Comments on: SXSW Showdown: Dodgeball Vs. Twitter http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/ Startup and Tech News Mon, 12 May 2008 08:19:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Do You KNOW Clarence?™ » Silver-Lined Tweet Clouds http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-2158144 Do You KNOW Clarence?™ » Silver-Lined Tweet Clouds Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:47:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-2158144 [...] March, 2007, I was convinced by several people in my camp to get down with the mega-hyped service, [...] […] March, 2007, I was convinced by several people in my camp to get down with the mega-hyped service, […]

]]> By: tiffany b. brown http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1257925 tiffany b. brown Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:02:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1257925 <strong>Twitter meta: It does too have a point...</strong> Blake Robinson of TechCrunch compares Twitter, Dodgeball and Facebook status. His take: I think though that Twitter has a limited appeal. Sure it’s cool at an event like SXSW, but I can’t seeing it maintaining much functionality out of a conventio... Twitter meta: It does too have a point…

Blake Robinson of TechCrunch compares Twitter, Dodgeball and Facebook status. His take:
I think though that Twitter has a limited appeal. Sure it’s cool at an event like SXSW, but I can’t seeing it maintaining much functionality out of a conventio…

]]> By: Rocky Agrawal http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1253611 Rocky Agrawal Wed, 21 Mar 2007 01:32:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1253611 There's a new GPS service for Twitter that allows you to post your location from select GPS-enabled Sprint phones. On the Twitter page (or in mobile alerts) your friends get your tweet along with a link to a map. Brings the service closer to Dodgeball. More here: http://blog.agrawals.org/2007/03/17/the-worlds-a-twitter-about-twitter/ There’s a new GPS service for Twitter that allows you to post your location from select GPS-enabled Sprint phones. On the Twitter page (or in mobile alerts) your friends get your tweet along with a link to a map.

Brings the service closer to Dodgeball.

More here:
http://blog.agrawals.org/2007/.....t-twitter/

]]> By: Alex Patriquin http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1252768 Alex Patriquin Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:44:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1252768 Facebook has a huge head start on either Twitter or Dodgeball, but only if their user base adopts SMS updates. We've seen how difficult it is for a social network to evolve with Friendster's orphaned customization tools, Facebook's controversial intro of the mini-feed and very recently the MySpace clamp down on 3rd party apps. Facebook has a huge head start on either Twitter or Dodgeball, but only if their user base adopts SMS updates. We’ve seen how difficult it is for a social network to evolve with Friendster’s orphaned customization tools, Facebook’s controversial intro of the mini-feed and very recently the MySpace clamp down on 3rd party apps.

]]> By: Erica http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1251501 Erica Tue, 20 Mar 2007 16:34:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1251501 "because it was sold like nothing else" -- I disagree. What good is Twitter if you don't have any friends? I signed up because people I was hanging out with at SXSW were using it, and it turned out to be the perfect communication tool. I wouldn't have given the pretty Twitter display a second thought if I had already decided it wasn't useful. "to me, the flexibility is an advantage" -- Exactly. In addition, the Dodgeball FOAF feature doesn't work (not in Minneapolis, anyway). That, to me, is the one advantage Dodgeball might have over Twitter. I know facebook is bigger than myspace, but I'm not a facebook user, so I can't speak to it at all. What are the chances Twitter and facebook could merge? “because it was sold like nothing else” — I disagree. What good is Twitter if you don’t have any friends? I signed up because people I was hanging out with at SXSW were using it, and it turned out to be the perfect communication tool. I wouldn’t have given the pretty Twitter display a second thought if I had already decided it wasn’t useful.

“to me, the flexibility is an advantage” — Exactly.

In addition, the Dodgeball FOAF feature doesn’t work (not in Minneapolis, anyway). That, to me, is the one advantage Dodgeball might have over Twitter.

I know facebook is bigger than myspace, but I’m not a facebook user, so I can’t speak to it at all. What are the chances Twitter and facebook could merge?

]]> By: Competition Auditing Dept. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1251298 Competition Auditing Dept. Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:45:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1251298 It's worth noting that www.UPOC.com has been operating in this space for years. It’s worth noting that http://www.UPOC.com has been operating in this space for years.

