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I'm listening to a buyer for Procter and Gamble and he is very skeptical about Twitter, says he's not considering buying ads there.

May 12 - Comment - Like - Share

James Myatt, Patphelan, Mike Nencetti and 11 other people liked this

i didn't know there was a place to buy ads on twitter. did i miss something? - @baratunde

40 more comments

Is that good news then? Sorry, isn't that good news then? - Gilbert Harding

baratunde: there are always ways to buy ads. Did you notice all the brands on Twitter? Those are ads. My account is an ad for Rackspace, isn't it? - Robert Scoble

If the ads do come on twitter which is the best place to display them? Below the user profile or with the tweets? - ashish

I think Twitter is utterly inane and stupid, but even I won't deny there are eyeballs there - why *wouldn't* an advertiser want to be there? - Eric P

Gilbert: it might seem to be good news, but not good news for Twitter. At least not as it exists now. He says that search might get him interested in future, but not enough of the demographics he wants to reach. - Robert Scoble

@ashish Not ads in the traditional sense, more in the sense of promotion - Joel Haasnoot

I think the best use / argument for using twitter for any company is the ability to 'real time' with potential customers. P&G? I'd tell them 'you can talk to people about to do the dishes or complaining about dirty clothes the moment they note they are having an issue'. Any company that doesn't see value there is really out of it. - Andrew Leyden

Sounds like he is about to be converted. - David Damore

Here's what Twitter is against: he can reach more people in one 30 second spot on a popular TV show, like Lost, than he can in an ENTIRE DAY of YouTube. Now compare YouTube's numbers to Twitter. - Robert Scoble

I think P&G would be stupid not to be involved in the field: it'd be like waving the future goodbye. Yes Twitter is an up and coming fad, and it's "in development" as a marketplace, but is has its spot... - Joel Haasnoot

@Andrew Leyden +1 - David Damore

this is more of a case of how do they effectively justify and measure the impact of a said ad on said service, it'd be better to make good products and let users emote brand goodness via twitter than to just buy a parking space on the site - Dan Rockwell

Sell him an ad on twitter for $50 and tell him it was great ;) - Patrick Boegel

OH Ok, I always think ads in traditional format. - ashish

I would tell PG you can reach more screaming to thousands but wouldn't you rather converse with the dozen or so who are in the 'soap' aisle of the grocery store ready to make a purchase? - Andrew Leyden

@Robert Scoble: Is it about reaching tons of people OR reaching the "right" people? - David Damore

It was partly tongue in cheek Robert, but only partly. He's also right that Twitter doesn't have the demographics for soap powder. - Gilbert Harding

Yea, what David just said (I think we both said at the same time) - Andrew Leyden

Robert: that assumes the people watching Lost who don't have a DVR are watching the commercials anyway. Lost does not "reach" more people for P&G it offers the potential opportunity to reach more people but P&G still has to find a way to be heard in :30 among 5-6 other advertisers every commerical pod. - Patrick Boegel

Twitter has the demographics for "Engaged Consumer". P&G should want those folks on their side. TV ads for Hush Puppies would not have been as powerful as that small group of SoHo kids wearing Hush Puppies were for Hush Puppies. - Jerry Chacon

A smart man. - Adi

This is the same thinking that I heard 5 years ago when PR people said "we don't get blogging, why should we blog?" - Alex Scoble

This is an interesting conversation. Please add your thoughts and comments. - David Damore

It's completely backwards...you don't "buy" ads on Twitter and friendfeed. The space is free...all you need is to pay someone to spend the time to be involved in the community. If he doesn't see the value in that, then I guess he'll probably be surprised when P&G is hit hard by a viral consumer driven campaign against them at some point. - Alex Scoble

They may be able to reach more people with TV, but the conversations about Procter and Gamble is being done through Twitter. http://u.nu/53c5 - Sharon McPherson

Not everybody in on internet right now and specially twitter which is so focused on the tech savvy people. It won't hurt to start a baby step though. - ashish

What ads would he need to buy? Couldn't P&G just benefit from an account to follow potential customers and occasionally send an informative tweet? - Brendan Clancy

Tell your P&G guy that I saw a Tide truck on the highway the other day that had "Follow me on Twitter" written all over it. Seems to me they already are advertising with Twitter :) - Kevin Kuphal

They don't have to buy ads there but they should at least have accounts ;) - Nicholas James

I have to respectfully disagree with those here that don't think P&G's target market is on Twitter. Go to search.twitter.com, put in "doing laundry" and see what comes up. - Sharon McPherson

But a 30 second ad during Lost is push not pull for a start and add to that the fact you can't customise a user interaction to every single viewer of a TV programme however well profiled the audience is against P&Gs key demographics and that's if they haven't popped to the loo or gone to make a cup of tea in the break. - Crispin Heath

Just because he's not considering buying ads there doesn't mean their customers aren't there. If you're not going where your customers are or potential customers are then you are missing out on possible ways to engage people with your brand. This man clearly doesn't understand the power of the crowd. - Damien Basile from Nambu

Ironic article about how P&G considers social marketing to be the future: http://www.triplepundit.com/pages... - Kevin Kuphal

Further irony http://pampersunicef.blogspot.com/ - Patrick Boegel

I had word xerox printer on one my tweets and the next day i saw one of the xerox dealer following me and than one ink supplier. It seems like trying to hit the target with just the ear open and eyes closed. Some user won't like it and might even block such followers, think spam. In other scenario, the user might feel little close to that company and happy to receive a tweet. - ashish

@Sharon McPherson +2 for you. Nice ;) - David Damore

Maybe he should consider a FF account too considering how much feedback he has already gotten. - Brendan Clancy

@Brendan Clancy +1. Great way to have a real time focus group. Re: Friendfeed - David Damore

Procter is the classic example of the shotgun advertisement model. They are not into creating content and develop conversations which is what Social Media marketing is about. To me advertising will suit mass market products and transactional affairs the most, conversational marketing will serve services and products north of $ 80. - Guillermo Zambrano

since when can u buy ads on twitter? - Carole Hicks

Ads? See: http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2009... - Tim Tyler

Robert Scoble

If I deleted my Twitter account would a kitten die? I'm wondering cause more and more of my early adopter friends are moving to other services (I am watching).

March 30 - Comment - Like - Share

Calvin Ayre, tmas68, AKs and 109 other people liked this

Delete it. I showed the way and I have no regrets :-). I think it's the way forward. - Richard A.

186 more comments

Depends on if you can force them onto FriendFeed. Twitter has become a cesspool of spammers and celebrities, which is usually a sign that it's time for people to move on. - Mike Nayyar

other services like ? - Marco

What services are they using. - Sweyn Venderbush

What are the other services that they are switching to? - Jason

what are the other services? FF? other? - nrlaskey

Force them? It's not about forcing anyone to do anything, It's about whether you're still getting anything out of the network you're investing your time into. - Richard A.

No Kittens die. Most people will follow where you lead. - Russellreno

I'm not there yet, Richard. But I do note that Facebook is getting more interesting to the early adopter types I usually hang out with. - Robert Scoble

I'll use my mom's argument: "If all your early adopter friends jumped off a cliff, would _you_ jump off a cliff?" - Nick

Yes, I'd like to know what services too? And don't say FriendFeed :) - Michael Pilla

Why would you kill off that audience? At least keep it up with a pointer saying you can now be found at X. You know that if you delete the account, in 6 months, some blogger will write a story about how Robert Scoble doesn't get social media because he's not on Twitter and then it'll be the top story on TechMeme for at least a week. - Mark Trapp

which other other services are attracting the early-adopter crowd, Robert? Anything cool you can share with us? - Andrew Terry

I agree with Mike. Once a service has gone mainstream, it's never the same. Good example was SxSW this year. Too many people were using the hash tag for non-related things like "I fed my dog #sxsw" and it jammed up the network, making it hard for people to legitimately find events. - Allen S.

Sure, no kittens would die. But I continue to find Twitter invaluable and more useful than FriendFeed. However, FaceBook is becoming more useful as a communications and stay-in-touch tool, especially for those with whom I share a relationship of some type. - Michael Krigsman

Nah, not friendfeed, although it's interesting that this comment is getting more engagement here than on Twitter. :-) - Robert Scoble

Facebook for the win. It is more interesting to me also. Amazing how they did that. - Russellreno

What are the other services??? - Jennifer Windrum

Michael: Facebook is the one I'm thinking of. It's coming on very strong with the types of people who made Twitter popular. - Robert Scoble

@Mike, I was thinking the same thing. We are early adopters (ok, some are earlier than me) and we enjoy the close nit friendships created and nurtured through small groups. - Damond Nollan

I think you should keep your Twitter account to follow the evolution of Twitter into FriendFeed, through all kind of bolt-on services like Twitpic and Twerbose ( http://twerbose.com/ ). - Meryn Stol

Trapp, because that audience is only interesting if you get it onto a more conversational platform where anyone can make sense of the conversation a month after it happened. Twitter makes that impossible. - Richard A.

this is the classic age old early adopter twitch, if you were a real early adopter you wouldnt be asking and you'd be gone already.. fear not however, where ever you go, the masses will follow - Dan Rockwell

Why delete it? To make a statement? Just abandoning it quietly is a better choice. - Brian Sullivan

Robert; If twitter was alive and well people would be chatting, not retweeting, they would be conversing with more than one tweet per day per person. - Richard A.

I'm liking Facebook much more since it's a direct FriendFeed copy, but it'll need to go asymmetrical to kill Twitter. - Steve Isaacs

I agree that Facebook is becoming more interesting. What I'd like though, is a version of Facebook that doesn't allow any of the really stupid applications. I'm sick of getting poked, hit with a pillow, being served fake beers, etc. - Chrimmus Tad

Dan: I was a big Facebook user right around when the Platform came out. Then I moved to Twitter cause more of the people I liked to talk with were there. Now I notice the flow is headed back to Facebook and I'm not the only one to make that observation. - Robert Scoble

the day Facebook will share outward their status update, then it may kill everything else around.... i don't think it can yet. - Yann Ropars

@Robert: I suspect you've inadvertently validated why projects like Yammer and ESME should do well - 'your early adopter friends' says it all - it's about YOUR community, not everyone's. - Dennis Howlett

No, seriously...what other services? - Adam Gonnerman

I use multiple social networking tools. - Dan Krivolavek from twhirl

Robert: All my real life friends, and all those I trust are on FB, those I don't trust yet are spread to other networks for the moment. - Richard A.

Robert: I get why you want to make the personal statement, but given your new role at Rackspace I'd say you really have to be everywhere. - Ken Sheppardson

and, what's motivating your friends to move? Are other services offering features that Twitter lacks, or is it because they consider Twitter to be too mainstream/overcrowded now? - Andrew Terry

Yann: not yet, but Facebook is moving in that direction. - Robert Scoble

so long as you tell us where you're moving, LOL. - Kayce Maisel

Someone's discovered the Real-time View :) - Richard pancakhaus Walker

Kayce, he wouldn't be moving ;-). He would simply be re-focusing on another service ;-) - Richard A.

Andrew: everyone has a different answer. Most of them say they must be on Facebook because their normal friends are there, but aren't on Twitter. Facebook is growing far faster (in terms of people) than Twitter is. Just passed 200 million users, while Twitter is at about 10 million. - Robert Scoble

i think facebook would be more interesting if they made all profiles public, ala twitter. The openness of twitter is really the win. If facebook can do that then I will consider seriously using it. - akeem adeniji

Richard W, I've been using the realtime view for weeks by now, or for a while anyway, I live in i. When I'm here. - Richard A.

I think that any process of "flow" between platforms isn't necessarily final, So I say : keep it. You may need to go back. - Iain Baker

Still a strong believer in Facebook for personal friends/family, Twitter for public engagement/networking. They work together. - Ian Mikutel

I think microblogging transcends the specific service you happen to be using. The interesting thing about Twitter is that it's a sort of lowest-common-denominator microblogging platform that makes for a good place for all of the various streams to dump into and/or a good starting point to feed into your other services. But focus will gradually shift from the specific service to the microblog stream as a whole. - Grey Drane

Twitter is mainstream now; usually indicates the demise is forthcoming - Tom Allinder

Akeem, there's no way I want my FB profile public. - Richard A.

What specific functions is Facebook enabling/offering now that are you seeing that is attracting the early adopters back & causing you to consider this? Is it much more than the feed & grouping? - Lyn Graft

Ian: that was Facebook of yesterday. Zuckerberg told me Facebook will have a public engagement piece too. This is very important for brands, celebrities, news organizations (which is where Twitter is getting its hype). But Facebook is far more engaging, especially now that they copied friendfeed's features (albeit not as well) and Twitter's river of noise. - Robert Scoble

Judy you're one person I would never follow on twitter in that case. - Richard A.

Scoble, just delete the thing and be done with it! Who cares if you have a place to land... you yourself recently jumped without a net and it turned out okay. Kill it. You'll sleep better at night. And I agree with Tad, fake beers are teh suk! - Jim Is Not Smart

I am not so sure. Twitter is exactly good because it produces some noise. Noise good, since it allows one to be creative in filtering the information out. It gives much more room for chance than e.g. Facebook. If one bunkers into their peer groups, inspiration becomes a very hard thing to get by. - Mark Jacobs

@Richard how am I supposed to find you on facebook and to discuss similar things if we have never met and aren't in the same groups? - akeem adeniji

Jim: I had to check if a kitten would die first. :-) - Robert Scoble

do it maan... its da way forward :) - simran from twhirl

Robert, the difference is facebook is more like a village in outlook, there's a good chance many of your friends know many of your other friends. It's a much nicer and social community. We have a lot more freedom in what we post there. - Richard A.

@Mark - Exactly! - Grey Drane

I foresee Twitter usage reverting back to status updates, and the micro-blog moving to services with better conversation and filtering/grouping capabilities (like FriendFeed). - Daniel Sims

Sounds like a great example of jumping on and off bandwagons as they go by. You can post to Twitter from Facebook and vice versa. With Ping.fm. you can post to all the social networks you belong to and spend as much time in whatever platform you want. - Paul

I don't know if this matters to you or not, but I found Robert and others through Twitter. I "thought" I was connected and well read in the technology/web industry, but with Twitter (and now FriendFeed) I was introduced to a whole new world with new players. If you go back to Facebook alone, I'm afraid people like me would miss out on good people like you. Fortunately, I've subscribed to a great many of industry leaders' blogs, so I guess you can go anywhere and I would be fine, but there are others who. - Damond Nollan

I told you twitter managment would kill twitter ;-) :-) happy to see it's turning into a reality slowly. Of course this is only a problem for early adopters. - Richard A.

Paul: I watch engagement, not posting behavior. If you post a Tweet and no one is on Twitter to listen to it, did it really matter? - Robert Scoble

...haven't been fortunate enough to meet you. I say, do what you feel is best, but know you take a lot of folks with you. - Damond Nollan

Richard: I've been doing online communities since 1984. The normal people ALWAYS follow the early adopters. I can't think of an example where that was not the case. Early adopters used to be on Prodigy. We aren't anymore. Neither is anyone else. Same for CompuServe. Usenet. AOL. Etc. Etc. - Robert Scoble

This is how active twitter conversations would have been at one time, Hundreds of tweets on the topic, and you would have followed back many of these people as a result. It would have helped with meeting new people :-) - Richard A.

Next service to fall... Friendfeed? - Jordi Soler

Robert: What's your view on the current best replacement for Twitter? - Michael Krigsman

LOL at Robert. Did you land on a LOLcat? - Jim Is Not Smart

Michael: there isn't yet a good replacement, although Facebook is definitely moving in that direction. - Robert Scoble

ability to tweak friend lists in FB allows de facto asymmetry - just create a "follow" list to see more of, dump all those you wouldn't follow onto a "view less list," drag and drop the more list to the top so FB defaults to it... - Todd Randolph

Curiously, there are 5 million comments here on FF, and I saw only 2 @ reply on Twitter...from @JMaultasch and @SashaKane...so far, FF wins as a forum where people participate (as opposed to sell). - Eric Matas

Todd, advantage of lists on Facebook is you can sort your friends according to geography and how you know them. Makes seeing the most relevant news easier as a result, doesn't mean you pay any less attention. - Richard A.

Eric: Why do you think I jumped from twitter to here? I came for the community. - Richard A.

Do you have a list of your early adopter friends? - Paul Sanchez

Twitter is morphing into many different business models (at an alarming pace) and the twitter feeds will continue to be the lifeblood in these new startups. - Whip

Why do we need to move on like this was a clubbing scene? I think Twitter has its place in the ecology, so has FriendFeed. I would feel most uncomfortable in relating to people I have not met in person on Facebook mostly. Once we go back there, we may as well call LinkedIn or Xing as the next big thing. - Mark Jacobs

Robert: Keep one thing in mind, all your twitter friends were imported onto Friendfeed the day you did that sync, as a result everyone is still followed, but on a different platform :-) - Richard A.

