Does Your Ethical Stance on Rumors Change in a Down Economy?

By Cyndy Aleo-Carreira of Shakespeare I Ain't (E-mail / Twitter)

Tech blogging is just as competitive, if not more competitive, than mainstream news. Nearly every blogger salivates over the tiniest little rumor that could turn into the scoop that lands you the top spot on Techmeme or the front page of Slashdot or Digg. It's practically become acceptable to run with the unconfirmed rumor in order to make it out of the gate first.

Should that codicil to a blogger's code of ethics be removed in a down economy?

Two notable stories have "broken" so far this year that lack confirmation. The first, making its appearance on Gizmodo this past Monday, had Steve Jobs passing on the Macworld keynote because he's allegedly on his deathbed. The second, also breaking on Monday, had SD Times claiming Google would put Juniper out of business by coming out with a hush-hush router to end all routers.

Apple still had a new 17" MacBook Pro and some sexy software upgrades, but Juniper didn't fare so well, dropping steadily throughout the week with a huge dip this morning as the story about the stock falling and the alleged Google router hit the mainstream press.

Are either of these stories true? Looking at past history and the companies involved, I think it's pretty safe to say that Steve Jobs is sick. That's been apparent since the rumors of his imminent demise started swirling after his appearance last year. However, Steve Jobs is not stupid. I don't think he would let things get to the point where he's on his death bed before taking some steps to turn over control of the company, and speculating that he's got one foot on a banana peel over a grave is gossip, not news.

As for Google and Juniper, it's no big secret that Google wants things Google's way. Is Google going to go into the hardware business and compete against companies like Cisco? Never. It's simply not going to happen. If they weren't willing to do it for a consumer device like the rumored Gphone we were all salivating over the idea of years back, they certainly aren't going to do it on a scale like routers, where failure would be catastrophic. But they have Android, and they've shown a desire to apply their software acumen to existing hardware issues. Is it conceivable they are planning to (or already are) working with a hardware company, much as they did with HTC on Android? I might bet a few pretzel sticks on that.

Based on the evidence, however, Google isn't going to topple Juniper, and we aren't going to see Cupertino shrouded in black crepe any time in the near future. And in a climate where tech jobs are on the chopping block and companies are scampering to drive their stock back up to appease shareholders, going for the big dramatic story rather that looking at the facts is going to end up with all of us out of work. If the tech companies go under, so do the jobs writing about them.

Read more by Cyndy Aleo-Carreira at Shakespeare I Ain't.

I'm Getting So Tired Of The Non-Instant Web

Tap... Tap... Is this thing on? (Reloads)

At the end of 2008, my #1 prediction for 2009 in the world of tech was that the real-time Web was going to grow in awareness and importance - and that a growing number of early adopters and fast followers were going to turn to sites that delivered instant updates, without waiting for filtered analysis. But there are other aspects of the Web that seemingly should be instant, and are nothing but. Brick and mortar institutions that have moved to the Web still have the delays common with their offline institutions. Pure online plays can't manage to update their data as months and years change. And the result is frustrating. As I find some services doing a fantastic job of updating instantly, it's those that lag that drive me absolutely nuts.

Back in 2006, when this blog had maybe three total readers, myself being counted twice, I encountered an issue where eTrade took seemingly ages to send from my account to a third party bank. As the two posts on the matter, from August 20, 2006 and August 24, 2006, show, a simple process of selling stock, converting it to cash and shipping it to Bank of America, that should have happened practically immediately, took about a week. While at the time I was mostly just annoyed, near the end of the year, in what looked like an instant replay, I actually bounced checks for this very reason.

As I've written about a few times on the blog, I opened up a checking account with eTrade near the end of 2007. Given the crisis at many financial institutions in 2008, it seemed a good move to have some of my cash at Wells Fargo and some at eTrade, in case one had issues. But at the end of 2007, I had to write a check that exceeded the amount of my holdings at either bank, but was less than the total amount between the two. So, planning ahead, or so I thought, I transfered money from Wells Fargo to eTrade. Days later, I wrote the check, knowing I had enough cash to cover it. But days later, I got notification my check had bounced, and eTrade did me the favor of charging me a $25 overdraft fee.

