Comment

Google will probably hold another event in June/July to announce the slightly updated Nexus 4, Android 4.3 and the new Nexus 7.

June/July seems early, I’m expecting September/October. Of course, I have absolutely no proof other than historical trends.

9 days ago on I missed it, where is 4.3.3?

Comment

If you’re already paying for SMS, why not just use SMS?
My hope is that something like this replaces SMS.

That’s sort of the point, but if you’re the first person you know to adopt a new messaging platform (like Hangouts), you would need to keep SMS around as a backup for communicating with everyone else. Integrating SMS into the new messaging platform makes that transition easier. The end game is for everyone you know to be using a messaging platform that is at least interoperable with the one you use so you can stop paying for SMS.

10 days ago on Google says SMS integration and outgoing calls 'coming soon' to Hangouts

Comment

So millions of people will dismiss it after hearing about it at I/O, but those same millions won’t come back after it does have SMS integration?

Pretty much, yes. Millions might be an exaggeration, but the point is the same. Launching Hangouts without SMS integration turns what could have been an explosion of new users into a slow burn.

10 days ago on Google says SMS integration and outgoing calls 'coming soon' to Hangouts

Comment

They needed to announce it with SMS integration from the start, updates don’t have the same impact as a launch event.

10 days ago on Google says SMS integration and outgoing calls 'coming soon' to Hangouts 1 reply 1 recommend

Comment

Ah, I see. I get that those are different technologies, but what’s the difference?

10 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers

Comment

You mean, BBM will be available soon, right?

Also, is there a way to use BBM on a desktop or laptop?

10 days ago on Pick your poison: messaging will be fragmented, expensive, or locked-in 1 recommend

Comment

This has never actually happened to me, though I have occasionally mass texted a group of people over SMS. Does SMS distinguish between “group messaging” and “sending a message to multiple recipients”?

10 days ago on Pick your poison: messaging will be fragmented, expensive, or locked-in

Comment

The same argument could be made for Facebook Messenger. I actually think Facebook has a better argument here because they have more users than Skype. Plus Skype kinda sucks.

10 days ago on Pick your poison: messaging will be fragmented, expensive, or locked-in 1 reply 3 recommends

Comment

Apple said that they would open Facetime to other platforms because it sounds like something they should do, but time has proven that they have no intention of actually doing that. It’s been 2 years since that announcement, has there been any progress on opening Facetime to other platforms?

Also, Apple makes zero apps for other mobile platforms, what makes you think they would start with iMessage?

10 days ago on Pick your poison: messaging will be fragmented, expensive, or locked-in

Comment

Mobile messaging needs a “Meebo”, an app that aggregates as many different messaging services as possible.

Meebo did that for instant messaging, I know they weren’t first but that’s the one I used and it was great.

10 days ago on Pick your poison: messaging will be fragmented, expensive, or locked-in 2 replies 2 recommends

Comment

I think they’re trying to change that perception so that the whole event will be taken more seriously by developers. They probably realized that last year was too much of a consumer focused event, that probably means they will hold a consumer focused product-launch event in the fall. Then next year, everyone will know to expect developer focused announcements at I/O and consumer product announcements later in the year, which by the way, is exactly what Apple does with WWDC.

10 days ago on Google I/O a disappointment? 1 reply 3 recommends

Comment

In my experience here in the US, I know that some credit cards have RFID chips embedded in them, but if I look in my wallet I wouldn’t be able to tell you which ones have it and which ones don’t. For all I know, none of my cards have it (or maybe all of them have it, I just don’t know). And some retailers added RFID readers to their card readers that tell you to tap on it, but ask the cashier how it works or how to do it and they don’t know. I look at those things and I don’t do it because I’m not sure if my card will work that, I’m not sure how to do it correctly, and I don’t want to look like a dumbass, so I just swipe instead because I know how to do that. This is where the education part comes in, I think it needs to be more clear that your card has an RFID chip to reduce that confusion, and the readers should have a little picture showing how to do it (like they have on most swipers that show you which side is supposed to be facing up). Maybe I’m just too dumb to figure it out on my own….but the point is I don’t think I’m the only one.

