Do We Need More ‘Fun and Addictive’ Web Software?

May 6th, 2008 by James

Do We Need More Fun and Addictive Software?I began writing today’s post titled ‘X Ways To Survive and Thrive in a Recession’ but then I got this email about a “cool new way to browse the web.” So being eternally curious, I went to see what all the fuss was about. What I found was a new browser plugin that creates a “fun and addictive” interface for browsing images and video on popular websites.

My first thought was “Cool!” then I ushered my geekiness out the door and the smart James kicked in and said “So what?” In fact I paused for a moment and thought - *sigh* what’s the point of yet another “fun and addictive” website browser plugin?

Don’t get me wrong, this thing looks all “Mac-ified” and makes the image browser slick and interactive - it’s a wall metaphor so you can skim backwards and forward and such - but I mean really…. what the heck is the point?

Most major search engines already provide image search - granted it’s not as sexy as this software install - but frankly I’m tired of adding on what I see as a pointless piece of software that according to quite a few reviews I read “causes my browser to crash repeatedly!”

So I ask you as I sign off today, do we really need more fun and addictive web software? [Share your thoughts in the comments] What about figuring out how to do something profitable? What about tools that are commercially viable - did I mention this “wall addon” was free with no advertising? Hmmm, makes me wonder how they will make money. Perhaps today it will be free and then when they’ve got an install base they’ll automatically upgrade the doo-hickey and presto… ads on your browser!

So as I turn back to my ‘Surviving and Thriving a Recession’ writing, I wonder if perhaps playing and goofing off might not have something to do with that article in ways I hadn’t considered?

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One Response to “Do We Need More ‘Fun and Addictive’ Web Software?”

  1. By Tomaso on May 6, 2008

    hmmm….do we need more addictive software…?

    if distractions is life then give me more.

    if getting stuff done and then moving on to other things…is the goal…then remove the distractions…

    BUT HERE’S A QUESTION!!!

    Who is the big dog…me or it?

    Kirk Douglas wrote a book called ‘Son of a Rag Picker’ or
    some such. He told the story of his father’s decision to
    quit smoking. He kept a cigarette in his shirt pocket
    and every time he felt a pang of desire to puff, he’d
    take the cigarette out of his pocket, hold it up and say,
    “Who’s stronger, me or you?”

    What’s the point?

    We are endlessly distracted and endlessly
    distractible. Someone wrote that “flow”, once
    interrupted, cannot be reestablished faster
    than 45 minutes.

    So, shall we all commit suicide now, or evolve?

    You Darwinians out there…what are the requisite
    traits of those who survived the technological
    proliferation of the early 21st Century?

    How about the ability to choose your own focus?

    If we have that ability, and we do, then what does
    it matter. There are lots of fun toys and more on
    the way. If you like ‘em, play with ‘em. If you don’t
    then don’t.

    But the main thing is you are free to choose.

    Don’t let the tail wag the dog, man, or you’ll
    find yourself in a little room somewhere with
    a computer and a bunch of fast food wrappers.

    Or are you already there?

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