Here’s the audio of the interview with Daniel (@danielmorrison) from Collective Idea (@collectiveidea) and Idea Foundry (@ideafoundry). We were talking about the Tech Embassy downtown Holland for Tulip Time! You can listen to the interview here:
Daniel Morrison on the Tech Embassy (audio)
There’s been a lot of not-so-hot attention brought to the Apple App Store lately. First it was the baby shaker app that somehow got through their acceptance process. Then it was the Nine Inch Nails App update that didn’t make it through because apparently the content wasn’t appropriate enough (that content being the Downward Spiral according to Trent Reznor’s twitter account, @trent_reznor). I couldn’t help but think of alternative ways this App store could be handled. I understand that not every app should make it into the store. Leo Laporte made a great point on TWiT that a big reason the Atari couldn’t survive was because they let anyone create games for it, and some of those games were so badly written they were unplayable. Obviously Apple does not want their devices cheapened by bad apps, but their approval system does leave a lot to be desired.
So what’s my idea for a better system?
First of all, they could consider having a separate section of the store that would be for apps that have not yet been approved . They could have warnings to let users know what possible dangers they may face (another idea I heard on TWiT and had to share). I think they also should implement tags similar to those on podcasts & music they have available in the iTunes store. It makes absolutely no sense for iTunes to sell “Downward Spiral” by NIN, but not have it available in NIN application. If it really was the content that was a problem for them, they could have slapped an “Explicit” tag on the app and put it out there, just like they do with music they sell.
Those two simple things would pretty much solve everyone’s problem. People who want to shake babies with an app could do it if they really wanted, it just wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) get Apple’s blessing. In fact that App could have both an explicit tag, and be in the unapproved section! Apps that are badly written and require more updates to make it more stable could also be in the unapproved section. I think this would decrease the amount of users that feel the need to “break the law” and jailbreak their phones or iPods. Then the apps that just have explicit content could have the same “explicit” tag as anything else in the store.
Done and done. It’s not that hard. Now if only *I* could get blessed by Steve Jobs…
I decided sometime last week that I would disconnect Twitter from Facebook. This happened for many reasons, but was triggered by one in particular: the new Facebook layout. Many people have noticed, myself included, that the new Facebook design very similar to that of Twitter. 
The reason this had an impact on me disconnecting the two is because I believe that Facebook is trying to make themselves the new “Twitter” and I don’t want to contribute to everyone flocking to Facebook instead. It would be pretty easy for Facebook to be the one place that people go since there’s such a huge number of people on it already. I also did this because I had been getting a lot of complaints (and even some people un-friending me) because of the frequent status updates from having it tied to Twitter.
All of this made me realize that I use the two social networks very differently. I use Facebook as more of a way to connect with old friends, communicate quickly with them, and find necessary information about them (like a phone book on steroids basically). I also see it as a useful tool to coordinate events, invite people, RSVP, etc. I use Twitter as a live feed of what’s happening among my friends and around the world. I use it to share my experiences, thoughts, pictures (through twitpic) and links throughout the day. It’s turned out to be a very useful resource to turn to if I need help with something, or if I just want to stay plugged in with the things I’m interested in and people I want to keep up with.
Combining the two, especially after the recent design change, just seemed redundant and frivolous. People who want to have a very detailed “live feed” can turn to Twitter, and those who want to just drop me a note or get further profile information can see my Facebook profile. I’ll still update my “status” from time to time, but not in the same way I do with Twitter. By doing this, I feel I’m also promoting the use of both services instead of suggesting one gets compromised or eliminated altogether.
So I do this segment on 107-3 KLQ (wklq.com) every week on the Grey and Kluck morning show from 6-10am (shameless plug). My segment last week was pretty crazy, I got into a rant on why teleportation is a horrible idea for humans, so I figured this would be post-worthy. Enjoy.
My thoughts on the “Tweetie” app in the iTunes store for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
I’m very sorry I didn’t post this earlier, but it just hit me–today is Sunday. A very important day for 3 reasons. One, it is the first day that Alcohol sales are allowed in Ottawa County here on Sunday. That’s huge. Two, today is the day that Chinese Democracy by Guns ‘N Roses was released…17 years in the making. Three, Dr Pepper had agreed they would give out free 20oz Dr Peppers to EVERYONE in America if that album ever came out, and it did…they are honoring their original statement. Everyone in America can apply to get a free Dr Pepper but only until Midnight tonight 11/23/08 so hurry up and get it at drpepper.com!!
That is all.
So I’ve decided to take a stab at this live broadcasting stuff again. I will broadcast when I’m in my home studio, and sometimes when I’m on the road too. Anyone who wants to join in the fun can at anytime on channel: #themacinjosh on the wyldryde.org servers. You can also just log in via the web chat under the “Live” page here on this very blog. I do not yet know what the ‘content’ will mostly be and whether or not I will have a ’show’ to broadcast, but when that happens you’ll find out about it! Hopefully this doesn’t backfire on me and make me want to quit doing it, but we’ll see how it goes.
screen shot of Live
Chat for the Live broadcast
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