I just retweeted and searched...was the 3rd to retweet. Thought the cat part would grab more attention... - Eric Matas

Heavens no Scoble. - Roberto Bonini

Robert: Facebook just doesn't have Twitter's ability to easily sift and find interesting new folks in one's particular area of personal interest. That's what I *NEED* and Twitter does it excellently. - Michael Krigsman

No kittens would die if @scobleizer swam away from the fail whale. - Bernie Goldbach

I think your kitten would simply ask for a cheezeburger. While Facebook status is becoming more Twitter like, I've found myself using Twitter much more since the demise of Pownce (deep sigh). In my world though Facebook and Twitter are tools I use to connect with different audiences. FB I use primarily for connecting with real world friends, while Twitter is more about sharing info with Webdev/mktg peers. And I like that Twitter is less cluttered even though we're seeing more new spammy users. - Heidi Cool

Robert, are you sure about that? Do you really know how many times you have mentioned a service on Twitter or Friendfeed or your blg that didn't result in I or others going to that service to find out what it is all about? Adopting an app that you pointed to (e.g. Twhirl). If your measuring engagement by the number of people that respond directly to a post then you and other early adopters are sorely underestimating your reach. - Paul

I think Twitter still has quite a bit of use. FriendFeed never seemed to have pick up that kind of attention (though I wish it did - its great for conversations!) - Colin Charles from twhirl

I think the problem with friendfeed is with its interface... it's a pita - Marco

Paul: I know there's quite a bit of engagement on Twitter, but other services are going up while Twitter isn't growing so quickly. I track these things. - Robert Scoble

You mind sharing a few of the early adopters names :) - Paul Sanchez

Is this comment bait? :) I don't see any benefit to deleating your Twitter. Would you have chosen to delete your radio blog because you were moving on to wordpress? - Christian Burns

Robert, Would you please give some examples of services that might be better? - Andrew Pass

Marc: online communities are a LOT like the clubbing scene and that's exactly why some get more popular and others get less. - Robert Scoble

If early adopters did start jumping off a cliff, I'd be very interested in the cliff. - Eolaí gan Fhéile

Marco, only thing missing from Friendfeed is to see when people have commented to something you've said, then it would be much more useful. - Richard A.

Robert, just wondering: What kind of response do you get on Facebook on questions like these? - Meryn Stol

Meryn: not as strong because I haven't participated in Facebook for more than a year. I should try. - Robert Scoble

Twitter is much more like an index, without much real / meaningful conversation. Not to say that individual posts aren't meaningful, but they usually lead to real value somewhere else. Friendfeed has much more in-depth conversations. For me, the question is still out there on facebook - it still is mostly a light hearted socializing tool, without much serious value. At least, not yet with the people I know who use it. - Chris Rogers

Robert, if you move to Facebook I would die, because I'm not in your 5,000. :-( - Jesse Stay

I agree with Steve, FB would have to go asymmetrical. Only the very tiniest percentage of contacts I have on FB are people I have not interacted with in person face-to-face at some point in my life. - Andy Kruger

Some of my twitter followers who used to Lifestream in public seem to have moved that function to Facebook... starting in the immediate days following the redesign and the ensuing hubbub. - Ahsan Ali aka. Slick

I don't think FB is as interesting as Friendfeed. I really do think Friendfeed is the most interesting community to be part of at the moment. It has the potential to build new onlines communities without the hassle of knowing those people in person. - Richard A.

Like many of the others, I use FB for friends/family. Twitter is where I am getting/sometimes sharing info on tech things that interest me. - Sherri

Hmm I think it would be quite exciting if the "FriendFeed ethos" would get transferred to Facebook. - Meryn Stol

Meryn: keep in mind that up to today Facebook is only for discussing stuff with your friends. For me Facebook is capped at 5,000 friends. Facebook's more public entity, though, AKA "Pages," are being expanded and will get more of an equal billing on the social graph. On friendfeed I have 31,000 followers, and this message went to Twitter where I have 76,000 followers. So, that's a LOT more people than I touch on Facebook. - Robert Scoble

@Chris - Yep! Use Twitter to find the interesting stuff, then follow the tidbit to wherever else it leads in order to discuss it and find the real value in it. - Grey Drane

why not use identi.ca? - very calm there - Wittkewitz News

Meryn: actually that's EXACTLY why Twitter is getting more hype, but why people who aren't celebrities (IE, don't have more than 5,000 followers, which includes most of my "early adopter" friends) are not feeling the Twitter love so much anymore. - Robert Scoble

I'm amused at this conversation because none of you are aknowledging friendfeed as a platform. That's where I came when I deleted my twitter account. I was among the 200 most active users of twitter at the time. - Richard A.

I second what Richard Azia said: "Marco, only thing missing from Friendfeed is to see when people have commented to something you've said, then it would be much more useful." - Rick Bucich

It's kind of funny -- when you said "early adopter friends" I thought you meant a "new" service. You're just going back to Facebbok because they've added some better features and have gotten a bump of mindshare. Then some other service will evolve their features, etc. and people will go back.... What I think is really important is the recognition that Twitter, FF, etc. aren't really... more... - Steve Lynch from twhirl

Steve "bump in mindshare?" Hah! 200 million users is more than a "bump in mindshare." Twitter actually has gotten a bump in mindshare lately. Everytime I turn on the radio or TV I hear about Twitter, it seems. - Robert Scoble

Great debate - Dave

Hmm I think it would be a shame if you left FriendFeed. For me it's all about the loose-ties. :) And Twitter, in it's current incarnation (e.g. without a very advanced client, turning it into something similar to FF) just doesn't work if you want to discuss anything but the simplest things. - Meryn Stol

I hear about twitter a lot more but I don't see anyone using it anymore? Are there any signs that people are still reading tweets, rather than just posting? - Richard A.

for an early adopter, a site /technology become's stale within 6-9 months.. the hype and fun is finito.. as such I was active from feb/07 .. I think I was the 300th odd person on twitter and by OCt/08.. I hardly use twitter.. yes early adopters keep moving on.. thats why they are called "early adopters" :)- - Peter Dawson

Mohamed: Heheh. Even if you have thousands of friends you can't publish to the public (ie, Google can't index your facebook stuff). That's one reason why Twitter and friendfeed are more interesting. - Robert Scoble

If a person uses Twitter because they want people to follow and pay them attention, I could care less. Twitter continues to be a useful micro-blogging tool, as long as it is free. If Twitter is fun, I'll use it. If it is just a new way to market shit, and if they start charging for it, I'll be gone. It seems that people are now getting more attention just for leaving Twitter. Good riddance. - John Johnson

Facebook is trying to be everything. The path from Yearbook to Aggregator-cum-microblogger is long and hard. - Ahsan Ali aka. Slick

So there is no equivalent to this on FaceBook? http://twitter.com/search... Because that is one of the most interesting things about Twitter. Following subjects is often more interesting than following people. - Matt Griffith

Let me ask a question back to you. What value would you derive from deleting your Twitter account? - Thomas Hawk

Thomas: well, I would get a lot less auto DM spam. :-) - Robert Scoble

Didn't Leo delete his Twitter account at one point? - Thomas Hawk

Thomas: yeah, he did, then he came back. Hasn't seemed to hurt him, other than he isn't on Twitter's recommended follower list. - Robert Scoble

But why would less DM spam matter? How would deleting the account provide more value than simply leaving it intact and ignoring it? - Thomas Hawk

I triple dog dare ya. - timedalkat from twhirl

Thomas, I think he just "left" for awhile and returned when it was clear Jaiku didn't have enough people on it - Richard pancakhaus Walker

another thing that friendfeed has not: a decent client - Marco

Thomas, You can't ignore a twitter account, that's why :-), There's no way you can walk away from a functioning account. Many of us have tried and not quite succeeded more than 8 days. - Richard A.

I guess my point is why delete the account? Simply ignore it. That way if you decide later on that you want to come back it's still there. You might find that you want it back at some point. At a minimum though you can still direct your FF content there which includes a link back to your conversation here with every tweet. I'd think this would be a good encouragement for people not on FF yet who are on Twitter to find you here. - Thomas Hawk

that and maybe change your bio I'm mostly participating on FF or Facebook or whatever. - Thomas Hawk

personally I find FF far, far, more engaging than Facebook. But maybe that's just me. - Thomas Hawk

Thomas I agree wih you, I like FF for that. - Richard A.

This is one of those threads that's just too big/fast to try to catch up at this point, but instead of being the jerk who comes in and says something that was said early in the thread because they're too lazy/busy to catch up, I'll just demonstrate what you're supposed to do in this situation. *shuts up* - Matthew DeVries

Twitter is becoming mainstream, even in such backwards countries as Ukraine. For a true geek, it is a sure sign to get out of here! However, for me it is still interesting for the dynamics of signal/noise ratio within system. - Pavlo Zahozhenko

Yeah, but to your point, you can't talk to the public and a lot more people will follow you on Twitter that will never friend you on Facebook. I'm speaking generally, here. - Steve Lynch from twhirl

This really is just an intellectual exercise, right? How can you be talking about all this Building43 stuff and promoting "social media" then turn around and talk about disappearing from the "social media" service with more MSM press/attention than any other right now? - Ken Sheppardson

What would YOU gain from deleting it? is it more than you would gain from keeping it? You use Twitter in your own way which is most likely vastly different than anyone else who uses it, but that doesn't matter, it's up to you to decide how to use it and how to gain value out of it. It is a tool. Whether or not you want to delete it should be based on what YOU think in terms of value, not others. - Ivan Lukianchuk

Ken: It's April 1, take that in mind. Yes, it's just an intellectual exercise, although I was dreaming about it last night so at least part of me wants to do it. Building43 is for people fanatical about the Internet, not going to be about any one thing or even just about social media. - Robert Scoble

Robert: April 1 is Wednesday. You going to keep this up for three days? :-O - Ken Sheppardson

Within two months your account will be deleted. There's a chance. If you think about it then it's not just a thought, there's a reason there, somewhere. - Richard A.

Ivan: overall I would probably lose more than I'd gain, but I've learned in life that you must destroy before you can build. When Vegas builds a new casino they tear down the old one first. The trick is to know when the right time is to tear down the old one. :-) - Robert Scoble

Azia, you are using the "royal we" or you are talking about an undefined group... and I personally wouldn't make such over-generalizations even with a :-) - Richard pancakhaus Walker

in this atmosphere of many super-user account, a simple account is useless. - abdellah

Steve: unlimited friends are coming to Facebook "soon." (We already have them on Pages). - Robert Scoble

Besides, Twitter is a lot easier to use and more open... and there's no application spam. I hate app spam. - Steve Lynch from twhirl

Yeah, but there's still a signal-to-noise problem. FB wants to be your social presence on the Web. People don't want an unsuable presence on the Web. They want to see what parties their friends are having and what their high school ex-girlfriend is up to. As a richer social medium, Facebook is much more vulnerable to Dunbar-number-type limitations for the average user. When someone... more... - Steve Lynch from twhirl

Does anyone know the mean or median number of friends for FB users? - Steve Lynch from twhirl

ccheath just said 120. makes sense. - Steve Lynch from twhirl

It's interesting, but as a non-blogging, earlier-than-early-adopter-burnout, FB feels like AOL to me in an uncomfortable way. In spite of that creepy feeling, it seems to be where I get the most engagement for the least amount of effort. Of course, my FB circle is a tight one of 99% friends from over the past 30 yrs. Seems I only glance at Twitter & interact more deliberately on FF. FB is pointing out I seem to have less in common with my friends & I'm less friendly with common-interest acquaintances. - ɐ ɯıʞ sıɹɥɔ

Twitter is "mainstream" with 10 million users, but Facebook with 200 million isn't? FB is a mess and whenever I log on I start getting real-time chat requests from people I haven't talked to in 10 years. I find Twitter to be a superior experience so far. - Pete Smith

It's been interesting to watch the evolution of Twitter. Sadly now there is a tremendously large amount of noise covering up the best signal. Even worse, the changes that have occurred to Twitter as a result of the flood of people from the masses has been painful. I much prefer the Twitter of circa June 2008 and just prior when there was more functionality (a la track) and better discussion. In fact I much prefer seeing the fail whale than seeing Britney Spears occupying such a large mind-share there. - Chris Aldrich

+1000 to chris kim a. FB feels like AOL to me - tons of spam, tons of intimate minutia, very little engaging content. I DON'T WANT YOUR PLANTS. It feels like work and doesn't relate to anything outside of itself. FF offers engaging, substantive conversations sprinkled with LOLCats. Twitter offers bite-sized entertainment, and (some) real-time interaction that doesn't have to involve a chat client. I prefer the latter two and consume most of my content there. - Jennifer Dittrich

Facebook is a student community where the students have graduated as a result of which more options are now offered. When are people going to remember that fact? - Richard A.

Where are your friends going instead? - Rae Gross

via PETA autobot: STOP MURDERING SEA-KITTENS, ROBERT SCOBLE! :) - Richard pancakhaus Walker

@Richard_Azia: I've always been clear on that point, which is part of what makes it so disturbing. Finally, my RL friends (now the parents of the original target FB audience) -- but to my horror, they have regressed into Super-Poking, Green-Patching Hippie-Gifters. Look, if you can SuperPoke me, then you can post a "hey how are you?" to my In box or wall. Frankly, I don't find the games of FB particularly engaging as a 21st-Century version of pigtails in inkwells, either. - ɐ ɯıʞ sıɹɥɔ

@Steve +1 to app spam on FB. Hate it! - Grey Drane from BuddyFeed

Chris Kim, that's why I ignore all requests. Much easier to ignore them than to reject them. Luckily those I know hardly spend any time doing all those things. - Richard A.

If you deleted your account what would happen to the scobleizer name. Could someone else claim it? Or is once a name used on Twitter it is forever off the table? If you changed your mind later could you get the scobleizer handle back? - Thomas Hawk

Thomas: I don't know. I won't delete it, though. It was mostly a fantasy I was having last night. See, normal people dream of supermodels or getting a cool car. Me? I dream of deleting my Twitter account. :-) - Robert Scoble

@Scobleizer "But I do note that Facebook is getting more interesting to the early adopter types I usually hang out with" I would say "for Internet newbies" LOL Green Houses (Walled Gardens) are usually better for a start - no scary wolfs like in Green Forrest ROFL :D - Lora Lufark

I refuse to believe true early adopters are all-of-a-sudden enamored with Facebook because they copied a few things from Twitter and Friendfeed...then again... - Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah

And here we are, the very reason I continue to hold that FF is my favorite engagement tool. These comment-baiting discussions naturally epitomize the value of eating one's own dog food while also pointing out that there are more dishes at this potluck than the one you bring yourself. - ɐ ɯıʞ sıɹɥɔ

Offer your account on eBay and see who bids. Then sell them something else. - Louis Gray

Never delete a well-known account. If you were to delete the Twitter account, then some offshore porn gambling site would grab the @scobleizer name. That having been said, Twitter is seeming to become a "must have" thing, so even if you don't use it, you need to establish a presence there. - John E. Bredehoft

I just don't see the what Twitter gives you when you have FriendFeed. - TranceMist

TranceMist - With all of the recent news coverage of Twitter, a lot of people are on Twitter who haven't yet learned about FriendFeed and they will ask the opposite question that you just asked. - Aaron Hood

If Scoble deleted his twitter account it must be the results of Global Warming - rob friedman from twhirl

Rename it then auction it off. - Ryan Stanley

No, might not die, but but Kitty would be sad: http://tinyurl.com/c8fcc3 - Sarah Garnsey

I don't see why you'd delete it rather than just not tweet, other than a very visible snub to the Twitter guys, right? - jjprojects

I doubt that Twitter would miss you, though your ego obviously tells you otherwise. - Stan Scott

Seriously? You guys just realized that Facebook is interesting? I've looked up to you... I had no idea I was already ahead. - Jaica Kinsman

Robert - I've made the same conclusion as you re: Facebook gaining popularity fast with early adopters like myself, who by the way are not able to connect with you on facebook due to 5K cap. Don't delete twitter, just move to where you prefer to engage your communities. - Susan Beebe

Facebook is the new AOL. I am using Facebook more often to stay connected with Mom and the family, but I would not replace twitter with it. no way. - Karoli from BuddyFeed

Maybe early adopters are spending time on Facebook to try to figure out its appeal. I think they'll conclude it's just network effects and empty virality, then leave again. - Bruce Lewis

You actually still use both? I thought you'd moved exclusively to FriendFeed... Who cares about Twitter anymore? IT SUCKS! - LarchOye

Experiment: If I say "SEO" or "peanut butter" in this FriendFeed post, let's see how long it takes Jiffy peanut butter company or their "SEO Expert" to subscribe to my FriendFeed to try and sell me something. Ready, set, go! (I like twitter, but it's becoming a drag because the marketing spam is now so damn predictable.) - TheMacMommy

Is there a Mac solution yet for porting our twitter buds (the ones we actually want to follow) into FriendFeed? I was looking but gave up on it for a little while. Anyone know the scoop on that? I'll admit, I'm lazy. I want a script to do it for me. on the Mac. - TheMacMommy

I really hope you don't start to use Facebook instead of Twitter. I don't like Facebook at all.. - Peter

Facebook first movers are migrating to twitter. So there is nothing unnatural in this. People move back and forth all the time. The grass is always greener on the other side etc etc... - Dennis Bjørn Petersen from twhirl

I entered twitter late and realize friendfeed is mindcastier than twitter... - Arunn

Mindcastier? - Richard A.

Only the Calico ones? - rob friedman

Robert, Why don't you just increase your activity on Facebook and decrease it on Twitter and then if Facebook is alot better then Twitter then fully convert and if not, you've still got 19k updates and 77k followers ;) - Nicholas James

You can install (or ask a coder to develop) a Facebook App that sends your status updates (and shared links, etc.) to Twitter. You have a history with getting your data out of Facebook, but I guess Zuckerberg now knows you better. This is what most brands do: they make the effort to be everywhere, to suit they many followers. Or you can re-use Jaiku recently opened source (+ App Engine) to make the micro-blogging platform or your dreams. - Bertil Hatt

I hardly use Twitter these days. - Jim Connolly

Interesting thread. I can see why Robert is saying Facebook. It has been the place that I gave received the most interaction these past few months. True that, I am just a wee one and most of my FB friends are real world friends. :-) - Mathew A. Koeneker

information overload.... my nose is bleeding,...shutdown imminent 3....2........1....... (no kitten would die, btw) - ilter

Twitter is useful, though FriendFeed appears to be more so. - Calvin Ayre

Robert Scoble

Is the real-time web a threat to Google search? - http://scobleizer.com/2009...

