I do miss TechTV, had some classic moments with Kevin, Alex and the team
Kevin Rose Will Join Google
61–70 of 275 posts
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#62Sorry if this sounds harsh, and I know he has a lot of fans out there. But this guy struck gold 5 years ago with Digg. Sure, he deserves props for this. However, he's not a developer. He's an "ideas guy" as far as I can tell. As a developer, I hate these kinds of people because more often than not their ideas suck. In any case, what I am saying is that it seems like people in the industry get by based on one previous…
There's a distinction to be made between "idea guys" and "product people". You're criticizing "idea guys", while it seems that Kevin Rose might be more of a product person. The "idea guy" is the guy who comes to a developer and start with "I've got this great idea for an app…", thinks it's genius but never dives down to all the details of said-app. A product person might or might not know how to code but s/he will(/s…
Great insights here breaking down "idea guys" and "product people". Never thought of it like that.
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#63It makes sense the more that I think about it. Rose has said on his podcast and in other interviews that he regrets that Digg raised so much money. They had to focus on revenue instead of building the product. I'm sure he's a little disappointed at Milk's success thus far too. I guess he's possibly thinking that this will give him the opportunity build a huge product that he's always wanted without having to focus on…
Tumblr and Twitter have both raised a lot of money and haven't had to focus on revenue. It is more about who your investors are rather than how much you raise.
The 'focus on revenue' part of later Digg is what killed it.
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#64Sorry if this sounds harsh, and I know he has a lot of fans out there. But this guy struck gold 5 years ago with Digg. Sure, he deserves props for this. However, he's not a developer. He's an "ideas guy" as far as I can tell. As a developer, I hate these kinds of people because more often than not their ideas suck. In any case, what I am saying is that it seems like people in the industry get by based on one previous…
I agree. I hope this isn't the start of those weird campaigns where an organisation start picking up recognizable names rather than deal with fundamental failures. Google of course is no failure but it seems like I roll my eyes at Google decisions more than ever before.
Like you I have no clue what this guy brings to a company as big as Google and their products.
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#65Feels like a Google-jumped-the-shark moment.
Can you elaborate?
I think he means that Google is like "Happy Days" at their peak, and hiring Kevin Rose is a desperate attempt to still look cool like the Fonz, but in fact are foreshadowing that their market capitalization will probably now decline.
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#66Hardly anyone knows the details, but the amount of jealousy and hatred that comes out on HN on these stories is shocking.
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#67This is interesting news...I wonder if he will explain it. In other news, does Kevin really own a piece of the Packers? http://twitter.com/#!/kevinrose/status/173532999881732096 Was that a joke or is that legit? Never knew his angel/digg/rev3 money was that large. What did I miss?
The Packers recently sold new shares for $250 each, so by buying one share you could claim to be a co-owner.
See: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7633420/green-bay-packers-...
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#68Sorry if this sounds harsh, and I know he has a lot of fans out there. But this guy struck gold 5 years ago with Digg. Sure, he deserves props for this. However, he's not a developer. He's an "ideas guy" as far as I can tell. As a developer, I hate these kinds of people because more often than not their ideas suck. In any case, what I am saying is that it seems like people in the industry get by based on one previous…
It's really tough to hit two home runs in the entrepreneurial game, but one home run is really all you need to get investors to think you will come up with another success. Kevin may be an "idea guy" but he is also a "product guy" and I think this will be his role within Google. Google's main mobile app is terrible so maybe they think he can help with this product. I personally wish Google would go back to their roots and build a simple mobile app that just has a search box.
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#69Huh. It was just yesterday that they shut down Oink to "work on other ideas"- so that was a total lie? Heaven forbid they should just be straightforward about what's going on. As someone who'd love some VC money, it's a little disheartening to see $1.7 million of it thrown around and wasted based on one person's name.
Welcome to the valley, the line forms to the left. :\
Re: Kevin Rose Will Join Google
#70Wasn't Rose the main guy who pushed Digg over the cliff and over to Reddit with the famed v4 disaster?
Don't get me wrong, the guy did great work getting Digg to where it was, but if he was behind Digg v4 he killed it within a matter of days over a decision that no one wanted, and that puts him in a worrying position at Google if he is to work on the social aspects of the company.
Didn't he also tank publicly with Pownce? Again a service with functionality that no one really wanted, that turned up at the wrong time and was eaten alive by the likes of Twitter.
In many ways these high profile failures could be a great thing for him and Google, because the best lessons comes from those who have been there and lost it all. His acquisition could stop Google from its own "v4" moment.