TechFold - Bold tech & web commentary

The Cisco I-Prize Contest is Lame

The Register reports that Cisco is running a contest to find their next big business: anyone can submit an idea; the winner - determined by Cisco - gets $10M in funding over three years, and helps start up a Cisco business unit.

Huh. So I have a billion dollar idea. Why is it that I want to give it to Cisco for $10M and a management position? And why in god’s name would I want to make it public on their contest website?

You can tell this one’s going to be a winner - its got Digg-style voting! Some of the great ideas out there are short range radar for cars (already exists, thanks for coming out), injectable RFID health info chips (already exists, thanks for coming out), keyboards the generate electricity with keystrokes, and a bunch of other generally goofy, out of date, or impossible to implement ideas.

Good luck Cisco!

cisco iprize

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Google’s OpenSocial: tough questions outstanding

Let’s start by summarizing Google’s “OpenSocial” API: its a Microsoft strategy. OpenSocial is targeting developers with the hope that a plethora of must-have OpenSocial apps/widgets/services will drive adoption of the member social networks.

I have some questions…

1. Will OpenSocial get adoption in the developer community? The OpenSocial union depends on developers wanting to develop apps across the properties included. Are there currently crowds of developers complaining about how difficult it is to code for both LinkedIn and Orkut? If not, will OpenSocial kickstart the developer rush? Does OpenSocial serve a real need - or a business case / marketing strategy?
2. Will the availability of widgets translate into member growth? Assuming that the developer community does take to OpenSocial, will their produce translate into new members, increased activity from existing members, both, or neither? Does anyone really understand the market dynamics of the widget economy?
3. Where’s MySpace? Or Bebo? Obviously Facebook isn’t going to be a part of this. But - the one-tonne gorilla MySpace is still going out on its own API/developer path. From where I sit, its sort of looks like a third party situation in American politics - MySpace is the Ralph Nader that’s going to screw OpenSocial’s Al Gore. If only they could run on the same ticket…

Yeah - so I’m not too bullish on OpenSocial. It strikes me as an initiative that looks good on paper - but in practice lacks the market relevance to really get traction. Mathew’s more positive, though he notes the absence of FB and MySpace. Richard is rabidly enthusiastic. Marc and Ning are obviously happy too.

So - after weighing in all of those opinions, do I still think the battle is over? Has Facebook won? Well, no - but they have a significant first mover advantage and have repeatedly shown conceptual leadership in the social networking space while others have languished.

OpenSocial isn’t combating a lack of API’s for the included services; its combating the perception the each of these services is a has-been, or is irrelevant.

That’s a big uphill battle that will need to be won with innovation and excellence - not just whiz-bang API’s.

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An Apology to Kristopher Tate & Zooomr

This is an apology to Kristopher Tate and Zooomr. Earlier today, or yesterday, or whenever, depending on when you’re reading this, I made a jerk-off comment on another blog’s critical post about Zooomr. In a nutshell, I said that Zooomr was a me-too service and a waste of time and that I hope Kris would hurry up and get a real job so that he could shut down Zooomr and move on.

This is wrong on a couple of levels: one, I admire anyone that can pursue a worthwhile dream, whether or not its one I’d pursue myself. Kris Tate is reaching harder for something than I ever have, and I respect that. Two - my comment was just mean and uncalled for; there’s constructive criticism and then there’s being an asshat. My comment was the latter.

So to Kris: My apologies. My attack was unwarranted and uncalled for. I’ve been under some stress and lashed out a target someone else had set up without really thinking about the *people* on the other end that read the comments about whatever it is they’re passionate about.

Keep reaching Kris, and I’ll take out my frustrations at the gym from now on.

kristopher tate zooomr

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Wantrepreneurs: Always wear protection with the Wallet NDA

If you’re like me, you like to tell everyone around you all of the time about whatever mashup/widget/paradigm-shifting-whatever is on your mind at any given moment. BUT: as they say at the ‘wag, “one person’s oral contract is another person’s dorm room chit-chat” - which can lead to your killer ideas getting built and monetized by someone else… not good!

So - to protect myself, I built the TechFold Wallet / Pocket NDA - a short and sweet non-disclosure agreement that I get friends, family, & coworkers to sign whenever chit-chat turns to business. Its fast, free, and easy to print, and fits perfectly in your wallet - always ready to CYA!

And best of all, in the spirit of litigation 2.0, its free! Click here for the Word file, then print, fold, tear, pocket — and profit! You can bet Tyler Winklevoss wishes he’d had one of these in his wallet when he started chatting with Facebook…

Step 1: Print!

Step 2: Fold along the dotted line…

Step 3: Tear along the creases…

Step 4: Fold in half into business-card sized pieces…

And you’re done! Have a great, litigation free weekend!

UPDATE: Here’s the full text of the NDA for you to “mashup” as you see fit. Widgetize it baby!

