This is really only a needless rebuttal to Mr. Scobleizer’s assertion that the companies which he has stated are really hot! No Sir, with all due respect, they really are not. They are probably cool tools but just that.
For years i have wondered why do people make essentially stupid concepts and others hype it up to the extent that some people actually get interested and then put their money in. Its like “just another social networking website” touted as the next big thing. Enough with the entire bullshit!
They are precisely like the umpteen number of stupid tools which claim to get you to do/manage your tasks better. None of them really work and poor people really take the time out to learn and operate these new things without ever really making any significant change on getting things done! Why not try pen and paper? It really works!
By hyping companies which are really worthless you are effectively creating another bubble! Sure you can argue that it is not about money here. But am not talking about money myself. I speak about value. And some of these companies really provide no value beyond some sort of instant gratification.
My intention is to be fair here, so i wont disparage any company purely with the intention of disparaging it. Here goes ..
Boxee
So you want to watch TV which really lags like hell. Whats the whole point of internet TV anyway? Isn’t TV doing just fine? Am not really sure why people are interested in this concept apart from the novelty. Are you speaking about TV on Demand? Storing natively? HD? Hey we already have that one, its called cable! Wouldn’t it be much simpler to hook your TV up to an internet connection. If not anything else, with the new fancy flat screens you get a huge monitor.
Aardvark
“Finding the perfect people to answer”. Now this seems interesting except how this model sustainable? Getting humans to do the job which a human would have done anyway. What you don’t get on the internet you ask around your friends, family, work colleagues etc.
You have founded a forum where people can come in and ask. Most groups have created their own interest groups on the internet, whats the point of trying to break their monopoly? If you want to ask; ask Google or Bing who actually spider these forums to bring out the answers. So whats your point again?
Foursquare
quote “when you check in with it you’ll see who is close to you and what tips about cool things to do near you have been left by your friends” .. huh? Why can’t i just call up my friends in the neighbourhood and ask them what we can do the coming weekend. Its healthier than sitting right in front of the monitor checking out these comments from a no lifer!
NextStop
Now travelers could actually use this website for local flair, except they already gain these and such information from a hundred other places. Most travelers travel on a budget and hence wish to see to the main spots. An entire industry is based on this criteria and is not really going to go any place anytime soon. Another social website with a theme.
Rippol
Another youtube wannbe..
Waze
“Waze is a social mobile application providing free turn-by-turn navigation based on the live conditions of the road.” So basically you can give a live preview on whats happening. This could actually be a useful application especially if you are in a tight spot.
Hospitals should really use them, each time an ambulance sets out to reach someplace they actually get something important information.
But this is nothing compared to what the traffic police can provide if they only put up a few cameras and then live stream it on TV for free through all cable operators. There are other issues like cameras could get stolen, but hey think about the invaluable service it provides just when its important. So while this application is not hot and really can easily be beaten by the traffic administration, its still useful in some ways.
Gist
Basically you can use the system as a possible heads-up on the fellow you are going to meet. He could be a killer! Nothing the other social websites don’t already do anyhow. If someone wants his profile kept out of networking sites, you just cant find him period! Useless.
Kynetx
Can’t really comment, am not much of a developer! So am inclined to go with his reco, he is afterall the expert!
Tapulous
Its a game, its entertaining .. and judging by popularity its probably good! People are suckers for good entertainment!
Posterous
Now i like this application, they really are the simplest to setup. Just send them an email and your blog is ready! Nothing could be simpler. Their only enemy are the social websites which tend to make people not use email anymore. So their real market are the business users, they use email a lot!
I would really like them to get ahead and get more corporates to use this application as an aggregator of sorts from different project teams or something like that. If there is any money to be invested in any of the above then its posterous! I want to see how they turn this one into something really meaningful and useful.
Thats about it. Am done with Mr. Scobleizer’s list for now …
Yea its new Years Eve and i took time off!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I accept your arguments. From your comments you suggest that cable is more expensive than 3G. If thats so .. i should take back what i have written. So it does make more economic sense. Here in India cable is way cheaper than Internet hence my comments. Yea am Indian in India.
I maintain my stand on the others. Whats the point of noting companies which don't have a sustainable means of generating revenue? Its like the another “community powered website” of yore.
When Mr Scoble, a very acknowledgedly respected commentator, speaks about companies which provide little value he is in fact adding to the bubble. How much has social media helped the enterprise inspite of the umpteen number of companies which claim they have the perfect platform.
Do you really use any of the above apart from Boxee on a day to day basis? Like go to a website to know traffic conditions? Or go specifically to Aardvark? Whats the point of constructing another silo? Please note that i have also pointed out specific cases where they might work. And yea, the idea was the put things in a little perspective than to disparage anyone.
I think Foursquare has hope and are in a good position, especially with their direct marketing they have started to use based on your location. I have used a couple of the on demand coupons after checking in and it's been nice. Plus they have made it some what of a game with rewards (hopefully the points will be worth something one day).
Just a comment on your boxee observations, Why tie yourself down to Cable, i'll assume you are an american, if not, i apologise, however over here in the uk, we can watch ALL our main TV channels online, and most of the content on catchup as well. Why pay a cable company money for something i don't use for 80% of the day, unless i'm off sick, in which case shows crap anyway.. Why not have a system like boxee, where you can watch what you want, when you want to, using a polished interface over a broadband link? And then take that one step further, we have a fairly good/cheap 3G network over here, i can then ensure i see the Football while on the train home..
Most of your comments are perspective ones, as are the origional commentators, so i understand if you ar happy being sppon fed your TV at a time good for the advertisers. Others however, possibly not.
I accept your arguments. From your comments you suggest that cable is more expensive than 3G. If thats so .. i should take back what i have written. So it does make more economic sense. Here in India cable is way cheaper than Internet hence my comments. Yea am Indian in India.
I maintain my stand on the others. Whats the point of noting companies which don't have a sustainable means of generating revenue? Its like the another “community powered website” of yore.
When Mr Scoble, a very acknowledgedly respected commentator, speaks about companies which provide little value he is in fact adding to the bubble. How much has social media helped the enterprise inspite of the umpteen number of companies which claim they have the perfect platform.
Do you really use any of the above apart from Boxee on a day to day basis? Like go to a website to know traffic conditions? Or go specifically to Aardvark? Whats the point of constructing another silo? Please note that i have also pointed out specific cases where they might work. And yea, the idea was the put things in a little perspective than to disparage anyone.
I think Foursquare has hope and are in a good position, especially with their direct marketing they have started to use based on your location. I have used a couple of the on demand coupons after checking in and it's been nice. Plus they have made it some what of a game with rewards (hopefully the points will be worth something one day).