Peter Rojas and Ryan Block launch gdgt -- the Swiss Army knife of tech sites

When Ryan Block (our former Editor-in-chief) and Peter Rojas (founder of Engadget, Gizmodo, and RCRD LBL) announced last year that they were embarking on a new project together, alarm bells went off across the interblogs. Following nearly 12 months of rampant speculation, the duo's hard work is finally revealed. Combining the best of social networking, forums, news aggregation, and wiki-based sites, gdgt presents a fairly awe-inspiring range of tools for the hardcore gadget lover.

Imagine if Facebook, Wikipedia, your favorite forum, and Google Reader all got mashed into one gigantic, delicious smoothie, and you might begin to get the idea of gdgt. Instead of retreading territory in which they've already blazed a path, Ryan and Peter present a logical step forward for the gadget community -- a place where you can discuss, dissect, and grow your passion with other like minded individuals. It's an ambitious project with lots of really cool stuff to discover, like product comparison tools, the ability to track gadgets you own (or used to own, or want), news from top gadget sites (wink wink), and embeddable widgets.

Look, we've found the best way in life to learn about something is to scuttle the user manual and dive right in -- we highly suggest you do the same and take gdgt out for a spin. We think you'll like what you find.

Congrats Peter and Ryan!

[me @ Jul 1st 2009 2:04PM]

It sucks.

[smak @ Jul 1st 2009 2:21PM]

Yeah but you know the dorks will eat it up.

"MUST... NOT... FAP... TO RYAN BLOCK"

[Templarian @ Jul 1st 2009 2:24PM]

Server kind of went down or stopped responding for the last few minutes.

[DirtyVegas @ Jul 1st 2009 2:27PM]

Site's down? Ouch.

[AltairAntares @ Jul 1st 2009 2:33PM]

The site is quite definitely down. So much for that grand experiment... :p

[Brown Robott @ Jul 1st 2009 2:33PM]

it sucks for the reason that no one can access it right now. FAIL.

[slamEVIL @ Jul 1st 2009 2:36PM]

"Hmm, looks like something got pretty messed up. We've been notified, but you can let us know in discussions or contact us directly."

[commenting @ Jul 1st 2009 2:41PM]

I googled "gtgt" and nothing relevant to that site appears. What is the web address anyways? Are they trying to be competition for Engadget?

"Imagine if Facebook, Wikipedia, your favorite forum, and Google Reader all got mashed into one gigantic, delicious smoothie, and you might begin to get the idea of gdgt."

That "SMOOTHIE" sound high in calories, full of trans-fat, steroids and additives. I pass.

[Alex @ Jul 1st 2009 2:45PM]

The color scheme and general appearance? Yes it does.

I doubt I'll visit more than once a month. Ryan Block was always the farthest up Apple's ass. (Or whatever you call that part at the opposite end of the Apple's stem. ... http://byteshuffler.com/rospo/blog/uploaded_images/AppleSlicerCorerBottom-775262.jpg ? )

[iJames99 @ Jul 1st 2009 2:49PM]

@commenting:

Maybe that's because you googled "gtgt" not "gdgt", the actual name of the site.
ugh, amateurs

[outlaw @ Jul 1st 2009 3:00PM]

Oh look, another gadget website to generate spending cash for Rojas and Block.

Anyone that signs up on that site is a sheep and a sucker, plain and simple.

[Me4u2 @ Jul 1st 2009 3:07PM]

First, the design of the site is just confusing and ugly... The second thing that greets you are two 256 x 256 ads, which are stupidly placed... Ok so now, i tried registering and its saying the fucking server is dowN...

I mean how are they suppose to suck on apples balls, if they can't make a site worth looking at....

Block + Rojas + gdgt = Epic fail !!!

[GadgetGeek @ Jul 1st 2009 3:35PM]

um... couldn't they register a name that would catch on? not sure how well "gdgt" will fair in folks memories...

[Money Mike @ Jul 1st 2009 3:40PM]

...and BOOM goes the dynamite!

[Unknown @ Jul 1st 2009 5:11PM]

I'm not sure I'd name my site in similar fashion to how Motorola name(s)(d) their cell phones.... ROCKR, RAZR, gdgt?

Eh.... Best of luck to you Ryan, but I'm not sure about this thing.

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Jul 1st 2009 5:56PM]

Even after listening to the welcome video, I still don't understand this. I inventory my gadgets then comment about them? I share this on Facebook?

[Jon @ Jul 1st 2009 7:27PM]

No i agree .. I just explored for the first time .. It sucks .. Its basically a shopping hole .. U like this gadget? here's where you can buy it ... Um that's what amazon is for

[vypergts @ Jul 1st 2009 7:53PM]

This site is a flagrant rip off of the CNET MyTech app for Facebook.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:44AM]

Site seems a bit confusing, imo. The whole gadget "add to list" thing reminds me a lot of CNET. But I like how it's more personal.

