Alex Barnett's blog : Bubble 2.0

Moving my blog

alexbarn — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 21:38:00 GMT

OK, so I moved my new Alex Barnett blog to here for a number of reasons, explained here at my, er, new blog.

Sir Tim: Calm Down 2.0

alexbarn — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 05:20:00 GMT

This is what The Register said Sir TBL said about Web 2.0:

"You should thank Tim Berners-Lee. Not just for giving us the web, but for articulating what's gone wrong in the lexicon and thinking of Silicon Valley. Hopefully, his standing in the web community will serve as a rallying cry for right-thinking individuals and true visionaries, and mean Web 2.0 is put in its proper context."

This is what Sir TBL actually said in the IBM podcast:

"LANINGHAM: You know, with Web 2.0, a common explanation out there is Web 1.0 was about connecting computers and making information available; and Web 2 is about connecting people and facilitating new kinds of collaboration. Is that how you see Web 2.0?

BERNERS-LEE: Totally not. Web 1.0 was all about connecting people. It was an interactive space, and I think Web 2.0 is of course a piece of jargon, nobody even knows what it means. If Web 2.0 for you is blogs and wikis, then that is people to people. But that was what the Web was supposed to be all along.

And in fact, you know, this Web 2.0, quote, it means using the standards which have been produced by all these people working on Web 1.0. It means using the document object model, it means for HTML and SVG and so on, it's using HTTP, so it's building stuff using the Web standards, plus Java script of course.

So Web 2.0 for some people it means moving some of the thinking client side so making it more immediate, but the idea of the Web as interaction between people is really what the Web is. That was what it was designed to be as a collaborative space where people can interact.

Now, I really like the idea of people building things in hypertext, the sort of a common hypertext space to explain what the common understanding is and thus capturing all the ideas which led to a given position. I think that's really important. And I think that blogs and wikis are two things which are fun, I think they've taken off partly because they do a lot of the management of the navigation for you and allow you to add content yourself.

But I think there will be a whole lot more things like that to come, different sorts of ways in which people will be able to work together.

The semantic wikis are very interesting. These are wikis in which people can add data and then that data can then be surfaced and sliced and diced using all kinds of different semantic Web tools, so that's why it's exciting the way people, things are going, but I think there are lots of new things in that vein that we have yet to invent."

This is what Emily Turrettini over at Smart Mobs said The Register said that Sir TBL said:

"Berners-Lee has dismissed Web 2.0 as useless jargon nobody can explain and a set of technology that tries to achieve exactly the same thing as "Web 1.0." The Register reports"

This is what Voidstar said Smart Mobs said The Register said that Sir TBL said:

"pointing out that Web 2.0 is just Web 1.0 with pastel colours and a style sheet"

Did someone say 'echo chamber' or Chinese whispers?

Well, here goes for the second time around

alexbarn — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 07:44:00 GMT

Bubble 2.0 - the signs are there if you look for them.

Remember First Tuesday? I never attended, but heard all the legendary stories of latecomers to the web party pitching the loons with the cash.

Well, here goes for the second time around:

"London was one of the major creative hubs in the first boom and is once again buzzing with innovative ideas and companies. European investors and entrepreneurs are a major force in the new landscape.

It's time to take business in the online sector seriously again. Second Chance Tuesday is an event for anyone that believes in the power of the internet to change everything,from the way we communicate to the way we entertain ourselves. Come mingle with London’s leading entrepreneurs and investors who are helping create the world changing ideas of tomorrow."

'Let's party like it's 1999'. That's the event strapline. You think I'm joking, don't you?

Via Ivan Pope.

Detracting from the hype and buzz

alexbarn — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 21:41:00 GMT

From the boys at Supr.c.ilio.us, an open letter to Michael Arrington of TechCrunch:

"Subject: This is no way to build a bubble.

Mr. Arrington,

Concise, sensible and well researched articles about possible acquisitions are no way to build a bubble. Blog posts not based on unfounded rumor and/or wild fantasy and/or wishful thinking do not contribute and, in fact, detract from the hype and buzz the rest of us on the Blogosphere are dedicated to promote.

Please Stop!

Respectfully yours,
The Blogosphere."

Loser Generated Warning Label

alexbarn — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 08:55:00 GMT

Loser generated using the Warning Label Generator, via Assaf and Richard.

APIs yesterday, APIs tomorrow

alexbarn — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 08:33:00 GMT

Tom Evslin provides a historical perspective on the renewed interest in APIs and looks forward to how they are driving the next generation internet:

"Becoming a platform will be the road to fame and glory - not to mention riches - for many Web 2.0 services. Success will be determined by the usefulness of the underlying service and how attractive it is to third party developers and to other services. And, of course, how well it is marketed to developers.