This Non-Disclosure Agreement is between __________________________ (herein referred to as “YOU”) and __________________________ (herein referred to as “ME” or “I”), who desire to discuss a concept or idea thought up by ME. I wish to have this discussion for the purposes of (1) passing the time, (2) getting positive feedback, (3) pitching you for funding, or (4) filling a gap in table conversation. The Parties listed above hereby agree to the following terms as they relate to the disclosure of information considered proprietary by ME.
At no time from the date of this agreement shall YOU directly or indirectly disclose, sell or give any information it receives from ME to any person, firm, or corporation, or use the information for its own benefit, except for the purpose described above, without the express written consent of ME.
Should any dispute arise from or relate to matters covered by this Agreement, the parties agree first to attempt to resolve the matter in confidential, private meetings between the parties or arm wrestling. If this fails to produce a mutually satisfactory resolution, the parties shall, as an alternative to litigation, enter into legally binding arbitration. The parties understand that these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out of the matters covered by this Agreement and expressly waive their right to file a law suit or claim against one another for such disputes, except to enforce arbitration decision or the provisions of this paragraph.

connectu, facebook, litigation, valleywag winklevoss

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Google Results Suck Hard… so does my SEO

I’ve always tried to stay out of SEO/SEM discussions as I’ve invested very little time into understanding the dynamics of search algorithms and the practicalities of SEO. As a content site owner, however, I’m starting to understand that its not just a traffic booster, but fundamental to the survival of my site (upcomingdiscs.com).

UpcomingDiscs has a great crew of reviewers cranking out quality dvd reviews - that Google can’t find. Here’s an example: take a look at the results for “planet terror dvd review” - seems like a natural enough search, right? UpcomingDiscs has a good review of “Planet Terror” - quality, original content.

1. The #1 result from Google is a Netscape/Propeller page with one vote.
2. The #6 result from Google is a Digg page with two votes.
3. UpcomingDiscs doesn’t appear in the index. Rather, I only looked to page 10 of results, but we weren’t there.
4. The first 10 pages are a mish mash of review indexes, reviews, newspaper stories about the movie, and so on.

So - what conclusions can I draw from this little experiment?

1. Google’s algorithm is damaged. Propeller and Digg in first and sixth place are not right.
2. UpcomingDiscs needs some radical SEO.

The first of these I have little control over; the second, I have lots. I figured that producing an XML sitemap pointing to original content with clean URL’s would suffice; apparently not.

google, search, sem seo

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I’m in better shape than PodTech…

Sorry for the drought in posting - I imagine there will be a bunch of people wondering what this suddenly active feed in their RSS reader is - well, hello! I’m back from another blogger-hiatus.

That being said: let’s talk about PodTech, the struggling vlog content production/distribution company noteable mainly for its hiring of Robert Scoble away from Microsoft. Word on the street is that PodTech is “restructuring/refocusing/etc.” - initially reported as a coming closure by Daniel Lyons, gleefully repeated by TC, and finally responded to via tweet and vitriolic hyperbolic scoble-post.

What is it that makes the Scoble / PodTech trainwreck so compelling to watch? Perhaps is the rumour-carried ego battles that have defined PodTech’s leadership; perhaps the questionable investment (7.5M according to TC) in a company with a sketchy, ill-defined “build-it-and-maybe-they’ll-come” business model; perhaps Robert’s overly-honest stories of salary and million-dollar real estate acquisitions.

Face it: we all gloat a little when we see a company that sold little more than buzz-word hype crash and burn. It would be like seeing Steve Rubel get hired by Second Life as VP of PR, and then having Second Life fold up six months later - talk about poetic justice.

Anyway, none of this is intended to say that I bear PodTech, Robert, or Steve R. any ill-will - its just an interesting self-exam as to why this story of any has popped me out of my hiatus. I have no doubt that Scoble will land on his feet, and for the sake of the other hard working people at PodTech, I hope the rest of the company can too.

Gawker and Sugar Did it Right

On PodTech’s ability to bounce back: I have my doubts. PodTech seemingly jumped into vlogging with a lot of enthusiasm and little planning… the breadth of subject matter covered and distribution execution suggests that the company is wanted to be a self-contained content network - a new-school MSM network-equivalent.

Compare this to the experiences of other New Networks, like the Pop Sugar or Gawker families: focused verticals are launched independently, building their own high-quality audiences. The parent organization provides network connections, business management, and ad sales. The network can grow in controlled fashion with organic growth of individual properties into their segments, or the addition of new properties when deemed appropriate.

IMHO, PodTech bit off too much - even their squiggly devoid-of-meaning logo speaks of lack of focus. Why didn’t they take a smaller investment and choose a vertical (scoble’s tech scene, for instance) to focus on? I’m all for dreaming big/shooting for the stars/etc. but there are good models of growth to following. Going down the “video” road provided an element of innovation; attempting to launch an entire network at the same time just added risk.

podtech, scoble vlogging

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Vudu is doomed

I just read this early review of Vudu’s $400 set top box, the purchase of which allows you to pay for movie rentals.

From a marred user experience (minute long start up times? HDCP funged-up HDMI ports?), to typically ham-fisted DRM schemes ($20 movies playable only on your Vudu box), to expensive and confusing pricing (buy the box for $400, the rent or buy movies, with different types of restrictions on each transaction), Vudu seems like the same old lame “exercise in compromise” that Hollywood-supported businesses excel at producing. Confusing, expensive, & complicated, and delivering a modicum of convenience for those who live particularly far away from blockbuster.

Vudu nails closed their own coffin with this quote:

“Our research indicates that our likely first customers will be heavy movie watchers who own HD TV’s and earn high incomes. They have demonstrated a willingness to invest today in tomorrow’s lifestyle.” [from Paul Stamatiou]

Hooray for buzzwords! Wealthy technophiles are also noted for making informed decisions - hence the failure of every similar service ever launched.

I’m running an informal survey on UpcomingDiscs.com - pop over and share your thoughts.

I truly believe that digital content distribution will supplant physical media in the very near future, but IMHO Vudu is not going to be the one to make it happen.

vudu

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