Creating and sharing content on the Internet is significantly easier than it was in the early days of mainstream adoption. Back then the primary way that people shared content was via their own web pages which required some degree of HTML knowledge to create. As the web matured and more ‘non geek’ types began to use it a sizable market demand was created for an easier way to create and share content. This consumer need was the catalyst behind the growth of countless web properties including MySpace, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and others. People began to host their own blogs via WordPress and Blogger and these and other services have since tried increase their functionality by adding more and more features.
While there’s an upside to that–Wordpress, for example, can now be used as a full fledged content management system–there’s also a downside. In many cases something that began as a fairly simple tool becomes increasingly complex which alienates the segment of the market that wants simplicity. Now a new web service looks to change that. Throwww (http://throwww.com/) boasts that it is “the easiest way to write something and share it” and that’s not idle hyperbole. It’s almost ridiculously easy to write and share content. It was also recently featured on Hacker News homepage and is destined to reach places.
To use the service you go to the throw website and start writing. Seriously–it’s that simple. There’s no registration involve or anything to learn how to use though the service does allow a Twitter based log in that allows users to ‘take credit’ for their writing and to save their content. There’s also an option to post anonymously. It couldn’t be much easier–you give your content a title and start writing. When you’re done Throwww gives you a URL to share however you want.
The service recently added a number of new features including text formatting, linking and the ability to include images and videos. This is down via markdown language and the entire formatting menu is within easy reach at all times via a help link. The creator of Throwww promises more changes to come including notifications of new posts, comment sorting and other functions common to blogging platforms. Throwww will have to maintain a delicate balance–it has to be very judicious about implementing new features so as to not undermine it’s simplicity. That’s what makes Throwww really remarkable at this point. This is the same dynamic that many other web services have faced before them but a big difference between these and Throwww is that they weren’t necessarily built from the ground up to emphasize simplicity and ease of use. Throwww is a content sharing system that is well worth watching and using as it grows. I personally will be keeping an eye on this one as it’s right up my alley!
