I love that Bret, Paul, and Kevin checked in. They probably are looking at their screens and asking "what do we do now?" how about ship some new features before Facebook overlords take you off to do bigger things?
- Robert Scoble
from iPhone
I feel sorry for all you addicts. My use of it is purely social.
- Bruce Lewis
I do like FF and use it almost every day. Wouldn't it be great if FB either left it alone so we can continue to use it as "professionals," or somehow incorporate it into a more "mature" version of FB that didn't have all the annoying, time-wasting apps, games, etc. I'd much prefer a totally customizable FF "wall."
- Cathryn Hrudicka
I think FFundercats HO!!!!! would have worked but I'm here anyways.
- Jimminy Fuller
Actively fighting addiction to anything on a daily basis, but I'm still a FriendFeed fan! (I'd have been here sooner but I've been staring at Phoebe Cates pics for longer than I realized.)
- Mark "DerBingle" J
Thank you Robert Scoble to be here. :) BTW is this looks interesting for FF replacement? : http://streamy.com/ ? May be... I'll try it to see. :)
- Claude LaFrenière
Why should I? Whats in it for me? You doing some sort of survey of people to send out the police to do a "Safety Check" on when the site is shutdown?
- Uncle CW™
here. anecdote: a friend of mine just signed up for FF this evening. apparently the FriendFeed hype of the last 24 hours pushed him over the top. leaves me wondering whether FF has actually gained users today?it would be a crafty way of marketing the service. I'll wake up tomorrow to discover that there was a problem with the paperwork and the FriendFeed team have had a change of heart.
- JSLeFanu
from BuddyFeed
Count me in even though I was just starting to get hooked. I guess it's time to find a rehab and get all sobered up until the next relapse with some other new addiction. Isn't life grand?
- Usman Bashir
oh hey, look, the added an "add comment" link to the end of the comment list. Huzzah!
- Brett Kelly
from iPhone
++Jay. I was going to do the same thing yesterday but I didn't want to pay the money.
- David Cook
David -- this was a $9.95 session but you can get them for $7.95 and there are also 25% off coupons if you do online check-in prior to your Delta flight. That's an incentive for folks to use that service and offload kiosk use at the terminals. Very savvy marketing by the folks at GoGo and Delta combined.
- Jay Cuthrell
well, it's 12:12 a.m. and I'm perusing FF from my iPhone via BuddyFeed before turning in. so yeah, I guess I count. "Here!" (raises hand)
- Don Faulkner
from BuddyFeed
I recommend FF to some of my clients, and there are some companies and nonprofits with presences here—not like Twitter, but I'll be curious how that will be affected when FB takes over more. Most have FB fan pages, groups and/or causes, too.
- Cathryn Hrudicka
Yeah, me too. I just saw the request to have a comment link at the bottom of the comments from one of your friends just yesterday and here it is. I'd say they are listening. Thanks FF.
- Keith Rowland
И так чятег, пока Скобл не поговорит с нами представителями СовиетФрендфидика, все мои записи теперь можно читать в этом тредике. Пользуясь случае передаю Парню Бухайту и его команде большой привет, в связи с тем что [He can has sleep naw].
- ideali
превед кетаец! давай сегодня сделаем тебя счастливым!
- Махатма Бугоганди
точно! поэт, пародист, переводчик. известный блоггер.
- Махатма Бугоганди
я вчера был в издательстве, с меня сведения об авторе просят. давайте, говорят, напишем, где учился, что генеральный директор. и что известный блоггер.
- Махатма Бугоганди
а можно получить профессию известного блоггера? какие экзамены сдавать надо? какую специализацию лучше выбрать - микроблоггинг или аудиоподкастинг?
- Махатма Бугоганди
Один чувак пришол в чятег и говорит я известный блоггер кто тут тру на первый второй рассчитайсь. А ему говорят чувак у тебя сертификат есть что ты известный блоггер? Вот иди Зайке экзамен сдай потом приходи. А Зайка стоит такой с топором и улыбается. Щас думает счастливым его сделаю.
