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Andrew Tokeley

Thoughts on the Software Development Industry

<< Off to TechEd… | Home | So What’s a Web Application Now? >>

The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing

Great article from Chris Anderson and Michael Wolff at Wired discussing the way in which our use of the Internet is changing. The way in which we are accessing data and services over the internet is definitely changing. If I think about the applications I’m using at the moment,

TweetDeck (Adobe Air)
Yammer Client (Adobe Air)
Gmail/Google Reader (access via Chrome application shortcuts)
Podcast Downloader (Silverlight) – to download multiple GoogleReader podcasts quickly to my desktop
Uber Twitter - Blackberry Twitter Client, yes I use a BlackBerry @ work, I’m not proud of it but it came with the job!
Foursquare for the Blackberry – not really using this much but wanted to give it a go to be able to talk with the cool kids
Blackbery email client

I probably spend more time in these apps than I do in browser apps and when I buy a WP7 device later in the year (to freak out all the Apple fanboys I work with ;-) but also cause I reckon it looks really cool) I’ll be using even more native apps. And I won’t be alone as the mobile wave continues to increase as expected even more applications will be delivered to mobile devices and HTML based applications simply don’t offer the richness of presentation or access to local resources (camera, GPS, local storage…) and processing that we need.

Love that we’re in the middle of such change – bring it on!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 10:00 PM

Your Comments.

# Graphs can be easily distorted
It is indeed interesting, but have a look at this follow up story to get a slightly different picture on the web traffic: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/17/is-the-web-really-de.html

Left by Henrik Nystrom at 8/19/2010 8:20 AM
# re: The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing
People are getting their nickers in a twist about the use of the graph etc but are missing the point of the article - it's about the WAY we are consuming the data and services on the web that is changing. That's what I find interesting - especially from a technology point of view, as we increasingly consume the web through widgets, mobiles, TV's, car devices and fridges ;0) what technology will drive it?

Left by Tokes at 8/19/2010 12:09 PM
# re: The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing
Well, I agree that the article is interesting and worth some thought.

I would say however that the use of that graph to illustrate the point is misleading as it looks the way it does because of the massive traffic amounts required by video and peer-to-peer usage.

But there is definitely a turning point now when consumer devices is starting to stand for a larger portion of the web traffic, devices that traditionally is more controlled by the manufacturer and less by the user. I think one of the key things here will be what OS will dominate these devices as I believe this will have a huge influence on this. What OS would you bet on when it comes to consumer devices in the near future?

Much more to discuss around this, but I wouldn't rule out the web (browser) just yet...

Left by Henrik Nystrom at 8/19/2010 1:52 PM
# re: The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing
Yeah, the OS question is tough, not sure I know what I think about that yet. Some argue all you need is a browser and the 'OS' simply needs to be able to run that and not much else. But, not all apps should/can run in a browser so what OS should support these types of apps? Does it really matter if the technologies we use to write apps run on multiple OS's? I can still write HTML, Silverlight and Flash apps that will run across multiple OS's. But some of the best innovation is coming from apps that only run on a single OS - e.g. iPhone/iPad apps. So I'd argue that multiple OS's in this sense is adding to innovation and helping to make the world more interesting... you should write a post on it Henick - then I'll comment to you.

Left by Tokes at 8/20/2010 9:07 AM
# re: The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing
I use iPhone for twitter, Yammer, Facebook etc., etc., or the web when I want to access them from my desktop/laptop. The reason is that sometimes these apps can eat more memory!

I also sometimes use Ping.fm which can update many social networks at once!

In regards to WP7 - I won't bet on WP7 unless I see decent apps come up as we have for iPhone :)

Some apps I cant stop using in iPhone: Twitter for iPhone, Yammer, Facebook, Seesmic (for Ping.fm), Skype, LinkedIn, mPass (Air NZ Domestic check in), boxcar for notifications, iBooks :)

Left by Chaks at 8/23/2010 12:13 PM
# re: The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing
@chaks - I'm shocked, I would have thought you'd be lining up for a WP7! Agree thought, they need some cool apps. Seems like they are putting a lot of emphasis on Xbox integration - definitely some cool games there but if you don't own an Xbox I wonder whether you can even use them?? That would suck. To be honest adding apps is easily fixed over time and why they are courting the developer market so strongly interesting tactic compared with Apple who are way more consumer centric - quite a different marketing model.

P.S. contacted Telecom the other day they said they may not have WP7 phones until March 2011!! Aaaargh.

Left by Tokes at 8/24/2010 8:28 AM
# re: The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing
@Tokes - I am still not sure how the WP7 launch is going to be. Will Microsoft open up Zune here?

I dont play games, so it isn't THE feature I am looking for :)

I dont want to put myself (again) in a situation where the best models dont show up in NZ, need to purchase them for $$$$ and then wait for the update by the telco than from Microsoft (which isn't going to happen and finally me going searching for hacked ROMs...sigh) etc., etc., Lot of things to consider :)

Left by Chaks at 8/25/2010 1:22 PM
# re: The Web’s Not Dead But the Times Are a Changing
@Chaks - yeah I hear you, I hope we aren't left in the backwaters waiting to see these devices.

Left by Tokes at 8/29/2010 9:59 AM

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