February 9 from Scobleizer -- Tech geek... - Comment - Like - Share

Chris Patterson, Eric Bowen, Iggy Mwangi and 90 other people liked this

Yes. - Meryn Stol

55 more comments

All about how friendfeed search is kicking ass and taking no prisoners. - Robert Scoble

Yes and no, but considering they want to be the end all be all of the web- then Yes. - Dan Rockwell

Glad to see there are still white spaces that google is yet to squat. - Jim Posner

First of all Yes, it is a threat for google! I see you why the question popped up. I just hope twitter understands the importance of integrating the search in their - Sampad Swain

could be a big play. my tweet 2h ago http://twitter.com/cemi... - Cem Dalgic

Yes! I can ask my friends and followers a question on Twitter and get better answers from them than Google search, simply because I trust real people and their judgments. - Jennifer James

no, it just gives early adopter like you/us some advance. The average user will continue to drink their usual website information. But if Google doesn't achieve to do the same as FF and this is a need, they will buy them ;-) - Frédéric Sidler

Yes, it is! I just hope twitter don't forget to give much importance to the integration of the search since monetization is one of the biggest question in their mind. Still they goto remember that google didn't earn much the moment they launched google-search. Something so important does take sometime to evolve as, I see it! Infact I see for the 1st time that their is a feeble chance that something can give shot at search in google's arena! - Sampad Swain

in need for creative destruction (yet again) in the search marketspace. let's see if google can jump the curve - Yung-Hui Lim

My 2 cents: real time is about things happening now, being up to date with your friends, areas of interest, etc - out of all these conversations only some live up to be relevant in the long run - and this is where google steps in to sort out - Lucian Nicolescu

I think the argument shaping up is trusted info (Twitter, FF) vs anonymous info (Google, et al.) - Jon Mason

Yeah, it definitely is a threat. All the web needed was a central place to discuss what is happening right now, and Twitter is it. For real-time news, there is nothing better than Twitter. I only wish I could participate in creating that real time awareness, but can't because I'm protected on Twitter. - Scott Breakall

so mahalo + google = twitter ? - Cem Dalgic

No threat at all. I can't name five university or high school friends that use any realtime websites. Friendfeed is no threat to google search. - Richard A.

Yes, it is a threat. First googlebot went out and started crawling and indexing. Now people let google know (and other services know) when they updated their blog, think of xml-sitemaps, ping services. What is the next step? Take a look at google friend-connect and you might have an answer. - Imran Ashraf

hard to call it a threat when Google can just imitate or purchase the tech, but I agree that it could change the game. I hope you folks at friendfeed see this and keep improving and pushing search - and monetize it somehow! - David Knight

Is the real time web a threat to Google search -- maybe sometime in the future. Is Twitter a threat to Google as Moorman indicates? Never in a million years. Twitter is a toy, a fad, like CB radio in the 70's. - Brian Sullivan

I would say the bigger threat (and to the web, not just Google) is people putting their personal data into proprietary silos. I'm not talking about FriendFeed here, but lots of people are putting their data into places where not only 1) not only no general search engine can reach, but 2) people can't always get their own data back. - Matt Cutts

@Matt - I agree with you there I wish more services would do something like Wesabe's Bill of Right - https://www.wesabe.com/page... It makes me feel much better about trusting them with something as important as my financial information. - David Knight

Wow I never i quite thought of it like that, I getting into this instant gratification mode lately, this is why... real-time web - Tate DA FF MVP

when more of the web embraces real time it will be, for now google is safe - BCK

Left a comment on your blog saying something similar but hasn't been approved as yet. Basically all the search functionality that you speak about is possible with google search. However, the real-time and trust aspects are something that google is going to have to work on. They have introduced the ability to flag a search result as the one you were looking for. Eventually, if it isn't already, google will feed this into their search results and probably put something like X people recommended this. - Phil Leggetter

Wouldn't it be easy for Google to expand its command line language? For instance, to search on Friendfeed from Google: /ff *searchexpression - Sean McBride

Excellent points Robert. I agree, I come here now to gain personal opinion on factual issues to sway me in a particular direction. For purchasing, this was the power of Amazon reviews for products, but that doesn't cover everything and I trust the people here more. For example, I'd rather get a web application opinion from Zee in the Apps room than a Google search. I know he knows what he's talking about :) - Eric @ CSTechcast.com

Yes, in many ways! - Emmanuel Anumonwo

As a journalist, one of the laws I follow in reading stories is that "any story which ends in a question mark can be answered 'no'". This is no exception :) - Ian Betteridge

No - there will still be an archive that needs to be searchable - andy brudtkuhl

Ian, you must create an exception for this rule for questions posted by Robert. He's of a very special breed. :) - Meryn Stol

Friendfeed needs to move quickly to make itself more commercial, most people do not yet understand Friendfeed. Twitter is a lot easier for the mainstream and Facebook already has the numbers. - Chris Frost

I agree with your statement regarding FriendFeed. I keep seeing posts from Scoble and I wanted to know how I can maximize the service. I'm still not quite sure of the answer but if I keep playing with it and meeting others who use it then maybe I'll get a grip. - Damond Nollan

I still think that if you're going to have a converstation and don't want a word limit (like twitter does.) FriendFeed is the way to go. I see a lot of people interrupt a converstation on twitter becuase they think that they're invovled in, when they're not. - Patrick from twhirl

twitter search is most of the time the better alternative to google search - Thomas Acosta from Nambu

Little OT: often Delicious and Reddit offer better search results than Google. Not real-time results, but filtered by people interest. - bnoise

Integrate Gtalk / Twitter into Google Latitude and that's all the real-time web I'd need! 10 Reasosn Latitude will succeed (The Next Web) http://thenextweb.com/2009... - David Petherick from twhirl

No. This is dumb. I'd rather get results that are 15 minutes old and *accurate* than right this minute completely unverified results. Social search (who seriously cares if it's "real time"?), will be a game changer though. Which Facebook and Friendfeed are well positioned to make headway in. Not Twitter. - Eric P

I wonder if this emerging trend will give rise to twitter users being paid for click-throughs on links in their tweets; why not? If the link is relevant, truly written by someone I trust, and meets my need, I'm all in favor of that person being rewarded monetarily (and socially in terms of increased trust capital between myself and that person). Twitter could shave a few cents off the top and actually monetize their service while not disrupting the signal-noise balance. Your thoughts? @socialtopher - Chris Stewart

@codinghorror and @scobleizer should get together - You.

Are we coming full circle? [near-]Real-time, archivable discussions were the stuff of Usenet 20 years ago. Sure, it's more "web", but there's much about how a discussion starts, blossoms and expires in FriendFeed that is comfortingly familiar somehow. So could FriendFeed be the new Usenet, where instead of news servers relaying posts blindly to the next-in-line, we have information distributed and filtered via mechanisms based on human interaction and recommendation? - Paul Robertson

I think there are a lot of people who don't have the time to keep up with the real-time Web. That having been said, I think there are some opportunities to expand Google Alerts as a product.... - Steve Lynch from twhirl

rtw humans are preferable to the algorithms since the algo's have an industry (SEO) consumed. IMO the first one evolving the real time web into mainstream information retrieval wins - shayne catrett

Is it a threat? No, it's not. Just because some CEO has a theory and Robert Scoble is using Google less does not mean it's so. I like that you have posed the question, but you've also started to make a point. If I'm looking for an opinion, I might turn to my 'friends'...that being, my real friends. - Ryan

It's not a threat, but it does give us options - paul mooney

Interesting - I'm writing a blog post about this right now. Long story short - no, real-time web is not a threat to Google search. Recency is flawed (hey, how many times would Steve Jobs be dead now?!) and authority is flawed (real-time web spam is a problem.) - AJ Kohn

I agree real time can be helpful, but will not be a threat to Google. The volume and history that google has adds scope and context to searches that real time can not. - walterh

This just means that Google will need to look into real time indexes, parsing Twitter and FriendFeed feed's, although this will cost a lot b/c there can't be much/any caching. If they dont will we see another Google, are we back to '97, a whole medium without any search? - Brad Arsenault from twhirl

Google is like a Casino, if you think you have a system that can beat the house, they'll send a limo to pick you up and bring you down to try. Then, if your system actually works, they'll buy it and make you a pit-boss... - Wallace

I think it is more a threat to SEO - when many people ask their network before they search, being found becomes more than buying adwords and optimising the site... and that in turn might erode some of google's advertising revenue. - Joelle Nebbe (iphigenie)

Maybe... all I know is I wish some of you guys would grow a pair and not be "yes men" just because an a-lister asks a question! Provide a unique viewpoint... please quit with the "great post! i totally agree!". C'mon people! - Adam Curry

Adam: I had to go back and look for the "great post! I totally agree!" comments here. Wonder what thread you are reading? - Robert Scoble

very intersting ! - thomas from twhirl

What Wallace said. - Ciaoenrico

It all depends, if you're searching for what people had for breakfast, the currency of wtf, lol, omg and a torrent of PR both personal and corporate then maybe. If you're searching for the ports of magellan's voyage, the cheapest price for a home cinema system and who was the director of Gone With The Wind, then no. - Simon Lucy

It really depends on how well-versed and -informed your digitalized friends are - Jeroen Fransen from twhirl

We don't know, it's too early to say. We won't know until the dust has settled, surely? I'm not sure there's even a truley coherent idea of what 'real-time' web means at the moment anyway. - Sam from twhirl

There is still some data that will need to be indexed. Factual information like Simon is talking about is WAY easier to find on Google than FriendFeed. If you are looking for news or a conversation then real-time, social news is the place to go. - Brandon Titus

I think it depends on what you are looking for. For real time news and conversation I think friendfeed and facebook are way beyond Google. But for searching for other content, archive etc internet search is going to be better. - Chris Patterson

Robert Scoble

Is Twitter Killing Blogs and Blogging? - http://www.markevanstech.com/2009...

January 26 from Backtype - Comment - Like - Share

MiaD, Marek Blazek, Zack Brandit and 69 other people liked this

"Twitter +is+ blogging." - Robert Scoble

41 more comments

in a nutshell, yes, its taking attention to satisfaction away from blogging, its an easier, low cost to entry way to your mind out on the web - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Blogging is, and always has been, just cheap and easy content creation and management which is pretty different to Twitter. Twitter basically replaces the role of blogs for some of the things that people used to use blogs for when they first appeared - dashing off quick links, status updates, and so on. And disagreeing with Robert, i think it's worth thinking of the two things as separate - they'll play different roles in communications in the future. - Ian Betteridge

Twitter is microblogging, Twitter enhances blogging and Twitter can be used separately from a blogging platform for many specific tasks, including blogging. Sure, they are separate, but they work together and reinforce each other. - Chris Loft

I don't think this is a competition, it's quite hard to resume a blog post in a couple of twitter messages and, at the same time, be relevant ... especially when people following you are already following tens, hundreds, <number here> of people! - Lucian Nicolescu

Twitter is Blogging for the ADD crowd - 140 characters and in 2 days you forget what was said - geekazine from twhirl

No, but Friendfeed is. - Rutger Blom

Agree with Rutger. Friendfeed is more of a blog killer... - Håkan Dahlström

No, not really: Can I write a 500 word post on FriendFeed? FF is a blog *comment* killer, but that's only part of the story with blogging. - Ian Betteridge from twhirl

Ian, it all depends what you want to achieve. If you want to create a discussion or debate I think you can bring it on Friendfeed directly instead of a blog with disqus. The author of the FF-post can if necessary post additional comments to further develop a statement. This is something you see Scoble doing more and more these days. - Rutger Blom

Rutger, good point. As I mentioned, blogging is really "just" cheap, easy content creation/management. The discussion element is, to my mind secondary - not in the sense of being unimportant, but not really at the core of what defines it. And, of course, what you're describing is basically a freeform discussion forum :) - Ian Betteridge from twhirl

What Rutger said. - Steven Perez

Ian, that's true. I agree with you that as things are now Friendfeed is a bigger threat to Disqus/Intense Debate than to blogging platforms, but I can see how that can change just by adding one or two more features to Friendfeed. - Rutger Blom

Twitter is nothing more than IRC, sure a lot of people think it's microblogging but that's only because they use it five minutes a day. Blogging is more interesting than ever now. Friendfeed and the way it's used show how interesting blogging is at this moment. Show me a person that uses twitter as passionately and I may believe twitter is killing blogs. - Richard A.

Yes: FriendFeed could evolve into a really interesting blogging platform, if that's the direction they want to take - or, of course, offer better integration to existing platforms. - Ian Betteridge from twhirl

No, it's helping. Link sharing is the de facto way to be a good community member. The 140 character field is a perfect teaser, and the link is perfect to extend the conversation. FriendFeed is a wonderful enhancement to this process as well. - timedalkat from twhirl

Why are we still having this discussion? Microblogging is here to stay. Twitter and Friendfeed *can* make you smarter bloggers. But so can any time you spend away from your own blog and focus on *others* and their work. Seriously. - Barbara K. Baker

It is killing link blogs and "superficial" blog uses, so overall probably helping in terms of substance and quality. - Randy Holloway from twhirl

@randy, so it's keeping those that shouldn't blog too busy to post ;-) - Richard A.

Both Twitter and FriendFeed are sources for information. If you know how to use them, it can enhance your blog. So I don't think Twitter nor FriendFeed are blog killers. I'd say it's the opposite. - Umit Namli

I don't think so. Two very different media encouraging different types of interface. I think they are complimentary rather than antagonistic. - Martha

For me FF did (Twitter not so much) -- I used blogging as a catharsis and found FF fufilled that need so I stopped blogging - http://friendfeed.com/e... - Brian Sullivan

twitter enhances blogging it creates conversations , it stimulates ideas , people share knowledge - johnpiercy

Umit: it's always worth remembering that media doesn't just serve as source of information, but also engagement through entertainment. People like commenting, because it entertains. - Ian Betteridge from twhirl

True Ian.Guess it all depends on how you use Twitter and FriendFeed. But if you'd ask me "Is Twitter killing blogs and blogging", my answer would be "No". - Umit Namli

Robert - Twitter is a Micro Blog and it gets people talking. This is good for society. I don't believe Twitter hurts blogging - it just enhances it. - Rob Cairns

Doesn't this depend on how people are using this? I liken this to CNN Headline News vs. The Newshour with Jim Leher...if you want the quick hit of info. to share and/or discover, Twitter is a great platform; alternatively, if you want to dive into a deeper conversation, research, experience, blogs play that role. - Christian

Robert, Madagascar is going through troubles now. So many people are awaiting for news but events are feeding too fast: Malagasy people is discovering Twitter and FriendFeed's power as writing blog articles take long time and you need to find many infos in ONE page. You can visit http://twitter.com/Madagas... and http://friendfeed.com/rooms... - Thierry R. Andriamirado

I usually don't have time to maintain my old blog, but I think twitter allows me to share to the community anyway. Combining twitter with sites that allow for comments and discussions give me more value than posting a blog that hardly anyone reads... - Frode Stenstrøm

I am cowed into speechlessness. - Moses Kpetigo

I post my tweets on my blog so I see it as an adjunct. - Phil Boiarski

so twitter as blogging is therefore committing suicide ~ ie this person's next blog post. Ie. someone missed the mark by a long shot. - sofarsoShawn

I think that it is. It has killed my blogs. Twitter is a lot more interactive and fun. - Adam Jackson

Twitter is interactive live blogging but I won't say it's killing blogging. Twitter is to blogging what a video clip is to a feature film. - Donald Townsend from twhirl

How the Bogus War between Google and Twitter/Friendfeed begins http://friendfeed.com/e... - ewing2001akaNicomedy2010

Killing blogging, no way. I personally think its taking blogging to an all new level. Not only can you promote blogs on twitter, the readers can now interact with you in a entirely new way. Twitter fills the cracks that the blog leaves behind. - Sloan Bowman

I've dabbled with "full-blown" blogging but most days don't have the time to write "essays". Or anything to say that's worth that number of words. I like Twitter for its immediacy and the way it makes you express the thought succinctly. Equally I like FF for being somewhere between the two. "Medium" blogging rather than full blown or micro. It's a mood thing yanno. - CdL Creative

Twitter is blogging -- just 140 chars per chunk. - David Feng

If we agree that the predominant consumption of blogs is via RSS (as opposed to visiting the site) - then blogs are indeed being superceded (by all the tools that allow you to share media - whether Twitter, Digg, Youtube or Seesmic). They all end up being posts in an RSS feed mashed and consumed in increasingly sophisticated ways. - Jim

the one evolution that social networking services like FriendFeed and Twitter have over blogs is that we really can't see who's interested in our stuff. we can track RSS views, but we've no idea who they are. - Jason Salas from IM

Jason very true.. no easy way to monetize and measure. Athough I think Friendfeed has the right idea with its stats feature and this may be a the next step for Google Analytics/Feedburner. Perhaps this is why the growth and popularity of social network is proportional to the richness and openness of the their APIs. - Jim

Jim - the closer we get the traditional media demographic data, coupled with the new metrics, the real value of social apps will really shine through - Jason Salas

The days of stand-alone blogs as a primary revenue source are over - Bob Sonin

Louis Gray

Anyone use Twitter Favorites? - http://chacha102.com/2009...

January 22, 2009 from Google Reader - Comment - Like - Share

Kyle, Kol Tregaskes, Corvida and 16 other people liked this

I do. - ♥patricia♥

24 more comments

Me too. - Chris, Taskerrific Guy

less - Roamlog

I do - rampantheart

Only because iTweet doesn't have the option to link directly to a tweet - Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah

i do more and more. it is like for a "read it later"/instapaper for me. useful in mobile situation - Ouriel Ohayon

nope - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

I use Twitter favorites in my "read later" workflow. I read twitter mostly on my phone and don't always have time to follow links. So I mark them as favorites, which are piped into LinkRiver for reading later. - Michael Hocter

Huh. I never even thought of that. - Brandon Mendelson

i do - Duane

I do, but not as much as before. Used to use it for tweets I wanted to go back to, tweets I wanted to keep an eye on as well. - Richard A.

