LessThanDot

I am torn right now. Ed and Steve are right. I like the smartphone but it does have so many limitations. Is it so wrong to want one device that does it all well? ;-) - Mathew A. Koeneker

It depends on the content I suppose as well as the mode of operation. Writing long e-mails on mobile devices, coding, or doing creative work is certainly not worth doing on smartphones. But taking and e-mailing pictures and video, transmitting location data, bar-code aided pricing comparing, and other sensor-aided activities are where smartphones seem to shine. I think this may balance out the consumption vs. creation equation over time. - Dion Hinchcliffe

I definitely want some sort of bar code scanning app. It would make shopping on a budget much easier. - Mathew A. Koeneker

Mathew, check out http://compare-everywhere.com/ for Android, it's getting really good reviews for doing bar code scanning price comparison. - Dion Hinchcliffe

Depends on what you are creating. - Kevin

Dion: Thanks! - Mathew A. Koeneker

I Agree with Kevin it really depends what you're creating and what device you're using. If you're referring to photos/video and you're talking about the iPhone or Blackberry mobiles then I understand, but if you include Nokia Nseries devices in the equation it changes all together. Nseries are great at capturing photos/video and then uploading them to your blog or Flickr especially the N82, N95 8GB, N96, N93i, etc. (basically the models with 3 Megapixel cameras or higher). If you're talking about text input for writing blog posts or long E-mails then probably a device with QWERTY keypad will work best for example, Blackberry mobiles or Nokia Eseries mobiles such as the E71. I'm very curious what smartphone/s you were referring to when you dismissed them as not being good at creating content? - LonelyBob via twhirl

@LonleyBob I use a Treo 755p which has the qwerty that I like. I would like to see a better speech to text app than is out there as I can talk a lot faster than I can type. - Mathew A. Koeneker

think it depends on your actual device as has been discussed here already ... the iPhone is absolutely a consumption focused device. Apple made very clear hardware decisions which make that a reality. The Nokia gear as @lonelybob mentions is considerably stronger on the creation side and something I concluded <http://www.atmasphere.net/wp/a...> quite a while back in my comparison of the N95 and iPhone. Nothing has really changed since ... - Jonathan Greene

the iPhone-powered laptop might be what you are looking for: http://www.gizmag.com/the-olo-... - vijay

smartphones are great for creating when you're not at your computer (ie. when you're in the real world) - William Stewart

Hey Robert broke twitter ... no wait, it's just twitter's way of saying, "Welcome Home"~!! - Susan Beebe

What's Alex done to Twitter? Alex? Robert is saying you broke twitter..... - WorldofHiglet

I really don't think it's your fault..... this time. :) - JCLeftie

http://friendfeed.com/e/4df2dc... - Tanju Yıldız (mavisland)

Awesome blog title -> "Twitter went down as soon as Robert Scoble landed in SF" - AJ Batac

Yeah. Nice work Scoble ;) I bet you brought some Chinese twitter virus back home - Dennis Bjørn Petersen via twhirl

And, being that you're Scoble, you're still able to Tweet about it. - DocileWalnut

Another Blame Scoble meme? - Roberto Bonini

It went down right as I ran my auto-follow script for SocialToo - it's probably my fault ;-) - Jesse Stay

Googel reader having problems as well... you must not have read all your feeds and now they have an out of memory error - Ian D. Nock via twhirl

Half of it was right. And I'm not posting this from Twitter. ;) - Chris White

Time will tell, but I think it was correct decision. - imran

It's made you one of my favorite bloggers, if that makes you feel any better about it. If you weren't heavy on the social exploration I probably wouldn't read. - Daniel J. Pritchett

what outcome were you going for? - zach

From my perspective, yes. It's a much more interactive and broader experience for all. - Kevin C. Tofel

The right decision from which perspective, Robert? Did you increase "eyeballs?" Revenue? Both? Other? - Mark VandenBerg

I like FriendFeed and Twitter, but don't see how they compare to developing thoughtful, deeper blog posts. Really, I think FF and Twitter have their place, and I love them as well, but that place is certainly not a replacement to blogging. - Michael Krigsman

