Microsoft's Social Network 'So.cl' Gets Quiet Public Launch
An experimental research project, So.cl was developed by Microsoft's FUSE Labs. Up until yesterday it was only available to students, but the site has been live since December. This past weekend, Microsoft extended availability to the general public.
Though it's definitely a social product, Microsoft isn't looking to take on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ with So.cl. Instead, the company is hoping to do something completely different. Microsoft describes So.cl as "an experimental research project focused on exploring the possibilities of social search for the purpose of learning." Users find and share interesting web pages with their networks as well as sharing 'rich posts' with montages of content. While the site can be used by the general public, Microsoft is targeting learning communities with this.
So how does it all work? Redmond says searches conducted through So.cl, which is powered by Bing, will be shared publicly by default:
"As students work together, they often search for the same items, and discover new shared interests by sharing links," the site reads. "We see this trend today on many social networks, such as Twitter, where shared links spread virally and amplify popular content. So.cl experiments with this concept by automatically sharing links as you search."
Additionally, users will be able to take links and images from around the web to create a 'rich post' or montage of information, as well as host video parties. Video parties allow users to make a playlist of videos to be watched as a group.
On the issue of privacy and who can see your search data, Microsoft says all of your search results and any other data posted to So.cl may be viewed by other users unless you mark it as private. Similarly, Microsoft will make publicly posted data 'broadly available' for use by third parties.
Signing into So.cl is done via Facebook or Windows Live. You can check it out here.


Ontopic: I wish Microsoft would stop putting money and time into market niches already conquered by their competitors.
Well, if that's the case, then we wouldn't have the Xbox today. Sony owned the console market in 1999 with the PlayStation.
I have no problem with private companies dumping money into experimental projects. The market will punish them...or reward them if the project is successful. That's how we get innovations.
Well it is Katy Perry and well all know she kissed a girl and she liked it.
Ontopic: I wish Microsoft would stop putting money and time into market niches already conquered by their competitors.
lol i bet so
Well, if that's the case, then we wouldn't have the Xbox today. Sony owned the console market in 1999 with the PlayStation.
I have no problem with private companies dumping money into experimental projects. The market will punish them...or reward them if the project is successful. That's how we get innovations.
Well it is Katy Perry and well all know she kissed a girl and she liked it.
agree wish bing wasnt the only search option as sometimes the results are not the best but the idea is brilliant for students and people who are key researchers
also pr0n, answers to tests, and malware. Great learning potential indeed.
first let me make my own page, give me a template to base it off of if i want, or let me code the full html if i dont.
second, if my page causes eye cancer revert it, punish morons for ruining your service.
third. expand on things like google hangout, its a great idea, but not well implemented. let us create a forum or group pages, and in those pages, people we trust can join in on a group chat. think of this like a meeting place, people come and go, not something you set up and everyone has to be there right now or not at all.
fourth, give us freedom, dont make changes to design, and don't be stupid, facebook works for a reason, don't shy away from it just because, innovate and make it better.
yet it doesn`t bother you that google even knows at what you fap in your "sexy time"
People are stupid sometimes, you know..
That is a very very bad idea.