Always looking for new technology, we recently discovered Pibb, a new communication utility. We found Kevin Fox online and pulled him aside, Pibb style (you can do this by clicking on a username and having a private chat discussion). Kevin handles Product Development at JanRain, the developers of Pibb, Jyte and MyOpenID. Kevin has graced us with an interview; this the first ever interview discussing Pibb. We are honored with this opportunity to showcase Pibb.

Two things to watch for: an embedded chat here on IslamCrunch and apps for many social network sites.

IslamCrunch challenge: Using Pibb to communicate with others during an Islamic event. Pibb can be used to document what transpires at an event, anyone can log on and read/interact with the attendees.

Here is the interview with Kevin of JanRain:

IslamCrunch: What is your web application/service about?

Pibb is about making it easy for people to communicate online. It has a unique feature set that brings together the familiarity of forums, power of blogs, flexibility of email and convenience of instant messaging all in one browser window.

Pibb is a comprehensive solution for all your communication needs; one-on-one chat, communication backchannel for conferences, support tool, or for community based private/public discussions, Pibb is the answer.

If you have something to say, we want you to ‘Say it on Pibb’.

IslamCrunch: Why did you start this project?

There was a need for an OpenID communications platform to complement our Jyte (claim and credibility engine) and MyOpenID (OpenID account provider) products. The communications space is very interesting and has lots of room for growth.

IslamCrunch: How much time do you devote to its growth?

As much as possible, if you can’t find me on Pibb (https://pibb.com/me/kfox.myopenid.com) there is likely a another JanRain’er who can help on the ‘Pibb Discussion’ channel (http://archive.pibb.com/Pibb+Discussion/General/)

IslamCrunch: How large is your team and what are your backgrounds?

12 people (http://janrain.com/about). Varying backgrounds, I have a Computer Science degree and an MBA, Jason Mckerr has an background in finance and an MBA, tons of awesome engineering talent (Python, Ruby, Perl, Ajax, etc.), Michael Graves and Larry Drebes have both done successful startups in the past.

IslamCrunch: What is your design/service philosophy?

Our goal is to create products that are valuable to people and help to grow communities. Always engage and listen to the community, they are our biggest asset. Our philosophy is to keep things open and make Pibb as intuitive to use as possible. Specifically we want users to own their content and we try to always make it easy for people to get content in and out of Pibb.

IslamCrunch: What technologies are you currently using?

Pibb is built using GWT (Google Web Toolkit), Python, Ruby on Rails

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We are blessed with another exclusive book launch. This time from our friends across the pond at Amal Press. We are honored that Sidi Aftab Malik, editor-in-chief at Amal Press, contacted us regarding the launch of “In the Land of the Ayatollahs, Tupac Shakur Is King: Reflections from Iran and the Arab World” by Shahzad Aziz. The paperback book (296 pages) will be officially launched in October 2007, insha’Allah.

So, what is the book about? We asked Sidi Aftab for some exclusive material and more details.

IslamCrunch: Essentially, what is this book about?

Aftab Malik: A combination of humour and serious intellectual excursion to understand some of the challenges that the Middle-East (and Muslims by extension) face in the post 9/11 world.

IslamCrunch: Interesting combo… What else do you have for us?

Aftab Malik: THREE KEY BENEFITS OF THIS BOOK:

1.  An A—Z overview of all the cultural clash-points affecting contemporary relations between the West and the Muslim World.

2. First-hand commentary and opinion from marginalized social groups within Iranian and Arab society (e.g. the working class, women, students etc…) on these cultural clash-points.  

3.  A detailed and critical analytical debate of these cultural clash-points explored from the perspective of a Western Muslim.

IslamCrunch: This looks like a “must-have” book for our book shelves. We love it already, who else do you think would be interested in reading this new book?

Aftab Malik: This book will appeal to:

1. Students: Both those who are on academic courses on Islam/Culture and Middle East Studies and beyond to those who are interested in politics and international relations.

2. Urban commuters: In particular, young professionals traveling to work in the ‘city’ who wish to read something intelligent and with substance but in a language which is engaging and not too heavy.

3. Second and third generation Muslims residing in the West. There is a dearth of material written by them on issues which relate to them.  This book helps plug that gap.

4. Travelers: In particular, back-packers and those with an interest in traveling across several Middle Eastern countries in one trip.

5. General public: members of the public who have an interest in contemporary issues relating to Muslim-West issues.

IslamCrunch: That seems like a good target audience. How about providing us with an upshot?

Aftab Malik: This book was primarily written to provide insight for those in category #5 above, making it an ideal book for a central point of discussion and dialogue. From hijabs to Cosmopolitan magazine, to freedom of speech and Salman Rushdie; from classical Islamic law to suicide bombers and from the war on terror to the causes of terror, “In the Land of the Ayatollahs“ provides a unique insight into the complexities of the Muslim world.

IslamCrunch: Fantastic! Thanks for the details. Now, here is a special bonus for our readers: Table of Contents Preview.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Since qualifying as a Barrister, Aziz has specialised in human rights and asylum law. In particular, his legal practice has centred on representing those fleeing torture and persecution by state and non-state agents in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia for reasons of race, religion, political affiliation or membership of a vulnerable social group. Within his legal field, Aziz has written and lectured on anti-discrimination and anti-terror legislation. He has also written on more general issues concerning the Muslim community.

