thewaz

The reason I think Google+ has a good shot at being successful boils down to the fact that its simply a better product. Not to disparage facebook and all the brilliant people working there, but the fact remains that it was first started by a few people out of a college dorm partly on a whim.

On the other hand, google+ has the might of one of the web's most powerful and innovative companies investing tons of R&D into the psychology and science of human friendships behind it. The fruits of all this research are plain to see in everything from the way it maintains circles to the implementation of hangouts. Ultimately, its just a better product. Not that it guarantees success, but it does a good chance at it.

I don't think the inventors of the inPulse (or other watches with similar functionality) spent much time thinking about the utility of the device. Is having to look at a small subject line on the cramped display of a watch really better than simply taking out your phone and reading the whole message? I remain unconvinced that the watch will make my life easier in any meaningful way compared to the alternative. It reminds of Nokia's effort at implementing NFC I read about somewhere recently - to buy a soda from an NFC-equipped vending machine, you had to bring the phone in contact with the machine,make a selection, wait for a text message asking for confirmation, and then respond to the message before you got your drink. The designers were convinced that this would be easier than simply putting in a coin and getting your drink.