Disqus - Latest Comments for scott

Re: Developers: the best smart phone platform is?

scott — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:14:46 -0000

I mean that Apple and RIM do not have the resources to compete against the manufacturers of televisions, cars, cameras, home/office appliances, and new types of embedded devices on their turf when the manufacturers can simply adopt Android with no investment in recreating a system like Android which has a developer ecosystem already in place. These verticals are not in the OS business. However, Android is very easy to adapt to their devices with relatively very little cost to them considering their other options. Why would these companies hand over a significant portion of their profits to Apple or RIM if they did not have to? Microsoft is losing a ton of money on the XBox. Apple is failing with their AppleTV product. I doubt they will be entering into the automobile business anytime soon. I'm betting on Android as a commodity and that open with the backing of industry will beat closed for embedded operating systems. The evidence is substantial. The industry leader, Symbian, has even realized this. IMO Linux has been held back by the GPL license which is not business-friendly. Android is licensed under Apache 2.0 which is similar to the BSD license. BTW, Apple's OS is built on top of BSD Unix.

Re: It Just Might Be the Droid You Are Looking For

scott — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:46:40 -0000

I believe that if the device says "with Google" on it then Google has licensed their apps to the carrier. I have no idea what the terms are. However, there are carriers and device manufacturers that are not partnering with Google and enhancing the base OS with their own UI and bundled apps. It will be interesting to see the reception the Sony Ericsson XPERIA receives ...

hardware: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKv4OXLWZqE
software: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvsl5IBSZh0

Re: Developers: the best smart phone platform is?

Se7en — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:11:14 -0000

"Can Apple or RIM compete against a free and open platform that is supported by so many verticals? I don't think so."

You mean like how Open Source is in all settop boxes, mail servers, appliances etc., so Microsoft and Apple can't compete against all those verticals?

I'm so tired of the "Open beats Closed, Every time" mantra. Let me guess, 2010, Year of the Linux Desktop, right?

Re: Developers: the best smart phone platform is?

scott — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:33:15 -0000

I'd suspect that Android is doing even better than RIM in streaming/downloading of video based on its capabilities and the YouTube factor. In addition to looking at download numbers and especially the rate of change of those download numbers it is important for developers to factor in the opportunities to re-purpose their investments. It is obvious to me that Android will be injected into televisions, cars, cameras, home/office appliances, and new types of embedded devices that don't exist today. I also would not be surprised if we see the reincarnation of the Java Applet as an Android plug-in for the Chrome browser/OS. Can Apple or RIM compete against a free and open platform that is supported by so many verticals? I don't think so.

Re: Lists and OPML (Scripting News)

scott — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:56:43 -0000

I have a feed that has entries which each link to other third party feeds. Please explain how OPML can add value to this list of lists without me having to convert my feed to OPML. My list needs to be dynamic therefore I cannot model it as an OPML subscription list because aggregators do not support updates to OPML subscription lists. They do support updates to feeds.

Re: Lists and OPML (Scripting News)

dave — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:41:44 -0000

No, actually you wouldn't.

Maybe you should go study the OPML 2.0 spec, before you explain OPML to me.

Geez Louise. A little knowledge could make you dangerous. :-)

Re: Lists and OPML (Scripting News)

scott — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:39:56 -0000

OPML inclusion is a good example of the problem I am trying to illustrate. In the context of lists of lists I would need to convert all of my feeds to OPML. The only value I see in doing this would be to enable my content to be editable in your OPML Editor thus making my content incompatible with all the tools and infrastructure that currently exists for RSS and Atom. I can't see why any developer would want to do this or how this proposition would benefit the domain of open content distribution.

Re: Lists and OPML (Scripting News)

dave — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:26:34 -0000

Look deeper, OPML inclusion takes care of this.

Re: Lists and OPML (Scripting News)

scott — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:31:57 -0000

Coming from the perspective of a developer, the problem with OPML is that it is focused on outlines and not on distributed lists. There are already two standards for distributed lists; RSS and Atom. The moment you introduce hierarchy in a single document format you lose the distributed nature that most of the use cases rely upon and you open the door for content getting out of sync which introduces a new problem that is very difficult to solve and decreases the usability of such solutions. An RSS enclosure or an Atom link can reference any content type, not just a media file. If the entries of a feed contained links that simply referenced other feeds then developers could leverage existing technologies and paradigms as well as provide a better fit for the common use cases of distributed lists.

Re: Google Wave crashes on beach of overhype

Scobleizer — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:13:02 -0000

Just to make sure I understood the use case, I watched a video, and looked deeply at it again. Here's my new post. http://scobleizer.com/2009/10/03/google-waves-u...

Re: Google Wave crashes on beach of overhype

scott — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:24:46 -0000

Although I thought your article was more thoughtful and balanced, you still seemed to emphasize the communication aspects (e-mail) over the publishing aspects. Despite Lars' assertion I don't see Wave replacing email either. IM with notification filtering might consolidate and simplify the direct messaging app space. I do think Wave could replace Wikis and apps like PowerPoint though my inclination is to let it evolve into something not tied to old metaphors. My impression is that the realtime communication functionality will direct and serve as commentary on the publishing process and that the recorder will eventually be used primarily as a presentation playback engine for the content being produced and not as a conversation playback engine.