Yes, and now that they are public I would love to see what some top tweets are. It's kind of like likes on ff - Christian Burns

Nope. - Igor Poltavskiy

I do! More for a bookmark reason but not always... - Sampad Swain

Nope. - Parth Awasthi

I use it heaps on my mobile to read stuff later, but i dont use it as an archive - John Tropea from fftogo

Only as a temporary bookmarking system until I can store the link I need somewhere more useful. - Mark H

not often, but I'll try to use it more and more (mobile situation?) - Thierry R. Andriamirado

Yes, i do and it's very helpful stuff. You could check back and read again important twits. People may not use both Friendfeed and Twitter together. - `aziz´ Alihan ÇETİN

Yes - Ed Shahzade /NextInstinct

Experimenting. - Phil Boiarski

Yes, I use it to record tweets that are important to me like a bookmark - Ricardo Rabago

Never used - Sidharth Dassani

It is easier to use as an archive if you use the RSS feed from your favourites. - Michael W. May from twhirl

Just once to try it - M F

I do so for inspirational tweets or for tweets I need to revist on my laptop and I just so happen to be on my iPhone or another computer. - Corvida

Robert Scoble

If you had $3,000 in your pocket, which would you buy? Canon 5D MKII or Apple 17-inch MacBookPro. Discuss here:

January 6, 2009 - Comment - Like - Share

americanm, Nicholas James, Molly, "sorry" and 82 other people liked this

Neither - MiniMage TKDteacher of FF

262 more comments

We are arguing about that on the CES bus. Geeks! - Robert Scoble

Canon 5D MKII hands down. - Andrew Hyde

pro for sho - Bradley Will

Canon camera. I need a great camera more than a Mac - Keith - @tsudo

5d Mk II - Scott Loftesness

5D MKII, since I've already got a Mac Pro. ;) - Cory OBrien

Have a Nikon D300 and my old MBP is on the fritz, so this woud be a slam dunk for me - Gregg Gallagher

17 inch MBP because I love it. Then I'd buy a cheap 40D. I get more use out of a laptop than I do a camera. - Michael Yurechko

Apple 17-inch MacBookPro with a matte screen. - Arturo Puente

People who get a good cannon keep them forever, I go through a macbook every few years - Michael Struening

Macbook Pro. Only because I'm a Nikon fan. D300 is definitely my choice of camera ;) - Tamar Weinberg

mac - David Banes from IM

Mac - Jeff (the マクダジ of FF)

Would have to be the MacBookPro - Jason Townsend

The Canon. A solid peice of hardware and I'm after a camera - Mo Kargas

5D MKII of course. - Jeremy Franklin

The Canon. I'd have so much more fun with a zippy camera than a Big Mac. - Mike Neumann

Probably the computer. I'm happy with the first gen 5D I'm about to buy and as awesome as the camera is, the MBP doesn't need another $5K in lenses. - Derrick

Neither, you need at least twice that for glass & equipment to get the "rig" you should want for a Canon MKII - sorry, 3K isn't enough for that toy; and spending 3K on disposable technology (Mac equipment) isn't a wise investment. - Enrique Gutierrez

MBP....i miss my macs! - Brian Bufalo

5D MKII hands down. I can hold onto the memory cards until I get to a desktop :) - Austin

Without question: 5D mark II - Rodney L.

MBP - it's a means of production for me, once i make some extra cash with it I can always buy the 5D ;-) - Warren

which are you going to get more utility from? I'm guessing the Canon. - Peter Warnock

I already have a 5D MKII but I would take another one in a heartbeat, or a couple of nice L glass - Bill Pennington

5D Mark II..... no doubt. - Albert K

Canon, without a doubt. - Brad Butner

Definitely the MacBook Pro...but then again I'm not a photographer. - Charlie Flowers

Canon - Tyler (Chacha) from IM

Neither, I'd use it to buy food for a year. - Will Higgins™

Considering I can make quicker cash with my Photography work I would say the Canon 5D MKII and then I would buy the Apple 17 inch MacBook Pro with some of my earnings! - Patrick Greer

5D Mark II. And then throw the remaining towards some new glass. - Andy Hannon

2k into the bank, 1k for computer upgrades and other stuff. - Grant Bierman

5D Mk II everytime ... unless I don't have a Mac at that particular time ... - Stephen Taylor

I would go for the Macbookpro - Troy Malone

5D MKII...already have a MacBookPro and I'm willing to ditch my Nikon gear! - Dan Shust

Canon 5D MKII since I already have the 15" MBP. - Alan Le

I don't need either one--but I think the Canon would have much better resale value--so given the choices: Canon. - Rob Michael (Atmos Trio)

Canon 5D MKII - for sure! - I really want one.... :( - Brad

MBP - not a photographer - Matt Faulkner

A 50D and a fast lens. ;-) - D. Lambert

I've already got the 15" unibody so I'd go for the 5Dmkii - Sparky

If I didn't have a laptop, then I would get the 17" MBP. If I already had a lappy, then get the camera... - William Sellers

Well, I recently moved from a 30D to a 5DMII because it was a huge upgrade for my "system". With a 2 year old Macbook Pro still serving me well for my needs, it's an easy decision. Additionally, I can't see using a 17" notebook over a 15 for portability sake, I'd just as well get an iMac and keep using my Macbook Pro for mobile use. - Ryan

Aren't you in Vegas? I think there are a few other options in front of you.. - LA Snark

5D!! - Wil

The camera. I have a new macbook already. - Jim Williams

The 5D is more than a $3k investment. It's $3k upfront but thousands in lenses, flashes and other gear over the years. - Michael Yurechko

Canon 5DMIII... - Greg Kamer

MacBookPro 17-inch. I am a Nikon guy. So, Canon 5D MKII if I had $7K for all the lenses, too. - Chintan Zaveri

The camera! I already have the 15" MBpro. 17" is just too big. - Sherry Main

My 1 yr-old MacBook doesn't thrill me; it sits on the desk unused, and I just couldn't pay more than $200 for a camera, unless I was dreadfully rich. - MiniMage TKDteacher of FF

5DMKII - sell some images on istockphoto, and then buy an MSI Wind and install OSX. It is faster than my 15" MBP! - Darren Mak

Definitely the 5D MkII - Christopher Chan

MBP. I just got a brand new camera. - Mistletoe Glen

$3,000 worth of NOODLZ - Bwana ☠

100 shares of CRM ;D - barl0w

What would I do with a Mac? - drsPIX

5D MkII - want! I already have a Mac, iPhone, 2 PC's and a laptop. <sigh> gadget budget is small right now though. - Jim Bergman

canon 5d. already have a 15 mbp - Kiran Patchigolla

5D MK II You can always get the Mac later. - Yu Yu Din

I'd pay my bills and buy some groceries. - ::Kristen::

Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro. - Chris Luckhardt

What's an Apple 17-inch MacBookPro and why would a person need one? - Michael Krigsman

Mac book pro - Randy

MacBook Pro because I have neither a mac or digital SLR and the Mac does many things where as the canon does one thing well/ - Bryan Lee

Canon 5D MKII - منــــصــــور

I'll take the MacBook Pro - Rob

MacBookPro...or a Martin 12 http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product... and use the difference to buy a copy of logic pro for my 15" macbook pro - Armen Chakmakjian

5D MKII - do you want to lug around that 17" beast? - nicholas einstein

I'll go for the MacBook. My heart beats nikon so.... - studio_juan

MBP - already have a nice Canon - but my Mac sits firmly on my desk - shaun mclane

MacBook Pro, but I would need another $1200 for the 8GB of RAM. - Shawn Hickman

5D MKII. Even though I already have one. - Kathleen McGivney

Neither. Maybe 3 coins :). I have a Macbook Pro which I don't use often comparing to my PC. I am not into the consumer electronic stuff, only got a digital cam last year :). - dexin

Canon. Can't believe Apple ditched the matte screen on the 17" - FCP users and photographers don't want a glossy screen - the idea of the 17" is the ability to use it out in the field for photo/video editing. - Peter Clayton

So limiting, Robert! If I could pick whatever I wanted, I'd get one of those sweet Asus multi-touch netbooks coming out - and then use the rest to buy Yahoo! stock. :P - Shawn Farner

MB 13'' and the external cinema display. MBP17 is huge to carry out - Jean-Charles VERDIE

canon - jtothea

17" MBP FTW! You should create a poll on SocialToo.com Robert, then we can see graphed results! - Joseph

Craigslist in Cincinnati - 5D for 1200: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ele... - D. Lambert

Wow, what a great argument! 82 comments in 17 minutes! - Robert Scoble

MacBook Pro. I really, really, really want a new laptop even though my current MacBook works just fine. - Nation Hahn

Camera. Droooooooooool. - Alix Whitmire

Well part of it would have to go towards fixing my car, http://preview.tinyurl.com/9dz2kz. Then the rest would go towards buying a second camera body to be my main and at least one lens if not two. Then the rest would go towards bills. - Mathew™ one of a kind

Robert: Apple products plus awesome SLR cameras...response is a given :) - Mo Kargas

the camera is nice - especially all the HD video. friend of mine in the movie post-production business reckons this sort of Camera will KILL the movie camera business in a few years time. especially at the low-budget movie (<$30 million) of the movie business. RED already making big inroads. much cheaper than an ARRI. - Scot Mcphee

The MK II as I already have the MBP 17 inch...older but it works. - Semipro

Canon 5D is the winner for me. Great digital photography is the gift that keeps on giving.... ;-) - John Uppendahl

Well.... Given that I have 4 PC desktops, 2 PC laptops, and 1 iMac, all of which are operational and regularly used, AND that I suck at photography, I'm going for what's behind door #3: A whopping big HDTV -- which will get hooked up to the living room PC, of course. ;-) - Joanmarie

17" Mac. Already have a camera. . . - Scott Whitney

Nikon D3 - Bill Sanders

Macbook Pro for me. Would be my first Mac. - Jim Bednarz

Nikon D3 - ThePicMan

MacBook Pro. Don't need such a super-duper crazy camera. Not a real photographer. But a very real Mac geek. - Louis Gray

5D for sure! - Daniel Pourasghar

I'd go the MacBook - but I'd also load it up with the full 8gb of RAM I see as an option (and not many people mentioning). Sadly, a nice 17" MBP setup it just over NZ$10k :( - Mark Derricutt

MacBook Pro. Hands down. I'm a computer engineer, not a photographer. - Logan Leger

well since I've already got a Canon 5D Mark II... hmmmm... - Thomas Hawk

I'll buy neither. What I would rather do is try to buy one share of BRK-B if it gets to that price. :) - imabonehead

The 17" Mac Book Pro, I already have a 5D MkII ;-) - Jeff P. Henderson

I'd buy the camera, I have always loved photography and wanted to learn. - R. Ferguson

The Canon, all the way man!! - Finding The View

Apple! I don't like the fact of the hd video recorder on the 5D and I want the Sony alpha! - Brandy Lea

Canon. 15" MBP is the largest I'll go. - ronin

I would take the cash and build an ultimate gaming PC !!! :D - ralphsaunders

When you buy an inexpensive camera, you really sacrifice quality, and that lack of quality endures (you want to keep your photos forever, right?). When you buy an inexpensive computer, that's not the case (I don't need a unibody case :) - David Andrzejewski

Canon 5D - easy answer! - Susan Beebe

Ouch, this one hurts. I suppose I can't opt for a Nikon equivalent to the Canon? If this is the choice, I'd opt for the MacBook Pro. But if I had 3K, I'd buy myself the Nikon D300 - Karoli

The Canon. A 17" laptop is too big unless you plan to use it as a desktop. - Hartley Spurlock

Mac for sure.I have a first generation Macbook and I need a new one. Kaya Singer - Kaya

I'd pay off my credit card. For all that stuff I, like, already bought. - Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF

the Macbook pro but only because I need to upgrade my computer. - Anna Lynn M.

the Camera for sure - Tai

5d Mark II - Jauder Ho

None - a super-gaming rig. :) - carrotmadman6

Definitely a Canon 5D. - Maria Colacurcio

5D Mark II - Hands down. - Seagate

I would save it until I had between $8-15K for a CO2 laser cutting machine. I like my macs small, and while full frame sounds nice, I know I'm not nearly hungry enough to go pro in photography, so 40D suits me just fine. - Jason Wehmhoener

That's a tough one because I have been wanting to get my first Mac (have to start somewhere, right?!) but am a hard core Canon fan/user. So if push came to shove, I would have to go with the Canon. - Laura Zickus

Mmm, CO2 lasers. - Mo Kargas

That would be either a trip to another continent or a Fujitsu LifeBook P1630, but it would not be either of the options in the question. I seriously cannot understand $3k for a camera, unless you're going to make that money back in a month or two WITH said camera. - MiniMage TKDteacher of FF

Neither, I would invest in the stock market. - DGentry

I'd prefer a D300, however no matter what brand I'd take the camera in a second over the MBP. Save up another $500 and get a Windows Notebook as well. - Kenton

The Canon 5D MKII for sure. Cameras bring me a lot more joy than flashy computers. Though a 17-inch MacBookPro would be nice to edit those new photos on too ;-) - Ian Holton from twhirl

Probably the Mac. I would never carry around a DSLR. Too big. - Rodfather

Neither. The new full frame format with HD Movies (wow! Woopee *rolls eyes*) is crap - only 3.9 FPS?! Who are they kidding?! - Adam

Seeing my Macbook Pro is 5 months old. I would buy neither...but I would buy a MacPro with more RAM. - Ryan

I take a cruise with Lindsay - big ass stateroom. - Chrimmus Tad

Neither, I'd get a Canon Rebel XTi and build a new gaming PC, anything left over would go toward the new home NOC - xero

I would take my lover to Italy :) - Maryam Scoble

The Canon 5D, I find the photographic process calming, a welcome diversion from the ones and zeros. - cornedbeefgents

Awwww :) - Mo Kargas

Nikon D700 - Rod Bauer from twhirl

There's one in every crowd. - Rod Bauer from twhirl

If I had the $3,000, Canon 5D and a larger donation here http://tinyurl.com/daniela Pros: it's more portable, takes better pictures, and connects to my more compact 15" Macbook Pro. Of course, it doesn't work with my Nikon lenses, so... - Lee Dale

Canon 5D MKII only cause I have a Macbook Pro. If I didnt it would be the Macbook. - Bob Maltais

Nah. Patrick's college fund. 5D Mark 2 or the Macbook isn't all that exciting. - Joshua Hayworth

cannon.I kill computers, so not worth spending 3 grand on one. Plus I have a (beat up) macbook pro already. - InPerpetualMotion(Gina k)

Photos shoot at 3.9 fps, video shoots at 30 fps. @AdamGiovane - Jim Bergman

The MacBook of course. - Rob Fahrni

mac - Vishy

5D, but I wish it had XLR audio. - Gus

the new MBP, without a doubt ... my current ones needs a refresh (I'm accepting donations btw) ;-) - Jeffrey Canton

Since I'll be getting the new MBP anyway, I'll take the 5D. BTW, is anyone keeping score? - Brad Kligerman

I would buy the Canon, but of course, I would need a MacBook Pro in order to edit/view the photos the way they were meant to be viewed. - Robert Peña

Blatant self-promotion, but if Robert used re-searchr.com it would keep score for us... I wrote it to suck down inline multiple choice selections so no ne would even have to leave ff - James Ostheimer

Robert, you're asking the question that's been pondering in my mind from some time (albeit it used to be with the 15" and Cinema display v. 5D/a900/D700 -cannot make my mind-). I want to be able to make a decision before March. I think I'll be going for the Mac, since I might relocate in part of the world where carrying an expensive piece of art around my neck might be more dangerous than here, in JPN. - Paul Papadimitriou

I'd go for a MBP, mine needs an upgrade and I just bought a 50D not long ago which is just fine for me. - Andrew Trinh from Nambu

I need cash! :) - Randy

Some of us are Nikon people. Some of us are not Mac people. I'll just take the 3 Gs. - Eric @ CSTechcast.com

Nikon D700 + 50mm 1.4 prime lens! - Guillaume Lemoine

More lenses. My camera is fine, and this Thinkpad is a good 'un. - Paula W

Seems like Apple design the 17-inch MacBookPro just can use in 3years.the battery can only use in 1000 times,1time per 1day,3years.But Canon 5D can take more beatuful pics for me,and can stand by me more than 3years.if i really have 3000dollers,i real do this.kick off 17-inch MacbookPro. - jedorstar from twhirl

Lenses, like Paula sez. - Rob Kramer

Buy half and half :) - Michael Forian

Wow, I came late to this convo. Well, for what it's worth at this point, I'd probably get the lappytop, sell my old MBP and then use THAT money to buy a cheaper camera. :D - Jon, the Chilled Beartato

Canon 5D MKII, no doubt. I have a 1.5 year old 15-inch MacBookPro which is still more than OK. Going from Canon 400D to a 5D MKII however would be a major upgrade. - Rutger Blom

Macbook I think. I have a 40D but REALLY want the 5D. Which do you think you could get your hands on first? - Andrew Smith

The 5D. The MacBookPro can wait. - Chris Nixon

5D, I have enough laptops as it is. - Amit Morson

The $2800 MBP becomes a lot more compelling when converted to 2080€. - Brad Kligerman

I'm a Nikon guy but the 5D MKII has me seriously considering a switch - Bryan Thatcher from twhirl

As I don't like Macs and into my photography the choice out of the two is simple. :-) But I've rather spend the money on say the Nikon D3 and if you gave me an extra grand or 2 then I'd go for the Nikon D3X. ;-) - Kol Tregaskes from twhirl

Without though, the Canon 5D MKII. First up, you don't want to trust another "first gen" Apple product. And with the unimpressive lineup yesterday, maybe the 15" laptops are coming out real soon now, with similar features, and all quirks ironed out - Colin Charles from twhirl

MAC!!! - Orli Yakuel

(Friendfeed needs a poll feature) - Jérôme Flipo

5D over the MAC Pro. - Robert Miller

MacBookPro - just bought myself a nice camera with a fracking big lens! - Joel Hammond-Turner

Canon! - Janet

Canon. I have a laptop and rarely use it - well not as a laptop. It sits on a desk as a permenant fixture. - Ian May

Canon 5D mk 2 :) - Joe Dawson

Camera, I never liked the 17". It's too heavy for a "portable" - Melissa dela Merced from twhirl

neither, a big ass HDTV :) - Terry O'Fee

17-inch macbookPro is way too big. so I would go for the camera. Problem is I would need to learn how to use it then... - Davide D'Incau

If you have good lenses to take advantage of the MKII (extra $3000 needed here), go for the camera! - Joao Pedro

I would buy a Apple 17-inch macbook of course.! I don't have an apple and I would really like one. I have a camera thats good enough for me. - Qbat

nor this neither that! i will send money to help people in Gaza or at least I'll send 1000 $. - خیزران kheyzaran

canon 5d mk ii based on the videos I've seen - i mean just look at these http://is.gd/cP6x - planetMitch

The Canon, surely. No use for a laptop that big. - Ryan Sholin

5D over here too - Simon Wicks

Macbook Pro 17! - Greg

The camera. Already have three computers but have no camera. - Martha

I am not pro enough to need the 5D, I am actually looking at a D60 or D90. But the 17 Macbook is something I can use :) - TheSleepyGeek

I'd buy the Nikon D700 - David Parmet from twhirl

neither - cash is still king - viki saigal

its the lens, not the body - spring for L glass - @jessewright

MacBookPro - Stewart Rogers

New MacBookPro 17". I would probably get more use out of it than the Canon. But my, oh my, ya'll, the Canon sure is sweet. - Matthew Freeman

I have the glass. I have the Mac, I'd get the 5DMKII - stretta from twhirl

5D - I don't need a macbook. I'm happy with my PC and laptop - they cover my my needs perfectly. - Roberto Bonini

MBP. - Michael Molinar

Donate it to @armano. - Jim Mitchem

given my current status .. I am happy with my Canon XTi so I would go for the MacBook Pro. - Kapil

5D, but that's cuz I've been saving up for one. A new MBP would def. be on the list of future purchases (current computer is 3 years old) - Michael

Canon 5d Mk II, far more useful than the new laptop. More fun. One encourages you to sit around, the other encourages you to go out :-) - Richard A.