- Махатма Бугоганди
Я потерял интерес в данный момент. Я буду скрывать, как и любой другой. Это хромой, что вы захватили этот. Пивные правила. Спокойной ночи. :-)
- Matthew Horton
More than a friend of FriendFeed, was starting to use it as a full lifestreaming platform and loved it. It's made a whole lot of other sites make sense.
- achean
Hi, I'm Bette... I don't know if I'm an addict, but I can't stay away... I keep checking, just to see if something's new... and I cry if I get no responses to a post. Is that addictive behavior? :D
- Bette Cooper
Yup, I have blocked all the impersonators now. You will still see them, but I don't see them and they no longer can comment on any of my items.
- Robert Scoble
@scobleizer As far as I can see you have blocked not only the impersonators (who renamed themselves back the moment they found out you have a problem with this) but most of the folks who chatted there.
- Махатма Бугоганди
@meatreach yes, see next thread. Scobble becomes anti-Russian.
- Never Impersonate You
Maxatma: well, that's just too bad. I speak English. Sorry. People who don't speak English really don't have any business commenting on one of my items, except in rare cases.
- Robert Scoble
Why you, Robert Scoble, don't block users from Spain or Italy? China or arabic countries? Those users that comments on non-English languages?
- Never Impersonate You
@Robert, in fact they do speak English. But they also do make fun of Friendfeed and everything that's going on there. You can block them or take part in this fun. ;)
- Махатма Бугоганди
I prefer FF over twitter and facebook, but all my friends are on twitter and/or facebook. Maybe facebook will get it right this time now that it has acquired FF. If they simplify it a bit more without removing functionality. Then I would spend a bit more time on FB. Lets hope all goes well with the merger. If not I'm jumping ship and going over to Google Wave. oh wait, I'm going to go with Google Wave regardless! ;-)
- Captain Jack
Bu arada Russian friends Turkiye'ye selamlar gonderiyor.
- ideali
@scobleizer i can speak english and i beg you to remove bann from all russian friendfeeders, because we are all from it-community, working in internet companies and we came with peace, you asked for feedback from friendfeed addicts — we show you how really it is being frf addicts, we change names, we chat, we making things that are not serious. Why so serious? Unlock people, they are not bots, they just playing the game of real addicts and have fun. Common.
- ideali
shaun: I started this post to demonstrate that a lot of us are still here and aren't likely to leave. At least not quickly. So, life goes on after FriendFeed gets acquired by Facebook. Point proved.
- Robert Scoble
Robert He says ; Our Russian friends say to hello to Turkey
- Osman Üngür
ideali: have them send email to scobleizer@gmail.com and I'll unblock anyone who says they weren't impersonating me.
- Robert Scoble
Hector: good morning! I need coffee.
- Robert Scoble
@robert yes they (we will) stay here, I think tat the migration process will take time and after reading @Paul Bucheit, I think that what we all are trying to get even if we don't say it explicitly is to preserve a kind of intimacy (beeing a part of the Huge faceBook community) don't mean that FF community will preserve their intimacy, why should a community be a plan one, (let imagine a community as a set of sub-community) that all.
- abdellah
Wow!! So many likes and comments; is it a record Rob?
- میر «عرفان» موسوی
@scobleizer thank you, for understanding. be cool, guys we just want have fun here a little. Take care.
- ideali
@Robert RE "I have enough noise in my life. I don't need to have more" - isn't it a lot of noise having 26K subscriptions and 46K subscribers on your frf account? I'm kind of surprised - you create a community that large around yourself, yet when you see a new and unusual activity you just block it right away.
- Махатма Бугоганди
@Robert, patience? Who's talking about patience? It's about curiosity, not patience. When something strange and unusual happens around you, you can either try to stop it or try to see what it can develop into. You choose to stop - and it stopped. Well, not stopped - just moved to some other place. And do you really know what it was and what it was about to bring you?
- Махатма Бугоганди
I'm here all the way from South Africa! I dig this service and I'm not quite ready to give it up. Regardless of the news about the acquisition, this remains an awesome service.
- Paul Jacobson
I'm new to ff but find more valuable information here than anywhere else!
- Janet Crance
I don't know how I rate my addiction relative to others, but I shared Hitler's reaction upon hearing the acquisition news (despite happiness for Paul and Bret)
- Chris Duffy
I'm sure this is part of Scoble's plot to poll all the people who really read his posts, and unfollow the rest. So I raise my hand.
