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No, I do not work for Yahoo. In fact, I primarily use Google for my searches, but the Search Pad could persuade me to switch to Yahoo.
I'm sorry Yahoo didn't give you the answers you were looking for, but from an application standpoint I your buddy at Google is slapping his forehead saying, "Darn, I wish I had thought of that."
Wow, someone sounds a little sore because some company didn't give the Almighty Scoble a gift bag for the new launch. Someone needs a little bit of pampering eh?
Scoble = Arrington?
The world doesn't revolve around early adopters and it certainly doesn't revolve around you Scoble. You and your FriendFeed can Like all the stories you want.
- Google moves fast and gets it right, often.
- Yahoo moves slowly, and gets it wrong.
- Microsoft evolves.
Check out the photo profile for the honorable Mr. Scoble. Note the photo search using Google, Yahoo, Live, and FlickR. Google gets it right, most of the time.
BTW, Media Life is compiling the top 1000 personalities, just for fun. We could use some help with name suggestions.
This appeals to people and people will understand how to use it.
Have you checked out Whhrl.com? It is a similar app to latitude from a startup in Seattle (Pelago) that has better integration with twitter and facebook.
Now a few hours later, Yahoo Search Pad does have the top spot at Techmeme. Google Latitude is four spots below it.
Haha, but I agree with most of your criticism of Yahoo's approach.
I'd say those two groups map well to geek early tech adopters and the rest of the world. Yahoo may be trying to go direct to the mainstream.
Of course, they are screwing up by introducing friction into the process as you noted so well.
Interesting post!
The trick is to design something your users need, not what they tell you they want. But don't ever think that Marcus isn't in tune with his users. That guy is brilliant and understands his users better than anyone else I've ever met.
But reason #4 SearchPad didn't get as much buzz is simply that our (tech blogs) readers simply don't care as much about Yahoo stories as Google stories, unless of course it's negative company news from Yahoo (CEO, layoffs, leaked memos, etc)
I spent a couple hours between interview and writing about a neat new technology like SearchPad and got little interest, and it looks like that was the case on most blogs that covered it with depth. On the other hand, a quick story and analysis about Google News adding a widget (yesterday) performs great.
My goal is to cover all that's new and interesting - but given limited time and the choice between a Yahoo product and a Google product, I'll write about the Google one, because it will get more interest from readers every time according to just about every metric.
Which, gets back to your other points about Yahoo having major brand and cultural issues to overcome :-)
As for why we designed it the way we did, we motivated most decisions on problems that we saw our customers having. While it's pretty trivial to add some of the features you asked for, we decided to do less for the clarity of letting users start simple. Even the advanced detection science was created in the name of having users think less about the tool and more about the tasks are trying to accomplish.
Thanks again for talking with us, and we would welcome hearing your thoughts on a later revision. Also appreciate your article for pointing out some different attitudes toward innovation that are out there. Our innovation is extremely customer-focused, and for whatever reason most of our customers didn't need an API for SearchPad in version 1. :)
Anyhow, keep up the great discussion!
Tom Chi
Wanting power does not cancel out convenience. A smoother, roomier Porsche does not equal a boxy low hp Volvo.
A Porsche designer that creates a Volvo is beyond insane, and at a certain point ceases to be a Porsche designer, and that's where the metaphor breaks down, as you are proposing an impossibility as a possibility, and factoring the absurd as a probability. It doesn't work.
Let me put it another way, if I want a cooler 3D look desktop GUI for Windows, with more "leg room and trunk space" that runs smoother, that doesn't mean I want Mac OS or KDE.
The Android Connection is this..what is the easiest way to convince say Verizon or AT&T Mobility to deploy Android handsets? Remember the MOS have already heard the T-Mobile results about the data plan usage climbing by 400% with Android.
A compelling GPS consumer application.
By the way, my Xspot Android app will be using the new Google Map features found in Google Latitude..and I am being interviewed by the Mobile Industry press about this..:)
You see Mike Arrington last August was right about Android..