I think yes. Most folks can read twitter 100% of the time -- blogs are scanned. You tend to link to good stuff from twitter and have good headlines. - Ted Simpson

No question about that. In the past, websites were static compared to blogs. Now blogs are static compared to microblogging services. - Berci Mesko

I think only you can be the judge of that. We're all beginning to look at blogs as sort of the core of our outreach, so I'm not sure investing time in microblogging elsewhere is an either/or question. You are you. Your blog and social media network are simply extensions. If you're happy with your business model and continuing to grow, what's the problem? :-) - Chris Baskind

Mark: Revenue? Didn't change much. Eyeballs? Well, I have almost 21,000 followers here that I didn't have at the beginning of the year. Zach: I just saw that FriendFeed was going to be one of the most interesting new services of the year. Seeing how it was on the screen at the Chinese BloggerCon I think I picked the right services. - Robert Scoble

I consider FF as blogging in many ways and more interesting than a blog. - imran

You certainly moved the ball forward for the two companies. And if you think they're a vital part of the "internet plumbing", you absolutely made the right decision in helping to secure their futures. - Christopher Galtenberg

I've shut down my blog for the time being. Not getting the interaction out of it, the way I'm getting out of experiences on FF and Twitter. I think if you want more conversation online, the blogs (for now) would not be the way to go. - Helen Sventitsky

are the 21K followers different from people who followed your blog already? if so that is in increase. if not then the eyeballs are moving from your blog to friend feed. - Jonathan Jesse

Just wondering. Thanks, Robert. - Mark VandenBerg

My twitter lives alongside my blog in the sidebar, and I keep track of all my tweets by feeding it into a lifestream stored on my server. i think that's the key, as the two platforms, microblogging and blogging, work nicely together. - C. K. Sample III

@Michael great thoughts on blogs allowing for deeper thought development. that greater development, might lead to more meaningful discussion on FF then what may occur in the comment section - Jonathan Jesse

Also, check out Twitemperature if you like Twitter. Tells you whether you're hot or cold based upon what you've tweeted and how it ties into online trends and community: http://twitemperature.com - C. K. Sample III

It's a good question -- I've been thinking (and writing a bit) about the question of a blogging / microblogging balance. My working theory: that going forward the most successful bloggers will be strong microbloggers, and vice versa. - Eric Berlin

Robert, then I have a wunderbar über wonderful idea for you! You know, you can trust me :) - directeur via NoiseRiver

YES YES YES YES YES YES! - Susan Beebe

There are plenty of people up at blog-level covering "the scene". You're on the ground with people as they're trying things, talking about what's missing, what they need, what they like and don't. I think this is a good place for a tech-head to be. But blog posts to send signals up and out to the other tech-heads, reviewing your time embedded with the troops, will still be vital for growth of the net. - Christopher Galtenberg

No =) The audience for the standard blog delivery system is different than a hyper-conversation micro-blogging system. While these services are great with interactivity, they do not generate useful long term content in most cases due to short posts (usually under 120 characters) and basically being a link farm rather than useful content. The initial "posts" are not as in-depth as a typical blog post, and the comments are often "me too" type of responses as well. Balance your tweets vs. your blog posts =) - RAD Moose

I found I moved too much of my activity to Twitter and FriendFeed - I have tried to return to more blog postings, since I do have a community of readers that is only there. - Richard Akerman

Hard to say. Who are you, again? :) - Matt Tuley

Yes, I've heard little about your blog posts, but I've heard plenty about you being very open & active on social sites. That kind of interaction with your audience is a refreshing change and I'm sure it helps your reach (though I'm sure that's not what you meant). - Cains

Honestly? You put you in front of me. I would not have gotten to the blog as often, as I've seen you here. Just too much to read. - Ed Shaz/NextInstinct

I personally miss the longer/thought out posts that used to appear on your blog. While I don't think that using FF/Twitter has been a bad thing, and I know that you don't have time for *everything*, your more "editorial" and reporting style of blogging is missed. - drew olanoff

Cross posting of comments between blogs and friendfeed would be an interesting development. - Andrew Leyden

