Got Milk? Details on Kevin Rose’s New Company
Weeks after leaving Digg, Kevin Rose released details about his new company: Milk. Rose and a team of five other coders will set out to solve specific old-industry problems related to using the mobile Internet. Rather than following the trends for incubators in Silicon Valley, Milk is taking a different direction. Instead of launching a bunch of smaller ideas within the next year, they aim for a more conservative four to six ideas with huge implications.
This setup plays to Roses’s strengths. The Milk team will be able to throw out ideas quickly and see what sticks. “People talk about pivoting all the time now, but if something isn’t working after four months, we’ll just shoot it in the head and start again,” says Rose.
via TechCrunch
Android Test Market Leaks Honeycomb Apps
Due to some type of odd glitch, one tech blogger at Tech From 10 found his Nexus S had suddenly been “blessed” with the Google Test Market. Most of the apps actually didn’t work, including: a Camera, Gallery, Desk Clock, and Cube Wallpaper. Most of these apps are presumably destined for Android 3.0 Honeycomb, including a slick new version of the default Music app, which seems to work flawlessly. You mileage may vary, but you can dowload the APK’s below.
Download: Camera | Gallery | Desk Clock | Cube Wallpaper | Music
via DroidLife
Motorola Xoom and Atrix Both Duds
While many were excited at the prospect of a high-end Android tablet and a powerful Android phone that doubles as a full-fledged laptop, the Motorola Xoom tablet and the Atrix smartphone haven’t done as well as expected. According to Pacific Crest analyst James Faucette, sell-through trends for both devices “have been disappointing.” He mentions specifically that the iPhone 3GS and HTC Inpspire, both at a $49 price point, kept sales of the Atrix “well below forecast.”
There are always two sides to a story, though. The disappointment hinges on sales of 100,000 units in the first few months and comparisons with iPad 2. I’d assume that, given the choice between an $800 Motorola Xoom and a $500 iPad 2, many consumers opted for the later. Joe Wilcox points out other sales deterrents that the Xoom has overcome and says the 100,000 sales are a success rather than a failure given the Xoom’s positioning.
via Forbes
Larry Page Ties Employee Bonuses to Success of Social
It’s no secret that Google wants in on social. Following their launch of Google +1 and Larry Page stepping in as CEO, a leaked memo now reveals that every Google employee is now responsible for pushing Google’s social initiatives. As much as 25% of employee bonuses will now be based on Google’s ability to succeed in social media. Even employees that have nothing to do with these social projects are bound to help them succeed: “This is a joint effort so it’s important that we all get behind it.” Even encouraging employees to push Google products on their loved ones, saying “When we release products, try them and encourage your family and friends to do the same.”