Peter Gabriel Launches The Filter

Peter Gabriel has launched The Filter in private beta with the lofty goal of transforming online discovery by filtering online entertainment and info and personalizing it for each user.

    "…many of us are now drowning in an ocean of options. An
intelligent filter can remove the burden and boredom of choice and get us
what we want and need with plenty of exploration and discovery." – Peter Gabriel

The Filter claims a holistic approach to filtering out irrelevant content that reflects individual tastes and moods through unique algorithms, across music, film, entertainment news and TV. In addition to launching as a consumer entertainment experience at www.thefilter.com, The Filter will also provide white label and co-branded solutions for content partners seeking to match their inventory to visitors’ tastes.

    Users who visit www.thefilter.com will be able to aggregate their music,
film, and entertainment RSS feeds…

and then utilize a dynamic filtering
system to optimize their digital libraries by discovering a greater
concentration of relevant content. Users will be able to build their digital
libraries based on The Filter’s interpretation of their tastes and moods. The
Filter will not hold complete content, but instead will provide samples with
links to content sites, such as iTunes and Netflix, so if a song is
recommended, a sample will be available but the user will have to link to the
actual iTunes or Netflix site to download the song or order a film.

    The Filter will also launch with a social aspect that will enable
customers to utilize another user’s Filter to make recommendations in genres
that they are not familiar with for the benefit of exploration outside one’s
comfort zone. For example, if a user wants to buy a birthday gift for his
daughter, he can access his daughter’s shared Filter to get a recommendation
of a new book from what is essentially her personal online assistant.