Jonathan: I think I've gained a good percentage of new people who found me here on FriendFeed. That's why I have more followers here than, say, Michael Arrington does or Leo Laporte do (and they should have WAY more, because of the size of their audiences). - Robert Scoble

I ask myself the same question often regarding whether I should spend so much time on social media sites instead of just writing content on my blogs. What I don't think I realized is that I'm still creating valuable content at all of my outposts that are still ultimately leading to my blogging hub. I think its been well worth it. - Mark Krynsky

@Andrew WordPress has a nice plugin to link to FriendFeed activity. Unfortunately for my platform (TypePad) I don't know of an equivalent. - Richard Akerman

ppl will follow you anywhere on web i think, but this is the best place to folllow you. - imran

I find FriendFeed to be more engaging, but it would be nice to gauge the amount of traffic a post on FF gets. - Spencer

the #friendfeed, #twitter, #socialmedian instantaneous replies, directs, and comments distributed throughout feed aggregation access points establishes a better communication channel for your voice - shayne catrett

depends. did you sacrifice blog content & share it on FF/Twitter? - I stopped blogging about useless junk since I can simply throw that stuff up on FF or Twitter now. Less frequent are my blog posts, but more quality, at least I think - Enrique Gutierrez via twhirl

@Richard if you can migrate to Six Apart's Movable Type 4, they have a widget for FF -- in fact, I'm going to be trying to get it running on my blog tonight - Woodrow Jarvis Hill

Here's how you get your answer: (1) Go get some sleep. You just got back from China! (2) Wake up and look at the likes/comments on this item. (3) Compare those numbers against responses to your best blog post this year. - Bruce Lewis via fftogo

It depends what you're after. Knowing you, it was the right decision - twitter and friendfeed are like a quickfire conversation, here there, lots of input, changing topics all the time. Blogs are the considered discussion...or lecture. Different methods of communication, you choose which one you prefer. - Rachel Clarke

Blogging is more of a one-way street, FF and Twitter are interactive. It's pretty obvious they are the natural evolution and successor to web collaboration. - Tyler Hurst via twhirl

Absolutely. FriendFeed and Twitter are so much more interactive and personal than blogs. I'm liking the transition to more personal mediums. - Mark Martinez

Add one more who simply wouldn't follow you regularly if not for ff ... No other method gives the constant positive reinforcement and active conversation - David HC Soul

For those using a blog for SEO and drive quality links to their retail or commercial site, the answer would be no. However, I personally find it difficult to follow all my favorite blogs in a timely manner, ever on a reader. So for me, Twitter & FF is a better avenue to follow your messages. - Rick Bucich

Less smack talk about Twitter on this thread (any?) than FF smack on Twitter. Me senses some insecurity about the topic from those not yet FF-savvy. - Christopher Galtenberg

http://www.blog.newsweek.com/b... - Thomas Hawk

Another Clintonista. Shocker. - Brian Newman

Poor choice - imran

GM sent me an email asking me to lobby Congress on their behalf as a GM owner. I printed the email on my blog. Smells like desperation to me to see GM lobbying all of their GM owners to try to get this money through Congress. - Thomas Hawk

yeah, it feel pretty desperate to me. It also strikes me as a bit of an inappropriate way for GM to use my personal information. - Thomas Hawk

I wonder if GM will reach out via twitter. Is GM trying to take a page from the recent political season with this email appeal to their customers. Some say it is a desperate move but I think desperate times calls for desperate means. - Ruth Ferguson

I would agree about the inappropriate use of personal info, Thomas. I'm expecting to find the same e-mail when I get home. My wife also owns a GM vehicle. - Jeff P. Henderson

I called my representatives lobbying them to NOT support the bailout. - Jason Shultz via twhirl

I guess owners of GM vehicles should be concerned though -- it would mean an end to warranties, fixing of future recall worthy faults, and complicate future parts availability. - Brian Sullivan

Autos will be saved regardless of voters input - imran

I doubt it would impact future parts availability. How often do you buy OEM parts for your car. I recently replaced the timing belt and water pump on my car over the weekend and neither of them was OEM. When I replaced the fuel pump on another vehicle it wasn't OEM. - Jason Shultz via twhirl

