Disqus - Latest Comments for barneyc

Re: Should You Validate Your Twitter Following?

barneyc — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:42:57 -0000

Like yourself I am right onto keeping an eye on followers; as you suggest i) to see if there is anyone worth following and ii) to chop spammers off at the knees - that's like a community service surely.

And I'd agree that where the following number is excessive that attention is not going to be forthcoming but still I can't say that I'm that bothered if "bob from boston" is following me even if he does have 14,000 followings and is convinced he is an "SEO Guru."

Quite simply maybe Bob does get something out of following me, only he knows (and with the new Twitter lists managing that volume will only get easier surely).

The point I think I'm getting towards is that who I follow matters most to me. Reciprocity from clever, meaningful and conversational folks is greatly appreciated but by no means expected. Indeed I follow people whom I consider thought leaders and most assuredly do not expect them to follow me back.

But does validating me as a human have any real benefit to the followed party and does it place a barrier to following by interupting the otherwise simple process?

As I mentioned on Twitter earlier to @graphiclunarkid I can see some benefit in validating bots as there are some that one may want to be followed by; services that one accesses by Twitter messages. One suggestion is to only allow following by bots where you follow them but that assumes you need/want to follow.

I am beginning to think that a process not dissimilar to OAuth whereby a token is passed to a service which enables their bot to follow/interact may be useful - but that thinking is by no means fully formed - yet.

Love "sleb" BTW

Re: Ian From The London Underground Vs An Elderly Man

barneyc — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:15:58 -0000

Shame but I'd be willing to place money on the RMT (or whichever of the obnoxious transport unions Alex belongs to) rallying behind him with support for doing his "tough job" in these "tough times" blah blah blah.

The guy deserves to go. Full stop. He deserves to be publicly humiliated and shown to all prospective employers what a twerp he is.

Re: Was Vodafone’s PAYG Outage in Bad Faith?

barneyc — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:58:26 -0000

Thanks for the comment/explanation Mat but still it doesn't really portray VF in any the better light IMO. Sure the problem with you top-up system meant no customer could apply credit to their account but VF could have easily have taken one of two simple courses of action to help their customers:

1) VF could have allowed customer's accounts to go into the red, requiring a greater port-outage topup but still maintaining the service, or

2) VF could have just taken it on the chin, admitted it was their fault and allowed customers to make free calls for the duration.

Either way the outcome would have been better for the customer than a simple service fail.

Re: (Oh) Dear 3UK - Part 1

barneyc — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:29:16 -0000

Ah the typo. Sadly time travel is one such power I don't possess as most assuredly I would have gone back 9 months and not signed up with 3.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment though.

Sent from my Nokia phone

Re: Nokia’s Ovi let’s the market decide. The market says, ‘no’ (and how to fix it)

barneyc — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:00:53 -0000

Not convinced this idea is right, but totally in agreement that the current OVI offering is daft / dumb / inept.

That said it's just an idea and honestly couldn't do much worse than Nokia's efforts thus far.

Thinking about OVI in general though, everything promised held so much promise, everything delivered was late and failed to meet those promises. The latest suite is no exception.

Re: (Oh) Dear 3UK - Part 1

barneyc — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:13:30 -0000

Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately when I signed up with 3 we were fresh into the UK and needing a service quickly so we went on recommendations and a little research. I'm sure that had the 30day SIMs been available back then I would probably have gone that route.

Re: Dmx Zone Opt-out Fail

barneyc — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:08:23 -0000

So been there and done that whole "Report Spam" opt out routine.

One nice thing that legislation brought in for NZ users is that NZ companies must provide a simple single click unsubscribe in any emails. You click it, it's gone.

So easy to do with a URI but so often a failure when implemented.

Re: Is Nokia Setting Itself Up for Failure with OVI Store?

barneyc — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:36:50 -0000

Thanks for thoughts (and very succinct summary). Some form of reputation based metrics for both apps and developers would certainly help the community but I still think there is a huge task in managing user expectation.

Re: Is Nokia Setting Itself Up for Failure with OVI Store?

barneyc — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:08:27 -0000

What about SymbianSigned? It's a program for developers that was supposed to ensure quality but to me the problem seemed to be that there was little checking of code by anyone other than the developers themselves who had paid heavily for the privilege of being signed. That and any user could easily just go and turn off the checking on the phone.

The real issue I foresee is that in for the OVI store to be successful it not only has to be able to offer up a lot of very useful, cheap and accessible software for the users but it has to be able to do that with the confidence those applications will not harm the overall experience of the Nokia brand.

Given the nature of the apps (and NO software is 100% bug free) for S60 I just can't see a simple way that Nokia can control/manage users expectations of the whole OVI/Nokia/Mobile experience in any way like as successful a way as Apple have.

For the record I am a big fan of Nokia and S60 but not a developer.

Re: Amen.

barneyc — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:48:59 -0000

The idea that by building a profiling database of customers personal preference information (PPI) and personal identity information (PII) for later use is "future proofing" is both inaccurate and short sighted.

