THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 03:06:49 PM

Title: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 03:06:49 PM
http://spin.com/articles/exclusive-limited-edition-joy-division-zune-player-revealed

(http://spin.com/sites/spin.com/files/imagecache/huge_page_view/sites/spin.com/files/joy-division-zune.jpg)

Well, I need one of these.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: abrader on June 04, 2008, 03:07:37 PM
thats odd exclusive.

id still take the ipod.

Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Rman on June 04, 2008, 03:22:47 PM
What mp3 player do you use, Cohen?
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: demi on June 04, 2008, 03:27:34 PM
I'm a fucking Luddite so I don't have one.

Utah :usa
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Rman on June 04, 2008, 03:33:06 PM
So...you haven't joined the Twitter bandwagon yet?
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Brehvolution on June 04, 2008, 03:35:00 PM
I use this a Blackberry 8300.

Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Grecco on June 04, 2008, 04:02:17 PM
Zune pass is why Zune is better than ipod. I dont even know what to dl now
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 04:09:54 PM
I'm glad I don't know what that is.

It's the obnoxious bastard son of IMing and blogging and forwarding shitty emails that nobody wants to read.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on June 04, 2008, 04:14:47 PM
I'm glad I don't know what that is.

It's the obnoxious bastard son of IMing and blogging and forwarding shitty emails that nobody wants to read.

I defriended everyone on Facebook and LiveJournal who were forwarding their Twitter feeds.

The weird thing is that Twitter is seen by the Web 3.0 cognoscenti as like, bigger than MySpace and Facebook combined, and will eventually replace e-mail...I have no idea why.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 04:29:58 PM
I'm glad I don't know what that is.

It's the obnoxious bastard son of IMing and blogging and forwarding shitty emails that nobody wants to read.

I defriended everyone on Facebook and LiveJournal who were forwarding their Twitter feeds.

The weird thing is that Twitter is seen by the Web 3.0 cognoscenti as like, bigger than MySpace and Facebook combined, and will eventually replace e-mail...I have no idea why.

I don't understand the Twitter hype, either.  It doesn't really do anything that isn't done better elsewhere.  It's a hybrid blog and email thing that provides only a fraction of the functionality of each.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 04:31:47 PM
:bow twitter :bow2

:bow ditto :bow2
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 04:33:44 PM
Twitter's like the Matrix: you can't be told why it's good, you have to experience it for yourself. 

Also a lot of people think it's overhyped and crappy.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 04:38:00 PM
Twitter's like the Matrix: you can't be told why it's good, you have to experience it for yourself. 

Also a lot of people think it's overhyped and crappy.

I have experienced it.  It doesn't do anything that I couldn't already do.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: FancyFeast on June 04, 2008, 04:38:50 PM
http://spin.com/articles/exclusive-limited-edition-joy-division-zune-player-revealed

(http://spin.com/sites/spin.com/files/imagecache/huge_page_view/sites/spin.com/files/joy-division-zune.jpg)

Well, I need one of these.

OMG I want!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: FancyFeast on June 04, 2008, 04:43:49 PM
http://digg.com/music/Exclusive_Limited_Edition_Joy_Division_Zune_Player_Revealed


digg this

spread the word   :o
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 04:49:01 PM
http://digg.com/music/Exclusive_Limited_Edition_Joy_Division_Zune_Player_Revealed


digg this

spread the word   :o

Spread the word?  Why?  They are only making a few hundred, and I want one.  The fewer people that know, the better.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: border on June 04, 2008, 04:49:30 PM
Sorry -- I'm holding out for the New Order iPod.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: FancyFeast on June 04, 2008, 04:54:22 PM
Sorry -- I'm holding out for the New Order iPod.

Fail or gay?  You make the call.

Quote

Spread the word?  Why?  They are only making a few hundred, and I want one.  The fewer people that know, the better.

It's $400.  You one of them richers?
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: abrader on June 04, 2008, 04:56:45 PM
if i ever hear someone say "twitter" in person I will whip my cock out straight away.

Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 05:06:11 PM
Twitter's like the Matrix: you can't be told why it's good, you have to experience it for yourself. 

Also a lot of people think it's overhyped and crappy.

I have experienced it.  It doesn't do anything that I couldn't already do.

I think that's the wrong way of looking at it really.  There are many ways to do a lot of things--for example, people had personal sites before there was blogging software, people read blogs before there was RSS and feed readers, people could post videos before there was YouTube, etc.  Twitter's a simple and effective means to broadcast essentially throwaway comments, updates, etc, that, while it could be done via other software, is just a specialized means--and more importantly, network--to do so.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: demi on June 04, 2008, 05:07:26 PM
Twitter :bow

Haters owned... they are just jealous they have no friends to update when they are pinching a loaf or tugging some penis at a nice porno they are watching

Losers
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: CajoleJuice on June 04, 2008, 05:32:53 PM
I use Twitter. I don't know why. But I do.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 05:45:09 PM
Twitter's like the Matrix: you can't be told why it's good, you have to experience it for yourself. 

Also a lot of people think it's overhyped and crappy.

I have experienced it.  It doesn't do anything that I couldn't already do.

I think that's the wrong way of looking at it really.  There are many ways to do a lot of things--for example, people had personal sites before there was blogging software, people read blogs before there was RSS and feed readers, people could post videos before there was YouTube, etc.  Twitter's a simple and effective means to broadcast essentially throwaway comments, updates, etc, that, while it could be done via other software, is just a specialized means--and more importantly, network--to do so.

But blog software and video make their respective tasks much easier.  Twitter really doesn't.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: siamesedreamer on June 04, 2008, 05:46:55 PM
How does Zune Pass work?

You are basically leasing the music you download right? So, how do they get it off your hdd? Does it corrupt like the movies off XBLM?
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: CajoleJuice on June 04, 2008, 05:54:47 PM
Twitter's like the Matrix: you can't be told why it's good, you have to experience it for yourself. 

Also a lot of people think it's overhyped and crappy.

I have experienced it.  It doesn't do anything that I couldn't already do.

I think that's the wrong way of looking at it really.  There are many ways to do a lot of things--for example, people had personal sites before there was blogging software, people read blogs before there was RSS and feed readers, people could post videos before there was YouTube, etc.  Twitter's a simple and effective means to broadcast essentially throwaway comments, updates, etc, that, while it could be done via other software, is just a specialized means--and more importantly, network--to do so.

But blog software and video make their respective tasks much easier.  Twitter really doesn't.

I wouldn't use Twitter if it weren't integrated in Digsby. Since it's right there, once in a while I can't help but post something pointless.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: border on June 04, 2008, 05:56:08 PM
Every once in a while it asks to be re-validated, and if you don't connect it to the internet and re-validate then it dies. 

There's probably a hack to remove the DRM.  I guess you could do that, but why bother with ZunePass at all if you're just going to steal the music.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: max_cool on June 04, 2008, 05:58:59 PM
How does Zune Pass work?

You are basically leasing the music you download right? So, how do they get it off your hdd? Does it corrupt like the movies off XBLM?

Don't know how XBLM works since I haven't bought a console since PS2 (after :bow xbox :bow2). Also I have not canceled my Zune pass, but I imagine that you get a certain leeway time between canceling and non-function of music. It is like leasing music especially since there are a lot of limitations upon zune pass music, however, since I have historically spent more than $15 a month on music, this seemed like a good deal. I say seemed since I have no idea what I'm going to do if/when I stop using my zune. I can keep the software on my computer and I can buy points that I can use to d/l songs and other media but, I feel like I'm "locked in". However, despite these negative thoughts and feelings, I am extremely happy with the zune pass since I have listened more new bands and music than I have for 10 years.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 06:06:29 PM
Yeah, you get a client like Twhirl or Digsby, and there's nothing to it.  This plus sync your phone to it to post via txt
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 06:10:47 PM
I still don't see the point.  If using it in conjunction with a chat program, changing your chat profile has the same--if not better--functionality than Twitter.  If the people you are trying to communicate do not use chat, but do use email, email definitely provides better functionality than Twitter.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Raban on June 04, 2008, 06:11:37 PM
400 goddamn dollars? I'd chop my pinky off to get that Zune, but I won't pay 400 dollars. Jesus.