MacBookPro, Canon sux. (OK, relax, just kidding. I'm a Nikon guy. I have no Canon lenses.) - Trevor Carpenter

Canon!! - Ivy /composmentis from twhirl

I would buy the Mac, get a cheaper camera with the money I have left, and edit and enhance my videos using my Mac. - Shevonne

I'd go the Mac route. I'm looking to buy one anyway and I've already got a camera. Might not be as fancy as the Canon do-dad, but I'll manage. - James Ferguson

Wow 202 comments! How did I miss this thread? :) - AJ Batac

17 inch MCP - johnpiercy

The 17" MBP as my current 12" PB is on it's last legs and needs replacing - need rather than want for me - Sally Church

The Canon. I already have a 17" MacBook Pro. - Carmen

The Canon... even though I already have a 5D and actually need a new laptop - Shawn Duffy from twhirl

Macbookpro - Roger Kondrat

I'd say the MacBook... you can do more with it. - Dejim Juang

EOS 5D - Julien Guyard

Canon, since the MBP that I'd want would actually cost $5823. Not $3000. - Ben Hwang from twhirl

This would be much more enjoyable if there was some kind of poll widget along side comments. - Michael Leggett

The camera..I find apple laptops overpriced for what they offer. - Nick

Would be easier to see at a glance. - Richard A.

I'd by the largest HD display I could... - Clay Newton

Canon 5D MKII. huh.. no: a powerful Linux box - Thierry R. Andriamirado

The MacBookPro, I have a Canon 30d but I do not have a MacBook - Bob Gannon

I wouldn't want a 17'' monster of a MacBookPro and therefore would go for the Canon 5D MKII - Donald Townsend

Neither. Both are overpriced. If no other options; I'd go camera. - Wade Dorrell

5D, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is very big. Harder to find bags for it and its less portable. - seanb

bank it, put in matress, done need either of those things, we need smarter devices that tell us the likelyhood of use-longevitiy in them, "i'm a camera you bought last year, you used me 9 times, i collect dust, owner- please resist replacing me unless you really really really need to, and the data suggests you don't.." - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Not enough to buy what I want with the Canon, and I wouldn't be caught dead spending $3000 on a laptop. What a waste! - Paul Puri

Neither. A $3000 laptop is not worth it just because of its branding. - Spencer

ohh.. I can't choose. I want both of them... But if i choose, first canon, second mac... İ have canon 40 d and 15'' mac book pro. And i don't like mac's new screen. It's like mirror... - devletsah

Spencer: as a recent PC to Mac switcher, it's more than brand. Much more. - Ryan

I'd buy a netbook for the other three members of my family and put the remaining $2000 toward bills or savings. :) - Steve Lowe

Agree with Aaron, love my 13" Macbook and really want the 5D MKII - Kyle

Definitely the Mac. - John Clifton

Is this thing still going? I can't remember if I replied to this yet, but I say it depends on what will benefit you the most. Robert, you are a photo-maniac. I know that you have a few cameras laying around the house, but I don't know how many Macs you have. You have to remember that a 17" laptop sounds great on paper, but I know that you do a lot of traveling as well, so it might now suite your means. Then again, I would never keep $3,000 dollars in my pocket ;) - Michael Forian

of course the mac - doesn´t matter what the second option is... - Dieter Schwarz

I would buy the Canon 5D MKII but being a Nikonian I would end up buying the MacBook Pro and feel no remorse :) - Carlos Lorenzo

MacBook Pro. I need a laptop really bad. - Nick Humphries

The camera. 17-inch laptops are fricking ridiculous. - Andru Edwards

camera and a box of junior mints - Morgan Haley

I'd definitely go for a MB Pro. My Rebel XTi and Panasonic GS180 video cam is doing me just fine. - emon hassan

Forget the Mac, keep your current camera, and buy better lenses. - Michael Krigsman

17 inch laptop is useless in term of mobility so I would go with the Canon - Hadar Weiss

A Sony a900. :) - Jeff Jones

Neither. I'd start with the Bonobo Pro Ubuntu Laptop for under $2000 and use the $1000 to max it out. http://system76.com/product... - Internet Strategist

Impressive amount of comments here, this has to be the highest ever now right? - Joe Dawson

I'm sorry, can you repeat the question: did you say a "camera", a "computer" or a "shark with laser beams"? - Micah Wittman

save the money for tougher times. as much as I'd like the Canon, it's going to be just an expensive toy for me. and my three year old Inspiron works just fine for the most things I do on it. - Franci Penov from twhirl

5Dm2 because I already have the new MBP 15" 2.8Ghz. Mostly b/c the cam is more revolutionary than the 17", even though the 17" battery life is enticing. - Thomas Bøhm

Wow, 250 comments - OMG ...FF is really growing ...YEAH !!! - Susan Beebe

Yeah, this week has produced several >100 comment threads in my feed. - xero

Not the 5D, but some body+the best lenses, that actually lasts longer. Laptops are out of date in months and often die within 18, cameras and lenses last a lot longer - Joelle Nebbe (iphigenie)

I would buy a Apple 17-inch MacBookPro, only cause I already have a SLR, so I dont need the Canon 5D MKII. - Colide81 (James)

I would not spend it, id rather invest 3000 dollars with 10 shares of google - Kyle Weller

then just buy lenses - you probably already have a computer that can do everything you need - Joelle Nebbe (iphigenie)

Exxon-Mobile. Oh wait, what was the question again? - Erik S

Neither- new hardware for the pending Win7 beta drop. :) - Randy Holloway from twhirl

both! - jortai

@Ryan I am a Mac user, have been for a while. It's just my opinion, but $2800 for a piece of hardware in which you can the same or better specs on a PC, is quite a bit of branding. - Spencer

Using the MacBook Pro 17 inch now (love it!)- and I am quite happy with my Canon Powershot G9, so I'll just take the cash and pay down some of my debt--thanks! - Kelly W.

Canon 5D MKII then buy the 15" MacBook Pro later. - John Wang

I would buy a new fast lens for my old 5D (around $1000) and save the rest. - Alexander Arsky

Nikon E90 *and* a 15" Macbook. :) I bend rules. - Daniel Miessler

Nikon E90 like Daniel :P - Molly, "sorry"

I already have the mac so I would take the Camera. - WilliamMuncrief

is someone tabulating these answers? - Mistletoe Glen

Canon 5d MKII, i'm not a mac person so that was easy. - Squid

I've been back and forth on this since the 17" was announced. I am very likely to upgrade to the 5DMKII this year. But I want a more powerful laptop to work on the huge files it creates. Chicken? Egg? Confused. - Jeremy Brooks

Canon 5D MKII for sure. MBP 15 is still chugging along after 2 years. And the 5D is still doing great after 1 year, but I would really like the new 5D. - Johnny Sewell

5D Mark II , without a doubt! - americanm

Caonon 5D all the way - John Uppendahl

Scott Beale

Porn Moguls Ask Congress For Bail Out - http://www.imdb.com/news...

January 7, 2009 from Google Reader - Comment - Like - Share

Brad Brizendine, Gavin, Jennifer Van Grove and 4 other people liked this

Most ridiculous thing I've heard today - AJ Batac

6 more comments

If the porn industry goes under, the effects will be devastating. The ripple effect will be felt by every Tom, Dick and Harry in the United States. - Bjorn Stromberg

@Spidra I agree. It seems everyone is wanting a bailout these days. - Jason Shultz from twhirl

Betamax sales have slumped as well. We need to save these people. I'd like to see us bring back the 10cent squeeze me booths of the early 70s. NOT! - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Larry Flint, at it again. This is going to get awesome. I hope they follow through with this mess - Enrique Gutierrez from twhirl

@Dan 10 cent squeeze me booths? Dare I ask what those are? Forgive me, for I was only born in '74 so I apparently missed out on this social novelty. - Jason Shultz from twhirl

flaccid sales? - Greg Guitarbuster

Let me fix that for you: Porn moguls get free publicity. - Chrimmus Tad

Steve Spalding

Anyone else thing that the current tech downturn will actually produce stronger, leaner businesses in the long run? Trial by fire anyone?

October 9, 2008 - Comment - Like - Share

Lorraine Ball, Mitchell Tsai, Marcel Weiß and 21 other people liked this

the way market economics are supposed to work is Darwinian. There's just been too many species popping up lately, and now we get a little ice age to wipe out the ones that can't survive. - Pete Delucchi

17 more comments

In a lot of ways, 1999 allowed for sites like eBay, Amazon and their ilk to come out above the piles of dead and dying. This correction might see the wheat of the social web rise from the, you know, crap. - Steve Spalding

At least it'll weed out the crap. - teh Dork Knight aka Kenny

@Jason again I'm not sure that's a bad thing. - Steve Spalding

Long term this is a very good thing. Separates the chaff from the wheat. - MVB (Grinch of FF)

@Jason ack misread a bit, carry on :) - Steve Spalding

Yup, just like the last downturn. Although if businesses were starting to get fatter again so soon after the dotcom bust, then shame on them. - Alex Scoble

I think there's gonna be a Web app fire sale. :) Either that, or a lot of platforms will go open source... - l0ckergn0me

The fringe will flourish in the new post sub prime reality. - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

@chris yea, I definitely see a world where all the near applications that can't monetize are sold off at Wal*mart prices. Though I hadn't thought about the opensource thing, that could be interesting. - Steve Spalding

Oh my, what parties will Gawker crash? Casual Layoff Fridays? - Richard pancakhaus Walker

decrease outsourcing since there should be fewer one off projects - Steve Spalding

It will create more powerful monopolies. - Jeff P. Henderson

At least the recent and upcoming problems in finance can show to many people that there has to be really good plans (and not just plans but ways to implement them in good way). Plans without right action is like jumping to the wrong direction while attempting to go to other. I wonder what is right thing to do; kick many people out of work or find better ways to business? Competition is good but it shouldn't be unhealthy. - Daniel Schildt

hell yes. It forces companies to have a business case + profit, and that's a good thing - Duncan Riley

Yes I bloody hope so! - Kol Tregaskes

Yes, every downturn does. - Mathew™ one of a kind

Absolutely. - AJ Kohn

As it should do. Part of the free market. Can't keep spending and not have any returns. - Santa CW™

Jeremiah Owyang

The economic downturn is a good thing for social media, it's going to force innovation, revenues, and productivity benefits --the other tools will fall by the wayside. Agree or disagree?

October 9, 2008 - Comment - Like - Share

rawwell, Duncan Riley, Devlin Dunsmore and 13 other people liked this

It'll be a nightmare. Everyone will spread shitty content as many already do just to make some cash. Catchy headlines, with numbers in them and pages with screenshots and pictures about things the author generally don't master, just to make money. The real, the useful content from smart people (not only marketers) will be harder to find - directeur from NoiseRiver

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@directeur: The information filtering problem was going to hit us regardless of the economic climate. If we come up with better ways to reshape our personal news streams I'll be happy. - Daniel J. Pritchett

NoiseRiver, think beyond the content play alone, what about technology startups? Not just media side - Jeremiah Owyang

I think it will help drive innovation as well as an increased focus on efficient processes, like you said. - Brian Chappell

Every crisis always leads to more innovation. In a crisis risks are valued differently, creating more opportunities. I do absolutely agree with your statement - Aad 't Hart

economic downturns always makes people more creative. What I managed to do with Roman Noodles back in the day was nothing short of miraculous. - chartreuse

I wrote this morning about this exact idea, it is time to adapt and innovate. I definitely think that many tools will "fall by the wayside". - Rob Diana

Funny Jeremiah just called me NoiseRiver ;) Seriously, I DO agree that the "need" is a "creativity's" generator. I'm just affraid that a great need will have some dirty <side>effects. And yes, I do care about content more than the tools. Tools when used for/by/with bad content will seem useless and vain. - directeur from NoiseRiver

I am just waiting for the one take all social media portal. Similar to friendfeed but more intuitive. - Brad Wrage

oh snap, i meant directeur sorry - Jeremiah Owyang

I think the opportunity is definitely there - unfortunately i think that alot of businesses paradoxically shy away from trying something new during times like these out of a fear that they will waste dwindling resources so it could take stronger more forceful convincing - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

Agree, focus on profits need to return. Good time to really make trackable insights fly, good time to be in analytics, brand monitoring social media spaces. Could put an squeeze on crazy crowdsourcing models because now more than ever effort needs to equate with returns. - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

I noticed, with chagrin, that for all the advice to "hunker down" and "reduce overhead" nobody, and I mean nobody has suggested that all these VC-funded startups actually try to make a profit. Is that a concept that is considered passe? - MVB (Grinch of FF)

It will be good for social media because it will force convergence of the multiple tools that exist and overlap. Then the model will truly emerge - Francine Hardaway from twhirl

One good thing about a downturn is that it roots out bad ideas, and companies. One bad thing is that investment money will likely just go on 'sure things' and not on 'out there', radical ideas. One other good thing: big companies let smart people go, and these smart people may then start up their own businesses. - john conroy

I hope so, there's a lot of crap out there... bad UIs, marginal use cases, no path to profit conrtribution, etc. What I really want to know is, what site is running the best Dead Pool? - LogEx

A lot of out-of-work people will be spending a LOT of time on Youtube, methinks. - Steve Lynch from twhirl

Louis Gray

How many twitter followers does it take make an impact? - http://news.buzzgain.com/?p=76

October 1, 2008 from Google Reader - Comment - Like - Share

MVB (Grinch of FF), iSteeve, Kevin Johnson and 25 other people liked this

Depends on how many are bots and mal-lowers. - LogEx

18 more comments

1. If I follow you and retweet you you'll have an impact. - Robert Scoble

1, if that person can effect change. - Ben Jackson from twhirl

Amen, brother. Scoble's retweets are the juice. - John McCrea

Scoble - laughing at your comment. @chrisbrogan has had a similar effect w/ me in the past. One mention and voila, many new followers. @Louis, I'd say that you start to hit critical mass at 100 but they obviously have to be the right 100. At 500-1,000, you can start to get some very effective research/survey results from your followers. - Aaron Strout

John, you don't even need one follower, thinking about it. The world is moving to http://search.twitter.com so you can get found with very few followers there. - Robert Scoble

+10 Scoble - imran

Thanks Mr. Scoble. I just found someone to chat with about my executive dashboard project. - Mattb4rd

Robert: so true. I am addicted to Twitter search. It is vital to my work (and fun). - John McCrea

@Aaron, this is not a post I wrote, but one from Mukund at BuzzGain. And yes, I agree that Twitter Search is more important than Twitter's Web interface at this point. - Louis Gray

I'll have to agree with Scobleizer - I visit Twitter Search more than Twitter itself these days. I learn way more from that interface. - Chris Luckhardt

Haven't we been here before. 1st we all create content. Then, Search organizes the content. I suppose "Twitter Words" is next? - Alan Edgett

Funny how often I've been asked the EXACT same questions. We've been having a nice discussion about this as well (1.6k views and 70 comments now) around a great article that was written by a member. http://tinyurl.com/3h8mdz - Leif@Biznik

None - they all spend so much time reading twitter (and FF :) ) that nothing gets done! - Chris Rogers

On who? - Warner Crocker

depends on targeted/anticipated impact and target audience. - Hayk H.

