Apple has filed a patent detailing its plans to make online shopping a more interactive experience. The patent states:

“one drawback of online shopping is that the experience can feel sterile and isolating. Customers in such an environment may be less likely to have positive feelings about the online shopping experience, may be less inclined to engage in the online equivalent of window shopping (e.g., will not linger in front of a display), and may ultimately spend less money than their counterparts who shop in physical stores.”

Group Shopping

Very interesting, and a cool idea. But is it distracting if you are there to order a specific item, or would it encourage you to browse and spend more? I would love to see what they are planning.

Read the story at MacNN

Boardreader – Forum Search Engine

This is a great idea, wish I’d thought of it. I spend a lot of my limited surfing time in specialist forums nowadays and this search engine searches only forums. Now that even google in full of spam when it come to product reviews, this would be quite useful. Interesting niche.

ps. Notice the new look? I’m about to redesign my main site, looking for a new look and feel for the blog. This may not last, but I quite like it.