Wakoopa is a social networking site that monitors the software applications

Application software

Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...

 its members use.

Specifications

Its members learn what software their contacts use, and receive recommendations for better software. The service includes a desktop tracker, which is a small application that runs in the background on a user's computer. The application gathers the information about running software and games, and then publishes the information to their profile at the web site.

Wakoopa.com has a Web 2.0

Web 2.0

The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...

 interface, and allows users to write reviews, give descriptions, and tag

Tag (metadata)

In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information . This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching...

 software. Users can form teams and have customizable profiles that display their usage to the world. Practically every aspect of the site is syndicated with RSS

RSS

-Mathematics:* Root-sum-square, the square root of the sum of the squares of the elements of a data set* Residual sum of squares in statistics-Technology:* RSS , "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary", a family of web feed formats...

.

In June 2008, Wakoopa announced $1 million USD in new funding led by venture firms Big Bang Ventures and HENQ Invest.

The site is based in Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...

, The Netherlands.

How it works

Wakoopa uses a discreet client side tracking software that logs which programs and web applications you use, which in turn is sent to your profile. The client mostly consists of a tray icon but can also inform you of alerts from Wakoopa friends and Wakoopa itself. Wakoopa tracks how long you use each application and can also provide you with software suggestions based on your software usage. There are also profiles for every application listed in Wakoopa's database that are editable using a moderated system to keep the information up to date, it is also used to show the statistics of how long the application and how long the application's been used.

External links

• Official site
• Dot-com names get dottier, Los Angeles Times, August 29, 2007
• Wakoopa: The Application-based Social Network, MacApper, August 14, 2007