Recently, Amazon launched the Kindle fire . Also confirmed is that the kindle Fire would be running Amazon’s own version of Android which will be fully customised to integrate with Amazon’s services. And of course – their own App Store.

Dear friends, Jeff Bezo’s Amazon has just forked Android! Amazon is not the only company forking with Android, Baidu is too. I think that is a big blow to Google’s mobile strategy,

A little background

In the early days of Android, companies like Motorola and Samsung bet their future on Android, in return for getting a ‘free’ OS which would compete with the iPhone’s. In return for the free OS they distributed Google’s services around the globe. Note: You cannot use an Android phone without a Google email account and all the services that come with it.

When the Android OS alliance was launched, Eric Schimdt said

"this will be the first fully-integrated software stack, including an operating system and middleware, being made available under the most liberal open-source license ever given to mobile operators and handset makers"

Although looking back, that statement seems technically correct (most liberal does not necessarily mean liberal, but relatively more/most liberal), handset manufacturers were soon to find out Android is not really that open.

I have always been skeptical of Google’s selfless and open initiatives. Google has this strategy (a very good one I concede) of making things free (read: lowering competitiveness of their opponents) only when they are behind. Here is an idea Larry and Sergey about being really open, can we open source the Google search algorithm?

This time around Android, I think this strategy has backfired.

The Android Fork up.

As time progressed, big hardware manufacturers realised that Android is open in a different way. It is only after a new version of Android has launched that you would have a chance to peek in. That might be ok for entities like Cyanogen mod, but not for companies that want to be at the bleeding edge, when you have companies like Apple pacing away.

Of recent, Google Android and some of its partners have been getting challenged quite a bit with patent issues. HTC is fighting Apple in various courts around the world while Samsung cannot sell their 10.1 tablet in Europe.

In the spirit of "protecting Android", Google has had to fork out (pun intended) $12.5 billion to buy the Mobile arm of Motorola, inadvertently competing directly with their partners. The CEO’s of their partner companies were so pleased with this move that they said the same thing when it was announced.

(Side Note: If Android was open why didn’t contributors and beneficiaries pool their patents? Why is it left to Google to foot the entire bill of the ‘Android defense? I guess they are really nice guys)

Now with Amazon and Baidu opening the way, I predict other companies will start forking Android left, right and center. I tip Samsung to be the next.

What this fork up might mean:

For Google: Initially, the ‘Free and Open’ strategy made sense. They could offset the cost of developing the Android OS with the money from ad’s (getting people to use Google services and displaying ad’s there) however, these forks have messed that plan up. Both Baidu and Amazon are stripping the OS from those Google applications that normally come with the Android phone. Now Google may have to pay if they want to have their search and other apps default. In the case of Baidu a search engine, the response will be LOLZ .

For Developers and Users: Presently, It seems the same Android apps run on all the different forks of Android, however, How long will it last? I predict that by a maximum of 3 versions away we would start seeing serious compatibility problems with apps. Which inadvertently means different OS’s

I am guessing this gives Microsoft an edge the down the line, to be the second most reliable OS to develop for after Apple’s. Overall, I think the good that might come out of these forking problems is that the web would be the most reliable platform for the delivery of web application services via HTML5.

So is Google’s Chrome a fall back strategy? The Gmail Chome App is done pretty well and Chrome Remote Desktop gives a glimpse of what the Chome OS can be.

Those smart chaps!

Thanks to June for helping me edit this post.

source

Yesterday, Apple released a slightly upgraded version of the iPhone 4 and the verdict has been near universal. WHERE IS THE IPHONE5?!!!

It is not that people are complaining that there is anything wrong with the iPhone 4; in fact the iPhone 3G can basically do the same thing (basic functionality like call, play Angry Birds and take pictures of getting drunk) . People are angry they have not been given a new thing to buy.

I am wondering how we got to this point where consuming has become essential to life.

