Hate my iPhone and Facebook yammering?

Uncategorized 1 Minute

Fred Vogelstein

OK, I keep seeing notes from people who are tired of my iPhone and Facebook yammering.

So, it’s time to put up or shut up.

What is more important happening right now? I’m looking at TechMeme and other feeds. I just met with a ton of VCs, execs, journalists like Wired’s Fred Vogelstein, etc (that’s him in the photo on this post) and there’s nothing that excites/generates conversation like Facebook and iPhone. Nothing.

If you got something that is exciting you more, I’d sure like to hear about it.

Oh, don’t take Fred’s picture as an anti-Facebook statement. He’s working on an article for Wired about Facebook.

Kara Swisher, tech columnist for the Wall Street Journal, told me at dinner (and I see she told everyone on her blog) that today she met with Facebook’s “money guy” and that she came away impressed.

Translation: Expect to hear a lot more Facebook news. Unless you got something more interesting for us all to pay attention to. Microsoft? Google? Yahoo? Helllllllloooooooo.

UPDATE: Dave McClure has a good post about all that’s happening in Facebook land.

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

Published

76 thoughts on “Hate my iPhone and Facebook yammering?”

  1. Problem with hype is that it drowns out a ton of otherwise awesome stories. Sorry, what’s that? It’s not about the iPhone or Facebook? Then I can’t hear you.

    It’s a mentality that causes media stagnation. There’s only so much the public cares about a social networking site or a slick phone. After all, that’s all that it is: a website and a phone.

    Like

  2. Problem with hype is that it drowns out a ton of otherwise awesome stories. Sorry, what’s that? It’s not about the iPhone or Facebook? Then I can’t hear you.

    It’s a mentality that causes media stagnation. There’s only so much the public cares about a social networking site or a slick phone. After all, that’s all that it is: a website and a phone.

    Like

  3. Daniel: I guess what I’m asking is what are the otherwise awesome stories? I don’t see them and I’m now looking cause I know I’ve gone overboard with the iPhone and Facebook stuff.

    Like

  4. Daniel: I guess what I’m asking is what are the otherwise awesome stories? I don’t see them and I’m now looking cause I know I’ve gone overboard with the iPhone and Facebook stuff.

    Like

  13. Keep it coming, basically. If I want straight tech news, to be honest, I go elsewhere. I come here for your opinions on the next great things, and your take on news. So whatever you want to talk about is fine.

    Things I would like to see you talk about in the future is how other companies are responding to the iphone and Facebook.

    Like

  14. Keep it coming, basically. If I want straight tech news, to be honest, I go elsewhere. I come here for your opinions on the next great things, and your take on news. So whatever you want to talk about is fine.

    Things I would like to see you talk about in the future is how other companies are responding to the iphone and Facebook.

    Like

  15. keep it coming, its relevant and its now

    and it will either IPO or be a bigger acquisition than YouTube … and is more accessible than MySpace

    if only they could sort out the advertising (could Google bring them a solution – and remain independent)

    Like

  16. keep it coming, its relevant and its now

    and it will either IPO or be a bigger acquisition than YouTube … and is more accessible than MySpace

    if only they could sort out the advertising (could Google bring them a solution – and remain independent)

    Like

  22. Rodgers: I’m still enamored with my HDTV, but nothing has changed there for months. I still don’t get that many channels. DirectTV just put up a new satellite, but that won’t turn on for a while. Certainly new stuff isn’t happening there like it is on Facebook and iPhone. At least not stuff I care about.

    Like

  23. Rodgers: I’m still enamored with my HDTV, but nothing has changed there for months. I still don’t get that many channels. DirectTV just put up a new satellite, but that won’t turn on for a while. Certainly new stuff isn’t happening there like it is on Facebook and iPhone. At least not stuff I care about.

    Like

  25. i totally agree with you Robert.

    Facebook & iPhone aren’t hype. they’re AMAZING products with REAL innovation being used by MILLIONS of people (ok, so maybe iPhone hasn’t busted into 7 digits yet, but they will soon).

    300+ people were in SF for iPhoneDevCamp, organized spontaneously… many of them flew in for the event.

    Facebook has had 3 — count them THREE — ad networks launch in the past week (Lookery, FB Exchange, Social Media).

    what the hell else is going on that is anywhere NEAR this amazing / engrossing?

    – dave mcclure
    http://500hats.typepad.com/

    Like

  26. i totally agree with you Robert.

    Facebook & iPhone aren’t hype. they’re AMAZING products with REAL innovation being used by MILLIONS of people (ok, so maybe iPhone hasn’t busted into 7 digits yet, but they will soon).

