Rebuttal: We're ALWAYS in Beta

This is a response to a post from a friend of mine, who is reticent to fully integrate and rely on social media tools that aren't "finished".


See his post here.


My response is below, with a few changes from the original email (if I'm publishing this, I have to clean it up a bit.

Dan,

I can't comment on your blog. Is commenting enabled, or am I just missing something? 

SO, I'll email you instead. 

Social media has not only developed rapidly, it will always develop rapidly. Cloud software doesn't have to wait for manufacturing or supplies or distribution. It's just code. Companies like facebook, Google, and twitter employ lots of fulltime coders to do that, all day every day. They're always building, always expanding, always changing. 

Have you noticed that facebook changes their interface ever few months? People put up a fuss for a bit, but then they get used to it and move on. The fussiness period is even getting shorter as users become used to this, as they get accustomed to the fact that we will always be in beta. 

Any company that hopes to stay ahead in the social web, an industry that is direct to a huge base of consumers, and with so much competition, is going to have to always be improving, always updating, always adding, always innovating. 

Part of the magic of Apple is that they actually can release a "finished" product. Everybody else is breaking their necks just to get the latest thing out the door. The culture they've fostered of absolute secrecy is vital in that, or people might catch up to them before they actually release the newest product. 

It's also important for them to withhold some features that other companies would have just released. If they don't have something %100 there, they hang on to it till they do. That's why the iPhone got copy/paste ability after EVERY other phone on the market. That's why the next iPhone won't have 4G. The network isn't totally reliable yet, so they're waiting till it is. 

If the pragmatists want to wait for a "finished" social media, they'll be waiting forever (or buying an Apple product that will soon be eclipsed by their next release). For most consumer tech, it's never finished. That's even a line in the movie The Social Network.

M: It won't be finished. That's the point. The way fashion's never finished. 

E: What? 

M: Fashion, fashion is never finished. 

I think there are probably a lot of people who will be waiting forever. 

The muddled mess has utility, though. Despite not being plug and play, it's very usable, and extremely valuable to those willing and able to get into the disarray that is the social web, with all it's tools and widgets, and cobble together something that creates value. It's like walking into a disorganized garage. There are tools and parts everywhere, some better than others, some expensive and some dimestore fare. But you're going to have to organize it yourself, after you decide what to build. 

To stay relevant, services have to adapt. If they don't, they're made obsolete by competition, by those who do adapt. Somebody else in the garage will make a better machine. So, keep adapting. 

As per the always in beta comment, it makes it kinda' ironic that I couldn't comment on the blog.

Somebody She's Glad to Know

Following is an essay written by my tremendously bright and talented 13 year old niece. The prompt was to write about somebody you are glad to know.

One of the most successful YouTube commercial campaigns is for a tongue cleaner called the OraBrush. Surprising that a tongue cleaner would cause so much buzz, but this is largely due to the hysterical and halitophobic “OraBrush Guy” (I’m not so much afraid of me having bad breath. I’m afraid of other people having bad breath.) … This brash scientist is other wise known as, my quirky, adventurous, tech-nerd Uncle Austin. The semi-famous Austin Craig graduated from BYU with a degree in broadcast journalism. His talent for imitating others and sarcastic humor keeps all those around him in good spirits. He is loud, funny, smart and interested in absolutely everything. What Austin, a fellow “twinner”, loves more than anything else is a good conversation. The economy, music, food, Facebook, politics, school, electronics--he’ll talk about them all. And he won’t just talk. Austin will debate. The man has an opinion and he loves to be heard. Life is full of opportunities, and my uncle loves to grab them. Austin dabbles in gymnastics, photography, critiquing, running, and more. Spontaneous adventures are always on his agenda along with seminars, friends and traveling. It’s a wonder he’s still single! I’m so glad he’s such a great uncle and friend. As he once said, “Friends are like potatoes. If you eat them, they die … brought to you by Austin’s Words of Wisdom, Words of Wisdom by Austin.”

Clever girl, that's what I say.

David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College, May 21, 2005

I'm ripping this off, entirely, from another blog. I just feel like it should be shared.

A friend sent this to me a few years ago, and I filed it away in a "Read Later" folder.