- Shivanand Velmurugan
Just a wannabe. Not an addict (yet).
- Carole Hicks
It might also be a way for me to filter down my "following" count (diff (my followers, scoble)) are the only people I really need to follow. Those that scoble follows, I can safely unfollow and use Scoble as my social media filter :)
- Shivanand Velmurugan
pardon the arrogance but it really sucks this great forum of sharing will turn into a myspace humdrum. Now I have to find another SM where first adopters and well informed techies won't haft to compete with general "noise"
- earl wallace
Well, here's a comment I can later delete and rob the owner of 1500!
- Matthew DeVries
I just mention the 1500 mark since it was such an iconic query to see... that and the 500 Likes club of FF posts. It's pretty exclusive stuff... but it's also sobering to note that the subject matter required to get to these levels isn't always a uniform mix of cares/concerns.
- Jay Cuthrell
When I heard the FaceBook news, I tried to quit FriendFeed and I couldn't... I'M HOOKED
- The Web's Wendell Wittler
i clicked the "1488 more comments" and my computer nearly exploded. and yes, i am using an amiga 500.
- jack
Now that I have instructions (thanks LouisGray) and figured out my Bookmarklet! I am LOVING the ease of use! addict - not quite...
- Robyn Hawk
Actually, I lied. I am not a die-hard friendfeed fan. I desperately want to be but have just not been able to get into a good "feeding" rhythm. Maybe I need to add some more friends
- Anant Gairola
I don't need to be addict. I'm just here, everyday, absorbing so many geeky info :D There's no place like FF
- Lysender
I'm still with ya, Robert. Whatever FB paid for FF, it wasn't enough!
- Donald C. Lindsay
New here, but learning. Tips for best use?
- Barbara Langham
@bdlangam From my perspective the #1 tip in this category is: Explore and define "best use" for yourself. Despite potential "finishing" impression of some productive consolidations in this collective-collaborative cognition space, the emergent #cognosphere is still WAY too nascent to assert anything other than initial impressions. March to the beat of your own drum; build your own...
more...
- michael silverton
yeah sorry, late. was at Shambhala Music Festival, I know tardy, sorry...
- sofarsoShawn
I'm getting hooked, still figuring it all out
- Michele McGraw
I think I do. Not enough contacts to make a impression.
- Michael Schlag
I'd think 10,000 users in 2 months is a pretty fast migration on a just 4 million total reach. SocialToo also isn't the only service that offers auto-follow.
- Jesse Stay
I don't think autofollow is the answer, though: Facebook does indeed have it right, at least when it comes to the Friending "transaction" both parties must accept before either can follow. With autofollow, I can't do anything about the person's following me: I can just autofollow them back or unfollow them.
- Mark Trapp
Now if they could only fix the UI and figure out a way to turn a profit. You know ... the little things :)
- AJ Kohn
Mark, I agree - in essence, Facebook has set up auto-follow of their own. A request is sent to follow, and you can *only* follow them if they follow you back. That's in essence what SocialToo offers if you enable the right preferences.
- Jesse Stay
AJ, are you talking about Facebook or Twitter?
- Jesse Stay
@Jesse: Facebook. Though Twitter has similar issues for sure.
- AJ Kohn
Mark - Anyone who wants to follow me can. That is up to them. I control who I follow. If you don't want people following you protect your updates. Facebook is at it's core private to networks/friends. Twitter is at it's core public. Neither is right/wrong... they serve different needs/demographics.
- Brian Roy
I think unidirectional follow is insane. I've tried it on Twitter for the last two months and it drives me to distraction. unidirectional follow with directed replies and a track feature are all I need.
- Karoli
Brian, I argue your method makes it even less social. You won't see my updates in your stream, and I have no way of DMing you back. A true social environment encourages 2-way conversation, and focuses on helping you build real-life relationships.
- Jesse Stay
I agree! I'm much happier using auto-follow with @SocialToo.
- Carl Black
Jesse - for me (again I think there are multiple "right" ways) The follow/friending comes after the connection, not the other way around. You mine many follows to find people who interest you. I'm interested in conversations around topics/events/subjects/etc outside of the social graph - I use what I learn there to add to my social graph. What I think you are reacting to is the challenges around discovering interesting people without adding them to your social graph.