..."Today Web 2.0 is made up of thousands of small service providers as well as few large ones. Many of the small services will never reach a critical mass of usefulness by themselves. However, useful services with useful APIs will grow because of the investment that other service providers make in extending and incorporating their data and functionality."

Tom writes good stuff...if you're looking to stick a new RSS feed in your pipe to smoke, I suggest his Fractals of Change feed.

'Microsoft Needs to Say No to Web 2.0'

alexbarn — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 22:42:00 GMT

I simply have to have a quick rant regarding Mary Jo Foley's best anti-Web 2.0 shot:

"Redmond is looking to extend its applications with Web-based services. But that's as much Web 2.0-ness as Microsoft needs.

Microsoft wants, in the worst way, to be cool. Apple and Sony and Google kind of cool.

To Microsoft's credit — at least so far — the company hasn't made the mistake of trying to get an instant infusion of coolness by jumping on the Web 2.0 bandwagon.

Only a few Softies seem to be all caught up in the Web 2.0 hype. The majority of them seem oblivious to the weak business ideas, buzzwords and bloviation that make me think "Bubble 2.0" every time someone mentions "Web 2.0."

Here's the kicker:

"But Microsoft doesn't need to snap up a bunch of Web 2.0 startups, out-scour AJAX or invent the 38th signal to do this. The Redmond software maker just needs to stick to its knitting by developing new ventures that mesh with its established businesses. Microsoft needs to just keep saying no to Web 2.0, at least until Web 2.0 means something more than just "we want venture funding."

At risk of repeating myself on this subject, I think Mary is confusing two things: the dotcom mentality (this second round is referred to Bubble 2.0 mentality) and the Web as a Platform, or Web 2.0. Will Microsoft, at least at the 'official' marketing level call 'it' Web 2.0? Probably not, and probably a wise thing thing too (that said, IBM did pretty well 'owning' the term and concept of 'e-business' through the millions of marketing dollars they spent. This arguably was one of the most sucessful b2b marketing plays in years).

But my point, I think, is that there is an 'it' Does the 'it' only mean getting $$$ from VCs? For a small number of people this maybe the case, but for the vast majority involved in whatever 'it' is, 'it' is not about money: 'it' is about something much more grounded in the development of our social evolution - our desire to communicate with one another, our desire to help each other and to make a better world of it all. It just so happens technology can really help us do all these things and it just so happens that the web is the platform that it will happen on...Microsoft has a huge part to play in that, but just because we don't term it 'Web 2.0' doesn't mean we don't get 'it'.

(thanks to Philip for te pointer to Mar's article).

Digg (the 'Slashdot killer') receives $2.8m

alexbarn — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:43:00 GMT

John Tintle:

Today it is being reported that Internet start-up company, Digg (digg.com) has received 2.8 million dollars in venture capital from some big-name investors, including Omidyar Network, the outfit led by eBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar, Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen, and Greylock partners.

In case you've not heard: Digg is the Slashdot killer.

Via Larry Borsato.

Search Engine for sale on eBay ++ Update - sold for $101,000

alexbarn — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 18:08:00 GMT

Remember this?

The search engine was was finally sold for $101,000 yesterday on eBay.

Via Loren Baker.

Into the bubble 2.0: Proceed with caution

alexbarn — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:21:00 GMT

Henry Blodget (who was at the heart of the last dotcom bubble) advises we all proceed with caution in a Guardian article today:

"So why can't we all load the boat with net stocks, make back the money we lost five years ago, and retire rich? Why can't today's industry executives dismiss the 90s boom as a silly kindergarten recess and be confident that it is "different this time"?

Because, sadly, even the most powerful trends rarely proceed forever up and to the right. These days, it's easy to make money in internet-land, and when it's easy to make money, trouble usually lies ahead. What, exactly, this trouble might be - and when it might come - is hard to say. If it were obvious, the market would already have discounted it. Some possibilities certainly leap to mind: a global recession hammering advertising spending (which is usually among the first line items to get cut); click-fraud or a loss of exuberance hobbling search; Google's dependence on a single high-growth revenue stream, leaving it exposed to a stumble; Yahoo's continental drift toward its its new boss's roots in the movie business resulting in a more capital-intensive and slower growing business model; a loss of focus at eBay stemming from a high-risk bet on Skype. Any of these risks - and dozens more - could temporarily kneecap the stocks and leave investors wondering how they could have been so moronic to fall for the internet story again.

Or, in this second go-round, we might enjoy another five to 10 years of extraordinary, smooth growth, making the believers rich and leaving the cautious feeling like (poor) worry warts. One of the errors that people made in the 90s - one of the errors that I made -was to assume the trouble would be visible on the horizon before it wreaked commercial havoc.

Unfortunately, it wasn't then, and it probably won't be this time."

