Open Directory Integrates "Thumbshots" 

Source: High Search Engine Ranking

9 January 2004

The Open Directory has now integrated thumbnail-sized screenshots of web pages in it's directory listings.

Using a technology called "Thumbshots", the ODP now includes a red toggle ball on all its pages as a way for searchers to activate the web page screenshots and gain a sneak peek of what to expect if they click to a site. The technology was developed by Thumbshots.org, a charitable initiative from Smartdevil.com that contributes its technology back to the Internet community.

Since the official launch of the Thumbshots in December 2003, hundreds of Web sites have already integrated the technology into their search engine, directory and content pages.

ODP editors are already praising Thumbshots. "I think that the display of the thumbshots adds value in a similar fashion to Google's display of pagerank and sorting", said an editor at Resource-Zone, a public forum used by ODP editors. Editors are apparently using Thumbshots to help review links for inclusion, maintain the categories, remove broken links and spot duplicates sites in ODP.