So what's the deal with Twitter?

Someone asked aloud today: what's the deal with Twitter? I didn't have a witty remark, nor did I have a terse explanation. Twitter has caught afire most likely because the gut reaction among veteran bloggers is that it remnds them of how blogging used to be: instant, real, often visceral. Now blogging has become a game to some, another marketing vector to others. Twitter recaptures some of that old magic-- the personal view.

Plus, there's a lot of fun cramming what you're doing/thinking into 140 characters. That limiting factor brings out the creativity for those of us who still use it. Plus, the "add" feature makes it like an opt-in club for your friends and acquaintances. I'm honored to be included in some of the conversations I'm in-- including Scoble and Sample, Calacanis and Block, Hill and Belmont. All great people (gotta mention Sue as well, who constantly amazes me), all fantastic creators. And all fun to keep up with via Twitter.

Oh, and apparently you can do all this stuff via your phone. But I don't have a trust fund for text messages, so I haven't had the pleasure.

Shut it down... R.I.P. Internet Radio

I've seen dozens of stories float to the top of the blogosphere and MSM these past few days regarding this onerous provision (courtesy of the geniuses at the RIAA) whereby internet radio stations will have to pay fees PER SONG, rather than a blanket license.

Well that was fun while it lasted, wasn't it?

Anyway, my only suggestion right now? Within 72 hours, someone needs to record a PSA explaining this mess in 30-45 seconds. Have every single internet radio company run this ALL DAY on a weekday.

Why? Because the majority of the users don't have a flippin' clue about what is going on. The RIAA and our elected goofballs in congress know darn well we're all too distracted to really pay attention. But believe me, when Sally X turns on her little web radio doohickey the nice IT guy secretly set up for her (ain't crushes cute?), and all she gets is a terse explanation of why she'll never get to listen to David Sanborn again? Oh yeah, there will finally be a modicum of outcry from someone other than the Slashdot crowd.

THEN those bozos in D.C. will have to listen to their constituents for a change.

Twitter: on ur IT guy's hit list!

Yeah, the alpha dogs picked up on Twitter and between Scoble and sxsw it's just been a huge upward vector from there... Naturally, this latest web fire will be quickly quenched by the sound of a thousand IP's being blocked. In other words, as your company sees your daytime hours spent on Twitter, they'll soon block it. And no doubt productivity will rise, and all will be right with the universe. The Force is balanced!

Actually, since you can SMS your butt off via Twitter (and beware the costs associated with such), I doubt the spigot will be completely turned off-- ever.

I tried to convince my wife to get her friends on Twitter. No luck. I tried to explain how it's like an email list, with a sort of MySpace-like access control. No dice. They "fluff" emails back and forth, and with a list, you can control the list on a granular level. No way to really do that comfortably on Twitter. Still, we're only seeing the very beginnings of the service. I've no doubt there is much to come.

For one thing, Twitter is ripe for a zillion mashups. The best so far seems to be Twittervision (thank you Matt for pointing out the obvious-- the URL). But I could envision tons more. I noticed lead TUAW blogger McNulty is in the top Twitterers on Twitterholic, and TUAW and Download Squad both have Twitter accounts (along with Ars Technica, Techmeme, etc.). Wouldn't it be nice to be able to separate these into business and friends?

Perhaps that is what has us all enthralled... we can't wait to see how this potential is realized.

Now Twitter needs a deal with Nintendo!

UPDATE: uh oh! I broke Twitter... it is down on the mat like Apollo Creed after a couple of rounds with a Russian. And now the Twit-ching begins!

Dear Knology

On the one hand, I love Knology. Good uptime, clear audio via phone, and a decent price on bundles. However, their phone service went from great, friendly and personable to cold and moronic. I know you have to read scripts. But call up Godaddy some time. They read scripts, but they do it with a little style. Just like I can get a burger anywhere, but you pay extra for the experience.

So Knology, how about a little less Wal-Mart and a little more Target, ok?

Where the hell is my Wii?

Twice now my wife has tried to surprise me with a shiny-new Nintendo Wii. We're both salivating over it. My little brother Mike has every single game system released in the 21st century-- but no Wii.

Nintendo, we all want one. Please make more. I made fun of Sony back in 2006 because of their crappy distribution system (same with MS a year earlier)-- so what's your excuse?

Oh, and I have a quiet reverence for Miyamoto, like any self-respecting fanboy should, but something about that keynote was lacking... Still, the wife-o-meter was cool and funny and accurate.

Come on Nintendo...

by gkeirns 2 hours ago
+ 3 diggs
"After the Sony keynote about Home, and also the awesomeness of Little Big World, I was really hoping to hear something from Nintendo akin to a 'Live' type system where you can actually connect with other Wii owners, share game time with them, and maybe even some forms of communication. An announcement like 'Wiispace' is disappointing at BEST. Nintendo definitely has the ball now, with the massive success of the Wii, but they wont be able to convert it to a real milestone until they get with the times and convert the Wii into a true community based system. All of the tools are right there to do it, but as long as they keep ignoring the obvious need for social networking on their console, they are going to fail and fail again... which would be a HUGE disappointment considering the awesomeness that is the Wii."

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. How can Nintendo not do this? Sony is clearly going for a more upscale, adult audience. Nintendo has a massive opportunity that is being wasted. Like the HD for the 64, which they even brought up in their keynote! Haven't they learned anything? Don't get me wrong, I love Nintendo... which is why it pains me to see them carrying a torch they are about to drop into the lake...

The trouble with Fred 2.0

Ah these wacky web startups. Twitter has caught on like wildfire-- and all my virtual peeps (and victims of my stalkings) are on there. Sadly, the Twitter servers ain't up to the task. Why? I dunno, crushing demand and loose coding are usually to blame but I've no inside info here.

Nevertheless, one hopes they figure it out before people move on. That's the trick in this biz: scale up before people move on. Digg managed to just barely stay ahead of their demand. Barely, like by a week IMO. Myspace still has stupid problems (I directly blame on loose coding in their case), but has so much momentum and non-webheads that it is tolerated. Some would say it's part of the charm...

Hang on there little birdie!

Oh, and the trouble with Fred? He's dead.