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The Global Grind is a new start page offering that is specifically for the world of hip-hop. The site is currently in private beta.

The layout and design of Global Grind is very much like Pageflakes or Netvibes, though instead of one default tab offered to give you a running start with the service, there are several.

Each tab further filters web content to give you separate sections for gossip, music, news, sports, rap beef, etc. There is the ability to create your own tab as well.

Most of the content comes from feeds, which you can choose from those the Global Grind has already chosen, or add your own. There are also “grinds” which are widgets, and include things like Google Maps, Flickr photo search and Yahoo music search.

There doesn’t yet seem to be the ability to add your own “grind” widget, so that’s one thing I’m hoping to see in the future. One helpful thing the Global Grind has done is offer the option for the content to be viewed in an iFrame so you don’t have to leave the service or open links in new windows.

A slight trend towards the niche start pages with sites like Symbaloo or SportSnipe can be noticed, and what Global Grind has done is essentially taken a branded or customized Pageflakes Pagecast and made it its business.

Whether or not this particular model will work is yet to be determined; there may need to be the ability to incorporate more personalized content as well as the ability to share public tabs with others in order for this type of niche start page to take off.

For more details, go to Global Grind webpage.

Source: http://mashable.com/2007/07/25/global-grind/