I recently picked up word of Mapable a recent startup from the Dallas area. After trying it out, my best explanation of it is a cross between 37signals’ Campfire and Jambo. You can create a chat room that different people can join and you can see where they are in the world, via the use of the big GoogleMap in the middle.

I did encounter a slightly better experience than I did with Riya a few days ago. I was able to login and set up an account, but a lot of the UI needs work in order to work with Safari. Alignments of text and pictures was off kilter. I wasn’t even able to post a comment using Safari (isn’t chatting the crux of it all?). ouch!

SO, I used Firefox as my backup, again. I created a chat room that you should visit. I am curious to see where you are writing from, and how well it works. Just click on the link below. They don’t have ‘invites’ yet.

BigActTest @ Mapable.com

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I was rather impressed at DEMO as the team from Riya got up on stage and proceeded to use their gratuitous baby demonstration, so I put my business card in their beta fishbowl, and waited to get an invite. Well, the invite came with some very explicit instructions. Especially in regard to bloggers. Take a look for yourselves.

I go to the prescribed link, riya.com/groundTruth to find this message:

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN”T USE MY BROWSER!!! Any web company should know some basic facts about internet users.

1. 3 browsers come to mind (IE, Firefox, Safari) one of which, really sucks.
2. A greater percentage of Mac users are online vs. Windows users
3. Your first customers should be the loudest and easiest to reach, a.k.a. fanatics

Simple formula: Mac user = fanatic

It really is that simple. Apple has a monopoly on customer evangelists. It is part of the culture and is in our blood. Why on earth would you not want to target the lowest hanging fruit on the tree. Here I am …. pick me!!! Of course, you are saying, “Just use Firefox instead. You do have Firefox, right?” Of course, I have Firefox. I will eventually get around to it. But, Riya made my life harder. I wanted to kick the tires on the new photo search and see for myself. In fact, I would have been a great tester and provided you with feedback.

Instead, “you lost me at hello.”

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