Meanwhile, I substituted the old check with a new one for the same amount, and resubmitted, as the deposit made its way through. But instead of the second one going through, and the first begin canceled, eTrade billed me a second overdraft charge, saying now that the first check had passed through, and the second had bounced. Freakin' brilliant.

So... we're dealing with that. Meanwhile, with my eTrade bank account in a thinned-state, the mortgage came due, automatically debiting from my wife's B of A account (we're working on closing that out). I wrote her a check to cover the amount, while at the same time, selling stock on eTrade's brokerage side to transfer to the checking side to give the appropriate cushion. That was done at the end of last week, but only just tonight did I get the chance to transfer the funds to the right place. Annoying. The last thing I wanted to do was bounce, yes, a third check, and then have my wife bounce her own account and have us in trouble with the mortgage company, when in fact, we did have the money, but just didn't have access to it.

I know financial institutions have these old-fashioned rules that allow a certain number of business days to make funds available, and that things aren't as easy as simply dragging and dropping money from one account to another, but given the seeming simplicity of the Web, I've got to believe there is a better way. Why should I have had to check in with eTrade first thing every morning, multiple times during the day and again at night to see if their system would let me have access to my own money? The Web should remove the restrictions not just of physical limitations, but of time as well. Just get it done.

Which gets me to my next item...

It's January 7th, right? So why, oh why, is there any reason that Compete.com's data still stops at November of 2008? Are they still waiting for those year-end reports to trickle in from December? It makes absolutely no sense. At 12:01 a.m. on January 1st, I could have given you the exact statistics for this site. Sitemeter just checks in with real-time data, and it keeps going. But Compete.com, the Web's easy way out when it comes to getting comparative traffic stats, is asleep. Call Alexa all the names you want, but at least they show December and the first part of January. Ridiculous.

But those services aren't alone...

Web digerati from Steve Gillmor to Gabe Rivera have been slamming FeedBurner's slow pickup of news and translation to RSS. RSS is practically the lifebood of today's connected, always updated, mobile content world, and the Google-owned property has put innovation on hold by hitting the snooze button.

I've seen this many times myself, as I go through Google Reader, seeing posts that took place hours and hours ago. I used to blame Google Reader for the issue... (See: Warning: Google Reader Congestion of Up to Five Hours) but now it's clear the offender is FeedBurner. If FeedBurner is destroying the capability of the real-time Web, there needs to be an alternative. There's really no good reason with so much technology at Google, and on the Web in general, that we can't find a real real-time solution.

I could keep going... but I am going to reward those services and companies that get the real-time instant Web right. There's no reason I should have to wait for my money, my data, my feeds, or any of that. I'm done with waiting.

10 People to Follow On FriendFeed for the Month of January

By Mike Fruchter of MichaelFruchter.com (Twitter/FriendFeed)

It's the start of a new year, and what better way to kick it off with it than a tradition I started back in July of 2008?

This is the type of post that really makes me happy. It's my way of paying it forward to a community that already has given back to me so much, in so many different ways. What better way to do this than joining forces with Louis Gray, who is one of the most vocal and positive supporters of the community we all have come to love, FriendFeed.

This post highlights 10 FriendFeed members that I feel are of value to the community. People often ask and recommend other FriendFeed members for this list. All that I can say to that is, whoever is on my radar, I try and take notice of. I have close to 1,000 people following me on FriendFeed, and I reciprocate back to about the same. Therefore if you are active on FriendFeed and subscribed to me, rest assured that your time will come. If you are not subscribed to me, check out my feed, and if we share the same interests, you can also follow me too. I do my best to follow everyone back, just as long as you are active on FriendFeed and contribute some type of value to the community.

Previous FriendFeed members to follow lists can be found for the 2008 months of July, September, November and December.

1) AJ Batac

Short Bio: AJ is the cofounder of Egghub. There he oversees the day-to-day operations covering design conceptualization, implementation and execution. His background is strong in web development, usability, human interface design and search engine optimization. AJ is a tremendous contributor to FriendFeed, he is one of the more active users on the site. What I like about his feed is the diversity of content he shares and posts. You will always find something interesting, ranging from humorous to technical.

