Posted on

Google is saving the best for Android

I find Google’s choice to release an iPhone web app version of Google Talk a very interesting choice. It’s less than two weeks until we see some true applications for the iPhone and this release clearly highlights the limits of the current browser functions. When you switch away from the window, you become unavailable. It’s rather self-defeating as it negates any presence opportunities and forces chat into a very task based activity which is awkward. Most of us leave chat running in the background all the time ..

I tried the site on the N95 while on the train and it was not detected. There does not appear to be a /i version either for the moment and the iPhone URL does not exactly work.

What’s really interesting though is how different Google’s approach is for Android. After installing Android on the Nokia N810 last night I noticed that there is an xmpp service running ALL THE TIME. While this will clearly connect you to the Google cloud and your services it will also open up some very interesting presence and communication opportunities.
.
Android seems like it will have chat and probably presence as a core service.

The study published yesterday highlights how consumers are most interested in messaging – text and email, before additional features and functions like a and having a camera. From an application perspective people only tend to install around 6 things. If chat is a core service it could do some serious damage to the sms revenues carriers love and certainly be quite the kickstart to changing consumer behavior.

It’s not clear yet who will be buying the devices when they arrive aside from the early adopter types, but it’s pretty easy to see how IM could replace a good portion of your current text needs. I currently get news alerts in addition to the usual exchanges with friends over text. If there was an always on IM option running as a service on my connected device, I’d be all over that instead.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

Posted on

Flixwagon gets a big update and opens to all!

Flixwagon has released a big update today! They’ve also opened the service to anyone now from the previously closed beta. You can sign up here.

Notable enhancements:

  • Share on Twitter and YouTube directly from phone: you can share individual videos on twitter and YouTube directly from your device, as well as customize the message or titles. All you need to do is add your Twitter or YouTube account details on Flixwagon.com, and then you can customize posts directly from your phone.
  • Detailed sharing from device: on your device you can now easily choose which specific groups (friends, family, etc.) can access your video. Make sure you set up your contacts, groups, and alerts first on flixwagon.com and you can start sharing flix with them on the fly.
  • Digital Zoom-in and zoom-out.
  • Post messages back to chat. You can send IM messages back to the video chat room, making chats around your video 2-way. This is especially useful when you want to respond to your viewers’ comments without interrupting the video or audio in the broadcast.
  • Change title: you can now change the video title directly from the phone while broadcasting. This is great when the ‘right’ headline comes to you while you broadcast (and can help more viewers discover your broadcast while you’re still broadcasting live).
  • Choose between delay or video quality: in the preferences section you can determine whether your broadcasts will be optimized for the shortest delay, or highest video quality.

Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

Posted on

Never underestimate the power of core functions over features

FierceMobileContent has highlighted a very interesting study …

Almost three quarters of mobile phone users cite text messaging capabilities as the most important feature when purchasing a new handset, according to a consumer survey conducted by mobile solutions provider Access Systems Americas and independent research firm Amplitude Research. Given a list of 19 different mobile features and services, 73 percent of consumers cited texting as the most critical data component–cameras were second with 67 percent, followed by mobile email (63 percent) and web access (61 percent). Music (34 percent) and video (33 percent) also featured prominently in the poll. Conversely, only 0.5 percent of consumers said battery life plays a role in their phone purchase, with voice activation earning just 0.33 percent.

The Access survey also reports that 39 percent of respondents have added new applications to their handsets, with just over 21 percent adding six or more new apps. Forty-two percent of respondents cited stock tracking applications as the most necessary, followed by sports teams/game trackers (36.6 percent), business applications (10.3 percent), productivity apps (7.5 percent) and utilities (4.8 percent). Almost 40 percent of respondents said they use their cell phone for “alerts,” e.g. traffic, weather and stock market updates. Nearly 30 percent of respondents said they use their phone for banking transactions or to check account balances. [FierceMobileContent]

Messaging (txt and email) is the clear leader in what consumers want along with a camera… It’s easy to see how a device like an iPhone or a Blackberry with qwerty functions make it simple for people to select. Clearly those devices along with most others offer a host of additional capabilities, but people are installing only a few key applications.

It should be interesting to see what effect the iPhone applications store has on this once the initial frenzy cools out. My take is that we’ll see quite a few of the same types of applications and that there’s likely to be some fatigue after people get over the fact that they can even install something on the iPhone.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

Posted on

Trust

I don’t write to make money here though it’s certainly fun to drive traffic and see my adsense revenues grow. This blog has always been about my interests rather than rumors and breaking news. I have not leaked information through any employer, my clients or those who’ve reached out through this blog to share information. Actually, let me make one correction… I did actually share a very advanced preview of Rhapsody for the Nokia Tablet and enjoyed being first though that site has no ads and I was inspired only by my inner geek to share. I think it’s fair to say I have a far more mature view on things and would rather be able to have a collaborative and productive conversation around the product or service than purely leak information. I’m not operating under any NDA though I’ve certainly signed them for things in the past. I respect the people willing to share with me and share my opinion – that which they seek – openly whether positive or negative.

Recently Charlie Schick wrote a very thought compelling post on the Nokia Conversations blog about trust and leaks. It hit home for me then and again today because for the second time in a few short weeks I am seeing things discussed when I know they should not be quite so in the open. Granted, the mobile tech blogosphere is a small place compared to say the Wall Street Journal, but the point is that people are clearly violating the trust of those who are inviting us to share our opinions.

Charlie’s key takeaway is that leaked hardware and software products change before going public. As discussion builds around an early product, it can actually lead to negativity rather then the excitement companies hope to get when things are finally released.

I enjoy getting early and privileged access and am in no way looking to risk that access by violating your trust.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Posted on

Cartier’s Love Campaign on Myspace

Just caught this via AdAge and I’m having a hard time getting past this quote:

“There’s this misperception in the market about MySpace being a youth site, a site for teens,” said Travis Katz, managing director-international operations for MySpace. “But 85% of our audience in the U.S. is over 18, and 40% of all moms in U.S. are on MySpace.” He claims that MySpace reaches more people making $100,000-plus than other social-network competitors, such as Facebook and Yahoo 360.

The site is certainly well designed for MySpace, but I can’t help but cringe thinking that people playing on MySpace are just waiting to be engaged by a marquee luxury brand like Cartier. While 85% of the audience is over 18, what’s the the actual range? Is it 18 to 60 or more like 18-24? I’m reluctant to believe that MySpace is the winner in the Household earnings stat as well… just not buying it.

I guess this is one to watch … not sure how long the terms of the deal are, but let’s see if it gets renewed.

Technorati Tags: , ,