There's nothing wrong with being an edge case unless you don't realize it.

Re: Google Wave crashes on beach of overhype

Lore — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:42:38 -0000

Scott you're right!

Robert, you should take a look at my extremely messy Lotus Notes enterprise installation, clogged by hundreds of emails with hilarious subjects like "Re: Rif: R: Fwd: Rif: Re: Artwork XYZ". You would understand for sure how more effective and ordered could be a Wave in these situations, where all the replies are listed inside the same thread, where thanks to the playback you can rewind the wave, and where actions are extremely flexible.

Re: Google Wave crashes on beach of overhype

louismg — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:21:47 -0000

Being an edge case is fine, especially if it means you can stress the system.

When I wrote what I did, I was careful to suggest that Wave is being compared most to e-mail, and that's how I addressed it. I don't believe it's a replacement for any social network.

Re: Google Wave crashes on beach of overhype

scott — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:36:37 -0000

You completely misunderstood the use cases for this platform. It is a realtime collaborative publishing tool. You and Louis are edge cases. Wave is not intended to replace Twitter or FriendFeed, which are more about individuals broadcasting to the masses, marketing themselves, amassing followers, curating egos, etc.

Re: The post iPhone world

scott — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:34:27 -0000

Apple will not be able to follow Android into the domain of embedded systems. Android is already built on a very lean multi-process component model while the iPhone was designed to run monolithic apps. Additionally, Apple does not have the resources to compete against such a diverse set of industries. The profit margins are just not going to be sufficient to justify the investments required to go there. Android is free ... it's hard to compete with that. Apple will probably get their technology into televisions and do well there but they will soon have to start defending their turf against those that have learned from their success. I wouldn't count Sony out just yet. I read that the next iteration of the Walkman will run on Android.

Microsoft + Twitter = Blue screen of death + Fail whale. Enough said. I think XMPP (also free and open) will be the common language that devices will be speaking to each other with.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

Scobleizer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:54:56 -0000

Unfortunately that video hasn't been put up that I can find. It was of Hark: http://www.techcrunch50.com/2009/hark/ -- they showed off a product that looked like a lame version of Meebo or other apps.

By the way, I don't agree with you Scott. Word gets around when you tell the truth. And embarrassing companies or people who haven't done their homework in public just will never be my style unless my hand is forced, like it was on stage at TC50. If you think that makes me seem like a pushover that is YOUR problem, not mine.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

rizzn — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:54:14 -0000

My policy, in general, is to "rip into" (or engage in debate) pundits and praise startups. Pundits know how to dish it out and take it. Startups, if they're not good or don't impress me for whatever reason, don't get the press.

Why waste time on a startup going point by point as to why it sucks? The 'net is littered with half-assed attempts and blatant site clones. It's better to ignore them and let them go away than to give them air time and come across as someone who is constantly negative towards business.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

rizzn — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:50:01 -0000

I wasn't aware John had a reputation for being an ass-kisser (if I'm reading your comment correctly). Have you read his work recently? He gives praise where it's due, but he's not against calling folks out when the situation requires, either.

[Disclosure: I work for/directly with him - but I suppose that means I know his work a bit better than most]

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

scott — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:40:51 -0000

OK. I'll check out your performance at TC50 (link?). Nonetheless, if you maintain the impression that you are a soft touch when doing face to face interviews by killing those interviews where you get confrontational then the end result is the same.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

Scobleizer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:23:05 -0000

I challenge lots of people when they blow smoke up my behind. The thing is, I don't usually waste their time on camera if they do that. I've killed lots of interviews with companies that just aren't that good and, when on stage, at TC50 and faced with companies who I can't get away from then I cream them and cream them hard for wasting all of our time. Go watch the video at TC50 and you'll see that.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

scott — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:18:53 -0000

People like me? Do tell. To be clear, I don't equate "going Gillmor" with being nasty. Steve is good at asking tough questions without going there. It's easy to rip on companies in a forum where they don't have the opportunity to provide a response. If the people you interview don't expect to be challenged on anything they say then the interview becomes a commercial.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

Scobleizer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:02:19 -0000

I guess you didn't see me on stage at TechCrunch50 where I ripped a few companies. The thing is I don't waste my time interviewing lame companies. See, that's where people like you just are wrong. Totally wrong. It's clear you haven't watched enough of my work to understand what I'm doing and when it's appropriate to go "Gillmor" on someone. By the way, I am on the Gillmor Gang too and was pretty nasty to some startups on today's show.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

scott — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:48:28 -0000

You are comparing yourself to a sushi restaurant?? I would watch more of your videos if you started challenging the business people you interview à la Gillmor instead of engaging in ass kissing à la Furrier.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

Scobleizer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:02:16 -0000

What planet are you on? You must miss all the videos I do over at http://www.building43.com where I interview lots of businesses like sushi restaurants who are using Twitter. Think this stuff doesn't matter to them? Go and talk to them. I have.

Re: I have 3,571 tweets that show that Twitter isn’t for lunch anymore

scott — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:50:21 -0000

You are an edge case. Twitter will never become profitable if they cater their service to your needs.