Firstly building up data stores of PII & PPI collects historical information only, and in the CRM model referred to the traditional approach is for the organisation to claim ownership and therefore management responsibility for this information. People's preferences and indeed identity information changes and unless the management and privacy controls are placed back into the user's domain decay will render much of the information gathered useless.

Secondly the very notion of gathering information to try to build a data store in order to later profile users for targetting is rapidly being recognised as outdated and NOT what users want. Profiling
does not work at all well when dealing with a segment of one.

Also as a note the SMS part of the MGM campaign described in this document IS a pull (reactive) model, not push (proactive) as claimed. The user is answering a "call to action" by MGM and requesting (pull).

That said it's a nice glossy brochure (hardly a whitepaper) for SMS campaigns which it just so happens mobileStorm can help one with.

Re: Gold Digger Rock

barneyc — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:57:43 -0000

You have GOT to talk to your mate and get that stuff on Spotify for the world to enjoy. The Myspace audio quality sucks but the music - rocks!

Re: The MIR Fallout

barneyc — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:32:00 -0000

Fair comment Mike, I meant "off line" as in out of the public eye & unavailable. My understanding is that the site will no longer be publicly accessible.

Re: The MIR Fallout

barneyc — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:57:45 -0000

Comment from Ewan (originally posted http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2009/03/mob...)

"Here we go Barney, here's some answers to your questions.

"What is bugging me (or at least has been until today) is who on earth would have bought the rights? What content was it they were actually interested in and at what price?"
EWAN: I can't disclose the name of the company. The content they're interested in is as I set out on the post above - news, analysis, perspective, bit of video, with a bent toward their particular operating industry.

"In other words the only major value I can see in the MIR content is that of the video which is after all the most costly thing to produce."
EWAN: No. They value written content with a focus on reports discussing specific areas.

"I was kind of under the impression that like so many others James, Ben & Dan had given their time and efforts freely (or at least without being paid) to help create the MIR shows. If James is moving on does this mean the others will follow? Is this the end of the MIR show?"
EWAN: In most cases, James Ben and Dan gave their time for free and I paid for all expenses. e.g. They didn't pay anything when we went to Rome etc. This is indeed the end of the MIR Show as you know it, but James, Ben and Dan are free to do as they wish.

"Ewan talks about the new subscription model in “we” and “our” terms but will there even be a team to back him up?"
EWAN: Yes. I'm hiring some report writers and researchers. I can't afford to hire any of the contributors on their market rates -- and I don't think they'd be into this sort of thing even if I could.

"Did they get a pay day, should they have stood to gain financially from the changes, they were of course the creatives behind the content?"
EWAN: Did Ben Dan and James get a pay day? I think you've entirely mis-read the reality. They were giving their time for free and I was paying their expenses. I was paying for absolutely everything and I couldn't find a model that would allow me to continue to do so without stressing. To be clear I spent 33k in January alone on MIR. Me. We had the occasional supporter/advertiser, but it was me who funded it all. So we're not talking in terms of gaining financially. The financial gain I get from this 'transaction' is that I stop spending so much per month.

"Personally I can understand a move to a subscription model in part but seriously doubt that in its current form and without the support and goodwill of the community (who if they are like me feel a little deflated) I can’t see the “phenomenal reach” that is promised to would be subscribers."
EWAN: The current form of MIR ends next week. The client doesn't want the community. They want reports, they want a bit of news and analysis, they want some sit down video interviews. They don't want MIR in it's current form.

"There are a number of other questions running around my head mostly to do with the viability of the subscription strategy and Ewan’s ability to deliver but that can wait for another post methinks."
EWAN: My ability to deliver? Alas, the failure point was mine for assuming (and quite possibly delving in to that horrible, horrible no man's land of 'hoping') that the industry -- or the readers, working for huge, huge budget-rich companies -- would value our output enough to help out now and again. That's where I got it wrong, so I accept any criticism you'd care to level at me in this regard.

Just in case you're not quite there with the reality -- can I draw your attention to the post asking for assistance to help take the team to CTIA in Las Vegas. The first time I've really ever asked for support. Having spent upwards of, I don't know, 60k this year inc. Mobile World Congress, I thought, 'surely, surely someone or a few companies will help out.'

I got 11 responses to the post within 48 hours. Every single one said words to the effect of, 'sorry, no budget to help out, but could the team interview us on camera?'

So when you allude to the support, goodwill and such of the MIR community, we have to be very, very clear -- British Airways won't accept that in return for flights. That's the reality and I had to operate within it.

To your points on the subscription strategy, Barney, the transaction works fully with one subscriber, no further subscribers are required. So in that context I'm pleased that it's a done deal, I can relax, I can stop spending so much money and so much unpaid time on MIR. If in 3 years time, the client is unwilling to renew, then I'll stop providing a service.

Your comments relating to James and/or Jonathan heading off to the Cayman Islands with their proceeds -- well, that would be just phenomenal if I'd done a deal to sell MIR to News Corporation for $500m and hired the entire team on $10m 3-year talent contracts. I'd have loved to have been able to do so. Alas that isn't anywhere near the case.