Here in Nigeria, the lengths people go to get a new Blackberry borders on disgusting. People spend 6 times the minimum monthly wage of the country just to get a new BlackBerry. Reason? Because ‘they said’ it is the latest one.

Although I am really appalled about this type of behavior, I am far from immune.

Over a year ago, I had a fairly decent computer, because I realized it was about time I bought a new one, I convinced myself that it was too old so i could but another one. As karma would have it, the computer packed up in less than 3 months. I jumped back to my old computer which has been serving me well one year on. it is obvious I never needed the new one in the first place.

MORE! MORE!! MORE!!!

*NEW! NEW!! NEW!!!

So why are we humans like this?

*Not necessarily new, let them just say it is new.

Earlier today, I was reading comments on Hacker News discussing the decline of traffic on Google Plus. When Google Plus launched, people (including myself) thought it would give Facebook a really though time considering it had many vital features missing from face book Facebook.

• An Easy way to filter and separate what you share and what is shared with you
• The One way follow. i.e you could accumulate a large following without the burden of having to accept them as ‘friends’ and in return get lots of ‘news’ polluting your feed
• The ability to distribute every type of item including text updates.

Rather than build up momentum on what they had started by updating features (linking the mobile Huddle to GTalk) and letting more people in, Google was more concerned about getting the real names of people and punishing people on Gmail for offenses committed on Google Plus.

While Google was busy doing that, Facebook was thinking of different ways to regain momentum. They released Messages, the Skype integration and I said ‘meh’. Yesterday, I heard they released a feature that allows you to subscribe to people. I was not too impressed because ‘unresponded’ friend request acted as subscription. And my settings is such that non-friends can comment on my status. So to me it was not a big deal.

Then I saw this.

Being able to re-share text is such a big deal that you will not understand its implication. In simple terms, your ‘witty words’ can spread far beyond you. That is the single thing that made Twitter VERY powerful. Making words go viral. The only difference is that unlike in Twitter and Google plus, you do not need to struggle to get a following.

So as it is, Gaddafi has a greater chance for a comeback than Google Plus. Difficult? yes. Impossible? No

Two things Facebook might do which will be ‘finishing moves’ (those that played mortal kombat will understand) to Twitter and Google Plus

1. Create a dedicated app for sharing text only.
2. Allow people to post updates that can be read without logging in.

But hey, it is rumored that the aim of Google plus is to force Facebook open. If that is the case, Google might be happy with Facebook’s ‘progress’

Note:

• To activate subscription on your profile, check the bottom of your profile picture. you can only see it on the web version on Facebook.
• The share button is not activated for everyone yet.
• Go ahead and see if you can see the subscribe button on the top right corner of my profile
• After this will there be a need for popular living individuals to have Fan pages?

Here’s a little background.

Google is launching an initiative called Getting Nigerian Businesses Online (GNBO). This scheme will provide one year of free hosting, domain registration, email and a website for participants.

Loy raises an alarm saying this would kill Nigerian web hosting, registration and design businesses in an instant. ‘Bosun rightly counters and raises a number of valid points.

Before responding, I would like to declare that I participated in the British version of this scheme called (GBBO).

In simple terms, GNBO would not kill Nigerian web hosting and co because of the following reasons.

The only new thing Google is doing is giving one year of free domain name registration, the other offerings have always been free (Google Sites, Google Apps and the the hosting that comes with both of them). So if the only website you can design is similar to a Google site template, then you might be in trouble… for one year. The domain names in question are only .com.ng domains too. We should also remember that Google does not offer any personal support therefore it can be rightly argued that Google is essentially developing the market for others to harness.

However there is a bigger question Loy should be trying to raise. What are Google’s intentions with this initiative? Is it as charitable like they market it? Nope.

Therein lies my problem with Google. They market pure capitalist strategies as charitable initiatives.