    300+ people were in SF for iPhoneDevCamp, organized spontaneously… many of them flew in for the event.

    Facebook has had 3 — count them THREE — ad networks launch in the past week (Lookery, FB Exchange, Social Media).

    what the hell else is going on that is anywhere NEAR this amazing / engrossing?

    – dave mcclure
    http://500hats.typepad.com/

    Like

  27. Did you mean Swisher talked to *Yahoo’s* money guy? ‘Cause I’m eager to hear from Facebook’s money guy, and was a bit disappointed.

    Like

  28. Did you mean Swisher talked to *Yahoo’s* money guy? ‘Cause I’m eager to hear from Facebook’s money guy, and was a bit disappointed.

    Like

  31. Hey Robert,

    No problem with Facebook – it is the most happening thing at the moment and in the UK too – I was out taking some photos last night and listening to the 10pm Radio 4 news (heavyweight news station) and low and behold, Facebook got a mention!

    If that isn’t proof, I don’t know what is!

    Jon

    Like

  32. Hey Robert,

    No problem with Facebook – it is the most happening thing at the moment and in the UK too – I was out taking some photos last night and listening to the 10pm Radio 4 news (heavyweight news station) and low and behold, Facebook got a mention!

    If that isn’t proof, I don’t know what is!

    Jon

    Like

  33. It’s your blog, so you should cover what you want.

    What, I think, is turning some people off is the fact that very few people you cite are looking at Facebook with a critical eye. Jason Kottke has Facebook pegged for exactly what it is IMNSHO.

    And the fact that everyone’s talking about Facebook doesn’t mean that it “matters.”

    A couple of weeks ago, every news outlet was talking about Paris Hilton. Does she matter?

    Actually, FB and Paris have a lot in common. I think both of them are trying to build hype (not a truly useful product) in order to get a big payday. Very little substance or originality.

    And I’m not saying that Mark and team shouldn’t cash out. That’s their call.

    It is just a little disturbing to me to see and hear the people on the “A-list” pretend it isn’t the next AOL/MySpace. Why? Because they have little widgets now?

    Your justification that FB is relevant because people are talking about is disappointing (If everyone jumped off a bridge…). People expect a little more critical analysis. This FB fawning is anything but and, ultimately, erodes credibilty.

    Again, this is your blog. You should post whatever you want. You’ll never make everyone happy. But since you asked… 🙂

    Like

  34. It’s your blog, so you should cover what you want.

    What, I think, is turning some people off is the fact that very few people you cite are looking at Facebook with a critical eye. Jason Kottke has Facebook pegged for exactly what it is IMNSHO.

    And the fact that everyone’s talking about Facebook doesn’t mean that it “matters.”

    A couple of weeks ago, every news outlet was talking about Paris Hilton. Does she matter?

    Actually, FB and Paris have a lot in common. I think both of them are trying to build hype (not a truly useful product) in order to get a big payday. Very little substance or originality.

    And I’m not saying that Mark and team shouldn’t cash out. That’s their call.

    It is just a little disturbing to me to see and hear the people on the “A-list” pretend it isn’t the next AOL/MySpace. Why? Because they have little widgets now?

    Your justification that FB is relevant because people are talking about is disappointing (If everyone jumped off a bridge…). People expect a little more critical analysis. This FB fawning is anything but and, ultimately, erodes credibilty.

    Again, this is your blog. You should post whatever you want. You’ll never make everyone happy. But since you asked… 🙂

    Like

  35. Honestly, the thing thats turning people off is not the topics but the way you’re talking about them. The self promotion is kind of old. We understand you’re new to facebook but you’re talking to people who use it regularly like you are the expert. In reality no one cares how many facebook friends you have and its not really something that you should pump yourself up on. We value your opinions but not your incessant self-promotion.

    Like

  36. Honestly, the thing thats turning people off is not the topics but the way you’re talking about them. The self promotion is kind of old. We understand you’re new to facebook but you’re talking to people who use it regularly like you are the expert. In reality no one cares how many facebook friends you have and its not really something that you should pump yourself up on. We value your opinions but not your incessant self-promotion.

    Like

  37. “If you got something that is exciting you more, I’d sure like to hear about it.”

    This is more exciting
    http://www.openmoko.com/

    So is this

    So is this

    So is this

    Pretty much anything on the front page of Digg.com also qualifies.

    BTW, DO NOT buy an iPhone, 2nd gen iPhones are coming out in September for half price, $249. It’s worth it to wait.
    http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/17/second-generation-iphone-for-249-in-september/

    I didn’t find that out by reading the Scoble blog, but rather by reading digg.com.