]]> By: tiffany http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1250758 tiffany Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:38:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1250758 dodgeball is *SO* last year ... no, seriously. most of the folks who were all about dodgeball at last year's festival were all about twitter this year, even before the conference. i think twitter has an edge over dodgeball precisely because it *isn't* location dependent. you can text or tweet about whatever. if you want to give a location, add it to your text message: "ex: @ the hideout, 617 congress." to me, the flexibility is an advantage. what i'm hoping to see in twitter's next iteration is a way to select those you want to receive mobile updates from versus those who should be web-only. dodgeball is *SO* last year … no, seriously. most of the folks who were all about dodgeball at last year’s festival were all about twitter this year, even before the conference.

i think twitter has an edge over dodgeball precisely because it *isn’t* location dependent. you can text or tweet about whatever. if you want to give a location, add it to your text message: “ex: @ the hideout, 617 congress.” to me, the flexibility is an advantage.

what i’m hoping to see in twitter’s next iteration is a way to select those you want to receive mobile updates from versus those who should be web-only.

]]> By: Nick http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1250230 Nick Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:26:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1250230 Dodgeball is US only at the moment where as Twitter can be used in other countries like the UK. I do agree that twitter does have limited appeal at the moment... Dodgeball is US only at the moment where as Twitter can be used in other countries like the UK.
I do agree that twitter does have limited appeal at the moment…

]]> By: Cherif http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1250079 Cherif Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:42:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1250079 I fully agree with your Twitter vs Facebook status comparision. As I mentionned in my post on the same topic (http://cherif.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/twitter-wont-make-it/), there is nothing stopping Facebook from adding an SMS gateway on top of their status feature. If they do, how will Twitter survive? I fully agree with your Twitter vs Facebook status comparision. As I mentionned in my post on the same topic (http://cherif.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/twitter-wont-make-it/), there is nothing stopping Facebook from adding an SMS gateway on top of their status feature. If they do, how will Twitter survive?

]]> By: metonym http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1248557 metonym Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:34:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1248557 Blake: "the features of similar services should be compared as that’s how we best judge which service is a better use of our time." I hear you - and I wish that this were true - it would make the tech world a much simpler place to navigate. However - I'm pretty sure that Metcalfe's Law dictates that the size of the (exposed) network is the primary determinant of value. I have no idea how many overall users Dodgeball has vs. Twitter, but I know which one provides me with more immediate potential points of contact. (Hint: my twitter page is linked above. Feel free to stop by and friend me if you like. I would gladly provide a similar link to my dodgeball page if I knew how - or could even tell for sure if I had one...) Blake:

“the features of similar services should be compared as that’s how we best judge which service is a better use of our time.”

I hear you - and I wish that this were true - it would make the tech world a much simpler place to navigate.

However - I’m pretty sure that Metcalfe’s Law dictates that the size of the (exposed) network is the primary determinant of value. I have no idea how many overall users Dodgeball has vs. Twitter, but I know which one provides me with more immediate potential points of contact.

(Hint: my twitter page is linked above. Feel free to stop by and friend me if you like. I would gladly provide a similar link to my dodgeball page if I knew how - or could even tell for sure if I had one…)

]]> By: David Scott Lewis http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1248112 David Scott Lewis Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:41:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1248112 Both of these services are a waste of time and have limited utility in the real world. SMS and/or a phone call will work just fine in 99% of life's needs. Of course, I suspect a lot of the Twitter and Dodgeball fans are also on Second Life -- because they don't have a real life!! (And combine this with SXSW -- the self-anoited, "way-to-early-adopter" types. NEVER follow the consensus of the SXSW extremists: They have NO clue whatsoever what the market really wants. What a bunch of losers ...) Honestly, this stuff is getting nauseating. I'm convinced that Robert Scoble and Steve Rubel are in desperate need of an intervention, perhaps with a specialist in PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). I generally have a lot of respect for each (especially Steve), but they've verifiably lost it with their zealot Twitterness. It's like Twitter Jihad!! Come to think of it, Twitter and Dodgeball could be useful services for Islamists and other extremists (and they've certainly lost it). I hope the NSA takes note of this. Both of these services are a waste of time and have limited utility in the real world. SMS and/or a phone call will work just fine in 99% of life’s needs. Of course, I suspect a lot of the Twitter and Dodgeball fans are also on Second Life — because they don’t have a real life!! (And combine this with SXSW — the self-anoited, “way-to-early-adopter” types. NEVER follow the consensus of the SXSW extremists: They have NO clue whatsoever what the market really wants. What a bunch of losers …)

Honestly, this stuff is getting nauseating. I’m convinced that Robert Scoble and Steve Rubel are in desperate need of an intervention, perhaps with a specialist in PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). I generally have a lot of respect for each (especially Steve), but they’ve verifiably lost it with their zealot Twitterness. It’s like Twitter Jihad!!

