I just saw the DEMO demo for Plum. I'm a little overwhelmed. The problem with demoing something that is complex and potentially game-changing at DEMO, is that you only get the 6 minutes. Sure that should be plenty of time to convey a concept, but the Plum demo was packed so full with compelling features and interactions, it was hard to take it all in. Plum has a lot of elements that I consider necessary for a Digital Life Manager. I think it crossed into DLM territory when they showed how it can capture content from your desktop in order to archive and share it on the interweb. Among other things. I can not wait to get my hands on it.
I do fear that they've packed too many features into this thing. It could very easily sail right over the heads of most people. Although the basic interface looks accessible (it sure is pretty), it's going to take some time for the average person to have a reason to make use of it all.
Please remeber that the Web 2.0 community is very very small. I think that many people are designing for themselves instead of for the betterment of the medium and others. My friend Cale Peeples touches on this in a recent post.
"It seems that the Internet has become more compartmentalized - more widget oriented. It may be an evolution of sorts, but I think the the evolution is slowing down and maybe even stagnating. For better or for worse, the focus is shifting from innovation to stabilization and the innovations that exist are narrowly focused and introverted.
The prevailing mood is less "look what we can do with the internet" and more "look what I can do in a browser"."
While this doesn't necessarily describe the Plum concept, it does describe the whole Web 2.0 phenomenon very well.
Where are the big ideas? I'll say it again... Where are the big ideas?
To any of you who are developing a w2.0 service/feature/business with the desired outcome of being purchased by Yahoo! or Google or whatever... Stop what you're doing and get a real job. It will never happen. If you're trying to change the fucking world come hell or high water and that's your sole desire... talk to me. That's what's needed.
We haven't even tapped the Internet's potential. Please don't be complacent and think that what you see is what you get. It doesn't have to be. It can be anything. We don't really need a better -fill in the blank-. Do we? Make people's lives better.
If I can give you one bit of advice, it is this... Solve real problems, not made up ones.
Plum might be close. It sure is damn interesting. And it sure is getting closer to the DLM vision. Hey Plum dudes, release it already!