Somebody has to pay. It was me -- and I reached the end of 'reasonable' and found an exit. Don't forget the MIR team who also helped produce the site -- don't forget that they were gracious enough to accept expenses and/or contribute their time for no direct recompense. I think your efforts on-going would be better served in thanking them for their efforts and supporting their next projects.

I'll be posting a note to this effect, in more detail, later on."

Re: Mobile Industry Review goes subscription-only from 30th March

barneyc — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:57:15 -0000

All this attention. So why not some more.

(In an effort to ensure content remains public the rest of my thinking is on my blog which I have no intention of having you lot subscribe to for - well no more than £250 a month!)

"Now that the dust has settled and my mind is free enough of normal and important things to offer up some attention to this I think I can see what’s been bugging me about this whole affair...." continued at http://www.exponere.com/2009/the-mir-fallout/

Re: Mobile Industry Review goes subscription-only from 30th March

barneyc — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:51:57 -0000

And as with pretty well everyone else here, thanks but no thanks.

I can well understand the need to move at least in part to a subscription based model - after all producing this stuff isn't free. BUT I seriously think the value of MIR will be eroded without the contributions, attention and goodwill of everyone who makes up the extended community.

Industry news, reviews and such are NOT worth 12k a year to anyone in my humble opinion - no matter how good they are. These is stuff out there in the public arena already and is best left as is so that said community can augment it - i.e. add value.

Research, now that is a whole different kettle of fish and I would whole heartedly support the "paid for" approach as this is where the value to corporates lies - in MIR's expertise in aggregating, dissecting, analysing and disseminating all that information that goes into corporate strategy.

So I for one think you may have missed the mark a little and certainly don't have 12k to spare nor the need right now for the research. The news I can get elsewhere.

Friends though I hope to remain.

Re: Sync Nokia N95 Calendar And Contacts With Google Apps

barneyc — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:20:15 -0000

Firstly if you are only syncing a single calendar the free version of GooSync works just fine. Also contacts can be directly synced with Google now they have their SyncML stuff "working"

There are reports of some people being able to get their Nokia phones to sync calendar infor with Google directly using the iPhone SyncML settings. I haven't gotten this to work for me yet but as I have had a goosync pro account for sometime now I have no real need to change.

Re: Google Vs Prs

barneyc — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:09:47 -0000

I think it's going to take an effort like this by Google to "help" the recording industry to realise they need to adapt and change.

Sure from the RI's POV Google are deriving income through advertising on the YouTube site BUT the bands (and therefore in turn the RI) are gaining attention as well as being provided with a channel through which to engage existing and new fans (who spend money).

It'll change, eventually

Re: Facebook Backtracks

barneyc — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:04:26 -0000

My thoughts over here

Re: TescoDigital: Fail – The Full (Long) Story

barneyc — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:35:31 -0000

Incredible that businesses (especially in this "economic climate") just haven't wised up to the simplest of ideas. In this case TescoDigital lost my business to Amazon and to be fair I was only tempted to Tesco in the first place by their keener pricing than Amazon.

As it turned out Amazon responded and dropped their price. So despite the aggravation and hassle (mind you it sparked a few posts) I got the album cheaper, Amazon got my business and TescoDigital lost this deal and ALL future deals until they give me a reason to re-trust them.

Ah well.

Re: Nokia releases SMS cleaner

barneyc — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:45:35 -0000

Maybe Nokia et al should actually fix the flaw rather than just offering up removal tools? I for one can only hope that non-US product codes of the E71 get the updates being proposed for the AT&T model which wouldn't suffer this daft security hole.

Re: Hitting the Social Graph Wall?

barneyc — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:35:19 -0000

Absolutely I have enjoyed many of the posts - I presume I got the link and credit right on the image then?

Re: Nationalrail.co.uk Fail

barneyc — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:18:07 -0000

The older I get the more I begin to realise that some things are just better left nationalised; healthcare, research, transport, insurance and some such as it is patently obvious that when commercial pressures are applied these things fall apart so very badly

Re: Nationalrail.co.uk Fail

barneyc — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:09:48 -0000

The problem is the sackings made in the UK rail network make will/are from the ranks with whom the public actually interact; drivers, guards, station staff. NOT the muppets that are making decisions

Re: Taking GMail Offline

barneyc — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:20:23 -0000

One day in and still working just fine

Re: Facebook Connect’s portable social graphs

barneyc — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:43:07 -0000

From my viewpoint it is ALL and EVERY interaction I have that make up a person's identity, be they online or offline, real or virtual. We may maintain multiple persona using different or identical identifiers but it is still the aggregate of the lot that defines one.

Wanting to keep parts segmented or partitioned off is wholly understandable and mirrors real life but really the critical thing about portable social graphs (and I really wish people would get over this whole social graph thing and look at graphs as a whole) is the portability, the acknowledgement, the tools, the processes by which the user can claim, manage, control, share in fact do whatever they want with the information as it is theirs not the networks.