PodTech has an open feedback channel!

Posted on December 16th, 2006 in: Feedback, Podtech

We’re listening…feel free to email me anytime or leave a comment on my blog, Robert’s blog or John’s blog

Oh, in case you’re not up to speed, This commenter thinks that Podtech is not listening, but we are, Robert and John our CEO prove it (sorry I’m 1.5 hours late, I was out and about today). In fact I just asked for feedback last week and Bess Ho served up quite a hot dish. Both Julio and Brian gave me feedback and I passed it on to the right folks.

Here’s the comment in it’s entirety:

Mr. Furrier (#18),

Your claim that Facebook is worth more than YouTube was challenged by your star podcaster, Robert Scoble, in the blog post you link to.

I’m a fan of Robert Scoble and I check his blog no less than 5 times a day, but I’ve since visited PodTech, your company, a total of 5 times. Allow me to explain why:

#1 I spent the first 3 visits to your site, PodTech, trying to get the Quicktime player to work, and I’m a tech savvy guy. Other people have complained about it too, but did you listen? No.
#2 Scoble’s fans have tried to persuade him and you to switch to Flash player, which even Microsoft has conceded is a better online video delivery platform and is now using for its Soapbox video uploading site. Were you swayed? No.
#3 YouTube is popular for many reasons, one of which is its under-10-minutes short-clip culture. The length of PodTech’s videos is excruciatingly long, for talking heads, which many on Scoble’s blog have criticized. Did the feedback work? No.

I will say this: you got the “chutzpah” to do exactly what you want to do. Bush and Rumsfeld got the “chutzpah” to say “stay the course” all these years, and look what happened.

John Furrier, our CEO responded on this blog with the following:

Hey No Name: I agree with all your points above. Whoever you are you should say who you are. I’m not afraid to admit that I agree with you. We’ve been doing video for only a few months and we will be changing to make the user experience better. Flash will be on in a month and the site will change. The Bush Rummie comment did make me laugh. PodTech is only 1.5 years old and the Bush Rummie thing is 5 years old. In 5 years from now I hope that PodTech has little or no traffic on our site. We are not trying to be a portal …If the net continues to evolve all the traffic will be RSS based.

In my experience with John, he’s very cool about open opinions, and encourages us to take risks, mess up and try again. Please don’t be shy in giving us and him direct feedback. If you’ve suggestions about PodTech, feel free to leave a comment, I promise you we will read it and take in your opinions as our community most seriously.

Filed under: Feedback, Podtech  

  • Pingback: 日刊！ＹｏｕＴｕｂｅ情報

  • http://blog.chocolategourmand.com brian

    私はこれがyoutube の言及から離れて関連しているいかにか見ない。

  • Bess

    Nanika atta? Yokatta koto!

    Ha ha. I use my real time. And both Robert and you know where and how to find me.

    Don’t feel too bad. To make you feel better. Early this year, I told my old boss (consulting for Webex at the time) about my experience with Webex sale call response and how difficult to search information on their website, compared to their competitor Gotomeeting. My name is circulated among the top executive about how I pinpoint their problems, told them exactly how they lose market share to Gotomeeting, rave about Gotomeeting. They did listen. The end result is Webex win our corporate account with a lot of work. The bottomline is Webex indeed has better product. I hope they work harder on their site with more intelligence and thoughts, with customer in mind.

    Back to Podtech.net, I can live with a bad site for now. It seems like I can’t view Scobleshow video on iPod. This is a big No No. I think it is good to have lengthy in-depth programs. But how long and how many videos can you watch the videos on your computer outside work hour. With many tech pro, our spare time is very limited outside very busy work schedule and work load.

    What I end up watching? I watch music videos or fashion shows on my iPod while I am waiting at restaurant or when my computer is off. I wish I could watch tech shows during those times.

  • Bess

    About video types supported on browser. Yes I will put this as item on our “Browser War: Eposide II Attack of the DOMs”.

    Currently it is kind of browser-related problem to serve Quicktime, or even Window Media Video. After doing research, flash video is really the way to go. No wonder everyone is using .flv like YouTube, Victoria Secret. Adobe will be also presenting at our “Browser War: Eposide II Attack of the DOMs”.

    I’ll be back to provide more detail on Site Surgery thoughts.

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    Bess, You’re right, we should be able to see and hear all podtech content via iPods and other mobile devices. Great feedback above.

  • Bess

    Why iPod should be on Top priority list. Scobleshow is listed on iTune as video podcast. I didn’t have chance to check every Tech podcast. However, it is probably be the one listed on iTune but not able to play on iPod.

    1. Expectation. Viewers expect to be able to view it on iPod if it is listed on iTune.
    2. It is a Tech show. Viewers expect Tech Startup should be able to provide iPod format compared to other less technical categories.
    3. Increase corporate revenue. Corporate clients would like to have videos be part of their Marketing and Sale strategy. It is so easy to buy iPod accessories to make everything happen. No laptop is required.
    i. Client can take iPod to do sale representation on sale appointment.
    ii. Client can show iPod video on TV to show a large audience in meeting or tradeshow.
    4. Encourage more viewing. It is so easy to show iPod on TV and have your entire family or friends to watch video together instead of you watching alone on a computer monitor.
    5. You can listen to iPod during driving. Or it is more convenience to watch iPod during traveling on a plane or in tight space.
    6. Protect your eyes. It is not good for your eyes to spend hours and hours on computer monitor. Alternative solution is to watch videos on larger screen at distant like TV.

  • Pingback: sell annuity

  • http://google.com/ rwykoz

    Hi. Cool design. Keep up the good.
    Good bye.

  • http://fuckingbich.nm.ru hgfjkdlsiu

    Hi!! This is my site.
    black bondage fucking

  • http://www.webkinzmap1.phpnet.us DDT-WEBKINZ

    Welcome to the world of blogging, it’s truly revolutionized the industry of the Internet, in my opinion. I spend more time writing in blogs than I do actually reading them, but overall you’ll find them useful I think.