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Tumblr for LJ users (and LJ fork users)
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 11:33 amSomeone on my read list expressed an interest in using Tumblr.
Firstly, what the heck is Tumblr and what is it for?
Well, looking at the site should tell you, but basically Tumblr is a microblog. It's kind of a step up from Twitter, and a step down from a full fledged blogging platform like Wordpress. It's kind of like a really simplified way of posting short posts, especially media ones; it's good for people who like to share stuff publicly, especially if they don't need a lot of deep interaction/commenting, and for people blogging lightly and ephemerally.
If I don't want to blog at Tumblr, is there any reason to get a Tumblr account?
There is, actually. Tumblr also allows you to 'follow' tumblelogs, and if you do, they'll all show up as an aggregated RSS in your dashboard. This is sort of like the LJ friendslist.
What can't you do at Tumblr that you can at LJ, or less well there?
Basically, anything involving filters (both for reading and access purposes), and granular privacy, both on the post and user level. There is a system of private blogging on Tumblr, but it works differently from LJ's system. (I'm not really convinced that LJ's system is actually the best, though). Multiple userpics. Native commenting system. LJ-cutting. Most of LJ's 'social-network-like' functions.
As bad as LJ's archiving system is, Tumblr's archiving system is worse, also. Tumblr also lacks data portability presently.
What can you do at Tumblr that you can't do at LJ, or better there?
You can save drafts of posts, and then queue them (create a bunch of posts, then set them to post in the future or at predetermined time intervals). Secret group tumblelogs. The customization is miles easier than LJ; I could never make my own LJ style, but I suspect I could roll my own Tumblr one. You can use Google Analytics, and Statcounter. You can search your own Tumblr, as well as Tumblr as a whole. The design is a heck of a lot more modern, as is the interface, and the ease of posting too. Twitter integration, also. Using your domain name is free, as well, and it actually sticks, as opposed to being a simple redirect.
And, though Disqus really should be better integrated into Tumblr, it well... is really powerful as a commenting platform.
ETA: I had also forgotten about the "reblogging" feature and the "like" feature, as well as the v. easy uploading and simultaneous posting of photos and mp3s.
Firstly, what the heck is Tumblr and what is it for?
Well, looking at the site should tell you, but basically Tumblr is a microblog. It's kind of a step up from Twitter, and a step down from a full fledged blogging platform like Wordpress. It's kind of like a really simplified way of posting short posts, especially media ones; it's good for people who like to share stuff publicly, especially if they don't need a lot of deep interaction/commenting, and for people blogging lightly and ephemerally.
If I don't want to blog at Tumblr, is there any reason to get a Tumblr account?
There is, actually. Tumblr also allows you to 'follow' tumblelogs, and if you do, they'll all show up as an aggregated RSS in your dashboard. This is sort of like the LJ friendslist.
What can't you do at Tumblr that you can at LJ, or less well there?
Basically, anything involving filters (both for reading and access purposes), and granular privacy, both on the post and user level. There is a system of private blogging on Tumblr, but it works differently from LJ's system. (I'm not really convinced that LJ's system is actually the best, though). Multiple userpics. Native commenting system. LJ-cutting. Most of LJ's 'social-network-like' functions.
As bad as LJ's archiving system is, Tumblr's archiving system is worse, also. Tumblr also lacks data portability presently.
What can you do at Tumblr that you can't do at LJ, or better there?
You can save drafts of posts, and then queue them (create a bunch of posts, then set them to post in the future or at predetermined time intervals). Secret group tumblelogs. The customization is miles easier than LJ; I could never make my own LJ style, but I suspect I could roll my own Tumblr one. You can use Google Analytics, and Statcounter. You can search your own Tumblr, as well as Tumblr as a whole. The design is a heck of a lot more modern, as is the interface, and the ease of posting too. Twitter integration, also. Using your domain name is free, as well, and it actually sticks, as opposed to being a simple redirect.
And, though Disqus really should be better integrated into Tumblr, it well... is really powerful as a commenting platform.
ETA: I had also forgotten about the "reblogging" feature and the "like" feature, as well as the v. easy uploading and simultaneous posting of photos and mp3s.
