The founders of the Google acquired Dodgeball have abandoned ship, according to Valleywag.

What is Dodgeball I hear most people say? Dodgeball was acquired by Google in 2005, no idea for how much, but given the fact that most people have no idea what Dodgeball is, it’s fair to say, not a lot.

But from all accounts Dodgeball was the Twitter that never happened in its time. The service was all mobile phones and location, but that’s about as far as it got, having stagnated in the Google pile of companies they bought just because Sergey got out of bed on the wrong side one morning.

RIP Dodgeball. You were a service before your time, or as the case may be a service who sold out too early because your founders were too greedy. May our children and childrens children say “Dodge what” for all the time to come.

Blogging is a game of putting yourself out there, sharing your views with the world.

Then came Twitter. As much as I was a skeptic at first, Twitter really has become the next level in the evolution of online presence. It’s a slightly wild, 140 character extension of self, random thoughts, location and links.

And yet less that 2 months after the rise of Twitter, we see the Webcam technology of Web 1.0 meet the narcissism of Web 2.0, an always on stream of activity, and often lack thereof. If justin.tv bought the world of web cams to Web 2.0, ustream could become the poster child of a new movement of 20 somethings who are too old or too uncaring to remember the likes of Jenicam.

Is too much ever enough, or just too much?

Is the narcissystem the way of the future?

The poster kids of Web 2.0, Chris Pirillo and Robert Scoble have lead the way. Pirillo’s live streams are actually fairly interesting, Scoble’s streams of him in a car aren’t really my thing. Interestingly though in a historical sense is that the tech of the Truman Show is now available to the masses, at least those with generous bandwidth plans, particularly with their mobile (cell) providers.

Matthew Ingram has some good points, but I’m not sure he looks deeply enough at the overflow of information this all leads to. I’ve enjoyed watching some of Pirillo’s live stuff, but imagine if 20 other interesting people were doing the same thing? How then could I manage to watch them all? Imagine that in 3-6 months time ustream is the new YouTube, that thousands, tens of thousands are streaming parts, sometimes all of their day. What then?

I’ve always argued the text is the ultimate form of communication, because it allows dissemination to many easily and in a more manageable form. I love the idea of Podcasting, but I’ know that it’s far more limited than text because it takes far longer to consume. Always on video is harder again. Where as I can consume multiple podcasts, and thousands of blogs, it’s hard to consume more than a handful of always on streams, and certainly more so in terms of time, when Pirillo or Justin are at their best, I’m often asleep (12 hours ahead of US EST at the moment).

Question though is would I give it a try? Watch this space. The logistics are difficult, particularly mobile, given that always on data (via 3G) in Australia is expensive, but the narcissist in me is certainly tempted. Perhaps I can become another number in the too much is never enough equation.

Text Link Ad sellers Text-Link-Ads.com has announced the launch of a new product, Post Level Text Link Ads, a sort of automated post-text footer advertising system.

The new advertising option uses an updated version of the existing TLA WP plugin.

Ads will look something like this:

According to an email from TLA:

- You will still have editorial control for each link purchased if you have opted for editorial control for your regular Text Link Ads.

- Pricing is set automatically and is lower on a per link basis then typical homepage placed Text Link Ads.

- No extra coding work for you, we sync all of your posts automatically with our new WP plugin.

- If you regular Text Link Ads are sold out you will now have new inventory to sell.

Looks like a good offering that will find decent support in the blogosphere, a sort of nice and ethical version of Pay Per Post.

Web 2.0 guru..and the once credible Tim O’Reilly has followed up on his threats to unleash weapons of mass stupidity on the world, posting live once and for all a draft copy of his “Bloggers Code of Conduct” that he’s hoping to impose voluntarily on over 200 million bloggers world wide, then probably by force in countries stupid enough to think this is all a good idea (and yes, Australia will probably be top of that list, it is the Nanny State after all).

Now some people suggested I was a little tough on O’Reilly in my March 29 post on the subject. To those people I say, once again, bollocks, because you haven’t read this stuff.

*901AM HEALTH WARNING: DO NOT READ ON A FULL STOMACH*

Just when you thought the concept of a bloggers code of conduct was a running joke, Tim O’Reilly delivers the actual punchline. Try some of this hippie shit on for size:

“We celebrate the blogosphere because it embraces frank and open conversation. But frankness does not have to mean lack of civility. We present this Blogger Code of Conduct in hopes that it helps create a culture that encourages both personal expression and constructive conversation.”