11 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 2 replies

Comment

There’s not a retailer in existence that cares how their POS system looks. Not even Apple, who just use Macbooks hooked up to regular ugly old card reader systems, same as you find at McDonald’s.

Are there POS systems available that have been designed with aesthetics in mind? We don’t know if how a POS system looks matters to retailers until they have the option of choosing a good looking system over an ugly system.

Functionality is important, but in a lot of industries cleanliness and appearance are important too (I’d be surprised if Apple wasn’t one of the first 10 companies to try out this system). If Square can get all the necessary functionality squared away, I think many retailers will find the aesthetics of this system appealing as compared to standard POS systems.

11 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 1 reply 1 recommend

Comment

Don’t US credit cards have chips in them yet?

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-05/thieves-stole-45-million-because-us-uses-absurd-40-year-old-technology

Sadly, the answer is no. Our credit card technology is about 50 years old, and we’re 20 years behind other countries in developing credit cards that use chips.

There has been some push to get RFID chips in to US credit cards, but the infrastructure that accepts the chip instead of the stripe is lacking. I’m not certain that RFID is the same thing that you’re talking about. One of the major problems I see is a lack of education on how/when/why to use a card without swiping, both consumers and cashiers need to be educated.

11 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 1 reply

Comment

I can’t tell how your comment relates to mine….I think you’re saying that Square’s system would be better for Starbucks, I don’t disagree with that. The part I was disagreeing about was when you said this:

the POS at SB has to be able to handle over 85,000+ drink combinations and modifications which I don’t believe is possible at the moment with Square.

The reason I disagree with that is that you’re just talking about the software interface, that’s really the easy part when developing a system like this. That shouldn’t be a roadblock stopping Starbucks from adopting Square’s POS system.

12 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 1 recommend

Comment

According to my quick calculations, if your revenue through this system is expected to be over $120k per year you should go for the monthly rate, below $120k per year you should pay the 2.75% per swipe.

12 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 1 recommend

Comment

I’m sure they can design their own software to work with this system, they would probably even prefer that because it would make it easier to control the software and easier to push out updates.

The myriad drink combinations possible at Starbucks can definitely be handled by properly designed software.

12 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 1 reply

Comment

I’m guessing he meant the hacking thieves, not the rob at gunpoint thieves. I’m still not sure if his comment is warranted, has Square been proven to be a vulnerable system?

12 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 2 replies

Comment

Doesn’t a 3d printer currently cost significantly more than $600? Especially once you factor in the “ink” (I don’t know the proper term).

Plus you still wouldn’t be able to connect your barcode scanner, receipt printer or cash drawer if you print your own stands.

12 days ago on Square introduces $299 stand aimed at replacing cash registers 1 reply

Comment

sensationalism sells on the nets.

Unfortunately, you don’t need the qualifier in that statement. Sensationalism sells. Period. It’s true for all media, whether you’re talking about the internet, TV, radio, newspapers, books…sensationalism sells everywhere.

12 days ago on Eric Schmidt thought 'Don't Be Evil' was 'the stupidest rule ever' when he joined Google

Comment

Part of the problem is that there’s no such thing as “enough” money. Content providers will keep wanting more.

16 days ago on A look inside Netflix and how Reed Hastings built a streaming empire

Comment

There’s a big difference between saying that Verizon is capable of transmitting in HD voice and saying that Verizon transmits in HD voice.

Let me know when they actuallly start deploying HD voice.

16 days ago on Disaster, meet opportunity: Verizon's plan to push wireless on copper landline customers

Comment

If AT&T is in charge of updating this devices OS, I wouldn’t hold my breath. Facebook also has very little incentive to concern themselves with OS upgrades.

Even if Facebook adapts their apps to newer versions of Android, there would be no reason to upgrade the Android version on the First.

17 days ago on The First Update