@Scoble - technically one, but realistically I have to go with @aaron - Mukund

The real question is, how many twitter followers does it take to change a lightbulb? - Jan Dawson

your message is more important, how to write compelling copy in 140 characters - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

impact? the summize purchase was great but tweetscan deserves a plug - & no one has monetized even the text aspect of twitter yet - ($800/MB is valuable bitspace controlled by telecom - SMS is hugely profitable) so ... impact? twitter matched to transactions are a way off - using bandwidth for scale & ROI on time to tweet are a bit too abstracted to make much sense of impact suggested in the article - Wes Schadenfreud

Steve Rubel

How many feeds do you subscribe to? I am up to 558 in Google Reader.

September 18, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

I had almost 3000 feeds in my reader before the last time I dumped it, I still ahve a backup of my opml though. - mjc

13 more comments

With that many feeds, do you really have time to digest, and actually use any of the content? - Lorraine Ball

I have a hard enough time keeping 170 organized - amzam

I have about 180, and I find that even with that few I get a lot of duplicate content. - Matt

lorraine, scan titles, star what I want to read, read starred items during lunch break - mjc

the @scobleizer method - mjc

610 - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

905 feeds, and I still find Google Reader to be much more valuable than Friendfeed for quickly locating highly strategic news. (In fact, I use GR to manage Friendfeed feeds.) There is an art to using GR effectively, without being overwhelmed by too much information -- skim the cream, ignore the rest. - Sean McBride

doh make that 228 - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

I am subscribed to 238 feeds! Need to get more involved with Toluu to find some new goodness! - Joe Dawson

I was up to about 250 but that got too much for me. Spending too much time in scan/delete mode rather than reading. I have been ruthlessly pruning the last couple weeks - David Miller

Around 200 after a serious cut. - Amit Morson

I had about a thousand yesterday. Today I have about three hundred. In addition to a hundred or so friends suggestion feeds. - Vijayendra (V-Mo) Mohanty from fftogo

0. It gets too much. - Calvin Robinson from twhirl

It never gets too much -- just skim the cream. Prioritize. - Sean McBride

Chris Messina

I hear a rumor that Google is no longer offering free lunch... Isat so? Fer realz?! End of teh internetz! Oh noes!

August 26, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

Riccardo Cambiassi, Jonathan Ferguson and Phil Smirnov liked this

TANSTAAFL! - Mark Szpakowski

2 more comments

Good enough for those freeloading bums @google -- that's what I say. It sounds like a bloody creche down there. So... anyone got an application form? D'you think they're looking for bitter, semi-skilled web geeks with questionable dress sense? - john conroy

No more dinners is what I read. Expect productivity to go from 12hr days to 8. - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

This turned out to be ValleyWag being bad at journalism. Lunch is still free. - Adewale Oshineye

Robert Scoble

Am I wrong but does the new TechCrunch design have 30% less room for content? More toolbars and widgets! Looks cool, but is harder to read.

August 26, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

Mark Douglass, Nicholas James, Nick Mutton and 14 other people liked this

Looks like they dedicated about 30% of that space to upcoming advertising?? - Jim McCusker

26 more comments

I agree as far as it goes for the main page, at post level and comments i actually quite like the change. - Majento

Hmm, not bad; a little crowded. - Mark Evans

The change in font size is good. - Majento

It looks nice after halfway down and individual post looks nice too - Brenda McLaren

I wonder what the ratio of people going to the site vs. RSS is. RSS wouldn't see a difference. - Louis Gray

I could dig up and post exact numbers Louis. Only ~20% of website hits are to the homepage or one of the main pages - so we worked on having the article pages nice. Still a lot more to come out in terms of both design and features. - nik

Makes sense, Nik. That's likely true across the Web, especially in the tech blog space. Thanks for the answer. - Louis Gray

The homepage *is* busy. But, overall, I really like the new design. And the article pages are clean and modern. - Chris Baskind

@Nik Cubrilovic: I love TechCrunch (& predominantly hit via the homepage) but am a little disappointed. I appreciate your position but believe you can find a better, more homepage_reader-friendly solution. On my screen there is still a sizeable margin on either side - I suggest you tweak your layout to increase article space and fill-out the article column to full width after the advertising panel. Please let me know what you think. - Nick Mutton

It may have less content room but I do like the design alot more. It's alot cleaner. - Aaron Myers

Aaron: it's cleaner, yes, but now you need to click each article to read the article. Great, generates another page view which is great for advertising, but it's definitely harder to read. Luckily we have RSS, but how long will TC keep giving us full text feeds? - Robert Scoble

Robert: Eh! I didn't even pay that much attention, my fault. I read my RSS feeds in NetVibes as well as FeedBurner e-mails that come throughout the day. You are right, after a 2nd look - I don't like that I have to make the "jump" to read the whole article. - Aaron Myers

@Nick: Thats a good point, we are trying to make the width fluid but its not easy to do well. At the moment the width is fixed and thus we need to aim it at the lowest common screen width which nowadays is 1024 - nik

@Aaron. The full articles are now on the permalink because the homepage was becoming too long. Posting full content in chronological order works to a certain point and then it just breaks. We can now have a lot more content on the homepage and users can get a snapshot of the days stories. When you are on the permalink page you can click next/prev story. We have never been pageview driven, if we were we would do what CNET and others do and provide just headlines in RSS and all the other tricks. - nik

We are just over a single pageview per visitor at the moment, and will always have full text feeds. we are also fully open with crunchbase as well and let anybody suck data. so talking about Techcrunch and pageview whoring at the same time will always be a null argument (same with the outbound link meme from last week). there are a hundred other sites we could bitch about when it comes to pageview whoring :) - nik

You guys actually visit the website? (Instead of subscribing through your RSS reader)? - Nikhil Dandekar

We actually did the same thing over at Mashable last month - we decided since my editorials and Sean's lists were consistently running multiple screenfuls (as well as most news posts running longer) that it'd be best to just to put a more thing in than sacrifice load times, a stat which has never been pretty on our site. - Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins

it gives me an horizontal scroll bar with a 1024 resolution... not nice :-( - Marcos Marado

True. You need at least one more click (from homepage) to read a full article. Greader still looks like the best way to read/follow TC. - Martin Añazco

I also thought it was hard to read, or clearly focus on what was important. It screams, just read my RSS. - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Yeah, I think it looks like it's 2/3rds ads now. - Dawn

do people follow techcrunch outside of a feed reader? that sounds inefficient - JustinLL from twhirl

Seems like more ads to me - Dave Peck

seems like advertising is first priority and content is second. - Eric Sessions

TechCrunch hasn't provided anything more substantive than ads for some time. Yawn. So glad I unsubscribed from TC. - Tom Morris

looks more magazine-format - maximize ad space - Morgan

the rss feed looks the same - Stefan Hayden

Jeremiah Owyang

If a blog is like a "keynote" a wiki is like a "White board", and podcasts are like "Radio" what is Friendfeed?

August 27, 2008 - Comment - Like - Share

Gordon Saunders, Jesse Stay, john conroy and 8 other people liked this

A convention? - Kevin Fox

35 more comments

A common. - dkb from Alert Thingy

bulletin board? - Jonas

It's a non-stop worldwide conference call. - Tony Ruscoe

Agree with @jonas Bulletin Board - Arjun

Or perpetual chat - Arjun

A coffeetable? - Niclas Strandh

...or dinnertable? - Niclas Strandh

a café? - skivan

A mosh pit? - Peter Lindberg

It's like a coffeeshop where folks discuss articles from newspapers, magazines, and passerbys? - Jeremiah Owyang

A place to feed your friends. Or eat them. - Michael Markman

a brainstorm (potentially) - Vincent van Wylick

a coffeeshop, or an italian bar :-) - lalui

FriendFeed is like a hallway conversation at Gnomedex. - Robert Scoble

Roman circus? Amphitheater? - Mo Kargas

I'm two days into Friendfeed. A bunch of Finnish Jaiku users moved over to Twitter, Pownce, and Friendfeed when Jaiku is down (they move it to a Google server). Jaiku and Friendfeed can be used for seminar and events reporting. I find quite a few of my FB friends here. Twitter is like talking to the wind on a stormy shoreline. We shout into an open universe. It seems like Friendfeed can lead to a conversation. - Helge V. Keitel

a bar? a coffee house? a club? - Marcos Marado

+1 for the poetry, Helge. "Talking to the wind on a stormy shoreline." I agree. - Laura Norvig

Thanks Laura, seems like someone listens. It's encouraging! Have a great day. - Helge V. Keitel

virtual watercooler - Dave Wirsching from twhirl

A dinner conversation. - Bret Taylor

A River. - Svartling

Newspaper (Customized one!) - Jigar Mehta

.. an email inbox that's never empty. - Winston Teo

Friends' Feeds:) - Igor Poltavskiy

The space around the cofee machine in the office. - Fabrice Epelboin

the people - Olivier

a high school hallway - Amy Wood

the dynamic newspaper from minority report - mike "glemak" dunn

A telex. Or: what are those things called that used to be in newspaper offices, where news from AP, Reuters would spew out continuously??? Whatever that machine/technology, that's sorta it. Except only one-way, like. - john conroy

hamm radio? nahh...it's just friendfeed - timedalkat

a telex - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Looks like we don't have much to compare it with--maybe that's why so many people don't get it... - Eric Holter

a trough - Fred Chung

orgy - Rob Reed

the breaks, lunches and cocktail parties - Cathleen Rittereiser

Paul Buchheit

80% of the things that I read about "20% time" are false.

July 31, 2008 - Comment - Like - Share

Ginger Makela Riker, Jonathan Betz, Neil Kandalgaonkar and 27 other people liked this

50% of the time. - Colby Olson

12 more comments

Example? - Rodrigo Jaroszewski

in 80% of the Pareto principle examples people make, 20% are false. - directeur from NoiseRiver

Pareto is sooo on point and accurate... just gotta find the sweetspot: 80 truth / 20 false - discern and learn to be wise - Susan Beebe

80% of that top 80% of effects coming from 20% of that top 20% , and so 80% of 80% is 64%; 20% of 20% is 4% - "64-4 law“... - fiorano

Am I being paranoid or was I the impetus for this post? - AJ Kohn

No, it's lots of things AJ. Probably 90%. - Paul Buchheit

@Paul: Fair enough. - AJ Kohn

no one said there'd be math - ɐ ɯıʞ sıɹɥɔ

decent margin of error really - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Chris: like the one you just made up?! :*) - Susan Beebe

I spent much of my 20% time making up stories about how people use their 20% time. - Kevin Fox

Pareto principle work for 80% of things 20% of the time. :) - xero

Waiting the post about 20% of FriendFeed (the best):) - Igor Poltavskiy

Dan Rockwell

i hate the fact OSX update wants to install 235 MB of useless dont need or want HP printer crap, no, no you may not

July 29, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

Eric Schlissel liked this

You can disable specific updates. It's in the menu somewhere. - Mark Trapp

thx for the tip!, i wish it was auto sensing (thats odd the user has turned this option off now like 8 times.. i see a pattern!" - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Jeremiah Owyang

Click and Zoom in Wow what a picture. (from Dave Winer) - http://www.flickr.com/photos...

July 25, 2008 from Bookmarklet - Comment - Like - Share

Mark Davies, Chris Harris, ha3rvey (just a friend) and 11 other people liked this

Amazing Photo... - Jeremiah Owyang from Bookmarklet

7 more comments

What is the saturation of digital devices to people? I'd say 90% - Jeremiah Owyang

I love this photo as well, I think Obama is great! - Joe Dawson

Jeremiah: Sure... if you're going to attend a political rally/speech, you take a camera, no? Not sure you can use this sample to draw any conclusions RE the general population. - Ken Sheppardson

Of course Ken, I was just reffering to that particular picture. - Jeremiah Owyang

Give the Germans a vote! - john conroy

Ladies & Gentlemen, the President of the United States! - Rev. Dr. W!cKeD Rock

The revolution will be photographed. And then posted to Flickr. - Sarah G.

are there any women in the crowd, i just see men mostly.. - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Marco(aureliusmaximus)

Twitter Just Pulled the Ace From Their Sleeve and Lit it on Fire - http://aureliusmaximus.wordpress.com/2008...

July 24, 2008 from Aurelius Maximus - Comment - Like - Share

Pete Delucchi, Olaf, Mo Kargas and 49 other people liked this

Good post Marco. Although I came to help expose the podcast to more people (I was not here to build a castle), I find the conversation and interaction has been great. The problem of losing almost all followers though, makes it hard to kick start this thing again. Some people followed because I said something interesting, and now they will likely never follow again. It takes time to build those connections. Thank goodness for FF. - Eric @ CSTechcast.com

31 more comments

thanks @cs - pretty much same here - once I saw the level of interaction and conversation here I was hooked but I have always like the fact that Twitter is much more mobile friendly (especially for those of us in BB world) - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

@Marco, friendfeed has a decent mobile interface, even for a crackberry. I prefer fftogo.com however and it looks decent on my Curve. - Rob Diana

FF on Windows Mobile with Opera is very usable. Just signed up for Identi.ca, going to give it a try. - Eric @ CSTechcast.com

@rob i've tried fftgo but for whatever reason wasn't thrilled with it - i need to give it another look. There is just so much more information on FF it makes it tough to take in and process on BB - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

Probably the best headline of the day. Anyone else plan to beat it? - Louis Gray

I've got nothing...Marco you win - Anthony Farrior

I love articles that strategically use bold text to emphasize key points. Easy read. Good post Marco - Bwana ☠

lol @anthony does that come with a prize? if so can I request the return of the people I was following on twitter? @louis i may just have to print and frame your comment ; ) a guy's gotta do something to compensate for the content! - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

Good points here Marco. It's always been about your existing network with Twitter. That's what's carried it through the tough times. I expect Twitter will survive this issue though. People are losing followers, but I see numbers like "had 2,500, now have 2,100". The big numbers are still there. - Hutch Carpenter

Okay guys this is just stupid. Can a few of you go over to the blog and comment? Is that too much to ask? I just went there and read the article because 25+ people liked it and a dozen commented but no one took the time to say a word on his site.. This is wrong in my opinion, make an effort to grow a guys on-site community. - Roger Kondrat

@michael ty - @hutch ty and I hope you are right - but I do worry that this has now opened a door that can't be closed. If they communicate their plans to help people reconnect with lost subscriptions (if thats possible) and what measures will be put in place to prevent this from happening again I think they can pull it out. I think people were willing to deal with the intermittent outages so long as they could still communicate with their group later but if users can't rely on that... - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

its a definite black eye on anyone who just adopted twitter in the past 6 months or so, its basically taking money out of your pocket, taking expectations out of your hand. The service going down, I can take that, taking away what I earned, that sucks royaly. Like going into an WoW and seeing all your characters gone, well right then at that moment its well, I guess I can leave this... more... - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Roger - your comments sometimes verge into troll territory. - Hutch Carpenter

@CS I totally agree. Its always that way i find. - Roger Kondrat

I agree with you. This is a strategic blunder. Curious to see if this clips Twitter's wings or if it's got Phoenix on it's side. - phil baumann

@roger you thoughtfulness is very much appreciated - I still wrestle with posting a comment on a blog or adding to the comment stream on FF. Not a big deal in my case - I am eager to learn, share and interact and love having the blog to log thoughts that take up more room than a FF comment box but my fascinations are far too broad to develop a focussed topic theme necessary to really build a core of readers so I don't worry about it too much. @michael none taken at all - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

the followers migrate to the same people here. if you cultivated fans you won't lose them - Noah David Simon

Marco thanks for the post. As a user who has not "invested" much in twitter and actually only signed on due to Friendfeed, I'm very interested in how this plays out. Problems aside, the overall concept of twitter as a web/mobile/aim service is a great one that doesn't have a true (even ident.ca) competitor as far as I can tell. - Jon-Paul Bussoli

@Hutch yeah I have been a bit Trolly the last couple days. Don't know why. On this though I just get a bit 'protect the little guy' and of course it was unfounded but a knee jerk reaction anyway. Sorry to those who felt my poor nature over the last 24hrs and thanks @Hutch for pointing it out. - Roger Kondrat

@Marco I love your post really can’t comment much beyond that because it was like you took the words out of my mouth. But I will say this when blogs first came about they were said due to trackback, and pingback to allow for the first time a fluid single conversation to occur across multiple voices. Twitter did this really well in its own way too. - Roger Kondrat

Roger - cool man. And there actually is a good rationale for bloggers wanting comments on FriendFeed. Read on if you like: http://bhc3.wordpress.com/2008... - Hutch Carpenter

What is interesting is during the drama at Twitter everyone has focused on their pitfalls and has in my own opinion possibly missed another important factor in Twitters existence and that is the market has changed or rather is in the midst of a major transition. Conversations are now being initiated on Twitter and Blogs but they are being aggregated elsewhere. Initially this happened... more... - Roger Kondrat

Friendfeed and their kind (socialthing,etc) are where the micro-conversations are occurring. These sites are extending what Twitter started out doing so well but in the end it is and always will be a slow and inflexible service when compared to the new breed (FF SocialThing, etc). - Roger Kondrat

excellent post Marco...I like your approach and analysis. The last 24 hours for twitter have been devastating. I can't even begin to imagine how the staff at twitter must feel right now. But as a customer, i know how I feel - NOT happy! First they screwed up the follower/follows counts and then sent tweets with my name on them (I did NOT write those) - so the twitter database is hosed! not a good moment for twitter to say the least. - Susan Beebe

(1) twitter deserves what it got. forget the tech issues. they went fascist and decided to punish people for using the interface as best they could. they used a few uptight people in a mob to create a witch hunt against people who were importing feeds and had a lot of followers. They are getting exactly what I warned them about (2) they hoarded the technology and did not license it out. if they had licensed twitters technology out it would of been a very profitable standard. (more...) - Noah David Simon

(3) back to the fascist issue. they promised free thought in a public forum and they never delivered. the block concept is a stupid idea. obviously I proved that with panopticons and they went to shoot the messenger. twitter's architecture is a public forum open to any viewer. In being such it betrayed itself and created its own *CANCER* by implementing a block. This will be friendfeeds... more... - Noah David Simon

I agree about the importance of the subscriber functinality - Mark Dykeman

again... I believe in security. I'm not a purest, but I believe the elegance of a system should not be compromised. there are plenty of walled gardens on the internet. twitter was not supposed to be walled. ...and friendfeed isn't a good place for walls either. there are plenty of opportunities for elitism in life. despite some nut jobs, it is beneficial for there to be some free expression. people should be able to turn a thread off when they want to. We all deal with aggravations. - Noah David Simon

back to (1) and the license issue. if it had been licensed then it would of never become over populated and different flavors of a good thing would of happened. ... maybe even a version of twitter with and without block. it just seems they are guilty of trying to contain the wind. they could of owned the wind's license for a while, but they were too greedy. - Noah David Simon

@noah completely understand that there are plenty of things that need fixing - problem is that over a decent length of time a number of very unique communities have sprung up around the service - if the service dies those communities go with it - that is part of the reason for this http://tinyurl.com/5sxmzy - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

I can't remember a single service that has attracted more meta talk about itself... Twitter is not (at least should not) be a mission or business critical function to anyone -- its a social interaction vehicle... They are improving, and I'll bet in a year's time the "fail whale" will be just another internet colloquialism. - Mark Philpot

my basic point is that it failed to capture the positives of the brand name. it failed to reflect the free spirit of the community. It failed to take advantage of its strengths. instead they plaid police man... and they weren't very good at it. Their product was not like facebook (which seems harder to copy).... being simple was twitter's brilliance and it's downfall because everyone else could make one. If they had early on started encouraging other people to start their own twitter it'd b different - Noah David Simon

Robert Scoble

How much time are you wasting on Twitter? - http://scobleizer.com/2008...