For instance, Google is presently sponsoring broadband in a number of Nigerian universities. Their aim is simple, get as many people online. The more people on the Internet, the greater reach for their on line advertizing inventory. Yup, while getting them online, get them using gmail and other Google properties. Same as with the free domain name/website/rs to hosting initiative, they get an awesome local directory listing while getting local businesses online

So you see, these ‘freebies’ are purely intelligent capitalist initiatives. I get offended when they are pitched otherwise. These investments will not pay off now however in a few years they will. It is obvious Africa is the next frontier for growth and in a competitive world, he who wins Africa, tips the scale. In the marathon of world web domination, Google is essentially breaking out from the pack that is still milking whats left in the west, while they Google sprint towards the finish line which is Africa and other ‘developing’ countries.

Do not get me wrong, I do not believe the deal Google offers is unfair in both the broadband and domain name cases, they are. All I ask is that Google stops pitching them as charity.

Tl;dr: The NATO intervention was made possible by the UN mandate to protect civilians which was as a result of news broadcast by western media and Al Jazeera (Owned by Qatar who is part of the NATO coalition) and public opinion going against the Gaddafi regime.

As the war has carried on, it is clear (my opinion) that the media reports are one directional (Pro NATO/Rebels and Anti – Gaddafi). I am asking if the outcome would have been different had Gaddafi used social media (represented by Twitter in this post) to communicate directly to the world thereby bypassing traditional mass media houses who seem to be against him. Changing public opinion and maybe the war outcome in the process.

My post.

Now let me clarify one thing I do not think Twitter is the second coming of Jesus. Actually, this new line of reasoning came up when I was thinking of how my position on Gladwell was right (the Twitteratti did not claim victory in Gaddafi’s fall like they did in Egypt or Iran’s ‘almost revolution’.

Disclaimer: I am utterly opposed to the destruction of Libya(ns) and the UN endorsement and execution of a selective violent coup in search of ‘freedom’.

Some Points

• Public opinion is an under estimated extremely powerful force in this world. Using public opinion, world leaders and organizations push their cause. If they do not succeed, they quietly fall into line with public opinion. (Once Mubarak was obviously falling, the US fell in line although they supported him). Maybe the WMD war in Iraq is a clearer example?
• The foreign press in this Libyan conflict has been at best a PR machine for the NATO–Rebel alliance.
• The passing of the UN resolution was driven mainly by *public opinion alert* “international outrage” which was created by news reports and unclear YouTube videos. Basically, it was based on “unconfirmed reports”.
• I am using Twitter to represent new (social) media (Facebook, Blogging, YouTube Google+?). In my opinion, Twitter is the most fluid when it comes to disseminating information and it is seen as a very important source of authentic news. Even Joey Barton’s Twitter account is worthy of a BBC editorial.

So how could Twitter have saved the day?

So let us imagine for a moment Gaddafi had a Twitter account:

1. We would have known the correct spelling of his name (Yaaay!)
2. He would have had over 1 million followers (potential re-broadcasters). Which would include EVERY major news source and opinion shaper in the world.
3. Most importantly, he would have had a shot at getting his own word (spin/truth/propaganda) out which the major news network would have had no choice of reporting and reporting it accurately. When there is a public link to a source, it would be difficult to put any spin on it.

• What if the Gaddafi regime had it own YouTube clip of people in Benghazi asking to be saved from terrorists taking over Benghazi? Showing ‘proof’ that it was members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group that was behind the uprising?
• What if instead of ranting broadcasts which would be shown (translated) for about a minute, the Gaddafi’s wrote blogposts stating what was happening was no different from that in Bahrain and Yemen and did not need interference? Or anterior motives for the invasion.
• If Gaddafi had tweeted he was ready to step down and begin a transition immediately but NATO and colleagues adamantly refused?
• What of if Gaddafis Tweeted that mass murder scenes were orchestrated by the LFIG’s Tripoli Military Commander? Citing the random execution of blacks as reported by the guardian
• That 60 countries recognizing the rebels means over 100 countries do not.
• That NATO and co are killing Libyan soldiers and civilians in defensive positions.

