SOMEWHAT FRANK

Metaplace Web Virtual World Launches

Metaplace, a company founded by San Diego-based Areae, has just launched a virtual world at TechCrunch40 that can be embedded on the Web via a flash-based client widget. Dubbed Second Life on the Web, Metaplace leverages open standards to enable players to develop worlds that can be accessed anywhere from the Web to mobile networks. Every world is indexed, tagged and rated by users on the Metaplace portal, so virtual worlds in the Metaplace network can be easily linked together.

AniBOOM: Animation Community & Toolkit

AniBOOM is an animation community that partners with animators around the world to help distribute their original content. AniBoom offers an array of animation tools for animators to  create, watch and share a wide range of animated video shorts and series. Novice animators with great ideas can even try and turn them into reality by leveraging the community.

Gizmoz For Customized Talking Heads

Gizmoz, an Israel-based company, offers a suite of tools for generating animated avatars and buddy icons thus enabling users to create messages to share over email, the web or even instant messenger. You can create an custom animated message by selecting an avatar to deliver the message and then either recording a 20 second message, typing a message to be converted into an audio voice or by selecting a pre-recorded message. Upon selecting an avatar and message option you can preview the animated video before sharing it with others. However, all messages that are created on the site are placed into a public gallery of Gagz for others to watch, rate and share. I created an animated avatar and have embedded it for viewing above or by visiting this link.

Aside from animated gag creation, Gizmoz offers a free plug-in to bring talking heads to just about every instant messaging client available (i.e. AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Skype, Google Talk). The software enables users to share gags and exchange instant messages via a Gizmoz talking head. Find out more here.

In addition, Gizmoz is working a product called Headz Maker that allows anyone to create a custom talking head from a facial photo. TechCrunch previously reported more details on the head maker. It sort of reminds me of Max Headroom, are we catching up with the technology forecasts of 1985?

Mix-Mas: A Virtual World For Sending Customized Holiday Greetings

With the holidays upon us hopefully you have sent your holiday wishes to all your family and friends. However, if you have not and you are still looking to send a holiday greeting you could send them a dancing elf greeting or you could give something a little more interactive a try. I recently was sent a greeting via Mix-Mas, a product created by Mantis, which brings holiday greeting customization and social interactivity to a new level. Mix-Mas is a flash-based web service that lets you send holiday greeting that all live together in a holiday greeting virtual world.

With Mix-Mas you can create a custom avatar to represent you in your greeting. The avatar will live in the Mix-Mas virtual holiday greeting world. While creating your avatar you can select from a number of options very similar to WeeWorld. A screen-shot of the creation screen can be seen above. After creating your avatar messenger you can send the greeting to anyone. I have created one here. Upon recieving the greeting you are directed to it in the Mix-Mas virtual world as shown below.

You will notice a number of other avatars which carry the messages as well. If you click on any avatar they will display their holiday message adding a web 2.0 social hook to the holiday greeting product. You can see my holiday greeting here or search Mix-mas by avatar name (i.e. Frank Gruber). If you still need more details check out this Mix-Mas video demo or by clicking the video below.

Bottom-line: Mix-Mas is a fun new way to send online holiday greetings. Create a custom avatar and send a holiday greeting today. Happy holidays!