- Brian Roy
We wouldn't know any such thing, would we? We'd know you wanted us to think that you /might/ be doing so, but can't you feed GL - and your GL friends - whatever bogus info you'd like?...
- Matthew Weymar
This was how the inauguration worked for me; I could've shot the linked video since it was from almost my same vantage point at the blue gates (couldn't tell if I was in it since it's quite jumpy as it pans). I can definitely relate to the guy weeping outside the gates; bittersweet doesn't describe what it's like to completely miss the experience you spent a lot of money and time to reach.
- Carl Black
"It's time for congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America. The only way they can do this is by supporting the adult industry and doing it quickly."
- John Reynolds
Actually, if the government was looking to do anything to help America's emotional state, and in turn it's sexual appetite, and finally still the porn industry, the first and most important step would be starting a government funded emotional healthcare program. I'm talking therapy people!!! People are depressed because they are DEPRESSING emotions they don't know how to deal with. That's is what depression is (unless it's a clinically diagnosed chemical imbalance) and the only way to treat it is to teach-
- John Reynolds
people how to deal with their emotions, specifically over what's happening in the economy and its effects on so many lives. Not only would we see an almost immediate improvement in overall human moral but most likely a decrease in crime, violence, poverty and EVEN DISEASE! It's been show repeatedly in studies that humans live longer and are more likely to die of old age than disease and sickness when they are emotionally healthy. So why do we keep pushing emotional healthcare to the back burner?
- John Reynolds
On another note, Larry Flynt is one creepy looking dude...
- John Reynolds
http://www.Microsoft.com/tag This is the coolest thing I have seen so far. You can add these color tags to things and any phone can read them. They released an iPhone app today! Free!
- Robert Scoble
from email
I like this idea. It's the same principle as scanning a supermarket barcode. We need more of this; Japan has it, after all! Thx for the post.
- Allen S.
Interesting but do we really need another one? I have three of these apps on my phone already. Barcorama seems to be the most versatile but I doubt it will have MS's new stuff. These "Smart pox" systems have been around for years in Asia, do we really need to reinvent the system?
- Kalidor
after looking at the site, it is like the QR codes, except colorful and by proxy hip
- David
yeah, QR Code is already well established in Japan.
- Toni @ NavinoT
Oh, neat! Just wish there was support for crappy old WinMobile devices like mine. (Mine runs 2003SE, and I can't afford to upgrade to something modern at this time.)
- Chris, Taskerrific Guy
This was actually one of my startup ideas from a while back. Seemed inevitable. Print Biz card with QR (or QRcode like) and use the cameraphone to scan. Additionally you would never be without a business card if you had your phone since you could use the screen to display the code, the other phone takes a pic of your screen presto.
- mikepk
also, you use the geo data in the phone to assign a location to when / where you "met" the person
- mikepk
meta data gets attached by the very act of scanning
- mikepk
chris, that was one of the things I thought was cool about this startup idea, you don't need a fancy phone (although it helps). Just snap a photo with cameraphone and email it to an online service to process. (or upload after the fact) makes it much more accesible.
- mikepk
very cool spin to something that is already in wide use in Japan. Kudos to Microsoft for seeing the applications of this. I'm going to have to try this on my phone.
- Bryan
the zune tattoo guy is going to need some more ink :-D
- Karim
Would this not be just like 2d bar codes that nokia has been doing for some time? http://mobilecodes.nokia.com/ Cool but not new for the masses just new for Microsoft possibly.
- Sloan Bowman
Hey, I was the second follower of their abandoned-looking @microsofttag account. This program looks cool but appears to be a typical MSFT rush job on all ends. Program launched a blank website, and when I tried to report the bug the form said "Special characters (< and >) are not allowed in full name." (Of course there are none in my name)
- Carl Black
Another iPhone app from Microsoft. I grabbed it, but oh yeah - I don't have any of these brand new proprietary tag images around to try it out...
- Josh Bancroft
Worked the very first time on a BB 8330 with what I thought would be an inferior photo. Very interesting. I think I'll try making a tag.
