Deligio is a new web service vying to be an alternative for Download.com. Created by an Amsterdam-based startup, deligio is a comprehensive software bookmarking site and search engine. Upon first visit, you’ll see a simple homepage with a single search interface. Deligio aims to provide a quick and easy experience, helping you find the software you need and sharing with others.
The full site reminds me of del.icio.us wholeheartedly but with a few resolute differences. To share a piece of software (rather, a link to the software’s site), users proceed as they would with del.icio.us, but have the ability to organize the software by operating system and license (freeware, trial or for purchase).
Rodger Buyvoets, co-founder of Deligio.com: “Initially we wanted to create a search engine for our own use which would enable us to search and find software. The well known website Download.com is too ambiguous and far too commercialized. That is why Deligio.com uses the Google based principle of a simple search function that will allow the user to find the most appropriate application with no unnecessary distractions.”
The deligio concept might remind you of iusethis, but the stark difference between the two is that iusethis is much more social in the respect that users vote for software based on whether or not they use them, while deligio is building a repository of software links, rated and commented on by users.
An example of what a software page looks like. Users can leave comments and rate software.
I agree with deligio’s assertion that Download.com isn’t the best place to find software anymore. I’ve always found it a little too cluttered and busy. However, if deligio wants to be a viable replacement or alternative for Download.com, they are going to need to grow their user base so more and more software can be added. In addition, there should be more than one way of finding software. People often don’t know what they want until they see it. For that, it would be wise to make a page of “hot”, recent and random software as well as some other means for locating software.
An example of what a search result page looks like.
Where do you turn when looking for new software? I usually find out about interesting apps from Chris Messina’s flickrstream where he perpetually posts screenshots of new apps. MacUpdate is another great place to find out about software but I dare not subscribe to its massive feed and become flooded with unread items.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Chris Messina and luxeryluke always point to the coolest apps……
No mention of Softpedia?
Who uses download.com anyway? Snapfiles, anyone?
Evan,
Download.com seems to be extremely popular with all the Windows users in my office.
“People often don’t know what they want until they see it.”
Ah yes, the common problem with plain-text search… we had quite a bit of discussion about this in my Info Sci course. It’s the navigation objective; helping people find what they want even when they don’t quite know what they are looking for. Search itself is nice but it would also be nice to just browse by categories, especially since tags can be messy.
I often tell my clients to use download.com because I know it won’t contain spyware. Obviously I would prefer them to check SourceForge first but it would only confuse them.
Still no mention of Softpedia? I guess this just goes to show the power of having a great URL (download.com). OK, we know it sucks, that has been established!
Maybe Softpedia isn’t “social” enough for some of the cyber-yuppies out there, but it’s been better than Download.com since it started a long time ago.
In the typical fashion, Deligio will undoubtably come out with a widget so you can display an RSS feed of all your recent and tagged downloads to the whole world!! Do we really need this?
To provide the service equal to Download.com Deligio has to work hard. But what will differ Deligio from Download then? Nothing! They must have innovative
Thanks for your plug on MacUpdate — and our huge feeds. ;)
And iusethis with our social services as well ;-) Who can you trust, if not your friends? :p
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someone else’s mklt, altered to search opens source, etc
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someone else’s mklt, altered …
don’t know if they work in ie6|7, but work in ff