Facebook is your front yard

I heard this comment today at breakfast and thought it was an appropriate metaphor. Facebook is a place where your friends feel welcome, where neighbors and strangers can take a peak but don't trespass, and your more adult toys and bad hapits are out of view. Just like your front yard.

Some thoughts post web 2.0 conference

I was at web 2.0 last Thursday and Friday and had a good time. I've been attending web 2.0 since 2004 when web 2.0 was born. I remember because I was there right after George W Bush was re-elected. The mood at that time was somber disbelief politically and a sense economic opportunity elation (if that's a phrase). This past week was the opposite. Political relief, elation and awe over Obama and a real sense of economic sobriety.
That said, it seemed like it was business as usual...just slower with less enthusiasm. There's a real sense that hard times are upon us but hope springs eternal amongst the entrepreneurial crowd. People are still looking at starting companies and getting funded... which is good.

Google phone

I have officially switched off of microsoft office suite and am now a dedicated google user. More specifically, I use their products instead of Microsoft Outlook -- which I used to love. The transition hasn't been without its bumps. But overall, I'm happy with the switch. That said, I'd be happier if there was a phone or blackberry that actually integrated tightly with Google mail and calendar. Opportunity? I think so.
This makes me think of the rumor that I heard that google was going to buy apple. I loved that rumor.

The iPhone

I got to play with the iPhone last night for the first time. I don't know what to say. I'm speechless. It's awesome. Awesome. I was all set to purchase the blackberry curve because I was concerned about version 1.0 of any consumer product. But after playing with the device for 5 minutes I started to fall in love with it.
I think every great consumer product has at least one wow factor in it. For the blackberry it's always been the ease of email. For my prius, it's the keyless ignition (I love that feature more than the hybrid nature). I got the sense that there were many of those features with the iPhone. I'm going to continue to watch the activation issues with AT&T but as far as a device is concerned....I'm sold on the iPhone even if it's a 1.0 release!