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Sean Parker's "Airtime" launched to Public

airtime.com

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Re: Sean Parker's "Airtime" launched to Public

#22
post #14

Looks cool and well designed, but I think Sean has overestimated the demand for video chat and talking to strangers with webcams.

I've not really used a webcam. Are the feeds pretty much real-time these days? If so I think it'd be pretty cool to hop online and easily find someone to jam with. I play harmonica and have always had fun playing blues with even beginner/intermediate guitarists. Other than that I can't think of anything I'd want to use it for. Maybe it'd be more fun to play backgammon or chess across from a real person rather than a game interface.

Re: Sean Parker's "Airtime" launched to Public

#23
post #14

Looks cool and well designed, but I think Sean has overestimated the demand for video chat and talking to strangers with webcams.

that's the thing with video chat - it seems horrendously cool, looking at the video on vimeo ( http://vimeo.com/43359572 ). however most of the people in the video have some very visual talent they can show off. I would certainly like to try out such a service (I really liked chatroulette at the time it was big), however I don't have anything to show off. the thing with those video chats is that they need a certain amount of anonymity otherwise those meetings might turn awkward. being quickly introduced to numerous people at a party can be strenuous, doing the same to up to 20 people might get you exhausted pretty quickly, if you always try to be at your best in terms of behaviour. chatroulette had this veil of anonymity because every jerk could join and you knew anything that happened there wasn't supposed to be taken seriously. airtime tries to take this to the next level, but I don't think I'll be up for it.

Re: Sean Parker's "Airtime" launched to Public

#26
post #13
post #11

For a website created to get people into the service, its terrible that I have to click the tiny-ass 'About' link at the bottom to learn anything about the service. "Create shared experiences with people you know, and people you want to know" sounds like social web buzz-word bullshit. My advice to the web designer - put some real info on the front page, and don't require me to watch a video. If you can't explain it w…

I understand (and agree) but you really should watch the video [1]. I'd have a hard time putting most of that into words. Here's an attempt [2] "Airtime is a Web-based application designed to foster spontaneous sharing and interaction with video. There's no download or registration required" [1] http://vimeo.com/43359572 [2] http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57447417-93/sean-parkers-ai...

>Airtime is a Web-based application designed to foster spontaneous sharing and interaction with video. There's no download or registration required

How about this instead:

"Airtime is Chatroulette limited to your Facebook social graph. Eg, no more random strangers' private parts, but instead chat with your friends, and meet their friends, via video."

It's basically curated Chatroulette, automating the curation with your FB social graph.

It's also pretty cool in that it's using Flash multicast to stream video P2P instead of via central server.

It's pretty much made for a Facebook aquisition. Completely dependent on FB's social API, co-founded by Sean Parker, adds social video to FB, and released right after FB's IPO.

I can't help but wonder a few things - could a FB acquisition of Airtime actually help FB's stock price? It's a rather brilliant addition to FB.

Also, could FB buy Spotify too? There are several parallels - It's also a P2P service that integrates the FB API (not quite so dependent on it as Airtime is though), Sean Parker is a board member.

Facebook + Spotify + Airtime (+ Instagram) covers almost all the social media bases. Only thing missing is movies and TV, but that's not as social as music or user-generated pictures and videos. That would be a hell of a social web company.

Re: Sean Parker's "Airtime" launched to Public

#29

Interesting that all of the engineering positions require BS or higher in Computer Science when both of the founders skipped college

The best thing you can do is hire people smarter than you. There's no shame in it.

Nevertheless, I think it's safe to say the accomplishments of both founders far exceeds the career expectations of a degree-toting computer engineer.

Re: Sean Parker's "Airtime" launched to Public

#30
Very surprised that this didn't launch with a native mobile offering.

Parker asked where the cool stuff on the Web went. It went mobile. People don't want to be chained to their desks to do something cool anymore. It'd be pretty neat to chat with a stranger while strolling the Louvre.

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