These few points are some of the alternate views I see in comment threads and opinion columns. These alternate positions have failed become main stream news, as the mass media have taken a pro NATO-Rebel position.

But Gaddafi publicly stating (Blogging/Tweeting/Facebook Updating) these positions would FORCE the media to report them thereby bringing those views to the forefront.

I believe although this might not have changed public opinion, it would certainly have divided it. Maybe Russia and China would have been encouraged and used their veto powers to prevent the invasion or try to stop it now it has started.

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera came to prominence during the earlier ‘War of Terror’ and the invasion of Iraq. It was seen as the station where you could watch and get the other perspective. However, this Libyan war the other side only means Qatar’s side. I was surprised for the first time, Al Jazeera sounded no different from CNN only to realize that Qatar was part of the alliance.

Lesson? Do not depend on any entity you do not have direct control of to speak your side of the story .

But there are already several anti-NATO-US-Rebels blogs out there painting a different picture?

Two things going against that line of reasoning are

1. They do not have the audience size an official Gaddafi account would have.

2. More importantly would not have the credibility that information from an Official Gaddafi news source would have that would make it worth a news story.

So why did the Gaddafi regime not do all these?

I am guessing when you have been all powerful for 42 years, you tend to start believing you are a god of some sort. Other than that i have no idea,

What do you think?

Back in the days when facebook pages were still being ‘fanned’ and none of you knew what Twitter was, I had this little idea to create an Alumni based network for Nigerian institutions.

One use case was when looking for a lawyer, jobs, business partner, house etc, you could check easily via your alumni network. Only those officially involved with the various alums would be admins of the various institutions.

So I created some Facebook fan pages of top Nigerian Universities and secondary schools, bought the domain alumni.com.ng went to Warwick and realized I would not be running with the idea. However I was stuck with the pages.

What was I supposed to do with the pages?! I wanted to delete them but I had spent a bit of money promoting them (the good old days when FB advertising targeting Nigerians was cheap before the politicians messed it up). I also did not want to hand them over to some random chaps that would spam the followers.

I tried to contact PR companies that would contact the universities/schools and strike a deal with them to handle their pages but that did not work. I asked people I knew from various institutions and could trust but they did not wish to have them. I asked officials of UDSS alumni (Hello Udoka, Osaheni and co.) and they said they were not ‘ready’. So I put it on the back burner for a while.

Any time I see people asking questions like “when are the results coming out, when are we resuming, I feel bad I cannot answer the questions and it is not right administering theses pages if I am not being of use.

So I have come to the decision,

I will publicize this post to as many people as possible, if I do not see someone to hand it over to in the next one month, I will deactivate or delete them. At least people will not feel they are not being responded to,

Who do I want to hand it over to?

1. Any official of the institution.
2. Credible Alumni
3. PR companies that could handle them on behalf of the Universities.

Let me now list the fan pages I control. Hold your exclamation until I am through.

NYSC(Attended)

University of Benin (Attended)

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

University of Lagos

Ahmadu Bello University

University of Ibadan

University of Nigeria

University of Portharcourt

King’s College Lagos (Attended)

Queen’s College Yaba-Lagos.

Igbinedion University

Madonna University

UDSS

Nigerian Law School

Benson Idahosa University

ABTI-American University of Nigeria

Vivian Fowler

Just because you attended any of the schools above does not mean I will hand it over to you. I have to ensure these pages do not get abused.

Universities have PR departments right?

If you are interested just contact me via ositanwoye@gmail. To be very clear, NO MONEY is required to take these pages. All that I need is proof you are an official or trustworthy enough to be in charge of this. I will put the contact of those that have taken over beside the fan pages.

This is probably not a big deal as there might be duplicate fan pages but these have the highest members for their various institutions.

See photo evidence below. The blurred out ones are not relevant here.

As a side note, I think facebook should start a verification badge system for people or institutions that want to control messages they send out. The cost of that can be placed on the page owners.