On Saturday, when the kind Sprint rep told me it would take 45 minutes to transfer my contacts from my old phone to the new, I found myself with no available smartphone, a laptop with no wifi, and nothing else to occupy my time. It took literally years to finally get my attention, but I opened up the "Read Later" folder. The first thing in the folder that caught my eye was David Foster Wallace's commencement address from Kenyon, to the graduating class of 2005.

Before you click away and read the whole text, let me familiarize you a bit with the author. From Wikipedia:

David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American author of novels, essays, and short stories, and a professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California. He was widely known for his 1996 novel Infinite Jest,^[4][5] which Time included in its All-Time 100 Greatest Novels list (covering the period 1923–2006).^[6]  

Los Angeles Times book editor David Ulin called Wallace "one of the most influential and innovative writers of the last 20 years".^[4]

Wallace killed himself by hanging in 2008. He'd suffered from depression through his whole adult life, and when there was a complication with his medication, he succumbed. It's sad, but reading through this speech, I think I understand a little where he was coming from. I found this address comforting and consonant with my own life experience. I'll probably be reading more of his work.

Now go ahead and read it. Click here.

UPDATE: Mountain Dew Rips Off YouTuber and Indie Rappers

• • NOTE: This is a followup to a story blogged a few days ago. Click here for Part 1.
    If there were ANY doubt about the Mountain Dew ad I blogged a few days ago, we can doubt no more. 
    
    I messaged DevinSuperTramp, who said he'd actually been contacted by the ad agency before they shot the video.  They were looking for the contact info of riders in his original.
    
    We can put the issue to rest, but here is my final frustration and my final question: 
    
    
    Why didn't they take the opportunity to make a great story, hire the original artists, get a fantastic end product, and avoid the inevitable lashback from copying 100% an already very popular independently produced work?
    That would have worked better for ALL involved. 
    
    

    Hello,
    My name is John [last name omitted], and I'm writing to find out the locations, ages, and availabilities of riders in a YouTube video uploaded by you. We are checking on them for a Mountain Dew commercial. The availability dates are April 26 - April 28. April 26 is wardrobe, April 27 is rehearsal, and April 28 is the shoot.
    Looking forward to hearing from you.
    Thanks!
    ------------
    Lisa Fields Casting
    
    West Hollywood, CA 90069
    
    ---
    Hey Devin,
    Thanks for getting back to me. We're looking for bikers who can do lake jumps between the ages of 18-25. If we could get the names and contacts of anyone that might be appropriate, that would be great.
    This is a national spot, so any riders that are chosen would be flown first class and put up in first class hotels.
    Let me know if you have any questions.
    Thanks!

• • 
    

Mountain Dew Rips Off YouTuber and Indie Rappers

Saw it this morning. It's pretty obvious.

Mountain Dew posted a video of BMX bikers going off a jump into a pond. It has a good summer-time feel to it, with a fun hip-hop track going in the background. See video HERE:

UPDATE: Embedding for this video has been disabled. Click HERE to watch the video.

That would be fine, and there wouldn't be a story, EXCEPT they ripped it off, wholesale, with no mention or credit to the creators.

The following video was posted Oct. 3 2010.



Same concept. Same theme. Same shots. Same editing. Same musical style. Same everything.

Why wouldn't they hire the original creators? That's what Apple did, and what Microsoft should have done. Instead, they took the Urban Outfitters route, and ripped off independent artists. How do they benefit from backhanding the online communities that inspired the content?

The original video is from DevinSuperTramp, a partnered YouTuber who appears to be working hard to release content regularly to make money through YouTube's Partner Program. The original music is from Can't Stop Won't Stop, an unsigned hip-hop group trying to grow their following on Facebook. Point is, these artists are struggling to make a name for themselves.

It doesn't help when a huge company steals their work without so much as a shout-out. The MountainDew YouTube channel has a behind the scenes video claiming the inspiration came from a video on WildeManMedia's channel. Take a look, compare the videos side by side, and you tell me which video was the inspiration for their ad.



My take? They ripped it off, knew they ripped it off, and created a back-story to cover their tracks. Disgusting.

[Full Disclosure: I helped a little on the production of the original video, so this one made me mad in a personal way.]

Google+ Circles Suggestion

Google+ has won me over. I love it, and I think more and more people will use it and love it. In not too much time, it'll give facebook a real run for it's money.

But at a week and a half old, it's a developing platform. I have a thought about Circles.

Circles are a fantastic feature that will make managing posts and contacts much much easier. If it was managed graphically, it could be easier still.

