Google's Buzz Was Hot But Interests Died But G+ Isn't Buzz

According to Google insider, via Silicon Insider, Buzz had tens of millions of initial "buzz" and looked like a winner before it just fell off the cliff. Why would Google Plus be any different?

Former Googler Sam Johnston said just as much. But maybe it's my bias but G+ has some things going for it that Buzz didn't have.

First, it is not Facebook. In it's short life, Facebook has faster than anyone expected but it has continue to give the media/blogs reasons to distrust it. Privacy violations and changes on the fly has created a backlash almost every time Facebook unveiled a new feature.

Second, one can argue that Google isn't a model guardian of user privacy, Google is currently facing a series of government fines and antitrust probes. G+ is still in beta but it is probably not too keen on giving users pause with any new feature that it is attempting to exploit user information on the scale Facebook does.

One of the reason Buzz died so quickly was the vast bad press Google generates when it was unveiled that Buzz forced everyone to share everything with just about everyone and anyone.

Third, G+ is a newer implementation that, after a short time to get used to the UI, is easier to use than Facebook. Circles is a feature that Facebook just cannot match at this time. The stream feature allows a blend if Twitter and updates feel to it.

It is too early to tell. However, I can see why there is so much optimism. Ultimately, Google has to tread lightly and continue to build on the positive buzz and momentum.

So far, G+ isn't Facebook. That alone may be enough.


- Posted By Mobile Means

Mobile Journals - Best Options?

Recently, one of my friends came to me and asked about blogging. He wanted to create an online journal more than blogging for public or a limited viewing. It was a way to sort his thought.

I gave him the option of that most others would offer. Wordpress, Tumblr, Blogspot, and even social networks.

All of the above blogs give the user a range options to limit who can see the updates, blogs, or short messages.

With Google Plus (G+) and the ease with which one can create circles, I think my friend can do just that easily.

Are there any other options that are available for use in this manner?

I think we will probably see a better G+ blogging option in future updates. There is already a very strong tech following among its users and I have also noticed people defining new ways to use it.

This isn't to say that Facebook won't offer more versatile option in the future or over blogs offering more integrated social options. But I did realize that creating a private journal as opposed to blogging is a very underserved service.

Personally, I use apps on my mobile devices that are Berber shares online or exportable to the cloud. I supposed I am old school that way.

Next iPhone: Features That Compel Upgrades

It's no secret that the next iPhone is coming in months.  Since we did not get a new iPhone back at the WWDC in June, we did get a preview of iOS 5.  And where is there a new iOS version, there has always been a new iPhone.

That much is certain.  What is not certain at this time is what features will be included in the new iPhone and whether they are enough to compel upgrades and cause defections from other mobile camps.  What would feature or features will you need to compel you to trade in your old trusted mobile friend that has been a constant company for the last year or more.

