According to ActiveWin, Microsoft has launched a new Windows community site called The Hive:
On June 9th, Microsoft, together with key community leaders, announced the beta launch of “The Hive,” an online site dedicated to helping online group leaders, bloggers and other community website owners who focus on consumer information regarding Windows, Windows applications, and technical issues.
In an accompanying interview, Josh Levine, Group Product Manager for the Windows Client Community Group, says:
The Hive is designed to be a resource where online group leaders, bloggers and site owners can connect with one another and find the latest information on Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft consumer products critical to their readers or group members. The site is sponsored by 15 of the leading Windows community websites in conjunction with Microsoft Windows. …
Individuals who own or lead a consumer group, blog, or community focused website can participate in The Hive. Right now, The Hive is limited to online community leaders with at least 50 members in their community. This ensures that participants are seen as authorities on Windows who deliver valuable insight to consumers and the Windows ecosystem as a whole.
Hmmm. This site should qualify, but apparently we’re not worthy, because the link to http://www.hive.net just leads to a logon dialog box followed by a “not authorized” error message. Guess it’s one of those beta bugs.
For what it’s worth, I don’t have a lot of trust in any “community” that’s built from the top down like this, where the company that benefits most is in control of the server space, the technology platform, and the appointment of moderators. I prefer communities that grow organically.
Grass roots, not astroturf, if you catch my drift.
Update: So the hive.net site is working now, and I sent in my request for membership. The site’s designers went way overboard with puns and cutesy phrases that work in the bee metaphor. Like Member Guidelines under the “No Stinging” heading, with rules like “Don’t be a buzzkill” and “No killer bees.” Groan.
Also, the site says I’ll be told whether my applicatin is approved in 1 to 3 days, but the e-mail I got after submitting my application says 5 to 7 days. I guess this falls into the “underpromise and overdeliver” category, because I just got my approval about 15 minutes after submitting the application.
I’ll keep you posted.
Ed Bott 