If circles could be seen as a virtual space, something that could be managed by grabbing and dragging them, a lot more information could be readily conveyed and managed. For instance, if I could grab one circle, say "Extended Family" or "Orabrush Contacts" (Orabrush is where I work), and drag them into another circle, like "Family" or "Business Contacts", then I could make subsets.

Circles within circles.

This way, if I want to publish a post to all of my business contacts, including Orabrush contacts, it can be designated and managed graphically by high lighting circles. If I want to deselect a circle, I can just click it

What do you think? If you like it, share this on Google+. If you don't, let me know in the comments.

I haven't blogged in ages. But I'm starting again.

How to Buy a New Phone

A friend of mine asked if I could help her find a new phone. She was asking about Verizon, but the ideas apply with any carrier. Here is my advice.

Dear Anna,

I'm honored.

For Verizon, you should consider...

1) The iPhone. Can't go wrong. I'm holding out for the iPhone 5, which will most likely come out next Fall. If you can wait for that, it may be your best, most long lasting option. If you have to get one now, the iPhone 4 is a excellent choice. There is a good reason it's so acclaimed. It's a fantastic piece of hardware, and they're great about taking care of their customers. You pay for it, but you get the best.

2) An Android Phone. There are several to choose from, and each will have it's own strengths and quirks. I have an HTC EVO. It was the hands down best phone on the market for about three days, then the iPhone 4 was announced. It does everything I want, but the battery is an Achilles heel that almost had me returning it to the store. Make sure the battery life will work for you, and think about the things that you do the most on your phone. Camera important to you? Physical keyboard? Maybe you just want something that's small. Go to the store and try out a few. There are always features from my previous phones that I like and look for when shopping for a new one. Also, there are pitfalls from previous phones that I try to avoid.

If you're looking for a tool to help, I'd check out these sites.

http://gdgt.com/find/

You can select the features that are important to you, and it will narrow down the selection on which devices have those features. The site as a whole is a great community for exploring and discussing consumer electronics past, present, and future.

If you're looking for a service plan that works for you, check this out.

https://www.billshrink.com/

It will import your usage info from your existing provider, scan the plans available, and let you know which one will meet your needs for the least amount of money, all told. They also help with advice on most other major expenses in a person's life.

Again, make sure to handle one before you buy.

As for non-Apple, non-Android phones, I hear the new Windows phones are really slick, but honestly I've never handled one. I've never heard people complain about their Blackberries, but I've never heard people talk about how much they love them, either.

If at the end of the day, you really only want to talk on your phone and send texts, then don't worry yourself with getting a bleeding edge smartphone. I've been seriously considering getting a simple phone that only does calls and texts. There is a price to pay for being wired ALL the time, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to me anymore.

Hope that helps, and hope you're doing REALLY well.

Your Friend,

-Austin

Predictive Text

This is what my phone thought I was writing when I fell asleep with my hand on the touch screen keyboard.

"Kk Kk knob Kk Kkk kin kill junkb ink in nok Kk in knob I kill Kkn Li IBM nun BC Kk info Nikki knob Kk minimumk Kk in In knob I Kkk Kikikkkkk obik kin kin Ki OKni Jim ki knob link knob Kiki kneel bulk I'm illn nun Kikik in join Jimikkn knob knobk Kiki Kim ninth knob illn knobkuu non inn knock Ik Kk Nikki knock mom kin intok linkk Kim ill Kiki OK mom knock Jimk Jimi Kiki kink kill kinkk nb mini knobkkj junkj ill I killbib knob nun nu Kikikk knock knock knock Kiki kill Jax knob knock in mom NKn Kiki nbj knock Kk I in NK NK bookk knob IBMk mom OK jambn knob I non kin ill OK mini knobn I'mki knob Kk knock kin Kiki non hi I Kiki Kikikk Mic ink NK Kiki Jax Kiki Iik nbnk hi knobc book knob kill nu Kiki in I Kikik knob knock Kiki Kkn killn Kiki Kiki killkii inn OK I nunn knocknk Kiki Kik Inu knock in nb OKkj kill Kiki Kiki Kiki numb knob mom Ik nun Ici Kk Kikikc in in Inu UL bunk union kill hi knock Kikin kill I nb ill Jillk knock I I'm kinjk in? Killkb Kiki Iiik NKn Kiki jam knob HM monk juju Iik knob oil nb junkh Kikk Kikikn Kiki I Kiki OK Kk knobk inknn knobnn OK in NKb Jillkki Kiki ill Jillk Kiki Ohiok knobkikin no I ink Kikik knobk kill Ij illki nbk knob knobk Kk knobkjki numb Kacink knobc knockjk Jan Ikkkin nuji Kiki ifkkk knob link OK inkkj Kiki Kiki NKj knob in knobni knob NK Iiki knob Kimu Kk I Kiki handbookk I'm Kiki knob NK knockn knob Mu Kk I'mkj in Ik Li knob OK NKn Kiki Kiki Ikk knobj kill Ink knockjkk knock kinkk Jimikkk Kiki jam Iiniii IBMk Jillkkki Inu nbk OK knobjkkijkki knob knobk I'm I knob ink inbkk kin Iikj Kiki Kikinnn Kikik kin knob Ikjnnnj knob ki kun knob union kj Kikij knob ill killer"

