According to Dan Clancy, the engineering director for Google book search, every month users view at least 10 pages of more than half of the one million out-of-copyright books that Google has scanned into its servers. - Mattb4rd
via Bookmarklet
@Sampad: A group feature that allows you to sort your followers into groups and assign privacy levels to them? Is that really a good idea? - Asfaq
No. IMO, The essence of twitter is its simplicity. And I don't want to see any groups/community feature to be added to it. And if, TwiPro (if there's gonna' be something like that), gets this feature, I will be more than happiest to remain a regular user . - Aravind Jose
Yeah.. unlimited API is something that even I am willing to pay for. The issue is, what price? - Asfaq
Yes. as @KunalGautam pointed out, unlimited APIs would be a practical idea for premium. And excuse me, can this oAuth thing could be somehow implemented if twitter introduced Pro accounts. - Aravind Jose
I agree Arvind.. making it FriendFeed-like would just kil its charm.. having said that, we dont want Twitter to be the next Palm. Great on innovation.. nothing on improvement. - Asfaq
@Aravind: where will u use oAuth? and a PAYG model would be very expensive.. dont u think? - Asfaq
Unltd API +1, Retaining the simplicity +10^100 - Mitesh Ashar
@Asfaq I'm completely n00b on oAuth. I've heard it getting mentioned tons of times. And I was wondering, whether anything could get it implemented on Twitter, so that, the myriad of twitter tools and mashups could be more credible, as they no longer, would need our, currently-given-everywhere passwords !! - Aravind Jose
if u folks have read the ebook 'Getting Real' from the 37signals.com guys.. u will see how much similar twitter is to their methodologies.. and i feel that is one of the reason of its success... trying to bloat it up with features would not really be advisable... one such example is orkut... it was simple.. now it tried to copy features.. look at its condition.. am not really very happy with what orkut is now.. it has lost its usp... - Mitesh Ashar
What about allowing for more customisation of your profile page? - Asfaq
@Aravind: I think FriendFeed does a great job by providing a 'secure pass-key' for authorising third party applications to access the API for your content. This model is definitely worth replicating, IMHO - Asfaq
@Mitesh EXACTLY. I cannot agree more with you . I second and even third that !! Whatever happens, NEVER KILL THE SIMPLICITY. - Aravind Jose
@Mitesh I agree.. Orkut has just become.. erm.. weird. - Asfaq
@Asfaq Yes. It is. It might be replicated as it proves to be working flawlessly, offering all the capabilities. Wondering why, it hasn't been implemented yet. - Aravind Jose
@Asfaq More customisation features is welcomed. But can I have some examples ? - Aravind Jose
@Asfaq @Aravind I agree with the pass-key thingie... its worth it... though even oAuth is not a bad option at all.. but the passkey is so much more simpler for the layman.. or is oauth simpler? help... - Mitesh Ashar
I dont know.. I was thinking maybe being able to change the whole layout of the page.. apart from just the colours, etc. Anytihng else that you guys can think of? - Asfaq
@Aravind something like allowing you to customise stuff like whether to repeat the bg img.. positioning the bg img.. color scheme is already there... now i dont think there's much they can do on the customisation part... though if they can innovate something that gives a larger feeling of personalisation than it is right now, it would be great... - Mitesh Ashar
@Asfaq err, excuse me, doesn't having the options to change the layout of the profile and stuff, other than what is offered now, hamper the Simplicitty and cuteness of it, which we all love ?! - Aravind Jose
We're forced to see and read about more and more little thingies getting added to every portals (esp. Networking portals), and tiny gadgets being virally promoted, that we expect to see these mostly-senseless things to be introduced everywhere else in the web !! For some gems like Twitter, it's a strong NO-NO - Aravind Jose
@Aravind.. yes, but that could be another hook to entice peole to go Pro on Twitter - Asfaq
that is what i meant by twitter innovating something... retaining the simplicity but giving a better sense of personalisation to the tweople.. not necessarily by just allowing the change in layout, but whatever it may take.. sans a simplicity compromise - Mitesh Ashar
@Asfaq naah.. twitter pro cant enter at the cost of shooing away the non-pro users... it would work against twitter and against non-pro users... a big NO - Mitesh Ashar
Interesting conversation, we are having here. Asfaq, Mitesh, so we have a conclusion that, twitter introducing pro features, will hamper the simplicity it current owns. But, yes, at the same time, if it has to find revenue, there's no other way (practical. ADs are NO-NO). But, in this respect, anyones who LOVES twitter much, as we here do, is not likely to go PRO. - Aravind Jose
c ya folks... gtg.. keep the discussion goin.. - Mitesh Ashar
In the current view, we're talking about, it seems like, the Twitter PRO will be used 90% by Internet Marketers who need, viral promotional tools and mass-messaging/informing tools and the like. A true Twitter lover, won't find anything to get him upgraded (as of our current discussions). - Aravind Jose
@Aravind i dont think that would be my conclusion... i guess the ability to have unlimited api, groups like we have on tweetdeck are somethings among others we could enjoy on twitter pro... - Mitesh Ashar
@Sampad If group functionality is provided for pro people might not go for it, as tools like TweetDeck are already providing features like that. - Veetrag
@Aravind yea i agree to what u say about the target market that twitter pro would attract.. but it depends on what it would offer apart from unltd api's.. there could be some juice for the others as well... - Mitesh Ashar
aren't Groups free in Japan? dont give them ideas now :) - manuscrypts