When made? It's very similar LOVE SEACH DREAMBOAT
what I have made~! Come to see ~!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4ARVI6xw6E
When made? It’s very similar LOVE SEACH DREAMBOAT
what I have made~! Come to see ~!
Follow me on Twitter, I follow back:
Twitter.com/AlexSchleber
I was totally blind-sided by your critique -- in a good way! I hopped over to watch both videos.
I agree with your bottom line (yaye for Latitude, meh for Search Pad), but for different reasons.
Yahoo's effort reminds me of all those bouncing paperclips in Microsoft Word, trying to launch a Wizard while I'm doing something else. I could see it becoming very annoying. Also, like you (I guess), I'm not a big Yahoo search fan, so getting an application that sits on a search engine I'm not using is like reading about the stereo system for a golf cart when I don't golf.
Google, on the other hand, is going for the jugular against Apple. Yes, they're doing a platform independent super savvy social media internet smart phone application -- and then also connecting it with desktop users who also don't need a specific platform.
Oddly, iPhones and iPod touches aren't included in the launch. I don't know if that's strategic, but I bet it will be very interesting when tech evangelthusiasts like you start the meme off at warp speed. Latitude will spread in a viral fashion because it's open to everyone.
The thing I don't like about either application is that they are going back to having an account requirement. I have a Gmail account, but it's an account where I receive junk email and newsletters and everything non-personal. I've never bothered synching my Gmail contacts because Gmail is pretty lousy understanding who is a friend and who is a vendor.
Thanks for pointing them both out. Trying them out tonight!
Yahoo actually makes (or at least made) superior products. They just don't release them well....their go to market is horrid. Maybe this is what you were trying to say by them being focused on old school web users. Think about the superior apps Yahoo has written since 02'ish, how far they were in front of Google.
Search pad will be another great example. Solid, very cool little plug-in that won't go anywhere. They just don't seem to produce products and then create a trend that pulls them into the market.
I can tell you one trend that will be created from all of this. Office space where location based social network companies live will be available on the 'cheap' in a few months...every one of them just said SH*T.
Thanks for the great post.
Misty Faucheux
Social Media/Community Relations Manager, Viscape.com
I'm a techie and I have all the gadgets and gizmos. I have a web-enabled phone with all the bells and whistles, I have a couple of nice laptops, an Xbox and a Wii. I'm still not impressed with surfing the net on a handheld gadget, no matter how useful. The most useful thing I use my phone for is texting and occaisionally looking at a map or seeing what's on at the theater if I'm on a date or something.
Google scares me a little bit. They're getting too big way too fast and they need a serious competitor, but they're like MS -- way too entrenched for too long -- that anyone who does come around better offer a whole lot of cool stuff that's a real paradigm shift. Latitude is cool, but it's not all that.
So Yahoo mails me a letter instructing me to "contact the following number: 1-866 800-8092. I call, only to hear a "No Live Support is available at this number" recording. WTF!!
Yahoo is not out to launch, their Out To Lunch! What a bunch of F#cking yahoos!
BTW, The wording in the letter itself is classic criminal corp. double-speak.
"All Yahoo! Domain customers agree to auto-renewal until canceled. Our Billing department has closed this service for Mr. Rallins. He will still have service through the remainder of the paid period. Per our Terms of Service, no refunds will be issued..."
Translation: When you buy a domain through Yahoo there's a auto-renewal clause in the TOS so you can't cancel a domain you "agreed" to auto-renew. So while we have closed service for you, we will continue to "service" your account as long as it is paid.
Result: Yahoo "auto-renewed" the same canceled domain for three years, changing amounts charged to circumvent the set price renewal block my bank used. Last month, I had to cancel my card and close my account just to stop Yahoo from milking me indefinitely.
I got the invite to join on my iPhone via email, and when I opened it up, it said 'Coming Soon.'
To me, the Google launch was diminished by this--you can bet a set if iPhone users would have added fuel to the adoption fire.