I love Joy Division, but that's not even close to worth it. Microsoft needs to relearn how to do a promotion.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 06:26:57 PM
I still don't see the point.  If using it in conjunction with a chat program, changing your chat profile has the same--if not better--functionality than Twitter.  If the people you are trying to communicate do not use chat, but do use email, email definitely provides better functionality than Twitter.

Depends on how you use it; first, a Twitter client will have a persistent list of posts.  Also, you can embed links, references to other twitter users, etc.  It's not email, it's not merely status... it's more like IRC where you subscribe to people rather than channels, and can have small snippets of content pushed to your client.  So f/e if there is breaking news BBC will push it to my twitter client and I can see the notification and read or ignore it--which, yes, is similar to an RSS reader that also has notifications, but this is also why I say you need to experience it rather than be talked into it.  It fills a small use case very well.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 06:31:51 PM
I have "experienced" it.  I don't find it useful.  I can't, offhand, think of any usage scenarios where it would be more convenient or useful than any of the mediums it feebly emulates.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: max_cool on June 04, 2008, 06:33:59 PM
I'm an old angry man. I refuse to even visit twitter's website. When the younger crowd that generally uses this wants a job they will have to go through me to get it. That is my ultimate revenge!

PS: Get off my lawn, get a haircut, and get a damn job you dirty hippie.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Bildi on June 04, 2008, 07:01:58 PM
But, it's a Zune.

Owning a Zune says "I'm a computer nerd and have looked into this and the Zune does everything an iPod does plus other computery things." It's impossible to be hip with a Zune, and really, that's what it's all about. 
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 08:00:06 PM
I have "experienced" it.  I don't find it useful.  I can't, offhand, think of any usage scenarios where it would be more convenient or useful than any of the mediums it feebly emulates.

Say f/e there's a dvd sale somewhere this weekend, and you think people might be interested in this knowledge.  Do you email all your friends and acquaintances?  Do you blog about it?  Do you set your IM status indicating this?  Microblogging is useful for things like this--broadcasts that aren't necessarily important, and won't necessarily generate prolonged conversation, but might be interesting nonetheless.

Same goes for mobile--when I passed by the Nintendo Store a while back, and saw Lars Ulrich hanging around outside with some DS game in his bag, I posted it to Twitter; it's something I wouldn't really blog about, and wouldn't email all my friends about, but thought people might find interesting.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 08:09:59 PM
So it's a useful tool for creating noise that nobody wants to hear?  Like email?
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 08:22:21 PM
Or a lot of threads here I guess?  Sometimes a thread sounds interesting to me, sometimes it doesn't.  But the utility of a message board is not eliminated by being able to send emails to a CC: list.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 08:24:23 PM
We're just going to have to agree that I'm right.  Twitter is just a novelty that doesn't provide anything new or innovative.  It's no easier to use than any of the pre-existing alternatives that generally outperform it.  I'm sure my uncle that likes to forward bad jokes to everyone on his email list would love it.  Frankly, it reminds me of late dotcom-era startups that provided useless services and gimmicks, except for whatever reason it's become popular.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 08:28:15 PM
I'm just saying these are some scenarios where I've found it useful.  Not really sure why you'd say in those situations emailing a group of people would be easier, but hey whatever.  Blogging, Facebook, etc are novelties too, but fill certain niches well enough that they're ubiquitous.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 08:31:44 PM
I'm just saying these are some scenarios where I've found it useful.  Not really sure why you'd say in those situations emailing a group of people would be easier, but hey whatever.  Blogging, Facebook, etc are novelties too, but fill certain niches well enough that they're ubiquitous.

