Agreed. Though it should not become a youtube, where you can find anything. The reason I like Netflix is because its a great place to watch a few things well. I too feel TED is a welcome addition.
89 karma · joined November 9, 2010
- Making TED content more accessible across devices/platforms? (Netflix has better device reach)
- Applying Netflix's categorization and recommendation algorithm to TED's vast content.
- As the article said, grouping related videos for longer viewing, but I am not sure how good it would be.
I think this is just a value add to existing customer, but I want them to figure out a way to add more movies.
I think this probably is a better solution than RIAA going after people and suing them for absurd amounts of money. While I don't agree on policing on principle, this could be the least acceptable alternative.
Though, I think this is also a good time maybe for VPN services to mushroom around other parts of the world that could be used from USA? (Though, technically you are more easily traceable when using a VPN, since you have signed up with some identifiable information.)
What I am trying to figure out is, what keeps you(/me) wanting to upgrade to new tablets frequently, where as we are perfectly ok, running our 3+ year old Mac. Maybe the price point makes it more affordable to upgrade frequently.
I am sure the tablet devices will follow a similar cycle as iPhone. Upgrade once in 2 years. I am beginning to wonder, the only aspects that might make me want to upgrade to IPad 4 next year, could be faster processor and more memory, thus making the overall experience better. I am sure Apple will have some exclusive software that will run only on their latest device (ex: Siri), that might force me to upgrade. Given how I use the Ipad right now - Videos, Netflix and eBooks (very limited browsing), I am ok with what I have now.
Will be good to know some statistics on how many upgraded to Ipad 2 from Ipad 1.
I have taught her how to copy and paste files from PC to USB drive. She is a teacher, speaks english and is generally adept at other things. But, she just cannot grasp how to navigate file systems, the menus, the basic actions needed to move things around. Needless to say I have to explain them over and over again.
However, when she uses my iphone/ipad she finds is remarkably simple and easy to navigate. The underlying theme is the simplicity through limitation. The less there is to know, the easier it is to deal with. There is clearly a space for tablets for simple minds.
On a tangential note about shoplocket, I feel it is focused entirely on the seller. You can allay some of my fears as a buyer about the guarantees and security I have buying through this. It says risk free, but again for the seller. How can customers trust the seller?
- There is no prior appointment made before delivery. You have to be on the lookout.
- Unreliable. They rarely keep up their time/day.
- You miss the delivery and its a whole different story - Calls back and forth is painful.
To me flipkart solves the problem by allowing me to track/mobile alerts. They usually call me up during delivery and have at times even met me where I was to deliver (away from home).
I think someone should start an outstanding Logistics company here :-) (Like Fedex/UPS).
Just a very small nitpick (not something you should lose your sleep over at all) - upon navigating to a link and then clicking browser back button doesn't take me back to the location I was at. I would even recommend opening links in a new window.
- 1) A fantastic delivery/courier system (in major cities). They have homegrown service that does a reliable job. Courier deliveries in India is a painful experience. I won't be surprised if they spinoff a logistics arm!. To me this is their secret sauce.
- 2) Good customer support. I have bought quite a few things in the last few months and have sent them a few queries for which I have received quick responses. I think they are able to scale this with the current demand.
- 3) Fairly priced (not always the lowest, but definitely on the lower end compared to brick and mortar stores). I have found better deals on other online stores, but have resorted to buying on Flipkart due to their reliability. The key to success in India will be reliability, which is not something the public actually expects, but can become the differentiator.
- 4) Cash on Delivery for most items - Most people here don't use credit cards for online shopping. Cash on delivery is a safe and trusted option. The Junglee linked sites might offer the same option, but it can probably become confusing if some of the stores don't.
Yet, I feel there are areas in which a new entrant can do better and compete (keeping the service on par with flipkart):
- 1) A bigger inventory - I don't find all I need on flipkart. It pales in comparison with Amazon's inventory.
- 2) Product reviews - Right now Flipkart's reviews are just mediocre at best. What we need is more editorial reviews and organic reviews tailored to Indian market. I keep looking up Amazon reviews before purchasing stuff.
- 3) Better inventory management - A lot of popular products I purhase here in Bangalore (where Flipkart is headquartered) seem to ship from Delhi/Chennai. That is a loss of a day or two in delivery. Amazon can be a game changer if they invest in better warehouse management. End of the day for a similar price, the one to deliver quickest will win.
- 4) Better recommendation engine - No guesses why Amazon can recommend better (way higher sales and more data to learn from). Flipkart can get better at this over time, but Amazon can come equipped already.
I am an extremely satisfied customer of Flipkart, but feel it can get better and a new entrant might just make it a a competitive market.
I think what media companies need to understand is how digital distribution has no relation to countries/boundaries. I can walk down the road that I now live in India and find pirated same English movies for around $3, and save a lot of money on streaming (bandwidth is expensive here). I wonder what the studios are trying to prevent here. I feel there is a genuine demand for netflix like subscription based movie service in India, which could operate with willing paid subscribers. This is a genuine case to reduce piracy here.
Sad state of affairs, but nothing out of the ordinary.
I still believe downloading illegally is wrong, but thats my opinion.
