FlipBoard: Is “Revolutionary” Perhaps an Overstatement?

When I see the word “revolutionary” attached to something like an Ipad app, my big shield of skepticism goes up. Real fast. It sounds like the hypey stuff a marketer would use in order to go into a product launch.

This morning, a new Ipad app launched called FlipBoard. And the word “revolutionary” was assigned to it by Ashton Kutcher. While some may think he’s just an actor so he wouldn’t know a thing, the reality is that Ashton has been quite active in the new media space and social media. He does know what he’s talking about.

In short, FlipBoard is a kind of news aggregator which is powered by social media – namely Facebook and Twitter. It turns the idea of a Twitter client on its head. For example, Tweetdeck and other similar apps just tap you into the Twitter stream. Stuff zooms by and it is essentially an endless stream of noise. With Tweetdeck, you can filter things using columns and lists, but it is still a reactionary medium. In other words, you sit there and look and stuff just goes by – whether you like it or not.

FlipBoard re-formats things like a newspaper and uses a set of algorithms to pull out the stuff which is actually seeing user engagement. It is almost like Techmeme, but powered by social media and completely customizable based on what you feed into it. The app is also EXTREMELY well designed. It really is an awesome use for the Ipad.

The app does have drawbacks. You can’t do custom tweets and Facebook messages from inside the app. You can’t feed standard RSS feeds into it (which makes sense, in a way). It is also limited to only 9 topic tiles. I’m sure a lot of this is going to change. After all, this is only Day 1.

But Still… Revolutionary?

In my view, this app is a game-changer in a way which is likely not going to be completely obvious to the casual observer. Most will compare it to a custom homepage or to an RSS reader. Neither comparison gives it justice.

The newspaper is dying, however that FORMAT is still workable. In other words, the layout. The problem with newspapers (other than the fact that they use paper) is that they are inherently dated the moment you get it. Almost always, the daily newspaper is a rehash of what was being seen on the Internet the prior day (or many times much earlier). Also, a newspaper is a top-down approach, where a series of editors (often with a huge bias) get to determine what it is YOU read.

Social media democratizes the media. FlipBoard compiles it back into a very workable and proven display format (unlike the noise stream that social media usually is). And the whole thing works on an Ipad, a device which I believe represents where computing is going. For any form of new media consumption to go mainstream, it cannot be tied to a computer. The Ipad (and other similar tablets sure to be coming out soon) forms a new type of form factor. It lies in between the big box on the desk and the little mobile phone which is too small for many applications.

In short, an app like FlipBoard makes a real-time digital newspaper which you can easily sit down and read along with your coffee and bagel in the morning. This app just put another HUGE nail into the coffin of the traditional media.

Things will change. The app will see many improvements. There will also be some likely changes to the way publishers (like PCMech) interface with FlipBoard. I’m sure competitors will arise. But, that’s the way these types of things work.

The app is free in the app store, and is only available on the Ipad.

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http://aaronfournier.50webs.com/ Aaron Fournier
FlipBoard looks like a really cool app. I doubt I'd use it much though if I had an iPad because I'd rather use an RSS reader for news and a client like Tweetdeck for social networking.

http://menga.net Rich Menga
And the fact http://twittertim.es/ already exists.

http://davidrisley.com David Risley
Twitter Times is a piece of garbage compared to Flipboard.

http://menga.net Rich Menga
Doesn't take away from the fact Flipboard's video demonstration sounds an awful lot like TwitterTime.es' features. Same words, just presented differently.

http://davidrisley.com David Risley
Sometimes I'm at a loss why you bring certain things up, dude. So, the fact Twitter Times exists makes Flipboard suck? Come on. In order to be a game changer, it has to change the way you interface with it. Flipboard does that. Twitter Times? Nobody ever heard of it.
http://menga.net Rich Menga
It strengthens the article title's point. Flipboard is *not* revolutionary. It's a rehash of what TwitterTim.es already did before, just prettier.

http://davidrisley.com David Risley
Depends on your aims, obviously. I won't stop using RSS readers or Tweetdeck, either. But, those are like comparing a firehose to controlled flow of water.

David
You should be used to “Apple speak” by now. “Revolutionary” means “a solid product that we hope will make us a lot of money”. LOL

http://menga.net Rich Menga
Remove “solid”, change “make us” to “hopefully fool people into giving us” and then it sounds about right.

David
LOL. I'm not an Apple guy at all. But they do make solid, stable, user friendly products, if over hyped. Way over hyped.
I choose not to use them because those like the iPad and FlipBoard are case studies in extreme novelty. Nobody needs this stuff (cough, cough), but they're nice showy toys.
Which leads me to another thought….as much as the Mac-heads like to rag PCs over the costs…how much do you think they spend in “extras” like these?? I wonder…

http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen
I think it's revolutionary. They might not be first, and they might not be the best, but they brought the most attention, and that's how the game changes. Don't understand the Apple hating…Apple is a playground that I just started playing in and I don't ever want to leave. Long live iTunes!