    Like

  38. “If you got something that is exciting you more, I’d sure like to hear about it.”

    This is more exciting
    http://www.openmoko.com/

    So is this

    So is this

    So is this

    Pretty much anything on the front page of Digg.com also qualifies.

    BTW, DO NOT buy an iPhone, 2nd gen iPhones are coming out in September for half price, $249. It’s worth it to wait.
    http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/17/second-generation-iphone-for-249-in-september/

    I didn’t find that out by reading the Scoble blog, but rather by reading digg.com.

    Like

  39. facebook had very little hype six months ago, it was much the same site then. When happened? they launched an API that allows developers to throw together quickly mini-apps that have a very low cost of entry. Well, guess what, these apps have a very low cost of exit as well, and don’t have any revenue model behind them. I remain unconvinced this is a new paradigm.

    iPhone is a phone with a fully fledged, CSS compliant, AJAX capable browser that allows developers to throw together quickly mini-apps that have a very low cost of entry (sound familiar?). Maybe I missed something but the iPhone didn’t launch an NTT iMode-like micropayment system where stuff can be bought from your phone and appear on your legacy AT&T phone bill. So right now, the iPhone app field is looking a bit like the facebook API field: a million applets makes for a lot to talk about, and a lot of new logos, but no revenue model to support the activity. In a sense it is less of a disrupter than iMode was in 1999.

    only the huge amounts of VC money sloshing around looking for that one mega-winner in 1000 losers keeps both big ideas alive, for now.

    Like

  40. facebook had very little hype six months ago, it was much the same site then. When happened? they launched an API that allows developers to throw together quickly mini-apps that have a very low cost of entry. Well, guess what, these apps have a very low cost of exit as well, and don’t have any revenue model behind them. I remain unconvinced this is a new paradigm.

    iPhone is a phone with a fully fledged, CSS compliant, AJAX capable browser that allows developers to throw together quickly mini-apps that have a very low cost of entry (sound familiar?). Maybe I missed something but the iPhone didn’t launch an NTT iMode-like micropayment system where stuff can be bought from your phone and appear on your legacy AT&T phone bill. So right now, the iPhone app field is looking a bit like the facebook API field: a million applets makes for a lot to talk about, and a lot of new logos, but no revenue model to support the activity. In a sense it is less of a disrupter than iMode was in 1999.

    only the huge amounts of VC money sloshing around looking for that one mega-winner in 1000 losers keeps both big ideas alive, for now.

    Like

  41. Chicken or the egg? You guys are all so close and everyone’s linking with everyone, it’s hard to say who’s fueling the conversation and who’s not. Leaders should be able to talk about something and generate conversation, regardless of what everyone else is doing.

    Just try something new. Pownce maybe. Slacker maybe. A new blog platform, Terapad or Square Space maybe. Talk about what’s best to video blog with. Talk about good software to use.

    Like

  42. Chicken or the egg? You guys are all so close and everyone’s linking with everyone, it’s hard to say who’s fueling the conversation and who’s not. Leaders should be able to talk about something and generate conversation, regardless of what everyone else is doing.

    Just try something new. Pownce maybe. Slacker maybe. A new blog platform, Terapad or Square Space maybe. Talk about what’s best to video blog with. Talk about good software to use.

    Like

  43. I think iPhone is worth talking about, but I agree with smorty71– Kottke has it dead on that Facebook is inside out.

    Are you writing about important things or exciting things? There’s a difference between the two. Unfortunately important can often be boring. Maybe Facebook is more exciting to you, but I would argue that the current state of the patent system is more important.

    Like

  44. I think iPhone is worth talking about, but I agree with smorty71– Kottke has it dead on that Facebook is inside out.

    Are you writing about important things or exciting things? There’s a difference between the two. Unfortunately important can often be boring. Maybe Facebook is more exciting to you, but I would argue that the current state of the patent system is more important.

    Like

  45. How is this any differenent than when the networks cover Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole Smith all the time? Wouldn’t they have been asking the same “what’ more interesting right now?”question? But you bitched and moaned about that because you thought they weren’t covering things YOU thought were interesting. Seems you have the same herd mentality the networks do.

    Like

  46. How is this any differenent than when the networks cover Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole Smith all the time? Wouldn’t they have been asking the same “what’ more interesting right now?”question? But you bitched and moaned about that because you thought they weren’t covering things YOU thought were interesting. Seems you have the same herd mentality the networks do.

