chadp

For facebook users, yes it can replace personal communications.

Businesses are more likely to totally block facebook rather than allow their important and legally binding email communications be run through an American social networking company.

If you are asking people to review then ask. If not, then don't state your service as around the world if it can only do 2 countries. Disappointing after getting excited by the title and spending 5 mins to learn about pinging from USA and France.

The author contradicts himself.

First he says that "Facebook is killing email. It’s been happening slowly, and most techies disagree, but it’s been happening for a long time."

Then he goes on to admit "More importantly, Facebook isn’t seen as a serious platform. This is less true now than it used to be, but I would still hesitate to ask people to Facebook me in order to talk business – Facebook is for friends and family, email is for work."

"..email is for work."

So....Email will not die anytime soon then is what he is saying.

Can anyone see businesses around the world allowing facebook to peer in and access their company messaging and data? Never.

Email is dead. Long live email.

Maybe the title should read, business focused entrepreneurs with no money. If I am a entrepreneur and I have money, I will not be looking for a "technical co-founder". I will hire technical teams to build and iterate the product to my liking and specification, with their expert input of course (which I can choose to accept or not).

No, quite the opposite. Apps are not going away for some time. Apps have: - carrier / store billing - devs make and collect $$ easier - more functionality, better experience with apps - easier for most users, the icon is right there on the desktop - there is a significant investment by all parties in the app ecosystem that is not going away or showing signs of abating.

I sure don't prefer the mobile web. Apps are way easier for a user.

What percentage do you guys use apps vs mobile web. I would say apps 85% mob web 15% for me.

If they are putting their money into you and your company they should be comfortable that you have at least thought about making money.

Agreed, no relation between the two. The poor have a chance to make it, work hard and be successful, especially in America.

Most don't have it so bad either with flat screen TVs, Internet, food to eat and a roof over their heads.

Cool but it is still 500 million dollars with the rocket.

The X prize teams are potentially going to do it for <50 million.

Actually it is not in this case. It doesn't really matter.

Isn't it generally accepted that both will be hugely successful and in the top 5 of all mobile phones sold?

And who benefits anyway? Apple gets more plump AND Google + manufacturers make more money at the same time.

All mobile developers should be developing for both at this stage anyway so it doesn't even affect them who "wins".

Both have already won. The actual title is just a pissing / ego contest by users and bloggers.

Yes this will be an increasing topic of debate in the press as genomics, medicine, nanotech, designer drugs and robotics fields' progress in the coming years.

Funny thing is that your's and my opinions of where the line should be drawn are irrelevant along with the opinion of sovereign governments' (opinions and related laws). The scientists to do this work will do it anyway and anywhere based on available funding and their personal moral compass.

Depends on how you look at it I suppose.

If one thinks that unique human beings are more important than lab rats that are farmed to be experimented on then it is perfectly moral.

Put another way, if someone in your family had 3rd degree burns to their face and whole upper body and needed new skin. Would you sacrifice a few lab rats to save your family member's life and let them lead a normal life again?

Or would you say, sorry we could have helped you but we couldn't bear to hurt the poor rats to find the solution to your problem?

(and we can replace skin with hearts, liver, kidney, lungs, eyes and any other organ that might be able to be replaced in the future)

Exactly. I was expecting a list of super cool stuff that I haven't heard of yet.

Most people that are employed with an average job already own all this stuff no?

If there were four founders, did they not negotiate to set any other board members up before to outnumber the one VC board member?

Sounds like they had bad legal advice.

So what was the term or terms that screwed them in the end that let the VCs take control?

Does anyone know what % the founders held at the time of the sale?

Sounds like they should have done OK, depending on what % they gave up for their $78MM VC.

- Taking either path won't guarantee you a good life in 10 years. Smart choices along the way AND hard work will. - There is no "one path" to follow. Make your own path. - You are very young still, you can finish your studies and do startups later. - Finish your studies and enjoy university while you are young. you will be glad you did later. - Study something that will be useful in your startups later. Let your school subsidy pay to start your training in being an expert.

Good luck.

We are 100% responsible for the prescription drugs we take, even when subscribed by a doctor.

There is no excuse really when we have access to the internet and a quick google can tell everything about what drug one is prescribed and about to take (or not take).

Decent article about genetics, DNA, evolution and science.

Nowhere is God mentioned in this article. Misleading title.

It is highly possible that god doesn't even exist. It is then almost certain that he does not code every living organism's genetic make-up.

The first 40% of the article started out OK actually.

Then it goes to pot and turns into some sort of political rant which some point I don't understand.

Also, what BS about worker-less automated factories. Has he even seen high tech factories? They will still need workers for many years to come. And anyway, these factories are more likely to be in the BRIC and other low cost countries still.

A flurry of these factories firstly are not coming to the UK and secondly (if they did) are not likely to bring the UK back to relevancy.

Intuition + rational thinking = valuable/powerful

Cool they did it. I was expecting an article on HOW they did it!

Ok, this computerworld kid has a couple of points but the writing is drawn out drivel.

The personal dig about steve's wardrobe was totally un-needed and unclassy.

Steve Jobs has masterminded the most amazing turnaround story probably in history. Have some respect at least. What an idiot this writer is.

Is anyone here going to develop for this thing? I should think after iphone, ipad, android, palm, regular blackberryOS devs and maybe windows phone7, devs will have their hands plenty full. Can people really take on this totally new OS? Or will it only be the big companies that do it (ie. playbook won't get many apps built)

he is a deca billionaire and just in his mid 50s. Great to see.

I think outsourcing a simple $2k fart app is workable.

A complex internet service with multiple technologies, web, multiple mobile platforms and your valuable IP is another matter and probably not advisable for outsourcing.

Whichever language is best for the immediate job at hand.

5 years is a long time, lots will change in 5 years.

This is common practice in China. Whenever there is clouds, they shoot them and get the rain. Korea is always mad for "stealing" the clouds!

Sounds right. They have been the only game in town. Now the only way for that number to go is down as 50+ android tablets flood the market.

Whether any of them will rival the iPad remains to be seen though.

Yes if you have the cash AND know how to hire and manage technical teams, a technical co-founder is not really needed IMO.

Do people think that this auction will only fetch $500? I would have thought it will be bid up to several thousand..

No, was thinking of like minded, intellegent, rounded, technology, internet startup founders that are interested to discuss a wide range of interesting topics. If I want to discuss with the general public, yes I would be a member of reddit. Maybe I have the wrong idea of HN then.