Reading Tech Blogs

Technology blogs are almost everywhere you look on the internet, and with all of this tech talk, it's easy to feel as if you're drowning in a sea of babble and jargon.  But there are some gems to be found, and duds to avoid. 

Here are just a couple of examples of technology blogs (representing the good and the bad) and why they may - or may not be worth reading:

First with the good:
I recently found a post by Sam Biddle in the Rant section of Gizmodo. 

Sam tells of how it is irks him that modern advertising is placing a sudden emphasis on everything being "HD" and "High Definition." 
This post was insightful and funny and even a pleasure to read.
 
But more than that, the author did some things right when it comes to a well written web article:

• Right away he makes an impact statement that is also the conclusion of his rant and argument.
• This rant was short and concise. 
• The author used wording that was colorful and dynamic.
• And most importantly, in the end, you felt like you had been given what you were promised from the title.

And now with the bad:
I also had the pleasure of stumbling upon Corbin Ball's TechTalk Blog.

In this author's most recent posting, he discusses, "The Business Value of Mobile Apps for Meetings."
While this blog post does convey all of the information that the author is trying to get across, and this was a very informative read, I came away with the feeling that raw information was just crammed down my throat. 
Sorry Corbin, but that may just be why I found you on page 64 of a Google search for "technology blog".

Here's where I think the author went wrong in writing web content:

• The very first impact statement is, "Recent data from MPI's FutureWatch 2011 Survey..."  A statistic is not something that grabs and holds my attention out of the gate.  I really want to be lured into reading your blog here.
• After telling me this stunning statistic, the author then goes into what the apps can do for you.  And by going into it, I mean he runs down a bulleted list of 35 things that an app can possibly do in a business.  While bullet lists are a great way to organize ideas, and keep attention, 35 items is a little extreme.
• The last part of the blog post doesn't really flow well, and seems at odds with the shorter, more concise paragraphs before the long list.    

All said, this blog post feels more like a technical document than a brief report or insight into a certain technology.  And in the end, this made reading this feel like a homework assignment rather than something that one would read for entertainment.

Again, there are quite a few tech blogs roaming about in the wilds of the internet. 
Now hopefully, you are armed to see at first glance what may be enjoyable online reading - and otherwise.