    Like

  47. “Well, guess what, these apps have a very low cost of exit as well, and don’t have any revenue model behind them. I remain unconvinced this is a new paradigm.”

    Well said.

    “only the huge amounts of VC money sloshing around looking for that one mega-winner in 1000 losers keeps both big ideas alive, for now.”

    Extremely insightful and well said.

    digg++

    Like

  48. “Well, guess what, these apps have a very low cost of exit as well, and don’t have any revenue model behind them. I remain unconvinced this is a new paradigm.”

    Well said.

    “only the huge amounts of VC money sloshing around looking for that one mega-winner in 1000 losers keeps both big ideas alive, for now.”

    Extremely insightful and well said.

    digg++

    Like

  49. Twitter.

    I do think mobile Web 2.0 is important – possibly broaden out a wee bit beyond the iPhone alone (tons more peeps still have Treos, Crackberries, and I have Nokia; and I suspect that more is coming to compete with iPhone).

    Facebook: I haven’t had inclination to check out even though I get friend requests on daily basis. It’s faceless unless you register. And I’m not registering for yet another social network unless I see it first.

    Like

  50. Twitter.

    I do think mobile Web 2.0 is important – possibly broaden out a wee bit beyond the iPhone alone (tons more peeps still have Treos, Crackberries, and I have Nokia; and I suspect that more is coming to compete with iPhone).

    Facebook: I haven’t had inclination to check out even though I get friend requests on daily basis. It’s faceless unless you register. And I’m not registering for yet another social network unless I see it first.

    Like

  51. I think it’s all in the presentation…

    Also, I see hype being thrown around as a single definition, when it is not. There is hype as in exaggeration… but then there’s hype as in “excessive publicity and the ensuing commotion.”

    Facebook is being hyped beyond belief. But its being hyped under the second definition I provided because its successful. No exaggeration there. But, there is plenty of coverage, so it’s being given excessive publicity.

    I know about Facebook, I know about their open platform, I know millions of people use it, I know Robert Scoble has tons of VC’s, billionaires, and other influential people on his friends list… but tell us what we don’t know. Find the hidden gem related to Facebook.

    Robert:

    Try talking about services related to Facebook. Perhaps cover some Facebook applications? What do you personally use on your Facebook account? How does Facebook personally benefit you? How can other companies leverage the social model that Facebook has? That’s the type of stuff that interests me…

    Write about what pleases you, and remember that when I use the word hype, I’m using it in the second context. I know Facebook (or the iPhone) isn’t an exaggeration.

    Like

  52. I think it’s all in the presentation…

    Also, I see hype being thrown around as a single definition, when it is not. There is hype as in exaggeration… but then there’s hype as in “excessive publicity and the ensuing commotion.”

    Facebook is being hyped beyond belief. But its being hyped under the second definition I provided because its successful. No exaggeration there. But, there is plenty of coverage, so it’s being given excessive publicity.

    I know about Facebook, I know about their open platform, I know millions of people use it, I know Robert Scoble has tons of VC’s, billionaires, and other influential people on his friends list… but tell us what we don’t know. Find the hidden gem related to Facebook.

    Robert:

    Try talking about services related to Facebook. Perhaps cover some Facebook applications? What do you personally use on your Facebook account? How does Facebook personally benefit you? How can other companies leverage the social model that Facebook has? That’s the type of stuff that interests me…

    Write about what pleases you, and remember that when I use the word hype, I’m using it in the second context. I know Facebook (or the iPhone) isn’t an exaggeration.

    Like

  53. “Problem with hype is that it drowns out a ton of otherwise awesome stories. Sorry, what’s that? It’s not about the iPhone or Facebook? Then I can’t hear you.”

    Yep and bloggers know that constantly yammering on about whatever the ‘hot site of the moment’, is great linkbait and for traffic. The endless Twitter hype that was run into the ground has now been replaced by Facebook-hype. A month or 2 from now the current Facebook hype will be replaced by something else.

    As Smorty said, it’s your blog so write about whatever you want. But hearing every couple of months that Site/Service X is the ‘next big thing!’ begins to sound like the boy crying wolf.

    Like

  54. “Problem with hype is that it drowns out a ton of otherwise awesome stories. Sorry, what’s that? It’s not about the iPhone or Facebook? Then I can’t hear you.”

    Yep and bloggers know that constantly yammering on about whatever the ‘hot site of the moment’, is great linkbait and for traffic. The endless Twitter hype that was run into the ground has now been replaced by Facebook-hype. A month or 2 from now the current Facebook hype will be replaced by something else.

