by Andy Brudtkuhl on December 23, 2005
Well I am finally fed up with podcasting startup Odeo’s antics. At first, they had a great product. I wrote about odeo in June and mentioned how impressed I was.
Well, the parts I was most impressed with six months ago have been removed. There is no longer a desktop application that syncs with my mobile devices. Now they rely on iTunes to import Odeo subscriptions. It’s just a mess now. I hate iTunes and am forced to use it to use Odeo. So what’s the point of Odeo? Not to mention they are doing a very poor job of aggregating content. For instance, look at this image:
I am pretty sure twit did not release four episodes today. In fact I am sure because I have listened to all those before.
Okay, so they allow you to record, publish, and distribute podcasts. Well, you can record for up to three minutes, which is totally useless. And again why not publish and distribute over iTunes. Odeo is trying to disintermediate the industry but is only creating a service that inconveniences its users. Sorry Odeo, but I’ve given up on you.
by Andy Brudtkuhl on December 23, 2005
I am going to post my own predictions for the next year, but I think it may be fun to criticize others’. There are a plethora of these types of posts. Anyway, Steve Rubel thinks that in the next year a blog search engine should be spidering through comments as well. I disagree with you Steve. How bout in the year 2006 we dismiss commenting as socially unconstructive and find a new way for people to interact with bloggers whom they read. I hear email works swell. Or someone clever could release a beta to take over the need commenting [light bulb].
by Andy Brudtkuhl on December 23, 2005
I got an email this morning from the folks at google video.
Here’s what has been updated lately:
- A flash-based video player
- A brand new home page (http://video.google.com/) [Looks the same to me]
- A larger format playback/viewing window with standard user controls
- “More videos” tab on playback page along with “Related” and “Popular”
videos links
- A Send link so fans of your video can send it to their friends
- A new video blog (http://googlevideo.blogspot.com/) [Does not contain any of this information]
And they say there’s going to be changes to how you upload videos in the near future. I have still yet to be comfortable using Google Video and have yet to see its purpose. Sure it’s a great idea, but definitely a poor implementation. No one really knows what to do with it.
I tried once to post the infamous “chip incident” starring tj and was never able to find it once I uploaded it. Either drop it or make it usable.
by tj mapes on December 22, 2005
Just today alone, I have received two seperate e-mails from Amazon.com. Now normally, I would be slamming the page down key to find the unsubscribe option.
Today was different, because like many people I am a late, late, late shopper during the holidays. I still haven’t gotten anything for my family. (Actually I am going get my folks a Flickr photobook)
With my little options, only a couple days from Christmas, I am actually going to buy some e-mail gift cirtificates for my brother and cousin (since I have him for the pool.)
Even though I’ve had some bad experiences with Amazon, I’m left with no choice.
Props to the great marketing. You got me !
by tj mapes on December 22, 2005
I have a feeling that Flock is secretly holding a trump card somewhere, and they better bring it out soon. Take a look at the new blogging extention for Firefox, Performancing. Go look here for some other links to what the Flock developers are saying in their defense.