What they find interesting: Humorous, Tech, Web Design, Web 2.0, Social Media

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: allanjosephbatac.com/blog

2) April Buchheit

Short Bio: April is the mother of two beautiful children, and the wife of Paul Buchheit, one of FriendFeed's cofounders. To quote Louis Gray " Prior to Mona, she was the finder of amazingly funny things for me. Now a good mix of funny/odd items, and baby pics. Good combo." Myself being a parent of a 7 month old daughter, I can appreciate this, and I love baby pics, who does not? Just as Louis has the most adorable twins, April and Paul's kids are cute as could be. It's a refreshing change to see, and one I often look forward to on FriendFeed. She also shares some very interesting and unique content to say the least. Nowhere else on FriendFeed can you find an article on sunbathing in the living room using oven stoves and heat walls.

What they find interesting: Parenting, Humorous, Odd, General and Interesting News

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: camilla-april.blogspot.com

3) Igor Poltavskiy

Short Bio: Igor is a serious techie and blogger who lives in Russia. Igor blogs about the latest technology trends, products, and social media/networking applications. He is always on the look out for cutting edge stuff to blog about, and does some fantastic product reviews as well. Igor's feed always has something for everyone. There is a never dull moment. You can always count on Igor to randomly comment and like stuff. Sometimes he pops up from nowhere, but when he does, it's always a pleasant surprise. If I ever traveled to Russia, Igor would be the first person I would look up.

What they find interesting: Technology, Web 2.0, Social Media

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: scabr.com

4) Internet Strategist

Short Bio: Rose is a former IBM Customer Engineer. Nowadays, she runs her own business, specializing as an independent consultant. She assists online businesses in increasing conversions and profitability. She has a strong focus and skill set on creating, optimizing, and managing PPC search engine campaigns. If I was looking to take my business to the next level, this is someone I would contact in a heartbeat. On FriendFeed she defines the true meaning of "paying it forward." Rose repeatedly shares other FriendFeeder's content, and is always looking to help people out in anyway she can. Her feed is filled with nothing but quality content. She is all work with very little play, that's something I truly admire. She is a very rare breed, and I'm happy to have the pleasure of interacting with her on FriendFeed, and her blog as well.

What they find interesting: Personal Growth, Social Media, Technology, Collaboration

FriendFeed:Subscribe | Blog: growmap.com

5) Ken Stewart

Short Bio: Ken is a technology solutions manager for Sharp Business Systems. Ken's strengths are on managing and growing professional services, training, and customer care groups. He is also responsible for oversight of all branch technology functions. Ken is a very smart and sharp thinker, he also frequently guest posts on Louisgray.com. Ken is starting to become very active on FriendFeed, and his shares and posts are very thoughtful, intelligent and interesting. I always find something of interest when I visit his feed.

What they find interesting: Social Media, Technology, Web 2.0, Humorous

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: changeforge.com

6) Kol Tregaskes

Short Bio: Kolin is an Evenflow/Data Coordinator at Mono Consultants, located in the United Kingdom. He is a highly skilled IT and telecoms professional with a sound knowledge of business and customer service. Kolin also has a passion for photography and runs his own photography business. Kolin, for the most part is very active on FriendFeed. He shares a variety of content, but what like the most is the visual art that he posts. Kolin makes the rounds on FriendFeed, you can be sure you will always run into him somewhere on the site.

What they find interesting: Art, Photography, Technology, Humorous, International News

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: squashyfrog.com

7) Lou Cypher

Short Bio: Lou hails from Jakarta, Indonesia. Lou is a dedicated and very talented coder. He creates and builds a multitude of useful Grease monkey scripts, Firefox scripts, and Yahoo pipes just to name a few. Lou usually shares content related to technology, programing and applications. Lou also frequently shares other FriendFeed member's content, and is a great value to the community. He is quiet, but he is always in the background, secretly working on the next big thing.

What they find interesting: Programing, Technology, Applications, Web 2.0

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: loucypher.wordpress.com

8) Marshall Kirkpatrick

Short Bio: Marshall is the lead blogger and vice president of content development at ReadWriteWeb. If you are a regular at RWW, you have probably read his posts many times. It's hard to pick a favorite blogger, but he ranks up there in the top ten for me. Marshall has a very clear and unique writing style, and is one of the reasons why RWW is a daily must read for anyone in the technology field. I cant forget Sarah Perez and the other RWW bloggers too. On FriendFeed he shares mainly technology and social media related content. Marshall recently got married on New Years eve to his partner of five years. I hope you are enjoying married life Marshall, and congratulations on tying the knot!

