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Facebook Recruiting Former Apple iPhone Engineers for Facebook Phone
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One reason for Apple enthusiasts to be in favor of of phone like that is as fully integrated competition. Apple is more likely to integrate Facebook if there is a Facebook phone that advertises Facebook integration. Neither Android nor Windows phone distinctly advertise Facebook integration as their main selling point.
Well, if it can't go up, I think it will go down. People will get sick of it. I don't think it will completely die, but I think it will end up like Myspace or something.
I see what you are saying, but the problem with what you're saying is Facebook is now like an appliance. People haven't gotten sick of toasters or motor vehicles even though neither has really changed at all (toasters don't deep fry and cars don't fly). It sounds ridiculous but it's true. Facebook is as important part of American life that it is near becoming a fixture.
With all due respect to his memory, Steve Jobs was not God.
even though you apparently think he was.
With all due respect to his memory, Steve Jobs was not God.
even though you apparently think he was.
Agreed. Zuckerberg doesn't want to be Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs clearly didn't think about or at least implement social networks until it was too late.
It's funny how everyone is sooo shocked by this when Facebook have been in the phone biz for a while. Heck, the "Facebook phone" was released last year, made by HTC and running Android (Facebook could do what to Google with a Facebook phone again ?) :
For a bunch of self-proclaimed tech enthusiasts, you guys sure have bad memories about actual tech outside of Apple.
Just because it was called the "Facebook phone" by the press doesn't mean it's the same thing as what we are all discussing here. We are talking about phone hardware and software designed and manufactured by Facebook (with sub-contractors), not just a little collaboration with HTC to stick a FB button on a phone.
Keep up please.
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Well, FB has to do something with all that IPO money to justify the valuation of the company. And since they have no plan on how to monetize mobile users, this idea is better than nothing ...
However, to think that a company with zero expertise in hardware design or OS design can just suddenly jump into one of the most cutthroat markets is pretty arrogant. Just hiring some ex-iPhone guys is not going to do it.
"people will get sick of FaceBook"
I dont quite buy that. I think FB have managed to make their app into something people have integrated into their everyday lives.
Its like telling someone in the 20th century that people will get sick of the phonebook.
If I need to find someone, FB is the first place I try.
Here's another thought for you. Email, as a form of non-business communications is dying. Its been replaced by texting and FaceBook.
People are quickly approaching a point where the sexiness of learning how to use new social networking apps has lost its allure and simply become a tedious process. FB has won that battle.
The smartest thing FB can do is to simplify their product, dumb it down, and just leave it alone. Its not a sexy approach but it will work and assure them a long future not unlike the one Microsoft have with the likes of "Office".
I dont quite buy that. I think FB have managed to make their app into something people have integrated into their everyday lives.
Its like telling someone in the 20th century that people will get sick of the phonebook.
If I need to find someone, FB is the first place I try.
Here's another thought for you. Email, as a form of non-business communications is dying. Its been replaced by texting and FaceBook.
People are quickly approaching a point where the sexiness of learning how to use new social networking apps has lost its allure and simply become a tedious process. FB has won that battle.
The smartest thing FB can do is to simplify their product, dumb it down, and just leave it alone. Its not a sexy approach but it will work and assure them a long future not unlike the one Microsoft have with the likes of "Office".
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Agreed, only I don't see this as FB building a phone, instead I see this as FB acquiring talent that has experience with success in mobile.
Really, a FB phone doesn't make sense. What does make sense is getting a tighter grip on mobile social networking. They don't have to pull a profit on day one, they only need to keep users from switching to a different service.
Why do people keep saying that Facebook is in "social networking"?
Their core business is advertising just like Google's core business is advertising.
Social networking and search are just a means to drive traffic.
As people shift to tablets there is less room for advertising so Facebook/Google needs to find alternative means to serve up marketing data to/from those devices. One of the issues being screen real estate and the other being the shift by developers away from "free" ad supported applications to the "freemium" model.
This is the sole reason why Google bought Android. This is what Facebook is attempting to do with this phone project.
The question is will either of these companies be able to capitalize on these devices. Google has yet to be able to find a way to capitalize on Andrioid in terms of an advertising platform.
Their core business is advertising just like Google's core business is advertising.
Social networking and search are just a means to drive traffic.
As people shift to tablets there is less room for advertising so Facebook/Google needs to find alternative means to serve up marketing data to/from those devices. One of the issues being screen real estate and the other being the shift by developers away from "free" ad supported applications to the "freemium" model.
This is the sole reason why Google bought Android. This is what Facebook is attempting to do with this phone project.
The question is will either of these companies be able to capitalize on these devices. Google has yet to be able to find a way to capitalize on Andrioid in terms of an advertising platform.
Wrong, Google who he thinks he's like. Somewhere between Steve Jobs and Woz! True. In reality he's just another Gates: social outcast - made money to try to become cool.
Steve Jobs created one of the greatest social networks ever: Mac users. Ever known such a selfless group of people prepared to help out new users? Have Windows users got an equivalent?
Now that is starting to sound like what AOL was, except that you can use your choice of web browser.
