The new uStream interface was launched yesterday and has a few new toys. It allows you to ‘clap’ the presenter, with a rating meeting – the more people who click the higher your rating. But most interesting to me is the instant poll – the stream owner can create instant polls and get a response from their audience. That immediate interaction is fun. As far as I can see there are no further changes from a viewer POV in the palyer, except it looks more shiny and curvy 😉
Monthly Archives: July 2007
Harry Potter vs the iPhone
Two great launches have taken place over the last few weeks, the Apple iPhone and the seventh and last Harry Potter book. So had did the launches compare?
Facet | Harry Potter | iPhone |
What is it? | A book | A phone. With extras. |
Audience | Ostensibly children 9-12. In reality all ages. | Gadget freaks and Apple fans with enough cash to spend or parents who would spend the money. Plus speculators looking to make a quick turnaround. |
Cost | $34.99, although many places discounted | $599 plus 2 year phone contract |
Queues | Yes. Although pre-ordering and common sense meant that they really only formed on the day. Queues reached round blocks; the ones I saw were far larger than for iPhone | Yes, some forming 5 days in advance. Press and speculation potential meant people wanted to be first. |
Attire | School uniform, cloaks, pointy hats (a wizard is not a wizard without one). Face paint. | Jeans and t-shirts. HP fans definitely better dressed. |
Typical Fan | Harry Potter fan Originally uploaded by RachelC |
Apple iPhone Launch Palo Alto – Robert Scoble Originally uploaded by b_d_solis |
Celebrities | I’m avoiding reports at the moment, so no idea | Over and above the tech geek celebs, Spike Jones, Whoppi Goldberg, more people I don’t know. Looking for clues on this one, |
Charity Factor | Not really – can’t resell it. | Some ofthe first people in queues were planning on reselling for charity. Plus they got a lots of PR for being there in the first place. |
Scarcity | Plenty. Lots and lots all over the place | Fears were proved pretty groundless as phones were available without too much rush. Initial auctioning value dropped rapidly |
Sales in first days | Pre-orders on Amazon over 2m. Just way bigger than the iPhone | 500k? |
Cool Factor | errrrr, It’s a book. Not really much you can do to up the cool factor. | ooohhhhhh shiny. Let me touch. It’s shiny. Wins the cool factor hands down. |
Usability | Only one function. Read it. But at 759 pages it makes a good door stop as well. | Does lots of things well and then does not do things that it should do as a convergent device. Plus does somethings badly. Read the reports – they’re mixed. But did I say it’s shiny? |
Reuse | It’s a once only thing. Once you’ve read it the suspense is gone. re-reading is possible but not as much fun. | Years of fun. Lots of things you can do and it has a continuing functionality. Until the battery goes. |
Recyclability | Yes. Out to the recycle people and back it will come as next week’s newspaper. | Probably. But lots of components and chemicals so not that easy |
A sequel? | No, that’s your lot. The story is over and done with. JK could sit back and enjoy her riches but may produce something else – will it be as good? | Yes. Absolutely. In different colours, sizes, functionalities. One that actually works in 3G. This one has a long way to go. |
Now I’m off to read the book for the rest of the day. Anyone got things to add?
Twitter friends
Why is that Twitter usually has the numbers on the Left hand side of the image and then when I press refresh, or update a message, the ‘people’ changes to ‘Followers’ and the number changes?
Update: And a few hours after I write this, they update the interface and it’s no longer wonky. We no longer have friends – we just follow or are followed.
Steam Video
I got a little bit of video but hands were shaking too much to do for long. This is about 3 mins after the bang. The roar was the steam pouring out the hole.
Manhattan Explosion
I was walking out of the office to the subway, headphones on, minding my own business and just cursing the slow people in front and the tourist taking a photo of the Chrysler building when there was a bang and then a rushing sound. I looked up to find what looked like the centre of Lex and 42nd crossing pouring out smoke about one block in front of me.
The general tendency was to go the other way, so that’s what I did before stopping and taking a few images. Interestingly, that this may have been a bomb was not my first thought – maybe I’ve seen too many on the news but given the upward flow and the continued rushing sound, i thought it was more likely a gas main or something that gave a continuous fuel supply.
I thought I’d go back to the office but that was evacuated but I’m lucky enough to live close enough to walk. So 40 blocks later, the shaking has stopped and I think I’m going for a drink.
Update: In the pub, there were 2 other guys who were around the same area. One of them worked above the steam/transformer explosion and said stones were hitting his 14th story window. They thought it was the building next door and it was not until he saw the news in the bar that he realised it was in the middle of the road.
Update: (from press conference) it was a 2 foot pipe installed in 1924 that burst, cold water on the pipe is likely suspect. At the moment 20 people injured 2 people critical, one fatality. Tow truck went into the crater. Oh, great, asbestos released possible – advised to take clothes and put away until confirmed. Grand Central open; Lex ave line impacted – nothing running in the area. Shuttle impacted, 7 not stopping at Grand central. Roads closed all the way round it at the moment.
CScout Trend Spotter
Do you fancy yourself as a trend spotter? Ray from CScout has asked me if I know anyone in London who wants to take a crack at spotting trends for them
Here’s a job description.
Background: living and /or working in London who is immersed in the web 2.0, technology sector, startup, social media communities. Good candidates in the past have been bloggers, writers, and marketers.
Duties: This is for part-time work, on a contract basis. Scouts could either have a day job in the area, or be a full time freelancer. Typical assignments are short reports in Word doc or PPT with text and images.
Fees and rates depend on length of project and experience.
CScout is a global trend consultancy with 12 full time employees in offices in New York, Munich, Tokyo, and Beijing. In addition, 25+ scouts placed globally are activated depending upon the needs of our clients.
They also have opening in Sydney and/or Melbourne. Contact Raymond for further details if interested: r a y . c h a at g m a i l ( d o t ) c o m , (you know the drill with munged addresses)
The Internet crashed
Breaking News: All Online Data Lost After Internet Crash
Via John Swords on Twitter. (although I went and got the original from The Onion. Typical government reaction – they forgot to back it up.
Luck of Seven
On Saturday, my friend Noel set off on his seven month trip around the world. Some of us gathered to wish him farewell as he gave his goodbye speech.
You can follow him through your medium of choice, with the Luck of Seven blog being one of the main hubs.
A little hot
I think the weather bug on my browser is telling me it’s going to be a little bit warm today.
NYT and Fact Checking
Love the video from from NYT Technology reviewer David Pogue about the iPhone. But they really need to check facts…that’s no kayak, that’s a scull.