It's a good start though. I see lots of potential here.

[Ghen @ Jul 2nd 2009 8:50AM]

It looks like a good site to get meta-reviews on gadgets. I'm hip to that.

[AndrewNoNumbers @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:24AM]

Wtf 20 negative comments in a row. I like the site.

[Tyler Ransom @ Jul 2nd 2009 6:36PM]

First of all, I know they read these comments to get feedback. Firstly, I don't want to bash your idea because this site could evolve into something good. But for the sake of my sanity your captcha system is terrible or bugged. Before you promote it make sure it works first. Do a stress test, something. Because of my experience there, personally i will never go to the site again unless I am linked there somehow. Nice effort, but honestly, after a YEAR in development, I could have done better and I am by no means a professional. Try again.

If your looking for personal opinion I give you a:

5/10

[Will @ Jul 1st 2009 2:05PM]

hmmm....

[OneLove @ Jul 1st 2009 3:50PM]

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access / on this server.

[skyblaze @ Jul 1st 2009 7:11PM]

it's back up. i put a nice detailed archos 5 page up for them. hope they approve it... took me like an hour getting all the specs right :)

[hoodieboy711 @ Jul 1st 2009 2:10PM]

sees a storm of registration coming for gdgt

[Brandon @ Jul 1st 2009 8:05PM]

I'm loving how people are hating on the site when they don't know what it does or how it functions. Jealousy at its finest.

Yes, jealous that Peter Rojas has managed to start up two successful gadget blogs when they can't get their 5 dollar wordpress blog off the ground.

[dj-kenpo @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:24AM]

Bandon I wish I could set you to highest rank

[Timmy @ Jul 1st 2009 2:11PM]

From your discription it sounds like all other interwebs sites should close the shutter and just go home, game over, you all lose.

[Rohit Kapur @ Jul 1st 2009 2:13PM]

Here's to gdgt! :D

[John Doe @ Jul 1st 2009 2:13PM]

Another Apple marketing site?

[Makavre @ Jul 1st 2009 2:15PM]

No, .... Engadget already has that VERY well covered

[Number_41 @ Jul 1st 2009 2:17PM]

Well I guess it makes sense now. Gizmodo is heavily on Apple's side, or anyone that throws ridiculous money on them, mostly Apple....spending 5,5k on a laptop is just stupid btw.

Anyways, I never knew Peter Rojas made giz and engadget. Makes sense now. However engadget>giz in my opinion. Engadget seems less heavily swayed by marketing.

Thanks but no thanks, ill stick to engadget.

[Eddie @ Jul 1st 2009 2:21PM]

Whether sarcastic or not, this was very humorous :)

[Matt @ Jul 1st 2009 2:22PM]

Yeah cause Apple marketing sites post articles like this:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/video-iphone-copy-and-paste-is-a-pretty-incredible-thing-sur/

and no shit engadget is influenced by the market, they report on the market.

[seanmoorman @ Jul 1st 2009 2:25PM]

I never understand people, who go to certain sites just to comment about how they don't like them. The next truly great invention for the internet will be an invention which finds these people and doesn't let them comment anymore. I'll start on the douche filter right away.

[Makavre @ Jul 1st 2009 2:29PM]

@seanmoorman

actually the next great invention will be a sarcasm detector for humorless idiots

i'll keep ya posted on its whereabouts tho

[DeoWulf @ Jul 1st 2009 2:46PM]

Actually, judging from the colors in that screenshot (the purple and orange), it's practically a Zune site.

[Josh @ Jul 1st 2009 3:14PM]

One of the articles on the front page is about how the iPhone 3GS doesn't make the iPhone 3G feel old and busted. Definitely NOT Apple marketing.

[manifest3r1 @ Jul 1st 2009 3:26PM]

for a swiss army knife, its pretty rusty :/

[Richard @ Jul 1st 2009 2:14PM]

Congrats! Just got my email with my pre-reg info.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:46AM]

No underscores or hyphens in username = ghey.

How can I be myself?! *sigh*

[Sisyphus @ Jul 1st 2009 2:14PM]

That looks great!

And the site just gave me a website developer referral!

[E C S Sucks @ Jul 1st 2009 2:16PM]

At last.

[mitch @ Jul 1st 2009 2:17PM]

looks very powerful

[big teeth @ Jul 1st 2009 2:18PM]

All right, finally a Gidget website. I'm sure Sally Field approves.

[me @ Jul 1st 2009 3:00PM]

win.

[awbhoops @ Jul 1st 2009 2:19PM]

Site's krunk!

[skyblaze @ Jul 1st 2009 3:01PM]

YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

WUUTTTTTTT?!!!!!!

OOOOOOOKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Eminemdrdre00 @ Jul 1st 2009 2:19PM]

Sites already down...