What I’d like to ask consumers who fall down this social network disaster path is why are you trying to compete with the best? Why are you trying to build a mega social network that will most likely be seen to consumers as what it is: A Facebook Wanna Be. What you should be ask yourself is what can I do that has the impact of Facebook? The answer may not be a social network, in fact, it may be a simple widget that helps consumers connect to their local library or on a larger scale, an app that lets you purchase items from a variety of sites all at once. What is something that hasn’t already been developed? Find that hole and that niche, because that’s exactly what the best sites did; that’s what Facebook did.

If you’re into some heavy duty reading, I recommend all consumers thinking of developing an app to read “The Business of iPhone and iPad App Development: Making and Marketing Apps that Succeed” by Dave Wooldridge and Michael Schneider. This book outlines not only how to make your app successful, but gives you the tools to evaluate if your idea is even worth developing.

I leave you with a link to Involver’s blog summarizing the future of Facebook. I wonder what apps are going to try to attempt these updates next.

http://mashable.com/2011/09/20/google-vs-facebook-the-gloves-are-off-opinion/

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios5/features.html

As expected, “OK Go” is notorious for their unusual, eccentric videos, but this time I think they’ve really outdone themselves. No it’s not another video of workout equipment or a crazy machine, but using the future of the internet: HTML 5. With the aid of the Pilobolus dance troupe and Google, “OK Go” transformed their message through their movements, which consisted primarily of their feet. The HTML 5 comes into play about a minute through when you notice your screen starting to split into a series of windows. Throughout the video, viewers will see their feet and bodies spell letters that form words to the song.

But they didn’t stop there; they also made the video interactive. By visiting their site for the single, users can write their own custom messages and see them displayed during the video. Impossible? See for yourself: OK Go-All is Not Lost

This HTML 5 music phenomenon has been adopted by several other artists, such as “Arcade Fire” and “Rome“. Will we see more artists board the HTML 5 train, I sure hope so! Nothing better than seeing music marry with technology.

It is true that some of the iPhone 4 features are showing up on the iPad 2, the primary one being the front-facing camera. But it’s overly simplified to assume that the iPhone and iPad cross-pollinate each other when it comes to new features. The fact is, Apple finds itself in two very different positions within the marketplace when it comes to the iPad 2 and soon-to-be iPhone 5, and this difference is ultimately what drives the technologies forward.

Market Dominance Versus A Horse Race

As Steve Jobs clearly stated in his iPad 2 announcement, the iPad dominates the tablet market. It did so decidedly in 2010 and will continue to do so in 2011. While some have indicated that Apple will see its market share erode steadily over the next five years, there is no doubt that the iPad 2 will continue to be the product leader in the tablet market.

Because of this, Apple didn’t need to do much to the iPad 2; they were able to do a simple refresh and add some nice touches (such as the front-facing camera, thinner design, andA5 chip) to keep the competition in the rear-view mirror. To be sure, Apple has kept other advancements for their tablet, such as higher/different screen resolutions, the inclusion of flash technology, and some kind of next-generation gesture control, as cards to be played on another iteration of the iPad.

But with the iPhone 5, it’s going to be a different story.

http://www.mobiledia.com/news/82749.html

I’m worried about it though. If there is one thing Microsoft isn’t good at its Marketing their products. I remember laughing at the first iPod and saying my iPaq can do so much more — but it was only sold as a PIM device.

Over the holidays, I went into Best Buy and there was no point-of-sale for Windows Phone 7. I asked the Dept. Manager and he shrugged his shoulders and gestured “over there” and went back to cranking out orders for iPhone4′s. There was no demo stations set up like the Blackberry, Android, and iPhone marketing and demo sets.

Sure, Windows Phone Series 7 was unproven, but it was kind of telling. Let’s not forget that this is Microsoft we are talking about…the have the clout, they have the budget, and they have the skill. They just don’t have the respect or reach.

I was hoping that Nokia adopting Windows Phone Series 7 en-masse would get them the mobile phone reach and respect; but then reports started turning up that the very first Windows Phone Series 7 update (which updated the updater) was bricking some phones. That’s not something you want and with some strong rivals with Apple and Google (okay…and Research In Motion) already owning the market you don’t want any bad press or failure (KIN, anyone?).

I hope Microsoft will take it in stride, and make the WPS7 the contender fans say it is. I want a viable alternative to the current devices.