- Dave Holle II
David: yes, these are like QR codes but that work much more accurately and can be far smaller than QR codes.
- Robert Scoble
I'd like quantification of accurate and smaller. QR codes can work with over 50% of it damaged, and I have once working that are 3/4'" on each side? I wouldn't mind seeing smaller if it becomes a standard. I notice MS's website doesn't have this info? What do they say?
- Kalidor
Kalidor: the microsoft tags are smaller in size and can be read without special lenses on your cell phone. They seem to work a lot more accurately here.
- Robert Scoble
Not sure what you mean by special lenses, the Moto V220 I got from Rogers for free (so you can imagine the quality) had no problem with those squares on salty posters in TO streets? Do some phones need wide angle lenses or something then?
- Kalidor
Amani ... it's TagReader (you can also find via search on 'Microsoft')
- David HC Soul
Absolutely cool, this thing rocks. Tried it on multiple tags and it is able to recognize most of the tags easily. With even 2 MP camera phone it works great. Now the question, how do I make my own tags??
- Deepak Sharma
Oh, please. QR code are exactly the same, they work perfectly well. No news here. And more: it seems that after a period of free beta, creating tag will cost you money. Oh, dear, QR codes are free, instead. Nice try.
- Federico [Kurai]
Federico: they are not the same. Look into it. And not everything Microsoft does is evil.
- Robert Scoble
I'm not saying that this is evil. Just I don't get how this is different from QR codes (except for the fancy colours). But, don't get me wrong, Robert, I'm happy for this idea. QR rocks in Japan, but never really made their way in the rest of the world. Maybe Microsoft will be able to get this technology to spread. I think it's great for games.
- Federico [Kurai]
The Adobe TV demo of Flash doing this in a browser with a regular web cam is very cool. http://tv.adobe.com/#vi+f15... Long video but worth it. Jump to 41:00 min and 49:00min
- Andrew Smith
Created my first tag, posted to blog, took unbelievably blurry photo with my iPhone from the blog page on notebook (hand shaking, balanced on lap & low light) it took me successfully in the Safari browser right to the page. Wonderful. I'm looking at incorporating this for a Sports Hall of Fame to link exhibits to a virtual archive with supplemental information.... this will integrate a Second Place of Learning" with a virtual "Third Place of Learning" so that the two can be combined into one experience!
- David HC Soul
This is at least 7 or 8 years old technology. I have early versions of such cards laying in the bottom of boxes in my office somewhere. 2009 off to a rockin' start.
- michael silverton
michael: old cue cat scans weren't designed to be used by blurry cell phone cameras.
- Robert Scoble
I was thinking of printing bar code info on business cards that could be scanned by the G1 code reader. If this works, way cool!
- Greg Birch
I'm impressed, I work in the sign industry and this could have some interesting applications if enough people start to use it. The dialer tag worked quickly even when blurry and slightly crooked.
- Patrick Looney
mkay. but i'm sure you'd agree there's a fairly bright distinction between 'breakthrough' and 'refinement' right? why are we still awake? tomorrow will be a huge day! goodnight! ;-)
- michael silverton
Robert: QRcode worked as a charm with my E61 camera, which is not the best around (2 megapixel, more blurry than the iPhone one).
- Federico [Kurai]
I personally am a MS fan but have to say that in my opinion adding some colors doesn't really mean anything related to innovation. I think the size and ability to be read are depending on the resolution of the consumer device more than the underlying technologies and do you really think that changing the items from squares to triangles and adding some color could increase quality? Is there any academic paper about this issue?
- Kivanc Toker
And why to market a total new product from scratch rather than working together with Nokia? Theye are already embedding 2d barcode readers to their new products supporting the 2 widespread 2d barcode technologies which are QR and Datamatrix.
- Kivanc Toker
QR codes can be scanned, recognized, and stored while working offline. Microsoft tags require Internet connectivity, and they have to go through Microsoft server to be useful. It makes them only marginally better than cool, easy to type domain name.
- andrei_c
QR Codes are also in many products in Asia. Here in Hong Kong almost all products from Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Japanese cosmetic brands have QR Codes on them. BTW: @Leather the Google project is called ZXing http://tr.im/36xc
- Vinko
Can't get it to install on my non-fancy phone ;-) Guess I'll have to stick with QR codes for now!