But blogging and social networks do new things, or at least things that were more difficult before they were around.  Twitter doesn't simplify anything.  Twittering and writing an email take the same amount of effort.  Emailing, however, provides more options and fewer limitations.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 08:45:52 PM
No, email is more difficult in the sense that there's a larger barrier to entry in subscribing and unsubscribing, not to mention creating and maintaining broadcast CC: lists (potentially over multiple email clients); also there's a useful separation of content between large-scale and presumably more important information (email) and smaller-scale content ala txt messaging (twitter).  Indeed, is IM invalid because there are phones, email, and txt? No; again, they're all for different use cases.



Bonus for MAF: http://twitter.com/MarsPhoenix
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 08:49:04 PM
No, email is more difficult in the sense that there's a larger barrier to entry to subscribing and unsubscribing, not to mention creating and maintaining broadcast CC: lists; also there's a useful separation of content between large-scale and presumably more important information (email) and smaller-scale content ala txt messaging (twitter)

I don't have problems managing an address book, so I don't see how that's a very big feature, and I think the distinction you draw between more important information and smaller-scale content is semantic at best.  Twitter is just not very useful, and it's not providing anything new.  It's just yet another service you have to sign up for.  Pownce does what Twitter does and at least offers file sharing, although even that service isn't all that useful.

We just don't see eye to eye on this, and we're going in circles.  I'm going to play Ninja Gaiden II.  I'll update my Twitter with that.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 09:02:20 PM
Cool! Now we all know what you're doing!  :hyper



spoiler (click to show/hide)
Semantic differences are meaningful differences :P
[close]
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 09:09:56 PM
spoiler (click to show/hide)
Semantic differences are meaningful differences :P
[close]

spoiler (click to show/hide)
but that doesn't explain why they need different mediums.
[close]
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Crushed on June 04, 2008, 09:15:12 PM
twitter in a nutshell:

(http://penny-arcade.com/images/2008/20080423.jpg)
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 04, 2008, 09:51:59 PM
spoiler (click to show/hide)
Semantic differences are meaningful differences :P
[close]

spoiler (click to show/hide)
but that doesn't explain why they need different mediums.
[close]

Sure it does--meaningful differences in type, purpose, and audience of content lead to meaningful functional differences in the modes of publication and consumption of that content.  Twitter is a good venue for a certain type of content, which while you might not find useful or interesting, has a sizable audience that disagrees.  Just as there is a valid reason to use RSS when a browser and bookmarks are perfectly good, and a valid reason to blog and have message boards while mailing lists and newsgroups exist, so too is Twitter a valid tool for its purpose; that's all.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 10:10:20 PM
But what I don't understand is that Gmail or legit blogging software are just as valid for the same purposes.  Why sign up for yet another service?  At least Pownce offers something that could feasibly be useful.  Of what use is it to have a service that only publishes sub-200 character messages?  It's basically an Internet Pager that was only invented after everyone's been given Internet Cell Phones.  The emperor has no clothes!
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 04, 2008, 10:13:22 PM
Man, from your conversation this twitter thing sounds awful.

Just look at this VALUABLE message, only possible because of Twitter:

"Rozi is so funny drunk nd talkin to her momma on the phonee "
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: CajoleJuice on June 04, 2008, 10:27:10 PM
I'll just jump in and say that TVC is definitely right about Pownce being much more useful. It's pretty much Twitter on steroids.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on June 04, 2008, 10:47:41 PM
I can't see Twitter ever being that mainstream.  It is just a redhead bastard stepchild of Facebook and text messaging.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on June 05, 2008, 03:45:28 AM
the problem with Twitter is that it's too easy to use - the signal to noise ratio is out of control

if something isn't important enough that it's not worth writing an e-mail, starting an EB thread, telling your buddies on AIM or making a blog post - then it's pretty fucking worthless. SO DON'T TELL ME ABOUT IT.