Come to think of it, Twitter and Dodgeball could be useful services for Islamists and other extremists (and they’ve certainly lost it). I hope the NSA takes note of this.

]]> By: John Tropea http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247850 John Tropea Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:39:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247850 I posted about lots of these SMS networks on my blog: http://libraryclips.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/a-list-of-sms-groups-and-services-and-mobile-social-networks/ Some of them have GPS location features and others require users to SMS their location eg. checkin/checkout Some SMS status (non mobile web) location services: Groovr, buddyping I posted about lots of these SMS networks on my blog:
http://libraryclips.blogsome.c.....-networks/

Some of them have GPS location features and others require users to SMS their location eg. checkin/checkout
Some SMS status (non mobile web) location services: Groovr, buddyping

]]> By: Andrew http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247761 Andrew Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:17:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247761 My family uses twitter to stay abreast of what is going on... we are spread out over the country. My MOM (79) twitters daily to the rest of the family. It was easy for her to do as opposed to email or joining another social service. She can see what her grandchildren are doing (college exams, soccer practice, homework help) I can have more insight to her day to day (she plays a lot of bridge). In a small way it makes us feel more involved with each other. From a business model view I would pay keep it private and to keep it simple. So maybe that is where they could go. and maybe not. As for these sms services I think that they one use could be community safety. I signed up about ten people on my block as part of a safety program for getting walked from their car late at night (live in the city)... Also there could be text 311 (non emergency requests) ... My family uses twitter to stay abreast of what is going on… we are spread out over the country. My MOM (79) twitters daily to the rest of the family. It was easy for her to do as opposed to email or joining another social service. She can see what her grandchildren are doing (college exams, soccer practice, homework help) I can have more insight to her day to day (she plays a lot of bridge). In a small way it makes us feel more involved with each other. From a business model view I would pay keep it private and to keep it simple. So maybe that is where they could go. and maybe not.

As for these sms services I think that they one use could be community safety. I signed up about ten people on my block as part of a safety program for getting walked from their car late at night (live in the city)… Also there could be text 311 (non emergency requests) …

]]> By: Marc Nathan http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247732 Marc Nathan Tue, 20 Mar 2007 01:11:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247732 Blake, I don't think that "features" are the driver for this class of social software, but adoption as mentioned in these comments (and more eloquently than this). I've had a dodgeball account before they were purchased by Google and I think that I used it maybey twice in that time - once was right before SXSW07 to make sure that I wouldn't be left out of the network in Austin. Twitter, even though it's been around for a year took off last week because of a confluence of early adopters (cool kids), content (what they're doing), location (Austin), technology (phones work and servers were up most of the time) and price (TXT messages were cheap enough to be marginal). Dodgeball never really had this perfect storm, sort of like all the Web 1.0 companies that were good ideas, but didn't have the Web 2.0 infrastructure and users to feed off of. Blake,

I don’t think that “features” are the driver for this class of social software, but adoption as mentioned in these comments (and more eloquently than this). I’ve had a dodgeball account before they were purchased by Google and I think that I used it maybey twice in that time - once was right before SXSW07 to make sure that I wouldn’t be left out of the network in Austin. Twitter, even though it’s been around for a year took off last week because of a confluence of early adopters (cool kids), content (what they’re doing), location (Austin), technology (phones work and servers were up most of the time) and price (TXT messages were cheap enough to be marginal). Dodgeball never really had this perfect storm, sort of like all the Web 1.0 companies that were good ideas, but didn’t have the Web 2.0 infrastructure and users to feed off of.