- Nick Jones
it requires an internet connection meaning the data in the tag isn't really stored in the tag itself whereas QR codes hold all the data in their respective code. it's color also so forget about kids using this to advertise their band's party on campus using their cheap black and white printers.
- Stefan Constantinescu
@andrei_c, @Stefan The tags *could* hold all the data in the code; but less data is necessary if everything's routed through what's essentially a "tinyurl" service. I think that's what's going on here. I'm sure using tinyurl or another shortening service w/ QR yields a more legible QR code. A tag of any kind, QR or otherwise, is no good if it can't be read.
- Wade Dorrell
@Federico These can be read too. But at what angles? In what lighting? On which camera, at which quality setting? What URL, a long one or a short one? All I'm saying is using a shorter URL probably increases the odds that the code can be read, and I should say, read quickly & easily, both for QR & this tech.
- Wade Dorrell
CueCat, anyone? Still, it seems like an interesting take on QR Codes, and the 2D barcode "data pointer" concept in general.
- Tyson Key
Never had a single problem with the E61i camera (which is a pretty standard 2mpixel) in every lighting condition. The scan is fast and reliable. I really don't see the need to use a third party server just for a small increase in the reliability. Japanese are using QR for a long time now, it is an open and affordable technology. Microsoft is proprietary and less economic, with few appreciable advantages.
- Federico [Kurai]
I like it, set up a few myself. Will put on my blog that i never seem to update. Showed a friend and he set his twitter picture to it which sends the user to his blog. Be interesting to see it around.
- Simon Wicks
WARNING: PISSING & MOANING - Why must Microsoft pull this crap. There areW codes like QR which are used all over the world. Just because it hasn't caught on in America, Microsoft has to go and create their own tag that they can license for profit. This is why America is behind in tech coolness. Standards exist. Look at Japan, Finland, etc.. I'm envious of what they have and I'm pissed because it's the Microsofts of America that are preventing us from having this kind of tech.
- Pete Barry
Pete, how does Microsoft Neapolitan ice cream "prevent" us from having somebody else's vanilla? :-) if Google was on top of things, they would have rolled out QR and *integrated it with AdWords.* Print ads that drive to website = $$$$.
- Karim
[light bulb goes on over head] now if you'll excuse me, I have to go file a patent. lol
- Karim
wow -- very cool. I wonder what's going on with Google's QR
- Mike
I just wrote up my thoughts here - http://www.centernetworks.com/microso... - this is very disappointing -r eminds me of facebook connect - i really like where qr codes are going and now we get this new microsoft tag?
- Allen Stern
@waded I agree and understand, however, as long as there are places like airplanes, trains, rural areas, foreign countries with expensive roaming, etc, routing through server is a deal breaker. We aren't going to have truly ubiquitous Internet access for at least a decade. And I don't even want to start on how this limits range of devices that can support tags. Basically, it rules out everything except smartphones and laptops with attached cameras.
- andrei_c
I just tried it. It launches the IE browser on my phone (HTC Fuze) instead of the much better Opera browser. Make sure to uncheck the "Always launch IE" in settings to get it working with your default mobile browser. They should have made this the default, at least until they improve the mobile browser.
- Jim Cahill
@yesthatkarim You are absolutely right. There are choices. My fear is that the general public will go with the one that is publicized and that will be MSFT Tag. There are a handful of QR code readers for the iPhone which I've tried out and they work great. I just tried to create a MSFT Tag to try their iPhone app and they required a login. That's a big FAIL. It's just sad to see some tech companies embracing openness while others keep their doors locked.
- Pete Barry
@andrei_c supposedly the application can store the scanned tag for later use in a disconnected situation; I read that somewhere on microsoft.com.
- Wade Dorrell
There are some benefits to what Microsoft is doing; less space used for the same amount of data compared to QR/DataMatrix codes., tracking, lots of $ to push the effort. But the BIG problem I see is that Microsoft will be able to track all of these codes. QR and DataMatrix codes embed the ACTUAL data in the image. The Tag just embeds a code that the MS site uses to redirect the browser. Come on MS, just get behind a proven, public domain standard like DataMatrix.
- Mark Simonds