Tech Week In Review: Google Drawings, Justin.tv, Barack Obama, Meebo and RTM
Google Docs Adds Drawings
I’ve been using Google Docs as my primary office suite for a little while now. It’s great to be able to access my documents from anywhere. Google has recently added a new feature that allows you to insert drawings directly into your documents. Sure, you could use some external program to do the drawing and then upload it and insert it into your document, but this feature lets you draw directly inside of your web browser. Very cool. Check out the Google blog or RWW for more details.
Justin.tv in the Worldwide Top 5
Looks like Justin.tv has been putting in work because they are among the top 5 video sites worldwide. Turns out, on a global scale, they are even beating out Hulu. As TechCrunch points out, most of the traffic comes from outside of the US, but traffic is traffic. RWW also provides an interesting perspective on this. I haven’t actually been using Justin.tv, but this data definitely makes me curious.
@BarackObama Finally Updated His Twitter Status
Before 3/25 at 2:04pm, Obama hadn’t graced us with his presence on Twitter since Jan 19th. Looks like he broke silence to invite us to ask questions about the economy for his recent town hall meeting. The questions were chosen using a digg-like rating system and Obama provided answers during the live event. It was quite informative and I hope you caught it. Barack is always open for questions online, so feel free to go ask your own.
Meebo Comes to the Desktop…Kinda
I have been using Meebo as my primary Instant Messaging application for quite a while now. Meebo has recently made it that much easier by providing a desktop notifier application. Basically, you can login to Meebo when your computer starts up and it notifies you when you receive an instant message. Clicking the notification bubble opens Meebo in a browser.
This is cool for those who are trying to make the transition from desktop client to web application. As it stands, I have Meebo running in a separate tab at all times and rely on the title bar to flash when I get a new IM. Meebo notifier makes this setup that much simpler. More on Meebo at Mashable.
Remember the Milk Kicks Off Tips & Tricks Tuesday
Looks like Remember the Milk is trying to help users understand how useful the service really is by posting tips every Tuesday. I think everyone already knows how much I love this service. The coolest part about this move is that the tips come from actual users. Each week, RTM is giving away a 1yr Pro account to the user with the best tip.
This is exactly the type of promotion that social sites should be doing to get users interested. I know I’ve referred over 20 users to DropBox to make sure I got my extra 3GB. If you have anything interesting to share about how you use Remember the Milk, head on over to the Tips and Tricks forum for your chance at a free Pro account.
Category: Trends, web 2.0 | Tags: google docs, Justin.tv, meebo, obama, remember the milk, twitter
About the Author Rahsheen has been a certified geek since before it was the thing to do. He started programming and tinkering in the 4th grade. Now, Rahsheen mostly writes on various sites about technology trends in social media and mobile. . He is also a musician, singer, rapper, writer, and producer. @rahsheen - +Rahsheen Porter - coachrah.com
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I've been an avid fan of RTM for a over a year now, but if you scan through the forums, you will sense a growing discontent and lack of patience with the RTM development team these days. Users are posting and commenting on how many basic features have been requested for up to three years with no feedback or movement what so ever from the RTM team. In fact, in several posts, RTM staffers have become belligerent with loyal customers, refusing to divulge any information and resorting to the “you don't see any changes in our software, but believe us, we're working really, really hard” line.
In particular, the iPhone forum on the RTM site is full of complaints of basic bugs and usability enhancements that have not been addressed, and about how RTM seems to becoming openly hostile to its paying (Pro account) customers when they complain. One thread in the “Ideas” section has several people posting that they are so frustrated with being treated the way RTM treats them, that they are not going to renew. It appears that many are leaving or, or willing to try out “Toodledo”. (I myself am in that position.)
RTM appears to be headed down the wrong path. What happened to RTM? Why does it seem that the development of the product and what appear to be basic enhancements requested by paid users are being ignored? Why are other software developers upgrading and enhancing their products while RTM seems to be stuck in a rut?
This product was the darling of the Web 2.0 world and many GTD fans. It appears to be going south quickly. When your most loyal promoters threaten to leave in public postings on the website's forums, you've got trouble!
I've been an avid fan of RTM for a over a year now, but if you scan through the forums, you will sense a growing discontent and lack of patience with the RTM development team these days. Users are posting and commenting on how many basic features have been requested for up to three years with no feedback or movement what so ever from the RTM team. In fact, in several posts, RTM staffers have become belligerent with loyal customers, refusing to divulge any information and resorting to the “you don't see any changes in our software, but believe us, we're working really, really hard” line.
In particular, the iPhone forum on the RTM site is full of complaints of basic bugs and usability enhancements that have not been addressed, and about how RTM seems to becoming openly hostile to its paying (Pro account) customers when they complain. One thread in the “Ideas” section has several people posting that they are so frustrated with being treated the way RTM treats them, that they are not going to renew. It appears that many are leaving or, or willing to try out “Toodledo”. (I myself am in that position.)
RTM appears to be headed down the wrong path. What happened to RTM? Why does it seem that the development of the product and what appear to be basic enhancements requested by paid users are being ignored? Why are other software developers upgrading and enhancing their products while RTM seems to be stuck in a rut?
This product was the darling of the Web 2.0 world and many GTD fans. It appears to be going south quickly. When your most loyal promoters threaten to leave in public postings on the website's forums, you've got trouble!