Arabic content on the web is from the biggest online destinations to the most obscure blog in the Arab World looking for readers; however the problem lies in the perception of Arabs towards the Arabic Web.
Arab online users prefer to type in Latin knowing that it is faster and practical, expecting gibberish results in the search engine if using the Arabic keywords or finding insufficient sources/content that enjoys reliability and freshness. Well, this should not be an excuse anymore because counteracts on the Arabic web are occurring. It’s simply making the content providers find less traffic to their Arabic websites or interfaces, low readership, and minimal readership loyalty resulting in apathetic content providers to continue generating content in Arabic.
Now, Yamli discovered a smart way to shore up Arabic content to make it REACHABLE; but WHAT IS YAMLI ABOUT?
In simple words, Yamli enable users to type Arabic without an Arabic keyboard from within their web browser. In a more sophisticated explanation, Yamli enable users to use a real-time transliteration engine which converts words typed with Latin characters to their closest Arabic equivalent; this allows them to keep using their Latin keyboard. Therefore, Yamli is smart, simple, and easy; the question here is: WILL WE EMBRACE THIS TECHNOLOGY?
If you are an Arab and an early adopter to technology, you will not have any more problems reaching Arabic content even if you don’t have a keyboard, cannot type Arabic fast, or lake the confident finding what you want. Today, if you are still not confident with search results; Yamli has another complimentary service; DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IT?
Yamli Arabic Search – a search engine focused on providing more relevant search results for an Arabic query by expanding it to its most frequently used Latin representations; searching web and Wikipedia is powered by Google Search, Images powered by Live Search, Video powered by your big fan YouTube. What’s good about Yamli is that you find it accessible on popular reliable platforms you are used to and also in the middle of the crowding social networking sites in order to bring it in easier and very helpful way. I have tried these gadgets for Yamli:
iGoogle: it integrates the functionality to convert words from Latin characters to Arabic to launch Arabic searches on Google or to write words and paragraphs that can then be copied and used elsewhere. NOW, if you wish to add the Yamli gadget to your iGoogle homepage, you can use the following link: Add Yamli iGoogle Gadget.
Yamli for Facebook: Maybe it’s not complete Arabization as you may think from their slogan “Arabize Your Facebok”; but it easily allows you to update your status in Arabic and send private messages in Arabic as well. To authorize this application, you can visit Yamli Facebook page
Yamli can be available for your website or blog; it allows you to add this privilege to your website search field and comments so you can get a more visitor search and engagement. I encourage you check with your respective account manager on how to take it further or if you are a blogger, it’s a matter of copy and paste in the source code. And if you are a web developer, here is the juicy news: Yamli API. This feature gives you the chance to develop many plug-ins for WordPress, Blogger, Joomla, Firefox, etc… This would be a great idea to develop something different and value-worthy for Arabic Web. Even if I just stumbled upon AR Twitter [an application just newly realized to allow twittering in Arabic], isn’t that fun and promising to have a better Arabic Web.
Well, in my review I was very positive about Yamli services in an encouragement for an Arab internet startup because I believe its advantages exceed the disqualifications of such tool to survive. And you know what? Things are getting spicier with the competition offering the nearly same Arabic transliteration but at various levels: check Google Ta3reeb, eiktob.com , and onkosh.com. I encourage you to Yamlify yourself for a noble purpose – shoring up Arabic content on the web by using technologies that enhance and preserve your language, culture, tradition, and opinion. Yalla, start now and visit www.yamli.com
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