This Happens Every Time I Ask for an Address

Two Days Left

DON'T FORGET! CLICK HERE TO

VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN!

And vote for GoogleSuperstar, too! We're buddies.

Professor

My unexpected response to an innocent prompt in a facebook status update.

Q: What are some of your favorite things that your professors did to make classtime effective or fun? Please share!

A: The best professors were the ones who respected me and spoke to me as an equal. I studied and performed well for those classes. If a teacher EVER talked down to me, [expletive] them. It drove me crazy if I ever thought a teacher was talking down to me. I got in to the [expletive] school and in to this [expletive] program and in to your [expletive] class, don't you DARE talk to me like some incompetent child. Were you ANY better when you were in my shoes millennia ago?

The ones who believed in me and showed that faith in what they said and did, to them I will forever be sincerely and unfailingly grateful.

Probably more than you wanted, but that's my answer.

TV Torture. Day 2.

DON'T FORGET! CLICK HERE TO

VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN!

Funny thought

If I had a wooden leg, there are so many funny things I could do. Like do a butterfly knife show for the talent show, then top it off by stabbing myself in the wooden thigh and screaming.

Remember, Vote Early and Often!

Everybody, I need your help.

I've entered a contest to win the most fantastic job I've ever heard of.

And I'm absolutely perfect for it.

I'm pulling out all the stops. Time to blitz the World Wide Web.

Check out the TV Torture Blog.

Follow the progress on Twitter.

Join the Facebook Event.
(this is how you can get updates and reminders)

And believe me, I'm just getting started. I'm going to get this gig if it kills me.

High Adventure

Last Week I was in New York, for the first time. It was a lot of fun. We were filming, but I don't really think I should upload any of the footage. You'll see it soon enough. We got home late Tuesday night.

Wednesday, I went to see Inception. It's not a perfect film, but a very strong one, and well worth it's box office take and your seeing.

The visuals are stunning. The acting us superb. Christopher Nolan undertook a tremendous world to try to explain during the duration of a feature length film, and both he and the viewer have to move quickly to keep pace. He's a talented story-teller, as evidenced by his previous work, but even still, this is stretching. With as intricate a world, the story may have lent itself better to a series (a la LOST).

All the same, it's stunning, and I will be seeing it again in theaters.

Nolan's films offer homage in the best fashion. It's clear where his inspiration came for a lot of his work, but it never feels like a rip-off. He alwasy frames his borrowed ideas and aesthetic in a new enough context that it feels original. Inception was clearly a heist film, with all the tropes of the genre. It's the last job, the final steal before our protagonist can set life straight and move on. He assembles the team. They outline an intricate plan, with precise roles and timing and objectives. But it's more than a heist movie.

Think of it like The Italian Job meets The Matrix meets Solaris. The New York Times has some other comparisons as well. The New York Times always has interesting supplemental material to the best movies.

Thursday I went to the Twilight Concert Series for the first time this summer. It's always a good time, and free, but I've been out of town up till this point. Beirut was playing.


If you're not familiar with their sound, it's distinctly gypsy. Funny to think of what these guys must have been like in high school. They play trumpet, accordian, and trombone, among others. I can't imagine they were the "in" crowd, yet here they were at the Twilight Concert Series, playing a packed show, with people cheering for them like rock stars. It was a lot of fun.


The album version may give you a better indication of their sound.


