Tech TalkBack 2011.03.10 - Anti-Consumer Tech Bubble?

eriklanigan Says:

Mar 11, 2011 - If you think I'm against companies being profitable or being ad-supported (or that I'm not mad at Apple), you've got me all wrong. I also disagree that it's cool to be against Facebook -- or that Facebook is analogous to magazines or cable TV. If you're unable to call in live, please send me a voice or video message, because there's a lot I'd like to discuss here.

chuckiej Says:

Mar 11, 2011 - Erik, my main problem is with you and the callers sounding "shocked". The whole purpose of setting up these services is to make money. None of these people have "day jobs" or if they do, they want to leave their day jobs when their company takes off. Is it a pain and possibly bad what these companies are doing? Definitely. But it's the only way to make money, which quite literally in some cases, is putting food on the table after years of their free service not having ads, data tracking, etc

eriklanigan Says:

Mar 11, 2011 - I don't think any of us our "shocked" that companies exist to make money or to put food on the table. I'm more dismayed at the enthusiasm for companies who don't make innovative products or services but rather find innovative ways to sell or exploit our data. That may be the essence of the current tech bubble: products to help marketers, not consumers. Also, I DON'T think it's the only way to make money. I encourage you to call in to discuss this further.

TheEricBooth Says:

Mar 11, 2011 - Great interview with Leo.

lukew171 Says:

Mar 12, 2011 - eric could you help i wana view my films in front row on my imac but i cant find a good converter cause they make the video smaller than the original i thought of asking you cause you seem to know loads about mac be great to hear back cheers

lukew171 Says:

Mar 12, 2011 - eric could you help i wana view my films in front row on my imac but i cant find a good converter cause they make the video smaller than the original i thought of asking you cause you seem to know loads about mac be great to hear back cheers

lukew171 Says:

Mar 12, 2011 - eric could you help i wana view my films in front row on my imac but i cant find a good converter cause they make the video smaller than the original i thought of asking you cause you seem to know loads about mac be great to hear back cheers

lukew171 Says:

Mar 12, 2011 - eric could you help i wana view my films in front row on my imac but i cant find a good converter cause they make the video smaller than the original i thought of asking you cause you seem to know loads about mac be great to hear back thanks

eriklanigan Says:

Mar 12, 2011 - HandBrake is the best video transcoder. Its "Apple TV" preset should work fine with Front Row.

lukew171 Says:

Mar 12, 2011 - cheers man btw great show i think i may get macbook air over ipad 2 listening to your show makes me think ipad2 is exactly what you say it an item you want nobody needs one an cant see it taking over laptops anytime soon whats your next show about

lukew171 Says:

Mar 12, 2011 - cheers man btw great show i think i may get macbook air over ipad 2 listening to your show makes me think ipad2 is exactly what you say it an item you want nobody needs one an cant see it taking over laptops anytime soon whats your next show about .

davemacdo Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - Erik, I like your show a lot...which is why I'm so disappointed to hear this kind of privacy fear-mongering from you. They aren't using the data to identify you. You know why? They DON'T CARE who you are. And what the hell is wrong with targeted advertising? 1) It makes ads more valuable. Thus, advertisers have to pay more for them and you have to view fewer of them to support publishers. 2) Wouldn't you rather watch an add for something you're interested in? (running out of characters...

eriklanigan Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - Let me clarify: I'm not necessarily opposed to tracking your web activity anonymously to sell targeted ads. May benefit consumer; may not. Jury is still out. All I was saying is that targeted-ad startups dominate the current tech bubble and leave little for general tech enthusiasts to get excited about.

eriklanigan Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - The privacy issue that DOES concern me is when folks like Etsy (this week) and Facebook (numerous times) broadcast your every move to your friends and to the PUBLIC at large, often without your permission. Users hate this, yet the companies do it *to profit off your web activity* by turning your everyday life into ad impressions for other users. -- like when Facebook turns a product mention in your status update into an ad. You become an unwitting, unpaid spokesperson.

davemacdo Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - First of all, your everyday life already IS ad impressions for other users. The things you post on Facebook are already open for people to see. Otherwise, what would be the point of posting them?

davemacdo Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - Secondly, users hate this because they anthropomorphize computers. When they see a targeted Gmail ad, they think "Oh my gosh, somebody just read my email!" When, in fact, a computer just did some keyword searches. People are going to have to recalibrate their creepiness meters.Why should tech enthusiasts get excited? These systems allow startups with creative, useful, but otherwise unmonetizable projects to support themselves! People value Facebook, but how many would pay for it?

eriklanigan Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - Lastly, I DO think targeted ads can be harmful to the consumer when they're not a hard-sell (like seeing Xbox ads instead of lawnmower ads) but rather emotional manipulation. The example I gave from the WSJ was the Army sending different recruitment ads to your cable box based on your ethnicity and implied social/family values. Same product, different subconscious manipulation.

eriklanigan Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - No, I'm talking about things like Facebook Beacon and this week's Etsy problem. Please call into the show and we can discuss this further. --Erik

davemacdo Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - Oh, come on, Erik. Emotional manipulation is what advertising has ALWAYS been about. You can't hold advertisers responsible for a lack of skepticism and critical thinking skills in audiences.

davemacdo Says:

Mar 16, 2011 - Oh, come on, Erik. Emotional manipulation is what advertising has ALWAYS been about. You can't hold advertisers responsible for a lack of skepticism and critical thinking skills in audiences.

chuckiej Says:

Mar 18, 2011 - @eriklanigan Thanks Erik. I barely get to listen most times. I'm glad you are discussing this. I guess I listen to shows like Net@Night too much where their 2nd question is always "how you gonna make money foo?"And I agree with you it's not the only way to make money. Facebook, for example, could most certainly advertise in such a way as to not abuse our data. They are choosing not too.

lukew171 Says:

Mar 18, 2011 - hi again hand brake worked really well but it doesnt seem to convert some videos i wondered if you knew why i looked online an cant find anything would be really greatful if you could help cheers

lukew171 Says:

Mar 18, 2011 - hi again hand brake worked really well but it doesnt seem to convert some videos i wondered if you knew why i looked online an cant find anything would be really greatful if you could help cheers

lukew171 Says:

Mar 18, 2011 - hi again hand brake worked really well but it doesnt seem to convert some videos i wondered if you knew why i looked online an cant find anything would be really greatful if you could help cheer

flpublicrecords Says:

Dec 29, 2011 - HA, just noticed that Leo says Erik is probably too young to remember Yahoo at 1:21:49. Why is he so condescending? Leo looks like a complete idiot.