Recently, there has been a lot of hullabaloo on the inter-webs about people being kicked of Google+ for not using their real names. As someone that goes by the name Oo pronounced Oh Oh, I get the “what is your real name question quite a lot.

My comment on this topic on Fred Wilson’s blog post on this topic was quite long I decided to blog my thoughts on this “real name issue.

–

I think the fundamental question is “What is your name?”
My full name is Osita Orji Nwoye hwoever, I have always been called Oo (my initials) by family and friends. My Mum, Dad, Sister who have known me for 28 years of my life have NEVER called me any name but Oo. They only mention Osita when I am being introduced to some people.

90% of the people who have known me in the last few yeas do not even know my name as Osita. If you go to where I have lived in the last 5 years and ask for Osita I would walk pass and they would not know who you are talking to .

Recently, I have attended tech  events, introduced myself as Oo had a quick chat and moved on only for the person to come back and say, “Hey, wait a minute, are you OoTheNigerian (Thank you Twitter!)?”

What then is my name?

I would say it depends on the circumstance, but the main reason for having a name is for identification. What ever can identify you to a person is your name to that person or authority.

It is also interesting to note that your name is not for you to use but for others.

Of course, my cheques are written Osita Nwoye.  Money has a way of settling these disputes

So what is your real name?

—

Bonus: But why and how did I come to bear Oo?

Legend has is that when this great man was born, his fathers people gave him Ositadimma and his mothers people gave him Orji (not orgy ). However, when it was to be decided what name I would bear, a war nearly broke out between the village of Abba and Umunya. My brilliant and diplomatic mother, wanting to avert a crisis had a moment of inspiration (hopefully inspired by God) and decided  to combine the initials and it became Oo .

This awesome name has a logo and its own song embedded below. Go ahed and download to your heart’s pleasure.

The Oo Song by Oo Nwoye

I’ve got a personal logo. Before you hate me let me explain how this happened

One day last year, I was researching logos. I think I typed a query like “best logos ever” and I came across one of the most awesome logo I have ever seen “TalkMore“. So I did a little research about the person behind the logo and found out the guru behind it Nido, was in Birmingham with me! (then, I was still a Brummie). I got in contact and we chatted over Skype. It was around the time I was returning back to Nigeria so we did not get to meet up. While I was in Nigeria, I was still in contact with Nido and promised to check on him whenever I visited Brum.

Last Thursday, I went to visit my man Joel in Birmingham and made it a point of duty do track down Nido. We agreed to meet up on Thursday evening. We went back and forth via SMS trying to fix a good time. Unfortunately, things came up for Nido and we could not meet up again.

Well, on the way back to London, I got a text from Nido saying he sent me something cos he was feeling bad for not being able to meet up with our appointment. When I returned to London, I opened my email and wow!!!

Trivia fact: The first time I spoke to Nido was when I called to thank him for the logo. And the first question he asked was; “how do they pronounce your name?”. All previous communication was via SMS, email and Skype.

Some people are just AWESOME.

Thank you Nido. I am really grateful.

Now I can now go ahead and think on how to incorporate the awesome generic logo into OoTheNigerian, Political Oo, Oo Nwoye

</vanity>

Spinlet, a cloud-based music streaming and storage app maker based in Finland has received a significant undisclosed investment from Verod Capital an emerging markets investment firm based in Nigeria, with interests across several sectors.

via Nigerian VC Firm Invests Into Social Mobile Music Service, Spinlet | TechLoy.

I am quite surprised but happy all the same that a Nigerian based VC firm is traveling all the way to Finland to make it’s first Internet startup investment. The good news is that African startups no longer  have the excuse “there are no VC’s here”. The bad news is that if a Nigerian based VC firm does not deem it worthy to invest in a local internet startup, how do we expect the foreign ones to have faith in us?

PS: This is my first ‘commentary styled’ post here. It makes me feel less bad/lazy about not posting often.