Google Lively posted this today http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/lively-no-more.html
I have to say, despite my issues with what they chose to do and how they managed telling their user community about it, that I think it's a pity Google have chosen to close lively.
Whilst it wasn't the revolution that we were all hoping for, in my opinion it did have it's niche.
What I would hope is that this isn't the end of Google's interest in virtual worlds. We need another big player to step in here and create some diversity with a decent budget behind it, and no, in my opinion that doesn't mean we need another mirror world. What we need is something that can realistically compete with Second Life. Something that can encompass user created content (from within the VW engine), with rights management and a workable economy, and better media and web content integration.
In my opinion there are only a few companies capable of doing this. Google, Apple, Microsoft, and the larger games companies.
Google: please don't let one failed project keep you out of this sector for long, and if you want some advice on how to position your next offering ...
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Monday, 17 November 2008
The Customer may be right, but I can't deviate from this procedure, sir.
I'm no longer an advocate of XBox Live. We had a disagreement. It ended badly.
The thing that I noticed most during the hour I spent arguing on the phone wasn't something that's exclusive to one specific company. There's a new trend... agree with the complaining customer, but cite the procedure that must be followed at all costs ... so sorry, nothing I can do ... and yes, I am the most senior supervisor in the UK and there isn't anyone else who can actually make a decision other than to follow the procedure to the letter.
Something about this doesn't feel right to me. Despite the 'fixed' procedure, there is always some scope for movement, even if it is subtle. The mobile phone companies are very good at this and understand the need to retain customers and that the value of one retained customer is in the peer recommendation that goes with it.
The converse is also true. Just like this. The customer you didn't keep is just as vocal and your detractors have just as loud a voice. Except there's something unique to human nature - we tend to remember the negatives more so than the positives. Your lost customer will probably do you more damage. This is borne out by the 'net promoter' scoring metrics.
From a PR point of view it's much better to make a small concession and keep your customer than to lose them.
The thing that I noticed most during the hour I spent arguing on the phone wasn't something that's exclusive to one specific company. There's a new trend... agree with the complaining customer, but cite the procedure that must be followed at all costs ... so sorry, nothing I can do ... and yes, I am the most senior supervisor in the UK and there isn't anyone else who can actually make a decision other than to follow the procedure to the letter.
Something about this doesn't feel right to me. Despite the 'fixed' procedure, there is always some scope for movement, even if it is subtle. The mobile phone companies are very good at this and understand the need to retain customers and that the value of one retained customer is in the peer recommendation that goes with it.
The converse is also true. Just like this. The customer you didn't keep is just as vocal and your detractors have just as loud a voice. Except there's something unique to human nature - we tend to remember the negatives more so than the positives. Your lost customer will probably do you more damage. This is borne out by the 'net promoter' scoring metrics.
From a PR point of view it's much better to make a small concession and keep your customer than to lose them.
Mandriva Linux on EeePC 900
I've been quite vocal about my appreciation of OpenSuSE 11.0 and how well it works (after a lot of fiddling) on my EeePC 900.
Well, the few bits that didn't work started to annoy me, along with the fact that it didn't take advantage of the faster FSB and effectively ran the access to the memory slower than the hardware was actually capable of.
So I had an idle look on www.distrowatch.com and then did a little surfing for EeePC out-of-the-box compatible distros. I saw that Mandriva have just released their 2009 version and it's supposed to be 100% compatible.
Long story short: it is.
Downloaded the .iso file and burned a DVD ROM (external usb DVD drive - very useful) this morning, and after only about 3 hours of effort, most of that waiting for things to copy, here I am blogging this, from flock, on my EeePC 900, over wireless ... you get the picture. It all just worked.
I've even gone as far as getting Compiz working fine, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Second Life client is in the full sources set of the repositories. Installing that was quite telling: it runs a good deal faster on Mandriva than on OpenSuSE.
That's it. I'm sold. Faster AND easier? Perfect.
Well, the few bits that didn't work started to annoy me, along with the fact that it didn't take advantage of the faster FSB and effectively ran the access to the memory slower than the hardware was actually capable of.
So I had an idle look on www.distrowatch.com and then did a little surfing for EeePC out-of-the-box compatible distros. I saw that Mandriva have just released their 2009 version and it's supposed to be 100% compatible.
Long story short: it is.
Downloaded the .iso file and burned a DVD ROM (external usb DVD drive - very useful) this morning, and after only about 3 hours of effort, most of that waiting for things to copy, here I am blogging this, from flock, on my EeePC 900, over wireless ... you get the picture. It all just worked.
I've even gone as far as getting Compiz working fine, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Second Life client is in the full sources set of the repositories. Installing that was quite telling: it runs a good deal faster on Mandriva than on OpenSuSE.
That's it. I'm sold. Faster AND easier? Perfect.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Not on linked in? Why not??
Linked In is a social media website built specifically for business networking. The list of industries is over 100 and covers a very broad range.
I've been making much more use of Linked In recently and have had a number of briefs, meeting and new, interesting contacts come from this activity. If you aren't registered, give it a go and feel free to add me to your network!
I've been making much more use of Linked In recently and have had a number of briefs, meeting and new, interesting contacts come from this activity. If you aren't registered, give it a go and feel free to add me to your network!
Now, that's a whole 'nother channel right there....Part 2
I'm a bit of a geek. That's probably come over in the postings that I've made here. As such, I have stickers on the lid of my EeePC for a couple of things and want to add my favorite social media, virtual world and technology brands there.
So I did the obvious thing and emailed 6 companies: blogger, second life, linked in, twitter, opensuse and flock. Guess what? *None* of these companies have stickers.
I said it in my last posting, but it's work repeating: stickers are great because the allow other peoples personal possessions to act as a vehicle for your brand. This is very, very cheap advertising to market segments that may well be interested in your product, and quite possibly don't know it exists.
One of the stickers I have on my EeePC lid is for skullcandy. Why? They make great headphones and were smart enough to include *two* stickers in the blisterpack with their product. I have had dozens of conversations with people who ask what the sticker is for .....
So I did the obvious thing and emailed 6 companies: blogger, second life, linked in, twitter, opensuse and flock. Guess what? *None* of these companies have stickers.
I said it in my last posting, but it's work repeating: stickers are great because the allow other peoples personal possessions to act as a vehicle for your brand. This is very, very cheap advertising to market segments that may well be interested in your product, and quite possibly don't know it exists.
One of the stickers I have on my EeePC lid is for skullcandy. Why? They make great headphones and were smart enough to include *two* stickers in the blisterpack with their product. I have had dozens of conversations with people who ask what the sticker is for .....
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