Software and Trust: The Google Example

[Craig Seeman]

Which is why I’d say trust no company. Apple is just one of many companies that shift gears as they see fit.

[John Davidson]

Why stop there? Google’s done a lot more than that.

Google’s gmail dropped exchange, essentially killing push email from Gmail on all new idevices.
Google Apps is now a paid service, no longer free for small business ($50/yr per user).
Google reader is now dead man walking.

I really wish Apple would allow some sort of custom email hosting like Google Apps did, but it’s looking more and more likely that we will probably be switching to our own mac mini server for email as push is kind of a big deal for us.

What’s next to kill? I’d expect google voice to get canned or turn into a paid option soon. I’m not saying that google is completely wrong, they are a for profit company that needs to generate revenue for services rendered. This is part of an overall trend of companies messing with success in order to turn an actual profit. Facebook is now putting up sponsored posts, twitter has annoying sponsored tweets, etc. Internet users are fickle and like free stuff. Take away the free – why stay?

Apple’s initial release of FCPX may have been somewhat upsetting, but it’s getting better. Google, Facebook, and Twitter however, are getting worse.

[Franz Bieberkopf]

[John Davidson] “Apple’s initial release of FCPX may have been somewhat upsetting, but it’s getting better.”

John,

I’m not sure how this addresses the trust issue.

Franz.

[Aindreas Gallagher]

if there’s one thing you can say about this forum, it is that it is pretty loud niche – pro and con.

I don’t think, for instance, that Dennis Radeke thought he was going to end up being hauled over the coals for adobe educational pricing by educator representatives when he walked in. Dennis is very much, and really rather heartfelt, a dude – but this actually is a real debate forum. It’s probably useful that it’s loud.

As long as there is light with the heat it’s not a bad idea to kick it around. ad utter infinitum.

Or at least until NAB.

At which point X may kind of expire as a notion for paid editing. God knows it’s been coming.

(also feedly is the answer to reader, they are building a backend switchover they swear – I personally have well over a hundred reader feeds).

https://vimeo.com/user1590967/videos http://www.ogallchoir.net promo producer/editor.grading/motion graphics

[Franz Bieberkopf]

[Craig Seeman] “Which is why I’d say trust no company.”

Craig,

I think the more interesting questions are why and how people come to rely on their software and electronics.

You can see it here in these forums for example – people expect Apple to continue to develop and support Final Cut Pro X. They trust, or want to trust, that the software will be there, and be better, in the future (however vaguely defined).

Another example (discussed recently) – the question of software rental vs. purchase. (Purchase seems to require less trust on the face of it.)

I don’t think it’s a binary question – it’s a question of how far and in what ways we are willing to trust corporations, and maybe more interestingly what sort of agency we might be able to develop in that relationship (be it through government tools like consumer protections or private collective initiatives like Murch’s mythical “professional editor certification” for products).

Franz.

[John Davidson]

I wasn’t disagreeing with you.

[John Godwin]

I have a much bigger trust issue with cloud apps. As long as I have software resident on my computer I can access my work and at the minimum rescue it and get it into a form I can use elsewhere. If someone in “the cloud” decides to shut something down that’s a lot more troubling to me than stopping development on a program that I can still use for months or years if necessary, because its still available.

Best,
John

[Craig Seeman]

[Franz Bieberkopf] “I don’t think it’s a binary question – it’s a question of how far and in what ways we are willing to trust corporations, “

For me, zilch. I’m along for the ride and expect every wave to crash even though some will be bigger and longer than others. It’s not even just products but entire corporations may crash or trash. The one thing I can say generally (and there are exceptions) is that the crash and trash doesn’t quite cost as much for us enduser as it did a decade ago. It’s the story of big iron and facilities.

For me, my trust goes as far as cost and how quickly I can recoup the ROI. If the product lasts that long then I’m good to go. Obviously I’d like things to last longer but it’s not something I trust in.

[Franz Bieberkopf] “maybe more interestingly what sort of agency we might be able to develop in that relationship (be it through government tools like consumer protections or private collective initiatives”

As far as software goes some would argue Open Source is the solution as something will keep going as long as a body of developers are interested in keeping it going.

I’m not sure how gov’t or consumer protections would work in this case beyond the commitment for warrantied service and support. Of course if that were extended, companies might proceed more cautiously and on the other side there would be those who claimed it was stifling innovation.

[James Culbertson]

[Aindreas Gallagher] “Or at least until NAB.

At which point X may kind of expire as a notion for paid editing. God knows it’s been coming.”

What? Is Apple re-releasing FCS3/FCP7 disks at NAB?

Not that that would stop a lot of pros from continuing to use FCPX for paid work.

I’ve been trying to figure out if you are at the denial stage or the bargaining stage… “CS7 will convince all these deluded FCPX users of the Right Way to edit.”

[Aindreas Gallagher]

Rather. There is absolutely no way in hell I am going to Creative cloud for instance. I love adobe, CS6 is a mountain of goodness, but I will take the upgrade price penalty over perpetual rental – up to the point where Shantanu Narayen appears as GIF on the upgrade screen going:

“three thousand dollars to upgrade!! Why not try Creative Cloud??”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yigV0GYGQ

Quotes (fictitious) from the video:

A:“So I feel the answer is Creative Cloud”

Q: Are you going to hike the price once everyone is on the hook?
A: “You need to look at creative cloud.”

Q: What is creative Cloud going to cost in three years once we’re locked in?
A:“creative Cloud, a cloud that is creative, made mostly from creative – but it is a cloud”

Q: What is it going to cost?
A: “It’s a particulate cloud, made from creative essences, that we want you all to pay a monthly fee for”

Q: No seriously – once you have everyone on the hook, and the promotional pricing ends, can we trust you not to gouge us?
A: “It’s a very beautiful cloud, It feels like a rainbow on your coronas, Adobe has no history of jacking up the prices for anyone”

Q: I’m begging you – how bad is it going to be in four years? Are we talking olive oil salesmen once we’re all on board?
A: Hey – come on – Creative Cloud, Creative Cloud, Creative Cloud. Do I sound insincere?

Q: How bad is it going to get?

(here, suddenly, Shantanu Narayen is stricken by cosmic truth rays)

A: What?

Q: Hi, just to ask again – what is the monthly call in three years once I’m locked in?

A: Well we’re not totally sure, we’re working it out, we figure after a few years we can bleed you for about 75 dollars a month once we have you by the short and curlies.

Q: do we own any software?

A: You’re funny – so that’s about a grand a year please. On perpetual hire purchase where you always have to pay.
Don’t miss a payment for any reason or we shut the software off. Also we are going to make outright purchase and upgrade increasingly difficult.

In closing my name is Shantanu Narayen, I am not insincere, and Creative Cloud, Creative CloudCreative CloudCreative Cloud Etc.

—-

ech. sorry – but I doubt the motivations and future intent, much as I love the tools.

https://vimeo.com/user1590967/videos http://www.ogallchoir.net promo producer/editor.grading/motion graphics