Qik kicks Yahoo’s new video service

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I’m so disappointed. Yahoo just turned on a live video service. It’s the top item on TechMeme. I thought I’d try it here at LIFT. But, I find some bad things:

1. The service doesn’t work. Says “Yahoo! Live is an experimental release. We’ve experienced heavy traffic and are taking a breather to tune things up a bit.”
2. It doesn’t work on cell phones like Qik does.
3. It doesn’t record live sessions.

This is the best that Yahoo can do?

Sigh.

Compare to Qik. Which lets me start a live video in two clicks on my Nokia phone. And interact with a live chat room.

Or to Ustream. Or Justin.tv. Or BlogTV. Or Stickcam. Or Flixwagon.

Speaking of Qik, I’ve put up a few videos from the LIFT conference up on my page. They also professionally recorded each session and those are now up on the LIFT08 speech page with more coming soon. I’ll give you a list of what I found interesting. My favorite session so far was of Eric Favre, inventor of the Nespresso machine, but the video game sessions this morning were very good too.

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).

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24 thoughts on “Qik kicks Yahoo’s new video service”

  1. Scoble, in general, smaller companies that focus on one thing well generally do well. That’s why the Yahoos and Googles buy them up.

    Doing one thing well is a good tenet to follow.

    What’s funny, though, is I’ve noticed that when one of these nimble, cool, “do one thing well” companies gets bought, they suck a year or so later.
    Flickr is one of the exeptions to this rule.

    Like

  2. Scoble, in general, smaller companies that focus on one thing well generally do well. That’s why the Yahoos and Googles buy them up.

    Doing one thing well is a good tenet to follow.

    What’s funny, though, is I’ve noticed that when one of these nimble, cool, “do one thing well” companies gets bought, they suck a year or so later.
    Flickr is one of the exeptions to this rule.

    Like

  3. Hi Robert,
    I was able to get in and test it.

    To answer your points:

    “1. The service doesn’t work. Says “Yahoo! Live is an experimental release. We’ve experienced heavy traffic and are taking a breather to tune things up a bit.””

    Can you give Yahoo! a break? It was on NewTeeVee, TechCrunch and Digg. The service didn’t work for you when you tried it. It worked for me when I did.

    There were some issues, but it’s the first day. I was able to get online and get a chat going. The problems I experienced were:

    – Wouldn’t recognize MacBook Pro Microphone.
    – Had to switch between iSight and DV Cam a few times to get the video to catch. Same with audio.
    – Could only hear other video broadcasters in my tray intermittently.
    – Crash the browser a few times

    “2. It doesn’t work on cell phones like Qik does.”

    – OK, so maybe they planned to have it work online like all the other streaming services. Do you also think Ustream, Justin.tv,r BlogTV, and Stickcam. are bad because they don’t support broadcasting from a cellphone? Broadcasting from a cellphone is great, but does everyone have to do it?

    “3. It doesn’t record live sessions.”

    I chatted with them about this and it will…

    “Leave Yahoo! Alone!”

    Like

  4. Hi Robert,
    I was able to get in and test it.

    To answer your points:

    “1. The service doesn’t work. Says “Yahoo! Live is an experimental release. We’ve experienced heavy traffic and are taking a breather to tune things up a bit.””

    Can you give Yahoo! a break? It was on NewTeeVee, TechCrunch and Digg. The service didn’t work for you when you tried it. It worked for me when I did.

    There were some issues, but it’s the first day. I was able to get online and get a chat going. The problems I experienced were:

    – Wouldn’t recognize MacBook Pro Microphone.
    – Had to switch between iSight and DV Cam a few times to get the video to catch. Same with audio.
    – Could only hear other video broadcasters in my tray intermittently.
    – Crash the browser a few times

    “2. It doesn’t work on cell phones like Qik does.”

    – OK, so maybe they planned to have it work online like all the other streaming services. Do you also think Ustream, Justin.tv,r BlogTV, and Stickcam. are bad because they don’t support broadcasting from a cellphone? Broadcasting from a cellphone is great, but does everyone have to do it?

    “3. It doesn’t record live sessions.”

    I chatted with them about this and it will…

    “Leave Yahoo! Alone!”

    Like

  5. One think Yahoo can do is Partner with a company like Qik .

    Mogulus is partnering with Qik and so is Seesmic .

    Like

  6. One think Yahoo can do is Partner with a company like Qik .

    Mogulus is partnering with Qik and so is Seesmic .

    Like

  7. Qik is in closed beta and only supports limited handsets, correct? Yahoo Live is open to everyone immediately and is available to anyone with a webcam.
    I agree that Yahoo could have scaled better in anticipation but let us watch it play out

    I am still waiting for Qik invite..anyone? Anyone?

    Like

  8. Qik is in closed beta and only supports limited handsets, correct? Yahoo Live is open to everyone immediately and is available to anyone with a webcam.
    I agree that Yahoo could have scaled better in anticipation but let us watch it play out

    I am still waiting for Qik invite..anyone? Anyone?

    Like

  9. It seems that different live streaming services are better at different events or uses. Qik is obviously best (only) for mobile live streaming unless you want to strap a laptop to your back and have a head mounted web cam.

    For live speaking and presentations which works best?
    Etc.

    Like

  10. It seems that different live streaming services are better at different events or uses. Qik is obviously best (only) for mobile live streaming unless you want to strap a laptop to your back and have a head mounted web cam.

    For live speaking and presentations which works best?
    Etc.

    Like

  11. Qik also only works on certain Nokia phones, but I called them and they are diligently testing the service on other brands as we speak. No release dates for other phones, but I’m hoping it will be ready when the 3G iPhone comes out.

    Like

  12. Qik also only works on certain Nokia phones, but I called them and they are diligently testing the service on other brands as we speak. No release dates for other phones, but I’m hoping it will be ready when the 3G iPhone comes out.

    Like

  15. I am a big fan Robert, but I can not recommend your Qik videos.

    The gittery video give me a headache.

    Please consider a different service or just recording audio.

    Like

  16. I am a big fan Robert, but I can not recommend your Qik videos.

    The gittery video give me a headache.

    Please consider a different service or just recording audio.

    Like

  21. PocketCaster from Comvu supports a ton of phones; flixwagon is another site for mobile live video. I believe all but one are closed beta.

    Let’s not get all crazy about a closed-beta service partnering with a closed-beta service.

    Also, day 1 of Yahoo Live, tough room.

    I’ve used it for several days since launch, it’s worked better than it did, and I’ve figured out a lot of ways to do a better job as a broadcaster to make it more streamlined.

    I also do use all these other services you mentioned above as well as others you haven’t.

    We need to do a better job talking about technology by using it, understanding it, having a wider focus than the next five hours.

    Man, I could almost do this professionally. /smirk.

    Like

  22. PocketCaster from Comvu supports a ton of phones; flixwagon is another site for mobile live video. I believe all but one are closed beta.

    Let’s not get all crazy about a closed-beta service partnering with a closed-beta service.

    Also, day 1 of Yahoo Live, tough room.

    I’ve used it for several days since launch, it’s worked better than it did, and I’ve figured out a lot of ways to do a better job as a broadcaster to make it more streamlined.

    I also do use all these other services you mentioned above as well as others you haven’t.

    We need to do a better job talking about technology by using it, understanding it, having a wider focus than the next five hours.

    Man, I could almost do this professionally. /smirk.

    Like

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