Oh yeah, censorship has such a wonderful track record in history for fostering personal expression. BTW who defines personal expression and constructive conversation?

We are committed to the “Civility Enforced” standard: we will not post unacceptable content, and we’ll delete comments that contain it.

Unacceptable to who? A pro George W Bush comment is as an unacceptable post at Kos as a 2 guys rimming is on Michelle Malkin. Is Tim O’Reilly judge, jury and executioner?

It goes on to say that we won’t tolerate unacceptable behavior, defined as

- is being used to abuse, harass, stalk, or threaten others
- is libelous, knowingly false, ad-hominem, or misrepresents another person,
- infringes upon a copyright or trademark
- violates an obligation of confidentiality
- violates the privacy of others

So that’s just about EVERY single blog post covered in the above points (well at least the last 2 points). Of course this post is probably covered in 1 + 2 :-)

But get this, the blogging code is conduct is all about civility, but apparently it’s civility defined by Tim O’Reilly because we can lynch others, as long as they were uncivil first:

When we believe someone is unfairly attacking another, we take action.

Yep, truth be told it’s really more like a set of club rules, you’re with Tim or you’re against him, and if you’re against him you can and will be subject to mob rule lest you be lynched by them for non compliance with The Borgs O’Reilly’s rules.

You can read the whole thing here, and if you’re really keen, you get to display badges on your site as well. Note to Krug, if these become compulsory, we’ll need the dynamite one for 901am ;-)

I’ll conclude in saying this: those who think that a blogging code of conduct is the antidote to death threats and misogyny have about as much hope of success as I’ve got of space walking on Jupiter next year, or Tim O’Reilly has of ever being taken seriously again by anyone except some rabid feminists and professional victims. Civility is subjective, and controlling what people say and do on blogs can only be a recipe for the decline of the medium and the introduction of totalitarianism online, outcomes none of us want nor desire.

I’ve been in the rather interesting position these last two weeks of working exclusively from my laptop whilst waiting for a new floor to be laid in my house…and job that was suppose to take 2 weeks and now looks like taking 4. Aside from missing the obvious things, such as my 22 inch LCD Monitor, working from a laptop has presented some other challenges, for example I don’t have Microsoft Office on it to write letters. I’ve had a gmail account for a long time, but I’ve never really embraced a lot of Google’s other offerings. Today, presented with a complete lack of organisation, I’ve made the switch, so I though I’d share.

Google Personal Homepage

I’ve never really found Google’s personalized homepage offering appealing before, but then again that’s when you could only use it in white or white. It now comes in different flavours, only 6 additional choices, but they make the world of difference in terms of aesthetics and usability. There’s something much more soothing about the product when it’s not all stark white with a bit of blue.

Now I don’t subscribe to the meme that Google Personalized Homepage should be used as a RSS reader substitute. It can be, and I’ve added a couple of news feeds to my main page, but you can easily incorporate a Google Reader box as well that allows you to scroll through feeds that way, or switch across. Gmail integrated nicely…sure, I’m still using gmail directly, but it’s nifty for when I first log on in the morning.

More →

If you were ever looking for evidence that Web 2.0 is a bubble because its leading players live in a fantasy land, a world were reality and Venture Capital rarely meet, much like the players in Web 1.0 land did, let me introduce Paul Graham from Y Combinator who thinks Microsoft is dead.

If Microsoft is dead then I’m the Queen of England and I hereby demand that you all bow before me and call me “Your Highness”.

Graham’s reasoning?

1. Google killed Microsoft
2. Ajax
3. Broadband Internet
4. Apple

Now try this quote on for size:

“The last nail in the coffin came, of all places, from Apple. Thanks to OS X, Apple has come back from the dead in a way that is extremely rare in technology. [2] Their victory is so complete that I’m now surprised when I come across a computer running Windows. Nearly all the people we fund at Y Combinator use Apple laptops. It was the same in the audience at startup school. All the computer people use Macs or Linux now. Windows is for grandmas, like Macs used to be in the 90s. So not only does the desktop no longer matter, no one who cares about computers uses Microsoft’s anyway.”

Firstly, as a Windows user, my immediate message to Mr Graham: f*ck you.

Secondly, lets step out of fantasy land and take a look at the real world, the one in which Graham quite clearly doesn’t live.

According to PC World April 6, Apple’s marketshare: 6.08%. Oh yeah, I nearly forgot, it declined in March.