I remix, therefore I am

alexbarn — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:50:00 GMT

Charlene Li has posted a link to a series of videos of presentations given at the Consumer Forum event in NYC about how companies can tap into social computing.

This is my pick:

"Charlene Li: "Social Computing -- Bubble or Big Deal?" (29 min. 38 sec.)
Find out how companies can tap into new technologies such as blogs, RSS, viral marketing, and podcasting to develop deeper relationships with consumers — including five rules that companies should follow to successfully grow these new relationships."

According to Charlene, "Successful social computing requires ceding control to build the relationship".

I know the use of the word 'consumer' drives a few people quite crazy, Tim Jarrett being the recent agent provocateur on this theme. Tara provides the contrary view: 'I consume, therefore I am'.

In other words, 'I remix, therefore I am'.

It is possible to be a Web 2.0 enthusiast and be cynical of the dotcom Bubble mentality?

alexbarn — Sun, 23 Oct 2005 08:21:00 GMT

Richard, I ask:

It is possible to be a Web 2.0 enthusiast and be cynical of the dotcom Bubble mentality?

I'd say yes. And that's where I'm coming from.

I read what you wrote:

"The serious and worrying thing for me is that I'm writing a book about Web 2.0. But then I believe there are a great many things of value in Web 2.0 and that's what keeps me going. My job is to distill all the signal from the noise - and most of the noise is coming from the anti-Web 2.0 brigade currently. I am also trying to pin down the long-term trends for the Web, together with the real disruptive things that are changing the Web."

This is the challenge both you and Joshua and have set yourselves with your book - to seperate the wheat from the chaff and define the essence of Web 2.0. I think this is an absolutely worthwhile endevour. Why? Because I agree with you: there is something new going on.

But I'll also point out where I think we're heading down the bullshit river, hence my bubble 2.0 references. When I do, this isn't about moralizing - I really don't want to experience another dotcom boom and bust. This is about doing my bit to make sure we don't frenzy ourselves into another deep recession.

Unlike Dare or Joel, I will continue to use the 'unspoken' term. The 'challenge' for them and the others that have pledged to disown the 'Web 2.0' term and its concept is what term they will conjure up and use instead.

The real test is not whether our perceived transformation of the web is called 'Web 2.0' or not. This is a trivial matter. The real test is this: At some point in the future will we collectively look back upon this stage of the Internet's development and agree that there was something new, transforming and profound going on with the web? I happen to believe so.

Friday Web 2.0 tickles

alexbarn — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 20:22:00 GMT

Bubble 2.0 blog has rendered a new version of the Web 2.0 Meme Map. It tickled me.

Via Pete Cashmore.

In the meantime we have Dan Grossman, confirms a bubble is forming:

"While most of us fully understand both the theory underlying investment bubbles and the potential for wealth-destruction, human behavior is such, it seems, that we often can’t avoid getting into bad situations. Of course, it’s hard to recognize a bubble until it’s too late–after all, perhaps it’s just a strong bull market!

Unfortunately, I think the speculation is justified: I can confidently confirm that there is a new bubble forming. As is often the case, it involves a creative entrepreneur who essentially invented a new category–making a bundle in the process–and then hoards of me-too followers."

WTF is Web 2.0? Web 2.0 = Bubble

alexbarn — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 08:48:00 GMT

Robert Margel emailed me earlier this week.

He asked me a question, something along the lines of "so WTF is web 2.0. I keep seeing you mention it in your blog but WTF is it???".

Rob, good question. I'm going to answer by way of a series of posts, because there is no single and definitive answer.

The first possible response to 'WTF is web 2.0?' is this post by a tech VC, Ed Sim: it's not a way of making a quick buck.

"I am starting to get extremely tired and frustrated about every pitch that I see now where a company claims they are a Web 2.0 company and lists their principal reasons for being Web 2.0. It reminds me of the mid-90s when everyone said they were an Internet company and sprinkled their pitch with wild growth expectations from Jupiter Communications. Or when everyone said they were a Java company when Java was the cool buzzword. Frankly I do not care if you are Web 2.0, Web 1.0, etc. All I care about is what your service or product does, why it is valuable to the end user, why it is uniquely different from the competition, what the barriers to entry are, and how you plan on reaching your customers and how you will ultimately make money. Don't start your pitch with Web 2.0 ecochamber talk."

Mini-AOL: 'now just do it'

alexbarn — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 16:35:00 GMT

Mini-AOL:

"Since AOL bought Weblogs Inc. they now have made a large enough "wave" to get noticed. This ontop of the Dating Game that everyone seems to be playing with AOL seems to be getting AOL quite a bit of attention lately.

However now AOL has seemed to strike a deal with Intelliseek to start keeping tabs on what is being blogged about...great. Now do something with it. AOL you've made your stance, you got the attention, and you know what to do with it...now just do it."