For more details, check out Amal Press’ site. Purchase your copy by clicking on the image below:  

UPDATE: To view a video about the book, click here: http://islamcrunch.com/archives/video-in-the-land-of-the-ayatollahs-tupac-shakur-is-king/

Khadija O’Connell, Owner and Creative Director of Barakah Life, will be bringing some Web 2.0 goodness to the upcoming month of Ramadan. Using the blogging medium, she has launched a new site that specifically discusses the joys of Ramadan, the sacred month of fasting. The TypePad blogging platform is her preferred platform which allows her to create a social network of other TypePad users.

We have always been impressed with the work that Barakah Life has produced and we decided to meet with Khadija to discuss arts, crafts, blogging and her current projects. With an upcoming UK trip to add a creative flair for a conference, enhancing the new phase of Zaytuna Institute and adding more nur (glow) to the upcoming Illume Magazine Eid Banquet and Fundraiser*, Barakah Life is crossing the borders of physical locations and creative landscapes.

It is with much honor and excitement to announce that IslamCrunch has been collaborating with Barakah Life on several projects. Prepare to be dazzled.

IslamCrunch: What is

?

Barakah Life: Barakah Life is firstly my life philosophy, I believe that life is good, and that everything is Barakah (blessing), even our hardships, it all has meaning. Secondly, as a business name I wanted to choose a name that could grow and evolve in different directions, with me. I see Barakah Life as an umbrella covering my crafts and sewing classes, my own handwork, the things that I manufacture, and my community work.

Barakah Life also has two blogs, Barakah Life Handmade and Ramadan Joy.

IslamCrunch: Why did you start Barakah Life?

Barakah Life: I should say it took some time to start; there was definitely a fear factor. The idea of possibly failing and not failing privately but failing publicly, it was a hard thing for me to overcome. So, I did some wheel spinning and some ‘testing the waters’ but there came a time when I just had to commit, overcome it, and move forward. That hurdle is completely behind me now and in tackling it, it has given me a mental opening in which I no longer see limits and have a much bigger vision. As far as the why part, most everything I do now I had been doing in some form, it just now has a name.

IslamCrunch: Please describe the Children’s Ramadan Calendar and the feedback received thus far?

Barakah Life: The calendar was something I had [developed] over time.

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Yumondo is a new web 2.0 community site that is currently in closed beta. We had the honor of being invited to use and test the site. While browsing through the site, we met one of the site’s moderators, Mohammad Pashmi. Based in Berlin, Mohammad gave us a friendly European welcome to the site and honored us with an interview. We would like to thank him for his prompt reply and friendship. Click here to grab an invite for Yumondo. Also, the site has just undergone a new design change. The previous design relied on dark colors while the new design uses a white background with bright blue text on the tabs.

IslamCrunch: What is your web application/service about?

Yumondo: Yumondo is about letting people share their style. It’s a service designed to let people upload and share information about their favorite places, events, and things. These things that you associate with are all part of what defines your style in a way.

IslamCrunch: Why did you start this project?

Yumondo: Mostly because we thought it would be fun and interesting. We all share a vision of a world where communities can be connected, and can grow up around common interests and shared tastes and styles.

IslamCrunch:How much time do you devote to its growth?

Yumondo: Well, I serve as the community manager for Metaversum* as a company. Metaversum is the company behind Yumondo, and Yumondo is one of our products. I am also responsible for our community building on other projects, so I only get to spend a few hours per week with the Yumondo community. There are a few other guys who spend much more time there, like Robert and Christian. You can see them in Yumondo and our Yumondo blog.

IslamCrunch:How large is your team and what are your backgrounds?

Yumondo: The Yumondo team is about 8 people. The backgrounds are pretty diverse, with some development people, customer support, IT and marketing.

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Sidi Omar Tufail discusses the future of DeenPort, the history behind it, his love for DPers, science fiction and more. Living in a world of only one website, we ride the neural synaptic sparks in Sidi Omar’s mind to explore DeenPort.

IslamCrunch: What is your web application/service about?

DeenPort: DeenPort describes itself as a “point of connection, an opening to new understandings, an entrance into unexplored areas or an entry point to the rest of the Internet.” All this, revolving around the religion of Islam. In plain English that translates as people using the site on a daily basis to keep a pulse on what’s happening in and around the global Muslim community.

IslamCrunch: Why did you start this project?

DeenPort: The site is a continuation of a previous project that I had online at zhikr.org. I started that project after my sister and brother attended a Rihla program in Spain and came back buzzing with new knowledge and life. I decided I had to have some of that for myself and traveled to the next Rihla program at the Zaytuna Institute, and after my return setup the DeenPort website. It was a way to stay in touch with that whole learning experience I had, with that atmosphere, and to try and channel the energy I found through that into what I knew best, and what I knew best was web stuff.

IslamCrunch: How does your project relate to Muslims? Or is your project geared towards a general audience?

DeenPort: The project is aimed towards anyone and everyone interested in Islam. The vast majority of people that use the site are Muslims.

IslamCrunch: If your project is related to Muslims, how do you hope your project will impact the Muslim community?

DeenPort: Through the various sections of the site, we hope Muslims are better informed of news, events, discussions etc on and off the Internet. We also hope that through dialogue, interaction and networking with others from all over the world, people on the site are able to get a deeper understanding and exposure to the bigger picture of various issues that concern Muslims globally. The site is constantly evolving and so new sections and features are added to help facilitate this.

IslamCrunch: How much time do you devote to its growth?

DeenPort: It depends on the day. Sometimes I get sucked into it to the point that nothing else matters and that can be counter-productive, and on other days
I feel like I’m not spending enough time on it. I tinker with the site everyday. Sometimes that tinkering lasts a few minutes and sometimes it extends to hours and hours, but the tinkering never stops.

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