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Introducing Paper

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Re: Introducing Paper

#181

Post by icoder »

lambada wrote: post #22
erikb wrote: post #17

this looks like an idea that was tried so many times and people just don't care. I think about smart tags in GMail here, or circles. Most people simply don't micromanage their data flows according to topics. Maybe I simply don't get the difference here, but if I am right, then I am deeply disappointed and frustrated to see people spend money and smart developers' time into ideas that already failed years ago.

I think the difference here is that Facebook will categorise all the content. in effect they will manage what goes into the Tech or news or Creativity buckets. You just say which you want to see by default.

I understood that part as if there will be content especially for Paper, categorised (by creator) and readable for everyone. If they actually think they can categorise the stuff that is now my Facebook experience and get anything close to what is seen in the video, I'd be pleasantly surprised.

Re: Introducing Paper

#182

Post by res0nat0r »

gavanwoolery wrote: post #83
zyb09 wrote: post #48

Man, that video, typical marketing bullshit. First scene shows a guy writing on a typewriter, next scene shows someone hanging up Polaroid pictures. Seriously? Show me why this app is useful and why I need it, instead of trying to lull me into a world that doesn't exist.

I agree. Its become almost formulaic: cue hipster/light-hearted/playful music, show several emotionally engaging images with over-the-top DOF blur, narrate about how some mundane product that sucks us away from "real life" activities is tied to making the world a better, more engaging place.

If this were an Apple ad your response would be how beautiful, eloquent, heartfelt and touching the ad is.

Since it is Facebook and they are of course evil, it is obviously terrible.

Re: Introducing Paper

#183

Post by cliveowen »

austenallred wrote: post #169

I'm not sure why so many are describing this as a "news" app - it's pretty obviously a refresh of the Facebook design, and a much-needed one at that. At the given time 25% of Facebook is taken up by various buttons and controls; there's a lot you can do and a lot of places you can navigate to from Facebook's homepage. It was obviously designed for desktop, and then ported over to mobile. After a couple refreshes the…

I have to agree, in fact I wonder why would they even bother marketing it as a way to share and collect stories instead of proposing it as a more visual alternative to the main app.

I have the feeling that at Facebook they tend to half-ass things, like Home or the redesigned Newsfeed. They release an half-baked product and then let it rot for months with sporadic under-the-hood updates (I actually wonder why the hell every single day the main app needs a 10MB update to do what yesterday could do without problems, but that's for another time).

Re: Introducing Paper

#184

Post by collyw »

kyro wrote: post #63
zyb09 wrote: post #48

Man, that video, typical marketing bullshit. First scene shows a guy writing on a typewriter, next scene shows someone hanging up Polaroid pictures. Seriously? Show me why this app is useful and why I need it, instead of trying to lull me into a world that doesn't exist.

That's literally the entire point of this type of visual marketing: to help you envision a fantasy world that's attainable with a particular product. Apple, BMW, Chanel, etc, all do it.

Yeah, I used to love the iPod adverts with the hip, trendy silhouette dancing away. Then you would see the average user on the train. Spotty, not especially attractive, and definitely not cool. But I guess that image wouldn't sell much.

Re: Introducing Paper

#185

Post by tklovett »

joosters wrote: post #175
zyb09 wrote: post #48

Man, that video, typical marketing bullshit. First scene shows a guy writing on a typewriter, next scene shows someone hanging up Polaroid pictures. Seriously? Show me why this app is useful and why I need it, instead of trying to lull me into a world that doesn't exist.

Also, why do these videos always use a 'shakycam' effect? It's clearly a cinematographic choice, they can afford a camera stand or a steadycam. Do they really feel the need to give the impression that each scene was shot on a handheld camera by some stalker hiding in the room?

I think the idea is that it feels more human. It feels more like a home video - you feel that there is a real person behind the camera, and real people (not actors) in front of the camera.

Re: Introducing Paper

#186

Post by brown9-2 »

jccalhoun wrote: post #47

When did "beautiful storytelling" become code for "a big picture near the top and then plain text on a white background?"

It is a law of modern advertising that every visual product must be described as "beautiful", along with words like "curated" or "handcrafted".

Re: Introducing Paper

#187

Post by icoder »

yanivt wrote: post #156
stef25 wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To me it does look cool, it's just that FB is nothing but social spam nowadays and this is probably just a new way of wrapping it up in.

I agree, I hardly use Facebook anymore. But I'm still open minded enough not to disparage everything the company does on some kind of misguided principle.

Based on what they present, the concept highly depends on the content. This poses an issue that is not touched upon at all in their presentation. So mentioning / discussing it on HN is in my opinion relevant.

Re: Introducing Paper

#188

Post by brown9-2 »

vkb wrote: post #164

I've been blogging for over five years. I'm also an avid Facebook user in that I try to post statuses that are interesting and relevant to my audience instead of just the usual "I ate a grilled cheese for lunch and now I feel feelings about it". I also, as of recently, ironically own a typewriter and I am working on a novel. Basically, I love creating content. Theoretically, I am the target market for this product be…

but sharing pictures of her fetus, which could then be enlarged by anyone who cares enough.

What is the issue with someone enlarging an ultrasound picture?

Re: Introducing Paper

#189

Post by cliveowen »

kyro wrote: post #63
zyb09 wrote: post #48

Man, that video, typical marketing bullshit. First scene shows a guy writing on a typewriter, next scene shows someone hanging up Polaroid pictures. Seriously? Show me why this app is useful and why I need it, instead of trying to lull me into a world that doesn't exist.

That's literally the entire point of this type of visual marketing: to help you envision a fantasy world that's attainable with a particular product. Apple, BMW, Chanel, etc, all do it.

It'd be better if that world was not set in the 70s. Polaroid and typewriters? Who the hell has even seen them in person?

Re: Introducing Paper

#190

Post by icoder »

phwd wrote: post #134

Instead of pulling information from the marketing page, why not just read the PR release instead http://newsroom.fb.com/News/793/Introducing-Paper-Stories-fr...

From that article: "Paper is the first product from Facebook Creative Labs, where we’re crafting new apps to support the diverse ways people want to connect and share." -> Put things a bit in perspective for me.
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