Genealogy Social Network
"Multiply" social networking website
A few days ago cousin Lori sent me an invitation to join the website "Multiply". I finally got a chance today to have a look. Multiply is MSN's/Microsoft's replacement to their MSN Groups network which is being discontinued in February 2009. I have been administrator for a MSN genealogy group and decided to start this Ning site because the group software was pretty rough compared to the web 2.0 sites that have been developed.
The idea behind Multiply appears to be much the same as Facebook and MySpace except the focus is not on meeting new people, it's on staying in contact with your personal network. It reminds me of what "MyFamily.com" was when it first came out minus the ability to upload GEDCOMs. It's also similar to this site on the Ning.com network except Multiply doesn't look to be offering application add-ons (so far?).
There are different public/privacy options you can choose on your postings (photos/videos/music/reviews/blogs/events) and depending on those options, a update notice will go to the contacts in just your closest network or out to friends of your friends...
Contacts can be uploaded from the usual sources: MSN, Yahoo, Google, Outlook...
Each member has a page/site with a customizable theme. There's of course a paid premium account option which removes ads, increases storage space and allows permanent storage of photos/video (sort of like offine storage for all your photos?). They also have a customized "auto-uploader" that once is installed on your computer will try and upload all your photos & videos from your storage space on your hard drive. Full-resolution media is stored for only 30 days on the free account. Low-resolution media is stored permanently.
There's a screen saver you can download that will keep you up-to-date on any photo updates your contacts make.
There's also a private messaging system, but so far I haven't found out how many contacts can be PM'd at once.
They also have a shopping section where you can buy gifts that have been customized with photos.
I saw in the tour a comment that you can add to your profile description something along the lines of "Betty, friend of your aunt Mary" which is nice to have.
Will I join? Maybe so I can offer a more detailed review for visitors to my websites. But most of my friends & family that are willing to join online networks are already on Facebook and seem content enough to use that to follow what I'm up to. The next website I join in is more apt to be GENi where cousins can share genealogy research together (and media). It's easy to get overloaded with all these sites that "keep you in touch" with everyone - Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Blogger, Wordpress...
Multiply's Alexa rank as of November 24/08: 161
compared to Facebook = 5, MySpace = 7
The idea behind Multiply appears to be much the same as Facebook and MySpace except the focus is not on meeting new people, it's on staying in contact with your personal network. It reminds me of what "MyFamily.com" was when it first came out minus the ability to upload GEDCOMs. It's also similar to this site on the Ning.com network except Multiply doesn't look to be offering application add-ons (so far?).
There are different public/privacy options you can choose on your postings (photos/videos/music/reviews/blogs/events) and depending on those options, a update notice will go to the contacts in just your closest network or out to friends of your friends...
Contacts can be uploaded from the usual sources: MSN, Yahoo, Google, Outlook...
Each member has a page/site with a customizable theme. There's of course a paid premium account option which removes ads, increases storage space and allows permanent storage of photos/video (sort of like offine storage for all your photos?). They also have a customized "auto-uploader" that once is installed on your computer will try and upload all your photos & videos from your storage space on your hard drive. Full-resolution media is stored for only 30 days on the free account. Low-resolution media is stored permanently.
There's a screen saver you can download that will keep you up-to-date on any photo updates your contacts make.
There's also a private messaging system, but so far I haven't found out how many contacts can be PM'd at once.
They also have a shopping section where you can buy gifts that have been customized with photos.
I saw in the tour a comment that you can add to your profile description something along the lines of "Betty, friend of your aunt Mary" which is nice to have.
Will I join? Maybe so I can offer a more detailed review for visitors to my websites. But most of my friends & family that are willing to join online networks are already on Facebook and seem content enough to use that to follow what I'm up to. The next website I join in is more apt to be GENi where cousins can share genealogy research together (and media). It's easy to get overloaded with all these sites that "keep you in touch" with everyone - Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Blogger, Wordpress...
Multiply's Alexa rank as of November 24/08: 161
compared to Facebook = 5, MySpace = 7
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© 2009 Created by Suzette Estacaille on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
