yeah, there's been a very noticeable drop in activity in Jaiku. Too bad, I think it's a much better product than e.g. Twitter (where I think the conversation model is broken) It doesn't help of course that Google isn't doing much to keep Jaiku going.
Exactly. I think Jaiku has a better model, with feeds included and real comments on others posts. I'd rather use this. But for me almost all my conversation has switched to Twitter. You can sort of "feel" Google doesn't care about Jaiku, and there are way too many reports of stuff being broken.
@termie is basically the only one working on it he said last summer in Vancouver, and he has to lobby with colleagues to get some attention for Jaiku. So indeed you rightly sense Jaiku is being neglected. It is I think the consequence of the 'emergent' model Google uses internally. Not a good climate for acquisitions to land in. By definition it will then be hard to get resources to an acquisition.
Guys, my thoughts exactly. No new people are joining Jaiku, and increasingly the interesting people that were Jaiku-exclusive have at least started crossposting to Twitter, even Jyri. And the features that were once unique to Jaiku (aggregation, mobile client, location aware) are now being adopted by others so the head start Jaiku had is almost completely gone.
For a while I held on to the thought that maybe all that Jaiku talent was working on a breakthrough IM/address book/location app or service for Android, given the brilliance of the original Jaiku mobile app. But alas, Android is devoid of any signs of Jaiku. Or how about using Jaiku's great ideas to get over the severe limitations in Gmail contacts, or as an intranet tool for companies, institutions and networks using Google Apps for Domains? Nothing that Jaiku ever stood for is finding its way in anything Google is bringing to market.
We've seen some vague hints (http://joi.jaiku.com/presence/47070668), some announcement on running on top of Google Apps now, but that doesn't take away the feeling that Jaiku has become a retired platform. And that is a sad thing, because looking back, Jaiku has never seriously aimed to make it to the top. If it would have been marketed more, remained open for new users, and integrated into other Google services I'm convinced it could have ended on top, not just over Twitter, but as a leader in a category that now has dozens of services figuring out how to integrate services in a way Jaiku had nailed years ago.
My conclusion is that Jaiku was acquired for its talent, period. I can't believe the founders of Jaiku had that in mind as a desired exit when they were entrepreneurs, nor when they signed the dotted line under the terms in the contract. An important lesson for any company thinking of selling to Google. Remember Dodgeball. Remember Jaiku. Don't be next.
4 comments so far
yeah, there's been a very noticeable drop in activity in Jaiku. Too bad, I think it's a much better product than e.g. Twitter (where I think the conversation model is broken) It doesn't help of course that Google isn't doing much to keep Jaiku going.
1 year ago by tonzylstra
Exactly. I think Jaiku has a better model, with feeds included and real comments on others posts. I'd rather use this. But for me almost all my conversation has switched to Twitter. You can sort of "feel" Google doesn't care about Jaiku, and there are way too many reports of stuff being broken.
1 year ago by PanMan
@termie is basically the only one working on it he said last summer in Vancouver, and he has to lobby with colleagues to get some attention for Jaiku. So indeed you rightly sense Jaiku is being neglected. It is I think the consequence of the 'emergent' model Google uses internally. Not a good climate for acquisitions to land in. By definition it will then be hard to get resources to an acquisition.
1 year ago by tonzylstra
Guys, my thoughts exactly. No new people are joining Jaiku, and increasingly the interesting people that were Jaiku-exclusive have at least started crossposting to Twitter, even Jyri. And the features that were once unique to Jaiku (aggregation, mobile client, location aware) are now being adopted by others so the head start Jaiku had is almost completely gone.
For a while I held on to the thought that maybe all that Jaiku talent was working on a breakthrough IM/address book/location app or service for Android, given the brilliance of the original Jaiku mobile app. But alas, Android is devoid of any signs of Jaiku. Or how about using Jaiku's great ideas to get over the severe limitations in Gmail contacts, or as an intranet tool for companies, institutions and networks using Google Apps for Domains? Nothing that Jaiku ever stood for is finding its way in anything Google is bringing to market.
We've seen some vague hints (http://joi.jaiku.com/presence/47070668), some announcement on running on top of Google Apps now, but that doesn't take away the feeling that Jaiku has become a retired platform. And that is a sad thing, because looking back, Jaiku has never seriously aimed to make it to the top. If it would have been marketed more, remained open for new users, and integrated into other Google services I'm convinced it could have ended on top, not just over Twitter, but as a leader in a category that now has dozens of services figuring out how to integrate services in a way Jaiku had nailed years ago.
My conclusion is that Jaiku was acquired for its talent, period. I can't believe the founders of Jaiku had that in mind as a desired exit when they were entrepreneurs, nor when they signed the dotted line under the terms in the contract. An important lesson for any company thinking of selling to Google. Remember Dodgeball. Remember Jaiku. Don't be next.
1 year ago by jeroen020