The thin line that separates the two things you are trying to compare is: In the case of movie/video sharing we are a customer (hopefully) of a service that is sold (music/movie) whereas in the case of copying a website, neither is the website selling their design nor is it in public domain for use.
I think it is ok to be inspired and create a "similar" design, but to plagiarize, is probably as pathtetic as it can get.
I was in MN back then (when I took the trip). ATT was expanding then in north mid-west. Even in MN, their coverage improved between 2007-2010.
I was driving through I-90 which cuts across SD and even stayed overnight in Rapid City. I think I had good signal, which I must admit was surprising on ATT, though, I wasn't aware it was from their partner n/w backs then.
I found this incident funny, 'cos this business had the sense to know how telecoms worked, knew the law and exploited the loophole to make money :-). Sometimes, I think its just connecting the dots as Jobs said.
I had an interesting experience with ATT. I was into the 6 month of a 2year contract back in 2007. I wasn't using my phone much (non-iphone). But then I went on a road trip to Yellowstone, which included driving through ND, SD, MT and WY. During this 7 day trip, I was using my phone a lot (work + personal). The total amount of minutes I spent in those 7 days were way more than my usual monthly usage (in fact it ate into my rollover minutes as well).
After a few days from returning, I received a letter from ATT telling me that they could not afford me on their network for using so many minutes, as they had to pay their partner n/w in those states (not just major cities in those states). They wanted me to leave their network, in return they would let me have the phone (under contract for free).
I was happy to oblige as I wanted an iphone. I switched to Tmobile for a week and then went back to ATT again (iphone plan).
The simple truth is do you want to enjoy the journey following your passion, knowing very well there is a slim* chance of financial success or do you want to find a comfort zone and derive "borrowed" happiness. The borrowed happiness is from all materialistic things, safety, comfort, peace etc.. that you can afford/buy.
-*I am sure there are people who have passions that also have tangible financial success guaranteed. Good for them!
A nice concept as well (btw, the hackernews effect is slowing down/timing out your site).
On a tangential note (maybe), are you also liking running the startup (a company)? I am sure developing the product would have been an awesome experience, but when it comes to manage and run the company it calls for something else. How are you liking that?
The other source again from PG, that I can infer as not doing too many things/working on too many ideas is: http://www.paulgraham.com/startupmistakes.html Read the #18 (A Half-hearted attempt)
I am sure there are folks who have juggled more than one Idea and succeeded in all of them. Also, I think the relevance of these posts also probably make sense to someone starting out early (like say during building the product/company) and probably not for someone who already is working on established companies (like in Jack's case). IF you see Jack in fact moved out of twitter to completely focus on Square and only when it had hit the road running, did he embark back on twitter.
What I am in awe and admiration is that he is managing two companies and in this case two completely different ones by nature! A rule generally accepted in the startup land is that you don't work on multiple ideas, in order to stay focussed on building one thing well. While twitter is not a startup (any longer) and Square is probably a very big/late-phase startup (if we can qualify it as that), they both definitely need the caring and nurturing of a founder (IMO). Given that, it is remarkable he is able to do the context switch needed to run both the companies. I would love to know how effective his leadership is, in both these companies, given that he isn't there longer than a typical day in either of them.
I am so tempted to try doing more than one thing, but then since I am a coder, I guess its not easy to digress daily as he can.
How is one supposed to decide which startup to work for and at what stage in the startup to join? I liked the 37Signals principles when and IF they ever go IPO/cash out. I think the VC community needs to push for such a clean and transparent model (Wishful thinking).
But you know what, I am hopeful. I am hopeful that I can do something meaningful in the next one year that I have been given. I am hopeful that I can push myself to the next level (much more maybe). I am hopeful that I can rediscover myself. I am hopeful that I can maybe make a small dent in my own universe. I am hopeful that I can feel proud about myself. The way I see it is even failure is a success for me, because I have all these hopes.
I am happy I got this chance at 30, I know I will not get this anytime later with many more commitments I might make. I often wonder at times, if I had the maturity of my 30 when I was 20, I would be so much more willing to do this again and again.
While I can certainly understand your pain of what you consider failure, I feel you are rushing to make this call giving on hope. You have another 10 glorious years before you feel you din't do enough of what you have been able to do now. Step out of home, take a couple of days break (if financially feasible), write on a piece of paper what you want and how you can get there next. Taking these chances should make you proud, cos look around you, your friends are clinging on to that so called steady income, slipping away in their comfort zone.
It doesn't work for me as well (Macbook / Lion 10.7.1). I DON'T see "com.radiosilenceapp.nke.PrivateEye" listed as well. I haven't moved the app to a different folder. Do let us know if this is resolved.
- it appears from the techcrunch article your PC based players are using RTMP. which essentially is a flash based solution(?). Is there a html5 based solution as well?
- Is there support for livestreaming or is this just progressive download?
- How are you different from these services: Brightcove/Ooyala/Panvidea/etc...
This is my 8th year here in USA and I have a green card being processed. I have decided to give it all up, move to India to start working on my idea for a year and come back here next year as a dependent (my spouse would continue to remain here). If this rule allows me to create my own startup without the wage rule, I should be able to remain here on my own H1 and possibly continue my green card as well (or does anyone know how it works in this case?).