• NFC - this is probably a very good feature to have - and it should future proof the next iPhone.  However, future is the future and Apple has not said if they will be offering a broad plan to make mobile payment available to iPhone users.  NFC obviously isn't just for mobile payment.  A Mac with NFC can allow users to use their iPhones as logins or to exchange files.  And if you think NFC terminals are going to be rare, PCs, specifically Macs with NFC, are going to be even more rare.  Nice feature to have to will no compel me to upgrade.
• 4" Screen - hmmm...this is a hard one.  The 3.5" screen that currently sits atop my iPhone 4 and iPod touch are very nice.  The retina display is simply awesome and unmatched in the industry.  The likely step up next is going to be 720p.  Maybe.  even at 4" with the same resolution as the 3.5", such a new screen on the next iPhone would still be consider one of the best screens on the market - besting anything available on Android devices.  But as far as PPI goes with the same resolution as the 3.5" at 960 x 640, it would be a step down.  Naturally, something closer to 720p would make sense.  
• A5 chip - over the weekend, I processed some video on using the iPhone version of the iMovie and e-mailed them to my relatives and friends.  The A4 ship inside the current iPhone is plenty fast but, boy, could I have used the A5.  Watching the progress bar advance felt slower and slower with each e-mail sent.  We only limited to 1 minute of video per e-mail so 30 minutes of video equals 30 e-mails.  And the cutting and adjusting and then processing it clip for e-mailing got tired really fast.  The A5 could have potentially move that progress bar twice as fast and let me go quicker to the next video.  A compelling reason to upgrade.
• Battery Life - I find the iPhone 4 battery life to be very good.  But I want more.  You really can't get enough battery life if you're a true mobile warrior.  I've heard reviews of the iPhone 4, a whole host of other Android devices, and a few others like Blackberries and WP7 devices.  And for those reviews that said they can get through the day without charging, I think they need to be more honest.  Most of the time, they mentioned the battery life they tested is under "moderate" use.  You cannot say that anymore.  Just as mobile uses and habits have changed since the iPhone was first introduced in 2007, testing of these mobile devices have to reflect that how mobile warriors use their devices today.  I've been going through the day with on the lighter side of moderate use.  But I think most users are on the heavier side of mobile use these days.  If the next iPhone can me through heavier than moderate use, it is definitely a major plus.  I like to see if the next iPhone can have similar battery life as the iPad.  It's probably too much to ask but anything close to that would really have me lining up the day before the debut.
• Form factor - I came from an iPod touch for most of the year.  Boy, is that device light.  The iPhone 4 is no brick but for such a thin mobile device, it can feel deceptively heavier.  You get used to it.  Lighter would be nice but I wouldn't want to go there if it sacrifices power or battery life.  It's likely Apple will doing everything it can, short of being the laws of physics to get the next iPhone even lighter and thinner.  I've seem some of the mock-ups for the iPhone.  There are a couple that I am partial too.  I don't see form factor as anyone's deciding factor whether to upgrade to the next iPhone or pay the full price for it.  It would really depend on how much thinner and lighter the next iPhone is over the iPhone 4.  If I can feel the difference in weight between iPhone 4 and the next version, yeah, I might be interested.

Those are currently the five main features that I can think of that might give current iPhone users, particular those who are not on the iPhone 4, and those who bought something else because the iPhone was not on any other network other than ATT.  

How about you? What would new iPhone feature would give reason to upgrade?  

Amazon Can Still Use "App Store"; Apple Denied; What Now?

According to Computerworld, Apple was denied injunction against Amazon using the term "app store". Rather, Amazon's version, "Appstore" without the space. It was to be expected given a series of questions from the judge that questioned Apple's position that "app store" was unique to its own iTunes ecosystem. So what now?

It's like that Apple will not be able to get the court to come down on its side. It's curious why that won't be the case since it was Apple that first come up with the terminology two years ago. On top of that, with Microsoft's "Windows", it don't really get any more generic than that.

When Apple eventually loses, I can totally see Apple abandon the use of "app store" all together and reinvent the whole category with something that it can trademark. So, in a year's time or so, get ready to be re-educated by Steve Jobs and company.

And you can get the media, especially those of us in the blog world, to fall into line.

Google Plus Invitation Is Back...For Now!

Hurry!

Google Plus invitation is back again.  Let me know if you're interested.  It was on briefly yesterday before going away again.

My e-mail is paul.public.acct@gmail.com.  You can e-mail me there.  I don't want you putting your e-mail in the public comment section.

Also, someone told me only those with Google mails will work.

Taiwan: Buy Tea To Get an iPad 2

You know you're a media and social icon when people use your likeness in other formats. A Chinese tea company in Taiwan is trying to duplicate Steve Jobs and his reality distortion field with a look-alike to sell tea in this witty commercial.



Well, given the shortage of iPad 2 in the region, there are worse ways to getting an iPad than to drink potentially tainted tea.

Top Privacy Settings For Google Plus

I really like Google Plus because of its ease of use in general.  More specifically, I like the better control (as far as my perception goes) than what we get on Facebook.  And on top of that, many government agencies on three or four continents are watching Google's use of user information or have sued and won judgments against the search giant.

Courtesy of Macworld, here are their top five privacy settings that you'll want to know about.  Information like hiding your e-mail or even quitting the new social network are very important.  In general, most people will not care.  But I disagree.  They will care when things go wrong - identities stolen or they've been phished.

So, the Plus privacy post is a recommended read.

For those of you on the outside looking in (I'm working on getting invitations for those who have e-mailed me), bookmark this handy little post.  You'll need it.  I recommend the first thing you do is to obfuscate your e-mail and tweak the re-sharing settings.