July 18, 2008 from Scobleizer -- Tech geek... - Comment - Like - Share

Fuad Arshad, Sean Oliver, Ronald and 29 other people liked this

actually, less now that I've started friendfeeding. Please dont ask the follow up question though. - Aziz Poonawalla

31 more comments

none. lots on friendfeed though ;-) - Gaby K. Slezák

i moved almost completely off of twitter. i still set off a tweet here and there when the subject is not FF worthy; like "I'm drinking my protein shake by the pool". All in all its alot more interesting on FF. - Carlos Ayala

I tried Twitter and didn't like it. Since starting FF, I hate to admit it, I actually like FF. It is sort of like a group instant messaging utility. - Herschel

Since I used RescueTime for a week, I have reduced all my soc net time down drastically. - Sally Church

I don't waste my time on twitter anymore. I spend all my time on FF; that's where the conversations are. - John Budnik

I'm addicted to FF rooms! Fantastic! - David Sim

Well, most of the people I follow on twitter are here, so I turned off device updates on twitter. And as for the rest, twitter has not been sending me IM's for a few weeks now. So outside a short twit now and then, or my script posting what I'm listing... I'm not wasting much time on twitter. - Grant Bierman

None at all. Just FF. Anyone worth talking tech with on the internet is here on FF. We could use a bigger crowd, but for now this is where it's at. - Chrimmus Tad

define "wasting". - David Howell

I am sure my boss would say to much. Between Twitter, FriendFeed and Plurk someone would say to much. - Admiral70

@jeffb or even too much. - Kirk Skodis from twhirl

better question should be how much time are you wasting on the internet - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Well, I used to waste a lot of time. But since I got Twhirl, no time gets wasted. It is a marvelous tool. - Rodrigo Leme from twhirl

I think an interesting related question is, "what are you accomplishing on Twitter? " - Brian Wilson

great video - Jason Calacanis

I use little twitter, more FF and fftogo lately. I'm not a techie so I hope to not bore folks as I try to broaden my geekish horizons :) - kbourke

I use Twitter for communcating with some clients, and also now use Twhirl. - Ian May from twhirl

"gmail expects the same respect as outlook" - tell that to the Corporate IT .. and see what the response is !! - Peter Dawson

I wrote about RescueTime when they first launched, but I never dared to try it myself for what it might find :-) To answer the headline question: hardly any at all now. - Duncan Riley

I mostly use Twitter in bits of time between more meaningful tasks. Standing in line, waiting, switching between tasks, etc. - Jack Collins

I have a blackberry and I live in Canada. There is no easy way now to read/follow twitter since the IM feature is gone; I used to read twitter via google talk. I find that twitterberry and m.twitter don't allow me to read more than a page or the past hour and using SMS is painful. Every 250 messages I need to delete my mobile number online and re-add it or I would have to wait a week for new messages. I read it when I'm on the go or need a break from my writing. - Phillip Jeffrey

Um, roughly zero lately - Michael Hocter

I waste more time on friendfeed a lot more than twitter because of how much more content is available - Justin

I use time very wisely on Twitter - no more than 30 mins/day actively. Scans messages while it runs in background on Twhirl. - Jim Turner from twhirl

i rarely use twitter, but i wouldn't say that it's because of ff. necessarily. it's just become unreliable as well as "spammy" - Cee Bee

Next to none since friendfeed. Loving me some friendfeed! - joshua fouts

I would love to use Twitter and Friendfeed more - if only they were more mainstream here in Australia. - Jim

Isn't Twitter like breathing? I don't stop breathing. - Carolyn Chan from twhirl

Great app, helped me cut my social shennanigans under an hour a week. - Sean Oliver

i use twitter a lot since it helps me connect with real people and real solutions. the conversations on friendfeed are ones that drive the thought process and creativity though . - Fuad Arshad

Sounds like a great tool, though it vaguely sounds like a rip-off of something else. I don't consider my Twitter/FF time wasted though. I learn so much in the course of goofing off, and save so much time venting rather than stewing in my own frustration that it's a wash. - Tinu Abayomi-Paul

Scott Beale

The iPhone: Alternate Gaming Interface, or Harbinger of an Augmented Future? - http://feeds.laughingsquid.com/~r...

July 17, 2008 from Laughing Squid - Comment - Like - Share

Eric Rice, Paul Reynolds and mike "glemak" dunn liked this

I did some usability testing at Microsoft a couple of years ago. They were doing something similar with a docked Windows Mobile device. I never got past all the COM/ATL cruft to get it working well, though. :o) - Paul Reynolds

Graffitio slices open the AR scene on the iphone, and its just a start - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Mona Nomura

Werrrrrd - http://www.ebaumsworld.com/picture...

July 16, 2008 from Bookmarklet - Comment - Like - Share

Tamara J., Russellreno, Pascal Sijen and 9 other people liked this

A true classic. - Jared Smith

9 more comments

I know.. it still makes me LOL btw this post was inspired by Steve Isaac - Mona Nomura

"write letterz and shit yo" - Justin Korn

Worrrrrrrrddddddddd - Mona Nomura

Hahah, still makes me laugh too. Definitely a classic. - Vincent X

ha! - Marco(aureliusmaximus)

Hahaha - Happy to inspire, Mona! hahaha - Steve Isaacs

same, i wish i could avoid word, textmate, google docs, pages ftw - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

I'm glad I manage to avoid the actual product! - Ian May

yes, a classic. love it - Ryan

RR: welcome back!! So I take it everything went well with comcast? - Mona Nomura

Jonathan Beckett

A question for those of you with iPhones - can you listen to a podcast and write notes about it at the same time?

July 16, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

Matt Harwood liked this

Anybody? - Jonathan Beckett

10 more comments

yes - Robert Scoble

Yep, no reason you cant! - Matt Harwood

Yeah, 3rd party apps can't run in the background but some Apple ones (such as the iPod app) can! - Martin Bryant

Can those notes sync to your desktop now? (MobileMe maybe)? - Soulhuntre from twhirl

I haven't tried it but Mobile Me has a Notes sync option under System Preferences, so looks like it! - Martin Bryant

This is great to know - at the moment I use a Palm Tungsten for this - and it's surprisingly good at it. It was the one useful purpose I still carry it for. - Jonathan Beckett

yep indeed yee can - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

of course I still have to wait until September when my contract runs out before buying an iPhone... - Jonathan Beckett

Yes to both the mental capacity to multithread that task and the capacity of the iPhone to allow both notes and music to be played at the same time. - Charles Ju

evernote is an excellent note taking app which is available in the iphone store for free, has desktop and web clients and syncs to the cloud. This is the KILLER app for the iphone and ipod touch - Jonathan Denison

I think maybe it depends on how you are listening to the podcast? If you are listening using the iPod app (i.e. the podcast is in your library), yes, you can go back to the Home screen and launch something else and the podcast will continue to play. If you are listening to the podcast by clicking on a link to an MP3 in Safari, the podcast will play in a new Safari page, and going to the Home screen will close Safari and stop playing the podcast (at least prior to software 2.0). YMMV - Karim

Andrew Baron

Shel Israel no longer on Fast Company. This is no surprise considering how boring the videos were: http://mrontemp.blogspot.com/2008...

July 15, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

Eban Crawford, Diana Valerini, Fats Leroy and 10 other people liked this

I suppose it wasn't Shel's fault though. I think Robert set himself and Shel up for failure on the Fast Company Network. Two very bright guys who's work doesn't really translate that well to video. We all know what Robert is thinking because he thinks out loud all day long, and in all of that time spent, he's not really thinking about video. Its hard to be an expert at everything. - Andrew Baron

26 more comments

Bjorn, ironically it wasn't a public firing. That was my point. There are two views on whether a company should announce the departure of a person, and in this case FastCompany chose not to publicly announce the departure. Robert Scoble has stated his reasons for not doing so. - Ontario Emperor

But obviously it was public. They knew people would talk about it and then Robert chimed in with his public comments on a blog post and then reblogged that link on friendfeed. - Andrew Baron

And btw, "boring" is not a criticism to Shel who is not at all boring in my opinion, but rather that he didnt get the production support that he needed to create a buzz around the information that he was bringing to the table. - Andrew Baron

The problem was not getting Shel a producer to begin with. - Andrew Feinberg

I guess Shel is being quiet for a reason, i wouldn't like to have all this aired without having a say :\ - Chris Jones from twhirl

Andrew - did you at least like ours? http://tinyurl.com/work-fa... - Sanford

I never saw any of the FC stuff. Any of it actually worth 3 minutes of my time? - Sean-Michael Robinson

@Sanford, visually? I was glad to see you all sitting there but I dont believe the show did anything to take advantage of the visual medium. As I said in my tweet, very boring to watch. This was just an audio podcast, really. - Andrew Baron

Revision3 does the production and is paid a lot to do the video parts of the show. I spend a lot of time thinking about our shows along with the team at Revision3 and we will continue tweaking this. One reason we hired Revision3 is because I know I don't know how to do a good studio show. I thought we would have more than five shows to get to be ultra-high quality, but that was my mistake and it won't be repeated again. - Robert Scoble

its odd to see Shel or Scooble on FastCompany anyways, I mean why do i care about FastCompany, tradtional media mag dead, next - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Sean: I have learned a lot from every guest on the show. Amazing no one talks about that. Sanford's show will teach you a lot about co-working. On this Friday's show will be David Allen who has started a productivity cult around his Getting Things Done book and methodology. That won't be boring, no matter how badly I suck. - Robert Scoble

Robert, its not about you sucking. It's about the lack of visual value. Take the video linked to above by Sanford for instance. That video is weak on the visuals. And it takes SO LONG to get the info across. When watching the video, and listening to what you and your guests are saying, try to imagine what could go on top of their voice-overs in post to add another layer of depth and value to the experience. There is a moment of website b-roll for example. What else can you imagine visually from the video? - Andrew Baron

How many hours a day do you spend on Rocketboom? I heard you once say it is 12 hours a day for a few minutes of video. WorkFast is a live interview show like Charlie Rose. You don't see him doing lots of graphics either.. My guests can only give me an hour of their time. That is one reason I get such extraordinary guests. I don't ask for a lot of their time. I agree that such a... more... - Robert Scoble

As a filmmaker I can tell you 1) yes the visual element is important and 2) maybe not in the way you think. Just having someone on camera for a while gives you a very good sense of who they are. Scoble's video's are fine and what makes them valuable is the immediacy. Maybe they get cut together someday by a doc filmmaker or Scoble himself but that's a different media object. My own interviews for the next film I'm putting up raw w/out editing for all to see. I think there's value in that. - Dean Terry

There is value in that for sure Dean. I think my suggestion does not exclude this value. 30 minutes of watching 2 or three guys sit in a chair talk is a lot like watching a reading for a play. But usually, when you add the set and enhance the work with sound and bring more visual stimulation to the scene, you wind up with a real opportunity to get the human element across, as well as showing and emphasizing visually the subject matter that is being discussed. - Andrew Baron

I quite enjoy the style the Robert produces. After all this is an interview with the people behind the technologies, not a PowerPoint presentation. Lots of visuals are not always a good thing, especially when the audio content is the major thing of intrest. - Johnny Worthington

@john It certainly fits in the long tail. No questioning that there is a value for some people. - Andrew Baron

Wasn't I seeing tweets from others raving about how fucking "brilliant" or "funny" Shel was? Now he's yesterdays Web 2.0 trash? Man you guys are fucking fickle. - Daniel Spisak from twhirl

Andrew: understood. I'm sure you would agree there are meaningful added media elements and there are b.s. ones. Canned music and flying text are useless and zombie inducing. What would be interesting, but would take much more time in editing, is to spend a whole day with Scoble's subjects. Get them eating breakfast, driving to work, on conference calls, with their dog, etc. Then you get a more full portrait of the person, in addition to the ideas. (OK I'm biased, this is my approach) - Dean Terry

Andrew-Don't beat around the bush. Scoble is not a video guy. Not everyone is. Just because he has a zillion fanboys (and girls) here no reason not to speak your mind openly. Seems to me that Scoble's appeal is to geeks that think everything he fixates on for 5 seconds is the 2nd coming of Apple or to the CEO's that are getting a nice infomercial from the Scobleizer. - Mark Forman

@Dean, but what about the topic of conversation? Getting to know the person and what they eat for breakfast is one thing, but what about when they are talking about the things that are important to them? Like their work? Maybe some of that time visual information could be used to provide more depth and make the information more clear. - Andrew Baron

Mark: I never claimed to be a video guy. I am a conversation guy. I have conversations. Tomorrow with a couple of famous architects. The video is just so you can come along too. Not everyone will like what I am doing. That comes with doing media. Star Wars was given awful critiques, yet I still love it. I haven't seen anyone else do more than 1,000 video interviews online, though. There is a reason: criticism is easy: having extraordinary conversations is hard. - Robert Scoble

@Andrew agreed, but it would push production time ever further. I'm sitting watching (in ambient fashion) a History Channel production that took months to create. My last film took 3 yrs. All OK if timeliness is not an issue. Many tech interviews get stale very fast unless they are about very big picture issues (which, sadly, aren't as interesting to many). Personally I try and get people to talk about larger social issues, often just out of their comfort zone. These seem to have some lasting value. - Dean Terry

Andrew: I agree. It is why we do different kinds of shows. The one I am doing tomorrow with an architect that designed Los Angeles stadium will have visuals. But that is more like Rocketboom since it will be edited. WorkFast is a live conversation and putting in visuals is much tougher. - Robert Scoble

I agree with Andrew. I tried to watch several shows but it was like watching the radio. I think it's possible to be visually more interesting without a lot of work. And isn't that Rev. 3's job? - chartreuse

Realizing that I have not watched any scoble videos in a long time. I wish that I could add that upcoming GTD Video to my queue. - Christian Burns

Honestly, I am not a video guy and really don't know anything. But I was watching an old Charlie Rose episode on YouTube last night. For those that do know what they are talking about, is that not a two-camera show? If so, Robert - if you got two cameras on there for coverage, would you not be able to cut more together (without all the whiz-bang graphics stuff) but at least you could get some tight shots, etc... Again, I really have no clue about video, so this may be irrelevant. - Adam Bullied

Nir Ben Yona

iPhone 3G Gets Extended Battery To Improve Performance - http://smartech.blogetery.com/2008...

July 14, 2008 from Bookmarklet - Comment - Like - Share

Warner Crocker, Mark Heringer, Tate DA FF MVP and 6 other people liked this

That was fast! - Nir Ben Yona

7 more comments

looks like a brick - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

I assume it actually needs to be connected to power the iPhone. It would be much better if it just charged the iPhone's battery so that it could be removed after a couple of hours or so. - Tony Ruscoe

for the narcissistic, the fact this makes the iPhone about 3 feet long and thus cases it to rise above the rim of the pocket at all times is no big deal, and in fact is a desireable trait. for everyone else, I believe the design of this product to be a joke. - Wade Dorrell

@Wade, Generally speaking, sometimes effectiveness defeats looks. - Nir Ben Yona

By the in-stock date, it seems someone's got until 20 Aug to come up with a battery with a sane form factor. - Wade Dorrell

based on first gen accessories you'd probably see dozens more. - Nir Ben Yona

Is that true for Apple iPhone 3G.... No video calling, no AD2P on the Bluetooth, CAN'T share ANY (mp3, images,videos....) files via bluetooth, you cannot transfer files via bluetooth. what age is this ...STONE AGE??? can't use as a wireless modem, (you pay ridiculous data charges to activate internet on your phone, but cannot connect it to your PC and browse when you are at home) no... more... - Tate DA FF MVP

@Tatenda i respect your opinion but 1) iphone has by far the best operating system and user friendly interface 2) the best internet surface 3) no one forces you to buy one so what's the problem? - Nir Ben Yona

Louis Gray

The iPhone 3G proves that there is no economic downturn - http://www.livedigitally.com/2008...

