How do you define a web 2.0 application ? Normal distinguishable features includes AJAX, rounded corners, large input fields and badges. But did you notice a another feature which is common to most of the apps of web 2.0 culture ? Most of them have confusing and difficult to spell domain adresess or URLs.
It's a PITA when introducing these apps to my non-geeky friends. Here is how normal conversation would follow.
me : Do you know that cool project management tool called basecamp ?
buddy : Nope. What is the site basecamp.com ?
me : no pal u hav to add hq to end it's basecamphq.com
buddy : or maybe I'll visit to company site and use the product that seems much easier.
(types the URL)
buddy : There is no site called ThirtySevenSignals.com ???
me : no no mate it's 37 numeric 3 and 7!
buddy : Oh! this makes me sick. Show me something not that geeky in web 2.0 world...
me : ah! you gotta visit flickr that's awesome photo sharing service :)
buddy : What ??? seems like they are out of the business that domain is for sale
me: Are u gone crazy ?? I'm using it now
buddy : I'm not it seems you are. You said F-L-I-C-K-E-R.com right Flicker.com ??
me : nope buddy it's F-L-I-C-K-R not E-R ..
buddy : how can remeber all these weired names ?
me : thats why you should use a bookmarking service to save ur brain from interpreting these URLs
buddy : tell me such a site
me : Delicious
buddy : site may be delicious but how do go to it ?
me : Just type DEL dot ICIO dot US buddy : what DEL ? you mean the DEL key in the keyboard ??
me : Just GOOGLE for the site
buddy : excuse me how many O's in between the 2 G's ?
me :