Now that’s not to take away from the Mac, it’s clearly a good product, however over 9 out of 10 people use Windows. Does this sound like Apple has killed Windows? Graham thinks it does, but he probably believes in faires at the bottom of the garden as well…that and that 9 out of 10 people are grandmas.

Micorsoft is alive and mostly well. Has it clearly failed in a range of endevours? absolutely, Microsoft’s internet strategy sucks and most people will take that for a given. Zune? do most people even know what a Zune is? probably not. Was the Vista development program a shambles? yes.

But take a look past this: Windows still powers most computers, at nearly monopoly levels. Windows dominates non-console gaming (try playing the latest game on a Mac). The XBox 360 is a huge success, and in 2-3 years time may be in a duopoly market with Nintendo. Office, despite the threat of online alternatives, still powers along, and certainly in the real world has nothing to fear in the next couple of years at least. Microsoft hardware (keyboards etc) must sell pretty well because you can’t walk into a store and not see them. Developer choice? most, nearly all programs are written to run on the Windows platform first and foremost, and whilst there is a pick up in Mac development, Windows software development continues to thrive…conversely if it was slowing this would be a sign of a move away from the platform, simply there isn’t.

I’m sure I could list a pile of other areas that Microsoft thrives that aren’t internet or Zune related, but surely this is enough.

Microsoft is alive and kicking and has many years left in the marketplace. Has it passed its glory days? possibly, but there’s a world of difference between a mature company that’s passed its peak and one that is dead or dying.

It’s Easter and there’s far too many Google tales to post separately, so for those munching on hot cross buns and planting Easter eggs, all the Google News for Easter that’s fit to post:

Google Launches Free 411 Service
Google has launched it’s own automated 411 directory assistance product, Goog411. If you’re in the US (and maybe Canada, not sure) dial 1-800-GOOG-411 to find the number you’re looking for: the GoogleBot is on standby and is waiting for your call! Call in the next 15 minutes and receive a free….whoops, wrong spiel, but you get the idea.

Google Adsense payout rates exposed
ThreadWatch reports that one of the biggest Adsense publishers in the business, Markus of PlentyofFish has let slip Google’s publisher payout rate on Adsense: 43%. At rates that low you’ve got to wonder why there’s not stronger competition out there.

AOL To Sell Ads Direct, Using Google’s Tools
Search Engine Land reports that the AOL/ Google advertising deal embargo has been lifted: the deal allows AOL to sell ads directly using a white label version of Adwords.

Moves against Google Bombing not effective
Also from Search Engine Land, US President George W Bush is once again ranking highly in Google’s search results for the term “failure”. So much for the much written about crackdown/ fix on Google Bombing.

Soon to be bought by (insert company name here) online advertising giant DoubleClick is planning on entering the Ad Exchange business.

According to a NY Times report, the exchange will be a “Nasdaq-like exchange for the buying and selling of digital advertisements.

The move will see DoubleClick go head to head with Right Media, which currently offers a similar setup, although having previously checked it out, without much success. To be fair though, the idea is a fairly good one, at least on paper, and an organization as large as DoubleClick would most likely deliver a much better product than is currently offered by Right Media, which suffers greatly from a lack of quality advertisers.

FBI investigators have been staking out online gambling venues in Second Life, as part of an investigation as to whether the service violates U.S. anti-gambling statutes, including the Illegal Gambling Business Act or the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

So far the FBI has not confirmed whether they will be taking action against Linden Labs, owners of Second Life, however the company faces not only fines but potential jail time for its directors.

According to a Reuters report, Linden Labs actually invited the FBI in to investigate Second Life so it could be clear on the legalities of it all so they could eventually get an answer either way, but interesting most legal advice would indicate that they are indeed in breach of current laws.

Mozilla, the folks behind Firefox, have announced that they are developing a new social networking feature for FireFox, dubbed “The Co-Op” that they describe as thus:

“We want to create a fun and easy way to share links with your friends, and to browse the set of links that friends have shared with you. We also want to make it easy to “subscribe” to a friend in order to make it easy to keep track of the pictures, movies, blog posts and status information that they might be posting on a variety of services”

The project already has its own page here. The prototype is available here, but can only be accessed if logged in to Mozilla.

Will it change the world? the mind boggles, but certainly given the increasing market penetration of Firefox, Mozilla has a much better chance than other companies of delivering a product such as this to a wide audience. One to watch.