Quick Thoughts on Oprah Effect on Twitter

This quote from Hitwise Intelligence – Heather Hopkins – US: Oprah Effect on Twitter caught my eye:

There’s been much debate among loyal Twitter users about whether this spells the end for Twitter’s coolness, as soccer moms sign up in droves.

Total, absolutely, 100%, USDA Prime Grade BUNK.  Wanna know how I know? 

Do this thought experiment…  try it at home. 

Step 1: Replace “Twitter” in above quote with the word “telephone,” “email,” “the Internet,” “Facebook.” 

Step 2: Now put your mind’s eye into the following year for each communication technology.

Email: 1994

Internet: 2000

Facebook: 2007

I may have the years off by a year or two, but the net/net is that anyone who thinks that these technologies would lose something when they became “too mainstream,” fail to understand the power of networks. 

All of these technologies became vastly more cool after they became mainstream.   They became more cool precisely because the broader usage spurred broader innovation and investment.  Sure, you as an early adopter and a technical elitist now have to contend with your mom asking you questions about Tweeting, but in return you get a broader, more robust ecosystem. 

Still don’t buy it: invert the argument.  Raise your hand if you’d like to go back to dial-up internet and AltaVista as the leader in Search! 

Filed under: Twitter, consumer, internet, technology , internet, technology, Twitter

Wishlist TiVo, Slingbox, or Windows Media Center should do–embedding TivoMe into a web page

I love my Tivo, and in particular I love being able to schedule a recording from anywhere using their MyTivo function.

Here’s my wish-list for a next step.  I’d like to see an embedded “TivoMe” button next to key upcoming event descriptions seen elsewhere on the web.  Here’s the scenario.  I go to ESPN, and I see an upcoming basketball game, such as this.   Next to the description should be a little icon that says “TivoMe.”  When I press it, it automagically feeds that request into my MyTivo function, and it’s all taken care of.

Filed under: consumer, internet, technology

Your Ad Here, on My S.U.V.? And You’ll Pay? – New York Times

I’d brainstormed on a business like this a few years ago.  Totally makes sense–neat to see on car advertising networks taking off.  Microeconomies like this — ones that have thrived on the internet — are bound to do more brick and mortar evolution per this example. 

Your Ad Here, on My S.U.V.? And You’ll Pay? – New York Times

Filed under: business, consumer, entrepreneurship

Bought or Not: "Where I’ve Been"

Or maybe not…  Apparently the $3M purchase of “Where I’ve been” has not happened.  Interesting quote from the guy who’s built the app.   

Tech news blog – Posts tagged ‘Facebook’ – CNET News.com

Filed under: consumer, entrepreneurship, internet, tech, technology

‘Where I’ve Been’ Facebook app acquired for $3 million | CNET News.com

No surprise at all that FB apps can get acquired–I’d love to understand the valuation model though.  I’ve used this Where I’ve Been App.  It’s a fine app, sure, but I’d be hard pressed to pay $3M for it. 

The real question around valuation for something like this is how does one think about the opportunity costs?  If 1-2 devs can build this app, post and deploy it via Facebook, why would a ‘big company’ buy it for $3M?  Why wouldn’t BigCo get 1-2 devs to build the same app (or one slightly better), post and deploy it via Facebook?  I can’t imagine ‘being first’ is all that important for an app like this… 

Ah well, fools and their money. 

 

Report: ‘Where I’ve Been’ Facebook app acquired for $3 million | Tech news blog – CNET News.com

Filed under: bootstrapping, consumer, entrepreneurship, internet, tech