One of the former Apple engineers reports:
"Mr. Zuckerberg asked about intricate details, including the types of chips used."
LOL. The CEO who want to build a phone doesn't even know what chips are used in an iPhone. Shows how little (i.e., non-existent) FB's knowledge in the hardware area is.
"Mr. Zuckerberg asked about intricate details, including the types of chips used."
LOL. The CEO who want to build a phone doesn't even know what chips are used in an iPhone. Shows how little (i.e., non-existent) FB's knowledge in the hardware area is.
That is funny, but the truth is that the stock price doesn't really matter that much to Facebook. They already sold their issuance at $38. The price going up and down now between shareholders doesn't matter that much. Zuckerberg's paper net worth may have dropped, but he is still fabulously wealthy and he doesn't seem materialistic enough to care in any case. The public shareholders may not like the loss, but Zuckerberg's stock carries extra voting power so that he completely controls the company as the majority shareholder. Basically, the shareholders have given him their $38 and now he is done with them. That is why I didn't buy into the company in the IPO, there was clearly no respect to be given to the investors at this stage.
The Future of Phones?
Oh wow here is my new FaceBook phone!!! Let me just turn it on (Big Ad pops up that has no close button). Ah, we just have to wait a moment for the Ad to go away. Let me just make a call (Big dialog pops up....you have been friended by Mitzy Moochs)....well just let me close this. Then the legal disclaimer pops up stating that all actions on this phone are available for archiving/analysis/and sale...by Facebook.
Then you simply...make your call.
Oh wow here is my new FaceBook phone!!! Let me just turn it on (Big Ad pops up that has no close button). Ah, we just have to wait a moment for the Ad to go away. Let me just make a call (Big dialog pops up....you have been friended by Mitzy Moochs)....well just let me close this. Then the legal disclaimer pops up stating that all actions on this phone are available for archiving/analysis/and sale...by Facebook.
Then you simply...make your call.
That is funny. Could someone point him to iFixit for the tear downs that come out on launch day for every Apple product?
Just because it was called the "Facebook phone" by the press doesn't mean it's the same thing as what we are all discussing here. We are talking about phone hardware and software designed and manufactured by Facebook (with sub-contractors), not just a little collaboration with HTC to stick a FB button on a phone.
Keep up please.
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Well, FB has to do something with all that IPO money to justify the valuation of the company. And since they have no plan on how to monetize mobile users, this idea is better than nothing ...
However, to think that a company with zero expertise in hardware design or OS design can just suddenly jump into one of the most cutthroat markets is pretty arrogant. Just hiring some ex-iPhone guys is not going to do it.
What's the difference? The first iteration was Microsoft's Project pink/Kin - which failed. The second iteration is that ugly thing above, which looks just like the thing from MS. Now FB is trying to steal tech from Apple to create the third iteration. They're all illegitimate members of the same family.
I agree with you that this is the case for people between the ages of 20 and 45. But folks older than 45 largely don't use Facebook and they probably won't ever get into a Social Network. And the question is if something new will come around that the kids will use instead of Facebook. The kids aren't tired of social networks. They aren't as vested in Facebook and they might switch. Facebook can't make a $100 billion if five years from now the next generation is switching to something else. They really do need to have won this battle for a long long time.
Well 700 million users isn't normally considered a problem in most business. The problem is that they make less than $2 from each of them on average. If they were to increase that to $15 (and that is per year for a service that many people use every day), that would be enough revenue to justify about a $100 billion valuation.
What if they sold privacy? Imagine the backlash. But seriously, suppose you had to pay Facebook $10 per year to keep your account private. Most people would basically have to do it. Remember, they own ALL of the emails and pictures you have uploaded to it. The potential for something that is basically close to blackmail of 10s if not 100s of millions of people is kind of breathtaking.
I don't need to say why I'd never buy a phone made by facebook, as everyone has already hit all those issues.
However, when Google said they were making a phone, it was a similar reaction of roars and groans. Google had some things going for it (that did ultimatley help them). Their properties cover vast areas: mapping, search,, photo sharing, docs, cloud storage, mail, blah blah blah and to infinity and beyond. Then they built out what they lacked: app stores, music store, books, etc (and not so successfully I might add, as the platform allows for side loading and many other ways to snag content for devices.)
If FB weren't the privacy inept, technically inept, scatter brained me too, botched company that they are... they'd maybe even have a chance. But since they are what they are, nah.
As it is, even developers with apps baked into fb (like that ville company) are feverishly trying to break away and be independent of fb. Because, they like suck
However, when Google said they were making a phone, it was a similar reaction of roars and groans. Google had some things going for it (that did ultimatley help them). Their properties cover vast areas: mapping, search,, photo sharing, docs, cloud storage, mail, blah blah blah and to infinity and beyond. Then they built out what they lacked: app stores, music store, books, etc (and not so successfully I might add, as the platform allows for side loading and many other ways to snag content for devices.)
If FB weren't the privacy inept, technically inept, scatter brained me too, botched company that they are... they'd maybe even have a chance. But since they are what they are, nah.
As it is, even developers with apps baked into fb (like that ville company) are feverishly trying to break away and be independent of fb. Because, they like suck