Huzzah! A FriendFeed Makeover for iPhone
by
on July 03, 2008,
As mobile social platforms are sort of a pet hobby of mine, I'm keen to learn about any and every update to the platforms that are currently vying for consumers' affections. One such competitor is FriendFeed, which has a very fluid little build of its social aggregator platform available to iPhone users.
That platform just received an update, and things are looking good. MG Seigler over at Venture Beat was able to try out the updated platform; updates include a photo uploading tool, larger fonts, a bigger section dedicating to posting to FriendFeed, and an upgraded navigation bar. Sadly, I don't have an iPhone, as I refuse to sell my soul to the corporate devil that is AT&T. That doesn't mean I can't lust a bit, right?
Though I'm not the biggest proponent of FriendFeed on a general basis, I think FriendFeed should be heralded as a fantastic mobile application. My reasoning for this is simple: as a mobile addict, I am looking for simplicity coupled with adequate functionality for keeping plugged in to my web-based social life. Though FriendFeed doesn't really suit my needs when there are better tools available for my Macbook Pro, I haven't seen a single mobile platform that fits my needs better than FriendFeed.
In fact, the more I consider the advantages of using FriendFeed as a mobile tool, the more I think FriendFeed really does have a niche for success. Without entering the debate that is Twitter v. FriendFeed (a debate I find meaningless, as the services aren't really competing), I think that with a little tuning and development, FriendFeed as a mobile application could take the lead spot in the mobile social platform race.
If FriendFeed can work in tools to update its various supported platforms, I don't see why the mobile platform wouldn't be ideal. Facebook and others will currently display updates to FriendFeed, but there is potential to take that integration much further. As I've said before, one of the largest barriers in the way of widespread adoption of mobile social platforms is the quality of handsets. Many handsets can't afford to run a FriendFeed application consistently in the background; if people have to worry about logging on, they won't do it as frequently, and that will hurt adoption rates.
Secondly, data needs to become a standard amenity with mobile customers. SMS-based updates for platforms are really not worth the effort.
Though FriendFeed can't really affect whether or not customers buy smartphones with data packages or not, the fact that FriendFeed already has support for many popular platforms in one clean and simple location means that it is dressed for success. For you iPhone users, definitely give the FriendFeed platform a trial run to see if it fits your needs. Those of us with aversions to AT&T will be as happy for you as possible.
