february 2008

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There have been several reports of the plateau of Facebook and other social network sites. This at a time when there was a writers strike in Hollywood, nothing interesting going on TV, movies generally sucking and the weather and economy not really conducive to doing anything that costs money.So what are people doing with the time from not watching TV, or spending time on facebook? Here's my guess:1. Looking for work or working really hard. Beginning of the new year is a good time for most people to get really busy as do school programs. Many folks I know are doing that extra bit expecting layoffs in most companies they are working at.2. Games - Virtual worlds not withstanding, I know a lot more people are spending their time with the Wii they got for Christmas.3. Meeting "real people" and building real networks. Not that facebook is bad, but I know a lot more people are spending their time trying to find more ways to network one-one.How are you spending your time?     

This post is from from my other blog here

Remember that trick the Gizmodo kid pulled at CES? Its called TVB Gone. It was a horrible trick but very funny if you were not one of the people that paid for the CES sponsorship.I wish though someone would invent Cell phone be gone. Lots of rude annoying people in lots of places, can suddenly be silenced with a nifty "cell phone coverage blocker". Zap the calls into oblivion. Please someone invent this.

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The still more ugly side of social networks. said kids get into discussions in the comments sections of web sites, and engage in everything from vicious threats to what seems to be innocuous chit-chat.

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In my Facebook news feed today was this. Two of my friends (who BTW have been married for 5 years) were married on Facebook.

This post is from from my other blog here

This morning's news that Google's coming out with local news by zip code created a stir on Techmeme. I thought the Topix blog covered the issue well with a counter point.Here's a point that's worth a thought though. I remember being in the valley trying to raise money in 1997 when Microsoft was invincible. Every startup had to answer the question "but Microsoft can build that". Now its Google. So - what happened?The Internet. - Netscape came, and went, but a host of startups including Yahoo and Google rose without having to answer the question "What about Microsoft"? Microsoft became a me-too player on everything related to the Internet.Now its Google's turn. Every Web 2.0 and other company is being forced to ask the question "But Google can build that". Investors (VC's) are a lot savvier than that now. They know Google's point of "sheer domination" is the best point when compelling new "groundbreaking shifts happen in the tectonic plates".That shift is Mobile. Microsoft's dominance was killed thanks to the Internet - its an important company no doubt, but not as big a threat as it once was.Which companies thrived during the gap between Microsoft's dominance and its irrelevance now? - Those that bet on the Internet.Same for Mobile - Google does not want to become Microsoft within 2 - 5 years. Which is the main reason for their interest in Mobile. Dont get me wrong - they care about social networks too, but that's like fighting Microsoft's "browser" war to the Internet war that Microsoft is still fighting - which is the mobile area.Its nice when I call something before main stream media picks up on it.

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Awesome job by Josh and Jeremiah compiling their twitter social experiment on rating superbowl ads. Worth a full read.

This post is from from my other blog here

Ever notice that certain cliche' now make it in imagery also? For example, I am pretty sure that todays 300+ point drop in the Dow will invoke that trader with his hands on the head. There are several sitesfor cliche's that I came across. Here are my favorite Social Networking cliche's.1. Its about the community2. Make passionate users of your customers3. Communities are built "one person at a time"4. The web is the biggest social network5. Email is the best social network6. The lines of social networks between business and home are blurring7. Keep your community always in the know8. Get inside your community's head, but go for their hearts9. Marketing to a community is evil10. Build a community for the sake of doing good, not profiting from it.

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I absolutely LOVE this video.