iron wil

I am not sure what the answer is; but I have to admit that I like Diaspora and am interested in what they end up doing.  They received massive amounts of cash to deliver a product they came up with.  Each person will hold their own ID and control how it is used.  Mozilla has presented Thirdparty and Fingerprinting.  Jason Calacanis has also ranted his displeasure on Facebook‘s Privacy while Leo Laporte has walked away from Facebook because the Privacy Policy has changed several times.

Facebook has now reached 500 Million daily users and is showing very little slowdown.  Twitter is great for short messages and sharing right now news.  Google is now working on a not so secret project titled ‘Google Me‘ a potential competitor to Facebook.  Then we have Open Authentication or Open ID which is designed to deliver single sign on across the web; something that Microsoft tried to deliver years ago with Passport.  There is such confusion over what the best solution will be.

Diaspora seems to bring the best ideas together by allowing the users to own the server, software, and information.  It provides a single sign on that is controlled by the user.

What should the solution be?

That is a really good question.  One, I have been considering for weeks, which is obvious since I am just getting this article finished & posted.  I think that the best solution will allow for cross platform compatibility and easy user deployment. Software that can be installed similar to WordPress or Joomla.  Plug-ins to enable additional features and content or games and video.   It should be easy to update and take care of so that the average web user can manage their account and software.  I imagine that several hosting companies, like DreamHost and SquareSpace, will provide managed installs.  I hope that it will interface with Facebook and Twitter and several other services.  It would make sense to me, that is always the hitch, that in order to compete and over take the competition; it will have to be very open and powerful. It would also need to provide Open Authentication [Open ID] like access to websites and deliver single sign-on services to a multitude of sites and services.

When it happens … the next social network evolution will change the way we communicate and interact.  It will also change who owns the data and where that data resides.  My personal hope is that projects like Diaspora will finally overcome the larger social juggernauts.

iron wil

They even point out this is a security move for the company and they intend to cycle over 20,000 computers.  That is a lot of hardware a whole lot of hardware!!!  It is an interesting and impressive move.

I know that there are Windows users that are going to call this bogus and complain and Troll the blogs; but either way, Google has made a statement.

iron wil

My 2¢:
Go Google!  Windows is becoming more secure and more reliable.  Mac & Linux have been leading with certain features and a stronger security posture.  Those computers [Windows] are a big target and hopefully, that target will shrink because the software is becoming more secure.

The small wireless carriers are prohibited from getting the better devices because the mobile providers lock the manufacturer into contracts that prevent them from selling to everyone.  Verizon and AT&T said that they would open their services so that customers would be able to bring the device they wanted to their network or move to another.  However, we are still locked into contracts and carriers because of incompatible hardware and exclusivity contracts.

Despite the promises, we currently don’t see a change on the horizon.

In the other article the small or rural carriers ask the FCC to intervene and disrupt the exclusivity contracts.  These issues affect all those that want to take their iPhone to Verizon or another carrier.  This has a larger implementation that just the little guys that want to bring the latest bling to their networks.

The next change in hardware and services should, I hope, see the creation of a 700MHz chipset that will allow the owner of the hardware to migrate to the best provider for the area they live in.  I believe, eventually, that the carriers will become like the internet providers today and who you have won’t matter as much as the quality of service and the device you have.

Who wouldn’t like to have the iPhone in Alaska or Vermont?

iron wil

If you have been paying attention, Apple recently bought Siri, ‘Your Virtual Personal Assistant’.  Their tag line … “You Ask, Siri Does”.  3G and soon to come 4G services, or ubiquitous wireless services and a person can get access to their data anywhere.  It is coming and I am excited to see next years products.

So, if you take all the things I have been thinking about the iPad from my previous posts, it is understandable where Apple is going.  They know what they are looking forward and planning for.  Do you see it?

iron wil

Previous Posts:

Curse of the Mobile Providers

Google unwires the US?

Verizon pulls a 180 on the Band Width Auction

Google Phone?

OS X on your WinBox!!!

The iPhone and Wired prove ME right!

Mobile Moving towards Freedom

Next Awesome iPhone App!

A Possible Apple Tablet

Rotten Apples? Nope, Just Complaints

Apple Tablet Prediction

iron wil

iron wil

As I thought about it, I remembered that Verizon & AT&T both said they would open up their networks by the end of 2008.  Well, it is the beginning of 2010 and Verizon & AT&T, from what I know, are still clam-shelled.  They are not allowing users [us] to bring the device that we want to their service.

I am disappointed in this, very disappointed.

I believe that one day the mobile providers will have to open up because hardware manufactures & users will stick it to them and they will change.  The beginning of the end for their selecting of hardware we can use was started when Apple released the iPhone.  Since then, Google has released the Android software package and now the Nexus One phone.  Other hardware manufactures are jumping in and building handsets and devices that access mobile providers networks.

Times are changing.  The hardware manufactures are tightening the thumb screws and things will change for users and the carriers that provide our services.  I have to say that my prediction for 3 to 5 years is looking dismal; however, I am hopeful that it will happen.  That soon handsets and NetBooks will be open to provider transfer.  I know there are people that would like to take their iPhone to Verizon or T-Mobile and have the ability to move around per their need.

Time will tell, I am hopeful that it will happen soon.

iron wil

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iron wil