The below videos are from last Friday, July 23, 2010, on BYU Campus. It was much more chaotic and painful then you might expect, but very fun. Ladies and Gentlemen, the World's Biggest Water Balloon Fight.






Saturday, I went to a pond outside Alpine UT. It doesn't sound like much, but man-o-man, is it fun with the right equipment.
This isn't a video of me or my friends, but it's the same thing in the same place, and gives you a good idea.

That night we went to Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork. I didn't make it to the rodeo, but I did see the fireworks.

Last week, all I did was play. I need to work a lot during this coming week to make up for it.

We collected the signatures; Now the fight begins

I don't even live in Connecticut, but I'm very interested in this race. I hope Schiff takes it, it'd be a big deal for this country.

Hello Everybody, We did it! Thanks to your overwhelming support our campaign team collected and submitted well over the 8,500 signatures required for the petition. Although we are awaiting the official certification of these signatures, we are confident that my name will appear on the ballot August 10th. And we could not have done it without you! Whether you knocked on doors, made phone calls, waited around train stations and shopping centers or made a generous contribution, you made the difference. I have no doubt that we have what it takes to win this election. But the fight has just begun. The next 2 months are critical to positioning our campaign for victory on November 2nd. But first we must win the nomination, and I'm counting on your continued support to make sure that happens. There are 5 ways you can get involved in the campaign, and I hope you will participate in at least one of them. Make a one-time or monthly sustaining contribution Order official Schiff for Senate gear today Support Schiff for Senate on Facebook Tweet about Schiff for Senate on Twitter; and Volunteer your time to knock on doors, make phone calls or help out at headquarters I'm ready to give this race and our country my all. I hope you will be right beside me fighting for the free market and making sure that I head to Washington in January to save America. America is counting on you and so am I. Peter Schiff Republican U.S. Senate Candidate P.S. Thank you for making our signature petition drive a success. I hope I can count on your continued support whether it's making a contribution, spreading the word about our campaign or volunteering your time. Thank you again.

Paid for by Schiff for Senate Schiff for Senate P.O. Box 3647 Milford, CT 06460

Debt

We're all eyeball deep in financial trouble.



It's not like we weren't all given fair warning.

Eat well, Live long.

I'm not crazy about his speaking skills, but this is just good advice.


Same goes for this.

Fwd: News Alert: Rand Paul Wins Republican Senate Nomination in Kentucky

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: NYTimes.com News Alert <nytdirect@nytimes.com>
Date: Tue, May 18, 2010 at 5:05 PM
Subject: News Alert: Rand Paul Wins Republican Senate Nomination in Kentucky
To: Austin

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Tue, May 18, 2010 -- 8:04 PM ET
-----

Rand Paul Wins Republican Senate Nomination in Kentucky

Rand Paul, one of the early leaders of the Tea Party
movement, won the Republican nomination for Senate in
Kentucky on Tuesday night, delivering a powerful blow to the
party's establishment and offering the clearest evidence yet
of the strength of the anti-government sentiment simmering at
the grass-roots level.

Mr. Paul, the son of Representative Ron Paul of Texas, easily
defeated Trey Grayson, the secretary of state from Kentucky.
Voters turned against Mr. Grayson even though he had the
support of the state's best-known political leader - Mitch
McConnell, the Senate Republican leader.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com?emc=na

-----
Now get New York Times breaking news alerts sent to your mobile phone.
Sign up by texting NEWSALERTS to 698698 (NYTNYT).
-----

About This E-Mail
You received this message because you are signed up to receive breaking news
alerts from NYTimes.com.

To unsubscribe, change your e-mail address or to sign up for daily headlines
or other newsletters, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/email

NYTimes.com
620 Eighth Ave.
New York, NY 10018

Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

Cure Cancer? Sure thing. Turns out it's a lifestyle choice, even more than you thought.

It isn't easy to manage what your diet consists of. Anybody who'se tried to lose (or gain) weight can tell you that. But it's a primary factor in the length and quality of your whole life. Think about that, your entire life. Worth making an effort. It can directly save you from eventual heart disease, and, it turns out, cancer. Those two account for over half the disease deaths in the United States. Think about that, you will live much longer if you eat right. Why aren't all of us intensely studying this subject? I need to learn more.

Here is a good place to start. Take a look at how changing your diet can prevent cancer in an almost sure-fire way. Fascinating.