have on your computer. Just pull out your webcam, your camcorder or your cell phone."
Pros: Allows users to replace emoticons with tiny video clips and create their own.
Cons: Requires download. Windows only.
From the website: A gravatar (Globally Recognized Avatar) is an 80×80 pixel avatar that appears alongside user's names on participating blogs.
Pros: Works with nearly all major blogging platforms, and can be coded using Perl, PHP, Cold Fusion and Java.
Cons: Requires DIY blogging systems and some minor coding knowledge, however Gravatar is working with Blogger and LiveJournal on solutions for their platforms.
Someone was just talking about this at work today. Thanks for the info! read more
on Weblins