Facebook Places + Photos Makes Sense

I have been really impressed by Facebook Places - which I think has done a terrific job simplifying a rather complex product and making it usable / productive for a massive audience (which in turn complicates simplicity). If I could change one component of the product - and I really only have one suggestion - it would be to add photographs. Four reasons why:

1. I believe that images are becoming integral pieces of explaining location / local activity. Checking in at a restaurant, theme park, ballgame, etc are all well described by time, title & description and photograph.

2. GPS & photographs are tightly related on the mobile device. Putting them together in the Places product could still be done simply and comfortably.

3. The lack of integration makes me frequently choose between posting a newsfeed photograph and describe location via the description... OR forgo an image and post via Places.

4. Finally, if Facebook Places is to ultimately also become a directory of businesses, reviews, etc - photographs must be tightly integrated.

Check in or post a photo? Why not both...?

Can the Apple iTV Bridge Family Room & Web? I'll Bet So.

Fascinating chart on AlleyInsider this week noting that, for the first time ever, pay TV has lost subscribers. A little earlier in the week, the NYTimes argued that TV is changing (web, applications, on-demand) but paid television still rules the livingroom.

I shared the NYTimes article on Facebook with the following the note: "We will break our dependence. But - it will still likely include paywalls... but rather than for cable - it will be for content."

And that's why I believe the forthcoming Apple iTV is important to the TV / Web transition. First, it's at the right price: supposedly $99. And knowing Apple, it be designed simply enough that connecting the device to the TV and the web will be easy as 1. 2. 3. Until now, consumers had two options - both of which disqualified the above points (price and simplicity):

1. Buy a mini-computer (ie Mac Mini or Dell Zino) and connect it to the TV. Plus: full operating system and highly customizable. Con: very expensive (~$500-$1,000), complicated and techy.

2. Purchase a brand new, web-enabled TV OR a gaming device. Pro: out of the box usage. Con: expensive and limited / poor experience, content selection, etc.

If the rumors are right - Apple can change this with:

- a $99 price point (fraction of any other reasonable alternative)

- an iOS interface that tens of millions of users are familiar (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad)

- simple integration and web browsing (try using the web on XBox or PS3 - it's *very* limited)

- and an unmatched catalog of content and applications (not to mention developers - which is more important)

Suddenly web browsing, iTunes, Pandora, Netflix streaming, MLB At Bat, etc are all imaginable. And its a more natural solution - at least in the short term - than through the television manufacturer, the gaming devices, etc.

Facebook Places Promotion on Facebook Touch

When Facebook launched Facebook Places, I wrote about how they boldly and centrally promoted their new feature. Here is a similar example from Facebook's mobile web experience - Facebook Touch. Like the YouTube HTML5 promotion, there is a spotlight box that sits between Facebook's header and the newsfeed input box... which means there is no way you can miss the unit.

In addition to the messaging, notice the Places button that offsets my profile icon and sits to the right of the input box. It is less obvious but, again, very prime real estate.

You can tell how much of a priority Places is to Facebook, a company that takes web design and each pixel very seriously:

Facebook Places vs. Foursquare at YCombinator Demo Day

I had the pleasure of spending yesterday at YCombinator's Demo Day. 36 companies presented and launched - three of which were Dogpatch Labs residents: Fanvibe, Rapportive, and an off-the-record company. While there was plenty of news around the companies, spaces, etc - I found it interesting to see how the crowd of YCombinator entrepreneurs, investors and friends / family checked into the event.

The result? Totally even: while the numbers fluctuated a little bit, there were roughly 15 check-ins on Facebook Places and 15 on Foursquare.

Why I'm Bullish on Facebook Places: Facebook is 50%+ of iPhone App Usage

And this is why I am so bullish on Facebook Places:

The two biggest components of a winning location play are: 1. network (and we know that Facebook is the largest at 500m+ users) 2. mobile (geo is critical to locating users and posting on the go) Well according to David Kirkpatrick's recent interview on Fool.com (David is the author of The Facebook Effect), Facebook is dominant there as well:

"more than half of all usage of the iPhone of apps, other than those provided by the phone itself like telephony and email, is coming from Facebook."

Doodle Jump Goes Retina on iPhone 4

No real news here - unless you are a huge Doodle Jump fan (one of the highest selling iphone apps of all time - and one of the biggest time sinks of all time). Yesterday Doodle Jump released the newest version of their app such that it is compatible with iPhone 4 and the retina display. That's the news - which is not why I am writing this... Rather, I was struck by how crisp and clear the imagery is. For iPhone 4 users (and to a lesser extent iPad users), graphics and web browsing looks great - thanks in part to apple and in part to designers / developers.

This is the welcome screen from the new Doodle Jump game - it's gorgeous. And you're probably not viewing it on an iPhone 4 screen. Its like looking at a zoomed in adobe illustrator font vs. a non-true-type font.

It is also interesting how developers are now using retina display optimized graphics as a selling point.

Amazon Kindle: Buy Once, Read Anywhere

I have written before about Amazon's Kindle Ad Units - which are usually excellent. Here is the latest - and you will notice the similarity in prior units. Nevertheless, I love the tagline "Buy Once, Read Everywhere" because: 1. it sums up the Kindle's value proposition perfectly (they won't win on device, but portability is a big positive)

2. it leverages the success of other platforms - namely Apple (iPhone, iPad, Mac) and Android

3. it sums up so much of what consumers, publishers and developers alike are facing: the multi-platform conundrum (ie write once, read anyhwere)

Flipboard: The Best Way to Read Hacker News

A reminder from the uber-popular Flipboard iPad App: design and UE/UI can alter an entire experience. Using Flipboard, you can read Hacker News as a magazine... and its beautiful, fun and social. It is the same content, just presented in a very different way. And just as it's a reminder - it is inspiration to (re)consider product design. Hacker News via Flipboard iPad app:

Hacker News via web:

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Congratulations to LearnBoost

Dogpatch Labs San Francisco resident LearnBoost announced today that they have raised $975,000 in seed funding. LearnBoost is an online gradebook for teachers. The product is remarkably slick, integrates with Google Apps and functions both on web and mobile (including the iPad). Congrats to the team. What is LearnBoost? LearnBoost’s product allows teachers to manage their classroom by offering an amazing gradebook and software for managing and creating lesson plans, tracking attendance, maintaining schedules, integrating calendars including Google calendars, seamless tagging of Common Core State Standards, and so much more.

Who are the investors? LearnBoost raised a seed round from leading venture capital firms such as Bessemer Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures, RRE Ventures, and Atlas Ventures. LearnBoost’s angel investors include Naval Ravikant, Bill Lee, James Hong, Karl Jacob, and others. Full TechCrunch coverage is here.