You have to wonder about an application that requires a “how-to” to drive consumer adoption.
Did Google require a how-to? Or E-bay, Amazon, MySpace, IM, e-commerce, e-mail, web browsing?
Even where some technical learning was required, there was a sufficiently burning need for the application that consumers plunged right in. Can it really be a killer app if it needs to be explained to the average person why it’s a killer app — and if it requires a multi-step tutorial for how to use it?
Can anyone describe what RSS is and how to use it in a simple phrase, as you can with other killer apps?
Google — Use key words to find anything online
E-bay — Buy or sell anything from anybody online
E-mail — Send a message to anyone with email
IM — Chat with people live online
MySpace — Hang out and socialize online
Here’s one for RSS from Bill Flitter at Pheedo: “subscribe to content/updates directly from this site without having to provide an email address.†And only get those updates when there’s new content.
[...] If you’re looking on information on RSS that’s easy to understand and will help you along the way look no further than the BBC. Their guide to feeds is absolutely fantastic. (via Jeff Jarvis) [...]
You have to wonder about an application that requires a “how-to” to drive consumer adoption.
Did Google require a how-to? Or E-bay, Amazon, MySpace, IM, e-commerce, e-mail, web browsing?
Even where some technical learning was required, there was a sufficiently burning need for the application that consumers plunged right in. Can it really be a killer app if it needs to be explained to the average person why it’s a killer app — and if it requires a multi-step tutorial for how to use it?
Can anyone describe what RSS is and how to use it in a simple phrase, as you can with other killer apps?
Google — Use key words to find anything online
E-bay — Buy or sell anything from anybody online
E-mail — Send a message to anyone with email
IM — Chat with people live online
MySpace — Hang out and socialize online
Here’s one for RSS from Bill Flitter at Pheedo: “subscribe to content/updates directly from this site without having to provide an email address.†And only get those updates when there’s new content.
It’s just not there yet.
That BBC site is horribly designed and makes something simple seem unnecessarily confusing.
What’s so hard to understand about RSS? It’s simpler than setting up a POP email account and people manage to do that.
>Can anyone describe what RSS is and how to use it in a
>simple phrase, as you can with other killer apps?
The examples you gave don’t explain “how” to do anything. So following your template:
RSS – Receive updated Web content automatically.
Seems simple enough to me.
The hightech blog (neoweb.nl) also has a RSS tutorial here
[...] If you’re looking on information on RSS that’s easy to understand and will help you along the way look no further than the BBC. Their guide to feeds is absolutely fantastic. (via Jeff Jarvis) [...]