my own life is busy enough without living yours
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: demi on June 05, 2008, 03:47:38 AM
If I made a Twitter for WoW would you read it?
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Cormacaroni on June 05, 2008, 04:26:19 AM
tvc, you have 18,480 posts - you're twittering already and you're just too grumpy to admit it! ;)



Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: max_cool on June 05, 2008, 07:40:09 AM
tvc, you have 18,480 posts - you're twittering already and you're just too grumpy to admit it! ;)
Or maybe all those twitter people are just TVCing
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 05, 2008, 10:33:54 AM
tvc, you have 18,480 posts - you're twittering already and you're just too grumpy to admit it! ;)

Bingo.  And every time you post a "what should I watch tonight, cunts" etc, you're twittering too (couldn't you just email that??)



Pownce is probably the better service, but like most social networks the real draw is in the power of the network itself.  Twitter probably won't last not because there isn't value in microblogging, but simply because of its frequent downtime, which is creating an opportunity for a company like Google or something to fill that space.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 05, 2008, 01:43:35 PM
tvc, you have 18,480 posts - you're twittering already and you're just too grumpy to admit it! ;)

Bingo.  And every time you post a "what should I watch tonight, cunts" etc, you're twittering too (couldn't you just email that??)

The only thing that's the same between Twitter and a discussion forum like this one is that the messages lean towards irreverence.  Just like email and blogging, forums offer many, many more options and features than Twitter does.  The comparison between message boards and Twitter is especially distinguished mentally-challenged since Twitter is, you know, basically completely unorganized whereas message boards are actually easy to read and parse, what with subjects and differently themed forums.  Plus, this message probably would have had to have been split over like 5 different tweets" since Twitter only lets you use so few characters.

Twitter isn't even good as a social network.  Both MySpace and Facebook trounce it in terms of services.  It's like even worse than Friendster.  There's no reason to sign up for it or use it if you are signed up for any other social networking service.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 05, 2008, 06:37:30 PM
Sorry can't hear you, I'm too busy using Twitter to save people's lives:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/05/twitter.maree/index.html?eref=rss_topstories


:bow Twitter! :bow2      :bow Freedom! :bow2
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 05, 2008, 06:47:48 PM
Being inundated with features isn't always a good thing, as you already know IIRC from your quest to get a black-everything-else-out text editor.  Again (not sure why you refuse to accept the premise), Twitter is good for what it does--microblogging--and has a large community surrounding it which gives it value (network effect).  The reason you're searching for other formats, other programs, etc, is not the fault of microblogging itself, it's you approaching it from the perspective of not wanting to microblog in the first place, and trying to  search for reasons to justify microblogging invalid as a medium.  "If I want to send a message to people, I'll email them" as an answer to technology involving communication invalidates blogging and message board posting as well--that's my point in bringing up message boards in the first place (aside: OT boards are "organized?" They're sorted by topic, but otherwise no--where's the organization in the Outside Link thread?)  Anyway, Twitter == freedom; TVC == against Twitter, ergo against freedom.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: max_cool on June 05, 2008, 07:38:13 PM
Being inundated with features isn't always a good thing, as you already know IIRC from your quest to get a black-everything-else-out text editor.  Again (not sure why you refuse to accept the premise), Twitter is good for what it does--microblogging--and has a large community surrounding it which gives it value (network effect).  The reason you're searching for other formats, other programs, etc, is not the fault of microblogging itself, it's you approaching it from the perspective of not wanting to microblog in the first place, and trying to  search for reasons to justify microblogging invalid as a medium.  "If I want to send a message to people, I'll email them" as an answer to technology involving communication invalidates blogging and message board posting as well--that's my point in bringing up message boards in the first place (aside: OT boards are "organized?" They're sorted by topic, but otherwise no--where's the organization in the Outside Link thread?)  Anyway, Twitter == freedom; TVC == against Twitter, ergo against freedom.