What they find interesting: Social Media, Technology, Semantic Web, Web 2.0

FriendFeed: Subscribe

9) Mo Kargas

Short Bio: Mo is a Web and New Media developer residing in Australia. Mo has a strong skill set in website and web application development. Mo is pretty much the jack of all trades when it comes to web technologies. Anything and everything from Drupal development to AJAX, to open source content management frameworks, Mo can tackle. Mo is pretty active on FriendFeed and is a great contributor to the community. His feed consists of a variety of items, and like Kol, he shares some amazing visual art.

What they find interesting: Web Development, Social Media, Technology, Humorous,

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: reactiondynamics.com/blog

10) Valeria Maltoni

Short Bio: If this list was not in alphabetical order, Valeria would have been number one. Valeria is the Director of Marketing Communications at SunGard Availability Services, located in Philadelphia. Valeria is a leading voice and thought leader when it comes to social media/marketing. Her blog has been an inspiration to many, including myself. When Valeria speaks, people listen, literally. She is also a consultant and speaker who works on the client side in corporate America. She works effectively with CEOs and senior management teams to make a significant impact on the areas that are important to them. She has lectured and mentored some of the top CEOs of the biggest corporations in the world, including IKEA . Valeria is also a Fast Company expert blogger and a contributor to Marketing Profs Daily Fix, and Marketing 2.0. She is also a co-author of The Age of Conversation, a groundbreaking ebook collaboration by 103 of today's top marketing writers. I would need another 10 pages to list all of her impressive and remarkable accomplishments. Valeria is a very active Twitter user, but thanks to Robert Scoble, she is starting to spend a lot more time on FriendFeed. There is a reason why I share and promote her content every single day on FriendFeed, now do you see why?

What they find interesting: Marketing, Public Relations Communications, Social Media, Technology

FriendFeed: Subscribe | Blog: conversationagent.com

Read more by Mike Fruchter at MichaelFruchter.com.

Disqus2FF Mashes Up Fractured Conversations

Who really owned the comments... the original poster or the aggregation site that "stole them away" was one of the biggest small-time blog wars on the Web in 2008. Whether bloggers were complaining about seeing comments and conversation moved from their blog and instead taking place on FriendFeed, Socialmedian or Shyftr, or debating whether they could trust comments in the cloud, it became clear that the only consensus was that there would be no consensus. You either embraced the new tools, or you yelled loudly against them. Today, an interesting tool via Disqus has let bloggers effectively synchronize comments between their blogs and the popular FriendFeed service, meaning people can comment in either place, and see it end up as part of the conversation - wherever it is.

And guess what? We've already implemented it on this blog for louisgray.com.


Set up your API key on both services...

As the Disqus blog points out, an enterprising Disqus community member, Carter Rabasa, put together a quick application on Google's App Engine, called FF2Disqus. By entering your API key for both Disqus and FriendFeed, assuming you use both services, the tool will check your blog posts on FriendFeed and pull in FriendFeed comments to your site, or send Disqus comments to FriendFeed.


The result spits out the copied over comments...
There's no installation process, no scripting and no code. Just run it once and you're good to go.

You can choose to make the connection unidirectional, from either FriendFeed to your blog, or the other way, or to have full synchronization. I enabled it to copy over FriendFeed comments to my site, effectively replacing the Yahoo! Pipes solution I'd asked Pat Hawks to create last June.

The result is pretty straight forward. If there is a comment on FriendFeed, it is displayed by Disqus on my site, in the order it was posted, and the author's ID links to their FriendFeed user profile. Now, what the solution doesn't do is crawl FriendFeed and find all comments on all reshares or tweets of your blog. It just gets the one main entry, which I think is good enough. It also is bound to have some disjointed entries as conversations are smashed together, but it should be a good experiment to see how the two could merge.

If you're a FriendFeed user and a Disqus-enabled blogger, you should really check out FF2Disqus at https://ff2disqus.appspot.com/.