]]> By: jsharon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247658 jsharon Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:52:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247658 Neither of these compare to Groovr (www.groovr.com) which was launched on the first.. the perfect combination of the two plus photos and videos and more! Neither of these compare to Groovr (www.groovr.com) which was launched on the first.. the perfect combination of the two plus photos and videos and more!

]]> By: Update http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247322 Update Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:33:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247322 Right now on twitter.com: Twitter: down for maintenance—be back shortly! Now, that's Twittering for you. Right now on twitter.com:

Twitter: down for maintenance—be back shortly!

Now, that’s Twittering for you.

]]> By: Drama 2.0 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247137 Drama 2.0 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:48:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1247137 Twitter is certainly getting a lot of hype, but I can't help but thinking "feature" and "novelty." Maybe somebody buys it out, but outside of that, it's going to be difficult to turn it into a viable, long-term business unless they actually build a service around it. I agree with previous posters that existing services, like Facebook, could easily do something similar and gain an immediate foothold or dominance in the marketplace. That's what happens when you create a simple startup with little to no defensible technology. Twitter is certainly getting a lot of hype, but I can’t help but thinking “feature” and “novelty.” Maybe somebody buys it out, but outside of that, it’s going to be difficult to turn it into a viable, long-term business unless they actually build a service around it. I agree with previous posters that existing services, like Facebook, could easily do something similar and gain an immediate foothold or dominance in the marketplace. That’s what happens when you create a simple startup with little to no defensible technology.

]]> By: Carsten http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246892 Carsten Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:52:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246892 I would really love to read something about Twitter's business model somewhere: It seems to me that they're basically giving away short messages for free and this way are burning loads of money each and every day. Am I missing something (business model-wise)? I would really love to read something about Twitter’s business model somewhere:

It seems to me that they’re basically giving away short messages for free and this way are burning loads of money each and every day.

Am I missing something (business model-wise)?

]]> By: Blake Robinson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246747 Blake Robinson Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:16:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246747 Oliver, That's a fair edit. Oliver,

That’s a fair edit.

]]> By: Oliver Luker http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246734 Oliver Luker Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:14:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246734 Shouldn't that be 'vaunted' rather than 'flaunted'? Shouldn’t that be ‘vaunted’ rather than ‘flaunted’?

]]> By: Brian Laks http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246724 Brian Laks Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:11:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246724 You have to think that facebook has the upper hand here. It will be much easier for them to implement these features over their already large user base, then it will be for new upstarts to try and build a massive following. All these startups are just doing the dirty work for the larger players to figure out what is working and copy it. You have to think that facebook has the upper hand here. It will be much easier for them to implement these features over their already large user base, then it will be for new upstarts to try and build a massive following. All these startups are just doing the dirty work for the larger players to figure out what is working and copy it.

]]> By: Stu http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246675 Stu Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:59:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246675 Friendstribe.com is my favorite mobile social network. It's like Dodgeball but it has more features. Friendstribe.com is my favorite mobile social network. It’s like Dodgeball but it has more features.

]]> By: steve http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246667 steve Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:57:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246667 I wrote about this too: <a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/social/?p=110" rel="nofollow">|Is Twitter the ultimate conference ‘backchannel’?</a> I wrote about this too: |Is Twitter the ultimate conference ‘backchannel’?

]]> By: /pd http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246645 /pd Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:51:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246645 Both Twitter and dodgeball have some pro's and con's. Dodgeball has the upper hand only because its can get folded into the various services of google. However Twitter is easier to use .. so its an interesting spin on how soical presence app's will evolve !! Both Twitter and dodgeball have some pro’s and con’s. Dodgeball has the upper hand only because its can get folded into the various services of google.

However Twitter is easier to use .. so its an interesting spin on how soical presence app’s will evolve !!

]]> By: ted http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246623 ted Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:44:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/19/sxsw-showdown-dodgeball-vs-twitter/#comment-1246623 Great point about facebook. they are definitely primed to do this, as they are really focusing on their core as a communications platform. Their users love to be informed about where their friends are and what they're up to, so something like this would be perfect. Maybe they'll go public and then buy twitter :) Great point about facebook. they are definitely primed to do this, as they are really focusing on their core as a communications platform. Their users love to be informed about where their friends are and what they’re up to, so something like this would be perfect.

Maybe they’ll go public and then buy twitter :)

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