Business Insider, Henry Blodget: “Although Facebook might want to be a mobile platform, there’s no obvious need for a Facebook phone.”
I can’t imagine how crappy this could turn out. If you’ve ever used the Facebook iOS application you know what a steaming pile of poo that is. An entire phone, dedicated to Facebook? I’d imagine it will appeal to the narcissistic, reality show, types. Think Kim Kardashian, perfect target for The Facebook Phone.
Good luck Zuck, I think you’ll need it.
MG Siegler: “The most powerful aspect of Twitter, to me, is its mobile/client usage. The website is fine, but not its core, in my opinion. Some love it, some hate it. It will never be Facebook — it doesn’t have to be. Twitter’s mobile experience (no matter which app you use) is much better than Facebook’s because the simple nature of the network is a more natural fit for mobile.”
You’d think Zuck would understand how important mobile is. If he thinks Facebook Mobile is good, he’s smoking crack. Facebook’s mobile apps is absolutely hideous and buggy. This is where Twitter shines. There are multiple clients that outstrip the client offered by Twitter. Apps like Twitterrific and Tweetbot are fantastic. I easily do 90% of my tweeting from a mobile client.
New York Times: “Not everyone feels the same way. Over the last year, RIM’s share price has plunged 75 percent. The company once commanded more than half of the American smartphone market. Today it has 10 percent.”
This article is worth reading just to see what can happen to market leaders when the get too comfortable.
Co.DESIGN: “After attending CES earlier in the month, I felt something major had happened: The iPhone had finally met its rivals in the form of Nokia’s Lumia 800 and 900, equipped with Windows 7’s Metro UI.”
Nokia could be the kick Windows Phone(I hate that name, they should’ve called it Metro) has been looking for. Only time will tell, but I think they’re great looking devices. Maybe I’ll be able to put my hands on one soon?
VentureBeat: “Starbucks has now processed more than 26 million mobile payments since January, Adam Brotman, vice president and general manager of digital ventures at Starbucks, told VentureBeat.”
In a word, WOW! Do you think Peet’s and other big names will soon follow suit?
Peet’s, I’m here to help. (I know, shameless, but a guys gotta try, right?)
Ars Technica: “The initial proposition seemed crazy. I was sure it was not possible to work this way. My job as a writer and editor here at Ars depends on (too much) serious multitasking with multiple open windows. I wasn’t sure I’d even be able to successfully write full articles with proper formatting, links, images, and HTML using only iPad apps. And let’s not even talk about the Ars CMS—many of us at Ars have attempted to use it from our iPhones in the past; it has always ended in tears.”
MSDN: “Apple sold 15 million iPads in the first nine months, while the Microsoft tablet has flailed around for a decade. Why? Because Apple realizes what Microsoft does not: the true laptop form factor is an entirely different device, not a smaller PC. It requires a completely different design approach, much closer to a phone than to a PC. I’m watching my 8-year-old daughter play with my father’s iPad as I write these words. She loves it, far more than her PC at home. I wouldn’t write a novel on one, but my daughter prefers it for kaleidoscope art and pony races. “Toys,†sneered one current Microsoft employee. That’s exactly what Ken Olsen used to say about PCs.”
Sneer all you want at that “Toy” iPad, it’s taken you to the woodshed and laid a whoopin’ on you.
Microsoft will recover, don’t write them off. There once was a company called Apple that lost its way, now look where they are.
webOS Developer Blog: “There comes a time in a Linux-loving geek’s life when he or she needs a new challenge. Making desktop apps isn’t hacking it anymore and building yet-another-website seems passe. If you want to jump into the world of mobile, here are a few reasons why HP webOS is the platform for you.”
This platform is especially friendly to web oriented developers; HTML, CSS, etc. Guys like me, well, we’re left standing around wondering what the heck a div is and why you should use it. I guess I should learn how all this markup stuff works and just go with the flow.
Someday.
Dave Winer: “And the Nexus has a light, cheap plastic feel to it. For a $600 piece of hardware that has to compete with the iPhone, it should have some heft, some gravitas. It has none. Seriously. It feels a bit like a McDonald’s happy meal toy, compared to the iPhone 4 which has a unique feel to it, not like anything else, and seriously interesting. You just like to hold it. It sounds so flakey, but it’s true.”
Dave chose an unlocked Nexus S for his trip to Europe. These are his initial, out-of-the-box impressions. He’s been an iPhone/Droid user for quite while. The Nexus S will grow on him, I’m sure.
Elia Freedman“This is a huge change for Google and one I applaud. The old model was just not tenable. No one — and I mean no one except carriers and those manipulating the OS for their nefarious gains — liked what was happening to Android. As developers it was too many minute changes on too many platforms. It wasn’t one Android, it was 5000 of them: Verizon’s Android, AT&T’s Android, HTC’s Android, Motorola’s Android, Samsung’s Android, etc. And as developers we had to pick and choose which Android we would support.”
I’d imagine the developers that are trying to make money on this platform will love the change. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll mean a more consistent experience.