I get your viewpoint form the perspective of one who wants to or desires to "micro blog" I guess I am among those than just don't see the point.

"Getting away from it all" can be very liberating and twitter seems like the ultimate voluntary and systematic depredation of privacy I have seen since I have been surfing the baby-webs with prodigy.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 05, 2008, 07:44:06 PM
Yeah but it's still under your control--you don't need to tell everyone where you are, what you're eating, how hard you're straining to poop, etc.  But if you have a good network of friends / followers, it's a good medium to broadcast messages to the group, for times when you wouldn't necessarily want to email a whole bunch of people (f/e today I mentioned a frustration with a certain API I was using, and a former coworker pointed me to something that helped; this is something I'd never have thought of emailing a bunch of developer contacts over, nor was it something mission-critical that warranted a large amount of research, but I was definitely grateful for the assist)
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: max_cool on June 05, 2008, 08:57:31 PM
Yeah but it's still under your control--you don't need to tell everyone where you are, what you're eating, how hard you're straining to poop, etc.  But if you have a good network of friends / followers, it's a good medium to broadcast messages to the group, for times when you wouldn't necessarily want to email a whole bunch of people (f/e today I mentioned a frustration with a certain API I was using, and a former coworker pointed me to something that helped; this is something I'd never have thought of emailing a bunch of developer contacts over, nor was it something mission-critical that warranted a large amount of research, but I was definitely grateful for the assist)
Again, I agree. I personally don't get it.</oldman>
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 05, 2008, 10:43:41 PM
I hear you.  I was an oldman for a while about txt messaging for a long time, but now it's almost all I do.  I have a Facebook page, but really don't see the point and likely won't ever (a little ironic, considering I was a producer and developer for one of the biggest pre-MySpace social networks back in '00).  It's cliche, but the older I get the less I feel the need to disrupt my personal momentum with technologies I can't immediately see helping me fix a specific problem.  *shrug*
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 05, 2008, 10:48:59 PM
Sorry can't hear you, I'm too busy using Twitter to save people's lives:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/05/twitter.maree/index.html?eref=rss_topstories


:bow Twitter! :bow2      :bow Freedom! :bow2

Wow, sounds like something that email could have done!

Quote
Again (not sure why you refuse to accept the premise), Twitter is good for what it does--microblogging--and has a large community surrounding it which gives it value (network effect).

But there are already several formats that do "microblogging" better.  And what is this "network value?"  Are yout alking about how many people use it?  Because when you talk about it having a large community, I think that email has a n even larger community surrounding it.  And email has more than one teensy tiny feature.

Quote
"If I want to send a message to people, I'll email them" as an answer to technology involving communication invalidates blogging and message board posting as well--that's my point in bringing up message boards in the first place (aside: OT boards are "organized?" They're sorted by topic, but otherwise no--where's the organization in the Outside Link thread?) 

Yes, they are sorted by topic, something which Twitter does not allow.  Gee, that makes boards more useful than Twitter!  Message boards also attract anonymous readers, whereas Twitter sort of relies on the circle of friends you already have.  And of course boards do not restrict you to 140 characters.  Jesus Christ, twitter is useless.

What's very telling is that this discussion has gone on for more than a day, and not a single usage scenario that justifies using Twitter has been brought up.

Quote
I hear you.  I was an oldman for a while about txt messaging for a long time, but now it's almost all I do.  I have a Facebook page, but really don't see the point and likely won't ever (a little ironic, considering I was a producer and developer for one of the biggest pre-MySpace social networks back in '00).  It's cliche, but the older I get the less I feel the need to disrupt my personal momentum with technologies I can't immediately see helping me fix a specific problem.  *shrug*

Facebook can do the exact same thing Twitter does!  What specific problem does Twitter exclusively fix?  None, unless you are willing to invent a new problem just to justify its use.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 05, 2008, 11:25:01 PM
TVC, with all due respect you have zero understanding of what you're talking about.  What does microblogging better, specifically? That has a better network, and just as usable if not more usable / flexible APIs?  Facebook?  No replies, no direct messages, no subscribing-at-will.  Email?  You routinely blast-email your contact list? If my junk mail filter didn't catch you, I'd put you there myself; plus, who is going to volunteer to be on your mailing list?  Wordpress?  A blunt object for a small job, plus what are you going to do, put the RSS in your feedreader, for microcontent?  The only thing that comes close are other microblogging formats, but they don't have the network.