July 15, 2008 from Google Reader - Comment - Like - Share

Natitude, Frankie Warren, Susan Beebe and 9 other people liked this

i think it just fits in whole gadget/video games/tech category of recession-proof industry - Brian Ries

17 more comments

It only proves that the economic downturn is uneven in its distribution across all socio-economic sub groups - Duncan Riley

No, just means that those same people who didn't pay their mortgage are now racking up more bills they don't intend to pay by purchasing iPhones. May be broke, but they look cool. - xero

many people would sooner go without food than hip new mobile phone. we'll see if mcdonald's sales spike as families opt for iphones instead of groceries. (sarcasm intended) - Jason Goldberg

A one-time purchase of $300 is nothing compared to the ever increasing weekly trip to the pump. - James Hull

There is a fine line between clever and stupid, and he just walked it. - Dan Kaplan

or that people are idiots (shrug) - Gary Dobkin

I only live 2.2 miles from my office and my monthly gas bill is inching toward that $300 mark - xero

@Gary: agreed. - Jason Shultz from twhirl

Uhh... no. It doesn't prove anything besides the fact that an unrepresentative subset of people have some disposable income. - Pete Brown from fftogo

@Pete If I had disposable income, you can bet I wouldn't drop it on an expensive new phone so early after release and opt for a higher monthly cell phone bill. I have more important priorities like promoting my business, keeping a roof over me and my families head, food on the table and gas in the vehicles. - Jason Shultz from twhirl

totally agree with Pete and Duncan - the typical iPhone buyer hasn't (yet?) been affected by the economic downturn - Frederic

no it just means that an unrepresentative subset of people have more credit elasticity then previously thought off. To all your iPhone buyers- did you walk in w/cash or debit card to pay or did you swipe your CC ?? Now be truthful !! - Peter Dawson

I remember reading that experts observed that people will always spend money on entertainment; they did so even during the Great Depressions. This bolsters any argument that the iPhone (like my own mostly beloved phone) is an entertainment device that can do work. - MiniMage TKDteacher of FF from NoiseRiver

i didn't write the piece, but i do agree with Dan's (the author) general principles on it. everyone here commenting on 'the recession' *is* aware that we are *NOT* in one, right? i fundamentally believe if mainstream media were to start talking about all the rosy signs of the economy, the masses would believe it too... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... - Jeremy Toeman

Responding to the article: Actually, it proves that the well-to-do are always the last to be affected by a recession. Yes, to people who're barely scraping by right now, we who can afford iPhones and AT&T calling plans are freakin' rich. - Morton Fox

I've spent about 10 minutes trying to type SOMEthing that resembles the blankest look I can muster, but yeah, think I'll just go buy something instead. - Eric Rice

Nah just proves "fans" of a product outweigh logic - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

doesn't prove a damn thing. how out of touch can someone be to proclaim such nonsense? - Cee Bee

Steve Rubel

The mysterious black pixel is gone from Gmail

July 15, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

Todor, Diana Valerini, Goktug Gedik and 17 other people liked this

well we better start blogging about it! :) - Allen Stern

23 more comments

amin - Dobromir Hadzhiev

Would you look at that :) - Andrew Smith

If you keep staring at it, it disappears. - Oldengrey (Jay)

and now all is well again in the googleverse - Alan Le

Shhh, stop talking about it - maybe it's like a bird that will come back! - Steve Rubel

sorry to hear... you should be fine i guess - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

finally - rest. :) - Bill Stevens from feedalizr

it moved to friendfeed - Jason Goldberg

it's like the black monolith disappearing in 2001 - this means something! - MG Siegler

just because you dont see it does not mean that it does not exist. The Black Pixel is just colured to match the skin color. ITs still there.. but merged inside..like the Alien vs Predator movie :)- - Peter Dawson

I'm making it the top story on my email newsletter as we speak... - Sprague D

Was that a "tracking pixel" in Gmail? what was it for? - Susan Beebe

it was an iframe for ajax stuff - Peter Dawson

Peter: oh, cool... thanks Peter! that was fast! - Susan Beebe

the Neo Cons did it. ...lol... mysterious black pixel will take over the world - Noah David Simon

Woah, a single pixel generates so much conversation. FriendFeed can be a weird place. :) - Jake (aka Jawee)

@Jake, but a single pixel also sold for $1 , remember the guy who made Pixel ad's page and made about $1M bucks. The lowest element on a screen is valuable :)_ - Peter Dawson

@Peter Dawson: The topic was about a million pixels. I don't ever remember reading about any specific pixel from that website. - Jake (aka Jawee)

@JAke, I was refering this http://www.milliondollarhomepage.com/ - Peter Dawson

I guess it finally arrived at the 1st position in the "Trouble Tickets" list for the folks in Googleplex. - Winston Teo

@Peter Dawson: yes I know. - Jake (aka Jawee)

Does this mean I can remove my tinfoil hat? - Chris Baskind

here is the real conspiracy http://simonstudiotheatre.blogspot.com/2008... TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2008 twitter is social media abuse (@jack @Biz n @EV is under the influence of the leftist bigots of aMANdaChapel PurpleCar and eMailOurMilitary) - Noah David Simon

probably a bug, and so they fixed it. big deal ! - Murali

elliott cable

FAILPLANT - it's like a faceplant, but even *more* full of fail!

July 15, 2008 from Twitter - Comment - Like - Share

i thought that read failpaint, and i thought, sweet new app for iphone! - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Hah! /me paints you with failpaint - elliott cable

Steve Spalding

I'm looking for an opinion other than the iphone what cell phone are you using?

July 15, 2008 - Comment - Like - Share

Yolanda, kbourke, Mark Krynsky and 6 other people liked this

The LG Voyager. I'd rather have an iPhone but was constrained to go with Verizon. The Voyager is...okay, I guess. It doesn't excel at any thing. It's not even good at most things. But it has an almost passable full-html browser. - James (@willia4)

38 more comments

MDA, Dash, now Blackberry Pearl (yeah...it's hard times) - Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah

I was thinking about the new Pearl, I heard it had Wi-Fi support. Any opinions? - Steve Spalding

Blackberry Curve GPS (8310) on a non-corporate service plan. Compared to *most* other phones, it's amazing. Mobile Opera makes browsing a little less painful. The UI is pretty ugly. Voice dialing requires no training and is amazingly good. - Paul Reynolds

LG Voyager is working great for me. - Brian Daniel Eisenberg

Samsung Blackjack II - Alan Le

I'm told the Wi-Fi on BB doesn't actually improve browing speed in any appreciable way. The GPS works great, but it's not assisted like the iPhone 3G, so it can take a few minutes to lock on satellites. - Paul Reynolds

Nokia N72 (Sybian S60, Opera...) - Thierry R. Andriamirado

Motorola Razr V3m, which is somewhat dated. - Morton Fox

So yea, I'm stuck with AT&T for the time being so those phones are what I really need an opinion about. Cheers to everyone whose helping out, phone shopping takes me decades. - Steve Spalding

Treo 755p. All things considered, it's been an able companion, and quite stable. If the browser were better, I might have never switched to the iPhone. - Roger Benningfield

HTC s720. I like it but it could have better battery life. - Andrew Smith

I'm still using my two-year-old Kyocera Strobe. I can get most all the net I want, and email too. - Ian May

If I didn't have an iPhone, I would use a Blackberry Pearl. - Jeremy Brooks

I'm using a *regular* cell (SE - T650i 3G phone) why not a smartphone? since i take phone with me all the time, I need it to be *small*, not bulky, and my primary needs are voice calls (yup I know..primitive me ) txting (SMS, MMS), gmail, msn/gtalk and occasional photo. All the above fits great although it's small screen and reg. phone keyb. i found that for browsing/email etc. i still want my laptop, and when traveling abroad (which I did a lot) data roaming prices were astronomic.. - Naor Mark

If you've got ATT, may want to hold out for the BB Bold: http://www.blackberry.com/blackbe... - Paul Reynolds

none - Steven Hodson

none - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Samsung SCH-u740, good phone. - richrecruiter

centro. pink. (via sprint) luv it. - Rochelle Rochelle

@Brian, I've been thinking about a Voyager. How much does the plan cost you? - Sprague D

I have a curve too. HUGE fan - Mona Nomura

If you internet a lot, DO NOT go with the Voyager!! I should elaborate... 1. they have way too many proprietary paid services. 2. no native chat apps (still done through SMS.. who does that?!) 3. The browser = ULTIMATE FAIL - Mona Nomura

AT&T Tilt... majorly buggy software from at&t... Had to send mine back 3 times because of problems with it randomly freezing and shutting off without telling me. Also had hardware problem ("red light of doom") where phone wouldn't turn on at all. If you get this phone make sure you plan on dumping at&t's terrible build of the OS. - Robert DeBord

Thanks Mona. That takes care of that. These also look pretty sweet and just got approved for U.S.: http://www.htc.com/www... - Sprague D

Everyone I know who owns a Nokia N95 swears by it. - Duncan Riley

I'm leaning towards the Nokia N95 personally. - Jim McCusker

Definitely wait for the new one, the current model only has 64 mb of RAM =( ...which seems like a lot but really isnt, since non native browsers have problems running. Good luck! :) - Mona Nomura

Nokia N95 or N96. - Dread Pirate PJ from NoiseRiver

Sony-Ericsson T616 from 2003. Want it? - DGentry

I've got a Palm Centro from Sprint and have no complaints. - Shannon Jiménez

Helio Ocean. I like it. - RAPatton

I own a blackberry curve and LOVE IT! - Becca

So what I am seeing is the N95 (which I've heard is great), the Pearl, the Bold and the Voyager (thanks for the warning Mona). Thanks for the input. The N95 might be a wee bit pricey. I played around with the Instinct a little and I'm not a fan. Has anyone had any issues with the Pearl on ATT? - Steve Spalding

I'm using an HTC Touch from Bell and I couldn't be happier. Faster processor and more RAM than the Touches from other carriers. Free on a 3 year and 60 bucks a month for unlimited texting and internet / 350 minutes. Good enough for me! - Doug Estey

BB8300 Works Well - Christopher Aloi

I'm switching to the iPhone in January when my contract is up. Until then, I'm using the Pearl. I think I will really, really miss the keyboard. - Sarah Perez

Blackberry Pearl. Had my doubts about using a keyboard with two letters to a key, but the predictive software is pretty amazing... and it learns new words quickly. Was at the Apple store tonight. Still a two hour line to pick up and active a 3G iPhone. I was there for something else so I just got to enjoy watching the people stand there... waiting... eyes glazed over... - Bob Stemen

Using an AT&T Tilt. Love the keyboard, but I think I'll be able to live with the iPhone keyboard. Windows Mobile needs a better touch interface and a better browser. - Sergio Cruz

I'm on Verizon. Currently use an enV. But, the browser makes me want to throw my phone in the river. Was thinking about getting a pearl. But, I think I'm holding out for the HTC Touch Pro. - Yolanda

Bwana ☠

Looking for alternatives to cafepress.com for selling your own branded merchandise

July 15, 2008 from Ping.fm - Comment - Like - Share

Glenn Batuyong, Steve Spalding, edythe and 2 other people liked this

http://www.zazzle.com/ - Louis Gray

6 more comments

Louis is quick on the draw! checking them out - Bwana ☠

http://www.printfection.com/ another one - Stepan Mazurov

http://www.redbubble.com/ is another one - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Zazzle has some really high quality stuff, I'd recommend them. - Steve Spalding

There's also Spreadshirt. - Jauder Ho from twhirl

I like Zazzle too - Sally Church

Fwiw, CafePress has great customer service. I ordered from them twice before. One of my orders was the wrong size, and they went out of their way to fix it. They told me to not bother sending the wrong size back, and expedited the correct one to me. - Raoul Pop

Jeremy Zawodny

Weight Based Pricing of Airline Tickets - http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog...

July 14, 2008 from Jeremy Zawodny's blog - Comment - Like - Share

Kirb, Carlo Zottmann, Zulu and 11 other people liked this

Don't all airline tickets weigh the same? - Stuart Grimshaw from twhirl

33 more comments

I think it would be great, may even help not getting stuck between two large people on a flight back east. But please don't let TSA be responsible for weighing everyone we may never get to board. - Jon Erickson

Actually, I often get "electronic" tickets... I wonder if those weigh anything. - Jeremy Zawodny

This reminds me of living with roommates... you'd start out splitting the electricity bill evenly, but then someone complains that Carl has a server room that drains 70% of the power and then Carl complains that Eddie uses a lot of that server space and so on and so on... weight-based pricing sounds neat ... in theory... but could turn into disaster - Dave Dash from Alert Thingy

so how do you buy tickets in advance, or for a third person, when you can't price them until you actually show up to be weighed? - Chuq Von Rospach

It's an interesting concept ... but as mentioned above, could get messy. I've often thought about how this could be done in health care. THAT gets even messier though. - AJ Kohn

@Jason: You could weigh them at the security checkpoint without slowing them down too much. Hey, they even get to take the shoes off to lower the total! - AJ Kohn

I'm not sure that knowing the *exact* price in advance really matters. What you're "buying" in advance is a $/pound price point. Most poeple likely own scales and could easily ballpark their ticket prices. Hell, it wouldn't take long for popular booking web sites to add a little on-line calculator. - Jeremy Zawodny

I'm thinking of it like in Total Recall with the wall of x-ray ... as you walk down you're assigned a weight. Perhaps it's not even a scale but simple math based on visual capture? - AJ Kohn

if you're going to attempt this in obese-nation, then ya need to seriously overhaul a ton of other crap like banning fast food, only see fruit vendors in airports and, if your feet cant reach the floor in your seat -sorry you cant lean back its felony if you do - Dan Rockwell from twhirl

Oh man I'm in trouble. Wouldn't this classify as weightism? :P - Shey, Jamaican of FF

This is likely an unpopular view, but would it be a bad thing to provide some economic incentives to be a bit healthier? I mean, it's one thing if you choose to smoke, stuff yourself with fast food and not exercise and your quality of life and health diminishes. The problem is the rest of the populace pays for their care. - AJ Kohn

Weight is not always health related - some people are naturally larger or smaller. Also sometimes being overweight is a medical condition rather than the result of food consumption. So not a really fair system. - Craig Thomler

sort of understand the mass to cost to transport ratio - but surprised to see above is all about overweight - how about those of us who are genetically big, we'd be punished for our dna - mike "glemak" dunn

Final solution remedies always produce collateral damage,huh? - Mark Forman

Craig: see this response: http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog... - Jeremy Zawodny

Jason: smart approach... sorta huge line though to weigh all this stuff...monetizing air travel really does suck - Susan Beebe

im obese and what you just said kills me "put down the cinnabon before you board" - i hope we get to meet one day and you say that to my face! - Allen Stern

Allen, perhaps you're not familiar with my story? http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog... - Jeremy Zawodny

No zealots like a convert. :) - Robert Cooper from twhirl

As someone who is bigger (tall and a bit wider) I think the only way I would agree to pay more is if they give me a bigger seat with more legroom. Short skinny people can spare the space. This is a reason I hate to fly. I would rather drive than pay more to get treated as sheep. - Dave Simon

Jeremy your system is flawed for so many reasons. Stick to coding pal :) - Allen Stern

Allen: thanks for your thoughtful analysis and advice. I'll be sure to only think and write about code from now on, for fear of a coming up with "flawed" ideas. - Jeremy Zawodny

I'm thinking Jeremy meant this like Swift's "A Modest Proposal" [satire] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... - Sprague D

So in your plan, if I am fat, do I get a larger seat to go along with my higher price? Right now I pay for two seats, how does your system handle that? Or does everyone get the same seat but pays more because there's more weight in there? I am going to double-swipe my metrocard tomorrow on the subway because the train pulling me has to exert more force because of my weight. On a side note, congrats (seriously) on your weight loss. - Allen Stern

Allen: a larger seat would make a lot of sense, wouldn't it? - Jeremy Zawodny

i wish i had more time right now to go back and forth with you on this but 9 companies have decided to post news tomorrow at 9am and i have to write their stories - maybe we pick this up at another time - sorry - Allen Stern

This came up 6 years ago too. SouthWest decided they would force large people to buy a second ticket. http://scottkoon.org/2002... . This works out to a lose-lose situation for everyone. It does open some "slippery slope" possibilities. The real problem is that they put too many rows on the planes. Tall, skinny people would rather have one less row and some more leg room. I'd also advocate some sort of "smack in the head" policy for anyone reclining in their seat. - Scott Koon from twhirl

I would find this a lot more palatable if you also got a size-appropriate seat. If I'm 280 lbs and am paying twice as much as someone who weighs 140lbs, then I should get a chair that fits my size, and the 140 lb person should get a chair that fits their size. - Kevin Fox

This campaign was running a few weeks ago when I was in Philadelphia: http://flyderrie-air.com/derriea... The first airline to charge by weight. It is coming. (No, it isn't real, but it is funny) Wasn't pay by the pound big with some small town restaurants in the 70's / 80's? I remember going to one as a kid and it was a nickel a pound for kids under 12. - Scott Schnaars

Besides larger seats for larger people you would also have to provide a bigger meal and more snacks. Ummm wait.. that's called first class. - Luis Figueiredo

A sensible idea. - Carlo Zottmann

all I know is that I just flew continental and was totally surprised to be fed... and I mean actual food not just peanuts - nick carrasco

It's not unreasonable to charge people according to the cost of carrying them & their luggage, whether or not you also offer to sell them custom sized seats, but it's probably a money losing scheme once you factor in people's resentment of it. Given a choice between equitable treatment and just treatment, people generally choose whichever benefits them more. - Seth

Obsese people wouldn't get larger seats for their expensive tickets, they would get more fuel for their flight. Bigger seats are available right now; it's called first class. - Micah Sittig

Dan Rockwell › Comments