    As Smorty said, it’s your blog so write about whatever you want. But hearing every couple of months that Site/Service X is the ‘next big thing!’ begins to sound like the boy crying wolf.

    Like

  55. I am not going to be so arrogant as to tell you what to talk about (or not talk about). I read your blog because you average a post a day that is interesting, and the others are an easy “j”. 🙂

    But you ask about other exciting and interesting things. Here is one – we are finally headed into our long over due recession.
    http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2007/07/contain-this-pa.html

    Why is that so exciting? Because we need a recession to clear away all the clutter, so we can move on to the next level.
    http://luke.gedeon.name/is-it-really-web-30-or-just-25.html

    If you are having trouble finding more than a couple things to get excited about it might be that we are getting near the end of the cycle. Or it might just be the time of year. Anyone with any sense is at the beach right now… unless it is raining there like it is here.

    Like

  56. I am not going to be so arrogant as to tell you what to talk about (or not talk about). I read your blog because you average a post a day that is interesting, and the others are an easy “j”. 🙂

    But you ask about other exciting and interesting things. Here is one – we are finally headed into our long over due recession.
    http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2007/07/contain-this-pa.html

    Why is that so exciting? Because we need a recession to clear away all the clutter, so we can move on to the next level.
    http://luke.gedeon.name/is-it-really-web-30-or-just-25.html

    If you are having trouble finding more than a couple things to get excited about it might be that we are getting near the end of the cycle. Or it might just be the time of year. Anyone with any sense is at the beach right now… unless it is raining there like it is here.

    Like

  57. So, now THIS is your argument? Since, there is nothing else going on which is interesting, you will keep rehashing yourself??? Just slow down, smell the roses, enjoy summer, play golf, stop blogging till something exciting happens. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!!

    Like

  58. So, now THIS is your argument? Since, there is nothing else going on which is interesting, you will keep rehashing yourself??? Just slow down, smell the roses, enjoy summer, play golf, stop blogging till something exciting happens. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!!

    Like

  59. How about just being creative and original? Stop adding the noise. Make something else exciting for a change. Or, just pound a few donuts.

    Like

  60. How about just being creative and original? Stop adding the noise. Make something else exciting for a change. Or, just pound a few donuts.

    Like

  61. Robert, you are best when you are blogging about stuff you are passionate/excited about…why should you blog about stuff that isn’t interesting to you?

    Like

  62. Robert, you are best when you are blogging about stuff you are passionate/excited about…why should you blog about stuff that isn’t interesting to you?

    Like

  65. I joined facebook because of all they hype, and there are way fewer regular people I know on facebook than even friendster.

    Tech “influencers” and kids are a pretty fickle audience, and are on pretty much all of these things. Friends of my parents have accounts at linkedin and myspace, are nowhere to be found on facebook.

    All of these services have the same people on them, only on myspace does anyone I have not heard from in a while contact me.

    Like

  66. I joined facebook because of all they hype, and there are way fewer regular people I know on facebook than even friendster.

    Tech “influencers” and kids are a pretty fickle audience, and are on pretty much all of these things. Friends of my parents have accounts at linkedin and myspace, are nowhere to be found on facebook.

    All of these services have the same people on them, only on myspace does anyone I have not heard from in a while contact me.

    Like

  67. I don’t mind the Facebook talk and the only reason the iPhone talk is getting on my nerves is that my wife won’t let me buy one. Something about a “budget.”

    Like

  68. I don’t mind the Facebook talk and the only reason the iPhone talk is getting on my nerves is that my wife won’t let me buy one. Something about a “budget.”

    Like

  69. Paul: that’s one reason I haven’t gotten mine yet. We only have so much money to spend on gadgets and with two new iPhones I’ve blown the budget for such this month.

    Like

  70. Paul: that’s one reason I haven’t gotten mine yet. We only have so much money to spend on gadgets and with two new iPhones I’ve blown the budget for such this month.

    Like

  73. I’m hoping that over the next few days that everyone will get all of the irrational Facebook exuberance out of their system. Then in a few weeks the echo chamber will unleash a torrent of unhappiness with Facebook and finally we’ll move on to something else with hopefully more merit. In the meantime we’ll have to put up with Robert adding every single mention of Facebook he can find to his link blog. Just grin and bear it for now.

    Like

  74. I’m hoping that over the next few days that everyone will get all of the irrational Facebook exuberance out of their system. Then in a few weeks the echo chamber will unleash a torrent of unhappiness with Facebook and finally we’ll move on to something else with hopefully more merit. In the meantime we’ll have to put up with Robert adding every single mention of Facebook he can find to his link blog. Just grin and bear it for now.

    Like

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