I believe features introduced will be - groups (for everyone), ads (only for non-pro users), unlimited API, conversation threads (similar to Quotably) and tagging (not the one with hashtags ) - Veetrag
@Mitesh @Sampad Group feature is a much asked one. But, if, awesome clients like TweetDeck can do that, why would we need Twitter to have it on web ? Also, the most viable model seems to be the API calls aspect. Like, upon payment, twitter giving a code similar to coupon codes, that is unique to you, and think of every clients having a area to enter coupon codes, so that they enjoys unlimited API calls till the coupon is valid. - Aravind Jose
@Veetrag You REALLY want GROUPS ? ADs is a strong NO-NO, because twitter cant risk its loving users to be pissed off by seeing ads stuffed in the pages. While this might be thought of a strong push to go PRO, many would just leave (even the ones who love twitter much) and twitter may even face a mass-loss of people. Remember, there are many other competitors, who just needs even a slight dip in twitter to take over the field. Also, remember about Laconica being around. - Aravind Jose
@veetrag when u re-install tweetdeck u lose ur groups.. if u have groups built into twitter pro=awesome!! - Mitesh Ashar
@Veetrag Conversation threads seems promising. Err, I didn't completely get, what you meant by tagging (other than hashtags) - Aravind Jose
@Mitesh No offence, but, wouldn't a tweetdeck update be enough to retain the groups upon a reinstall ? - Aravind Jose
@Aravind maybe.. i have not really used a lot of the groups feature.. but do have an idea about how useful it can be... i just have one group currently on tweetdeck... - Mitesh Ashar
conversation threads is good... twitter could consider it!! - Mitesh Ashar
i guess even if twitter introduces ads, they could be clever enuf to show something like 1 ad tweet for every 5 or 10 tweets on their public timeline... that would be less intrusive on the ui and more integrated when it comes to reachability of ads.... i wouldn't mind seeing them on my public timeline if i am enjoying the free service... - Mitesh Ashar
@Mitesh I think the tweets ad option is a FAIL. That was resoundingly proven by the backlash against Magpie. What we need is maybe a system that will allow advertisers to pitch you with offers ONLY when you are loooking for something. Something like Contextual Advertising, maybe? - Asfaq
@Asfaq exactly... thats wat i actually had on the back of my mind.. but didnt write on my last comment... the ads could be contextually related to the keywords in ur tweets and the links that u tweet... makes a lot of sense - Mitesh Ashar
@Mitesh @Asfaq Yes. That certainly makes sense. There's nothing wrong in that, and at times, we'll benefit from it too. So, that's a thing twitter would consider. - Aravind Jose
@Mitesh You meant YOUR timeline by referring to "public timeline" or meant the exact "public_timeline" ? - Aravind Jose
@Aravind yes i meant MY public timeline :) thats what its called aint it..pls do correct me if i am wrong - Mitesh Ashar
I want Auto-Refresh, Group features, threaded conversation. Most of the tweetdeck and friendfeed features also.... - Arjun
@Mitesh It's usually called your personal timeline. Public Timeline is located at http://twitter.com/public_time... and is a random display of tweets made at that instant. - Aravind Jose
@Arjun Auto-Refresh is something that needs to be implemented even in the most basic form. - Aravind Jose
i don't see a need for pro version at all, but any idea on flickr vs flickr pro usage? - phaniraj
@Phaniraj INFACT, most of us, dont see the need either. But, the Twitter Team does. THey need some sort of revenue. Else, they'll struggle. And about Flickr PRO, they limits the number of sets one can use to 3 for basic users which is a CRUEL limit for many users, and they are forced to go PRO. - Aravind Jose
Friendfeed, but in terms of everyday day-to-day usage than 'iPhone apps' are far more frequent than Friendfeed (though that probably doesn't count). - Andrew Leyden
tripit is my favorite as well as Twitter. used twitter back in '07 but didn't have a need until I lost my job at Yahoo! in Feb. '08 - Randy Ksar
via twhirl
Everything (except for YouTube, Flickr, SU and Digg...the "old" stuff). I went from Blogger to WP in January, had special words for people who used Twitter. - Anika Malone
Liking even though I was already using FF in 2007 and still my fave in 2008 :) - Mark Krynsky
I also started using Twitter in 2008, to be honest. And Mint.com. - Louis Gray
Louis: I disagree. FriendFeed was born October 1, 2007 and didn't get popular, according to Compete.com until mid year this year. Yeah, I guess if you put rule that it must have been born in 2008 then you gotta exclude it. - Robert Scoble
oct 1st...good day that is! :o) my birthday. - Rob Sellen
Twitter, on other hand, was quite popular at beginning of 2008. It was born in 2006, so definitely should be excluded from such a list. - Robert Scoble
Louis: good point. but I'm changing the rules for my own post. :-) - Robert Scoble
twitter, friendfeed & my own askmarkets :P - George Tziralis
I have to agree on Qik. I haven't had the time to use it a lot but its a very uber app. Friendfeed is a great place to get all the info you want or not want. The other app for me is not really an app but Google Reader. I never knew the joys of an RSS Reader until I tried Google Reader. I am in love now... - Andy Breeding
Yammer for collaboration, Chitika Premium for monetization, Amazon EC2 for infrastructure, Mint.com, Netflix - Alden DoRosario
FRIENDFEED - really the "BEST" ever service of my entire online experience...amazing .... Ok shifting gears... going over to Scobles' post now... - Susan Beebe
Dropbox, without a doubt. Qik should certainly be on there. I might also go with Spotify (you should check that out!) However, I've been using both TripIt (not frequently) and FriendFeed since before 2008 so can't go with those. - Brandon Titus
late response, but definitely FriendFeed....VERY cool. - Moushumi Kabir
Pretty much everything that I'm using now: FF, Twine, socialmedian, GReader, PostRank. In 2007 I only started with Digg and SU. - Kol Tregaskes