Tell me, because I found your response interesting--when you're being arrested, in your experience what would be easier: sending a text message to one contact number, or opening up an email client somehow, compiling a mass cc: listing, having it connect and sending an email?

My comment about "fixing a problem" was more about how I identify with your incredulity.  I felt it was self-explanatory, but apparently you're very wound-up about this discussion.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: TVC15 on June 05, 2008, 11:40:52 PM
TVC, with all due respect you have zero understanding of what you're talking about.  What does microblogging better, specifically? That has a better network, and just as usable if not more usable / flexible APIs?  Facebook?  No replies, no direct messages, no subscribing-at-will. 

I don't understand why the task of sending one line of text requires a specific tool when there are already multiple tools that do the same thing, with better features.  It's such a mundane usage scenario that I see no benefit of using a stripped down tool that offers no real usability bonuses.  Twitter is not faster, or easier to use for its purpose.

Quote
Email?  You routinely blast-email your contact list? If my junk mail filter didn't catch you, I'd put you there myself; plus, who is going to volunteer to be on your mailing list? 

If I was emailing the equivalent of an average tweet, I wouldn't send the email at all.  If it was a message that I did think people would like to hear, yes, I would send it.

Quote
Wordpress?  A blunt object for a small job, plus what are you going to do, put the RSS in your feedreader, for microcontent?  The only thing that comes close are other microblogging formats, but they don't have the network.

If a job is sufficiently small, I relegate it to email!  If it's so small that I wouldn't email it, it's probably not worth writing or reading--just like the vast majority of messages on Twitter.  It's like a spam folder you have to sign up to read.

Quote
Tell me, because I found your response interesting--when you're being arrested, in your experience what would be easier: sending a text message to one contact number, or opening up an email client somehow, compiling a mass cc: listing, having it connect and sending an email?

Text messaging or email via cell phone.  Both take the same amount of effort as Twitter.

spoiler (click to show/hide)
And I'd rather just drop the conversation.  I don't want a poster I like getting pissed at me because we don't see eye to eye on something like Twitter.  You like it, I think it's pointless.  Case closed; it's clear nobody is changing their mind.  let bygones be bygones. Apologies.
[close]
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 05, 2008, 11:47:00 PM
Text messaging or email via cell phone.

Yeah same here; by sending one text, he was able to broadcast the message to a large list of followers, and in turn they quickly retweeted the message to their followers, to the point where it almost instantaneously became an internet firestorm.

But yeah, there's no need to have a prolonged argument about this; it's just a thing.  I have no personal emotional investment in the technology that would override my like and respect for an actual living person.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Van Cruncheon on June 06, 2008, 12:47:05 AM
i would immediately disrespect anyone who used twitter. nobody -- NOBODY -- has an internal monologue worth externalizing and providing an rss feed for, no less.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 06, 2008, 01:04:20 AM
http://twitter.com/MarsPhoenix

 :'( :nasacry
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on June 06, 2008, 01:37:17 AM
I'd rather read a news article about the Mars Phoenix than its fucking Twitter. What is it gonna tell us in 140 characters or less?
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 06, 2008, 11:37:00 AM
To start, it answers questions from readers.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: drozmight on June 06, 2008, 12:58:44 PM
twitter's some gay shit.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: APF on June 06, 2008, 01:21:59 PM
Yeah.
Title: Re: Why Zune > iPod
Post by: CajoleJuice on June 06, 2008, 02:11:31 PM
Poor APF. :(