It's a myth that you won't be able to have your car repaired if they fail. Any good mechanic can work on a GM car and parts will still be made as demand exists. That's what the market does. Now the parts may not be made by employees of labor unions, but that's another story. - Thomas Hawk

@Thomas Exactly. It's just fear mongering by the Big 3 to scare those who don't know any better into helping to bailout their antiquated business models. - Jason Shultz via twhirl

But it does complicate parts availability. Granted most of the parts are probably manufactured by 3rd party suppliers but quite a number of them will fail as well. If there is demand then somebody will move to fill the demand but this will likely be uneven. I am not advocating a bail out but bankruptcy will come with lots of complications. - Brian Sullivan

You have to remember two things: 1. GM doesn't own the dealerships; franchise holders own the dealerships. Ergo, GM doesn't service the products it makes, other than compensation to the franchise-holders in the form of waranty related repairs. 2. The majority of parts for automakers are produced, under license, by independant vendors who still need to make products to stay in business. - Mark VandenBerg

How so? For a specific project or for everything? - John-David Lusan

will 2nd that Powerpoint. Powerpoint? :) Not liking the web-based presenting options Steve? - Dan Keldsen

@JD pretty much all. - Steve Rubel via IM

@Dan First, I don't trust start-ups with my PPTs. Google needs work on exports. Let's see how Microsoft comes up. I bet it will be strong. - Steve Rubel

That's interesting. I guess scaling down is good. I sometimes get overwhelmed with all the applications available to use. How nice would be to have one or two applications that could do pretty much everything. - John-David Lusan

Which apps are you using in the cloud? I am about where you are... - Robert

@Robert Google, TypePad or the apps Edelman provides. - Steve Rubel via IM

then you are following google chrome closely, right? crashes should be much rarer there. but PP, really? There are other solutions aside from Google, know? I thought your pres style would make Keynote the choice. - Sebastian Keil

@Steve - how do I do the same? - John-David Lusan

clean... - Mary Anne Davis

Steve, what do you use for digital image editing? - Bill Sanders

@Bill I use Photoshop.com and Picnik - Steve Rubel via IM

Sounds like good progress. Firefox is basically my OS now, but I still need to use Keynote and MS Word on occassion. - Nitin Badjatia

I still use Word too now and then. Same with Entourage. - Steve Rubel via IM

I think you should get rid of your bad old time habits from your dark PC days and replace your Office with iWork '08 to get rid of all Microsoft non-sense and on-purpose compatibility problems. Entourage? Mail.app and iCal are here to rescue. - Berk D. Demir

Berk: You can also bypass both and use Google online apps. - Rolf Schewe

What happens if you loose internet connectivity and want to produce something other than a file with PPT or PPS extension? I know, I am being facetious . . . - Ed Richardson

Rolf: Sorry Rolf, Google Docs is no match for Pages nor Keynote. They aren't designed to replace these though. - Berk D. Demir

Steve you just need Firefox, replace ppt with Empressr - Bryan Thatcher via twhirl

Steve, sign up to Wakoopa and prove it. :-) http://wakoopa.com/louisgray/u... - Louis Gray

I don't trust cloud startups with my docs. Google I trust. - Steve Rubel via IM

I trusted Mediamax (now Nirvanix), and got badly burned, along with many other people. - Sean McBride

That would require an App no? - Steve Rubel via IM

Steve - you were referring to? - Sean McBride

@Sean Wakoopa - Steve Rubel

@steverubel What do you use to explore your local hard-drive/samba/nfs shares? I didn't know firefox had that capability... - "Czar" DJ Peterman

Louis - Or better yet, how about NO ONE signs into Wakoopa - EVER. That would be nice. - Steve Isaacs

@Czar I still use the OS of course. - Steve Rubel

I"m getting this now myself: "Sorry, an unexpected condition has occurred which is preventing Google Reader from fulfilling the request." - abacab

Why? Works ok for me - Nikos Anagnostou