Meerkat Livestream

Meerkat, the media darling of the moment, quickly spun up a great first version livestream video app, but can it soar after being kicked out of Twitter’s nest?

This month, Livestream Video (yes, that’s a thing) hit mainstream.  Everyone from Jimmy Fallon to the Miami Dolphins is broadcasting a window into their world.  In the past few days I’ve been front row at a South By Southwest concert; on a photoshoot in Colorado; and with Shaq just rolling through Hollywood.  The Meerkat App can start a livestream video within two seconds - just two taps from my iPhone 6 - this is impressive.

How did this happen so fast?  According to legend, team Yevvo quickly released the Meerkat app out into the wild just in time for SXSW and what soon followed was a narcissistic all-you-can-stream frenzy; growing to over 120,000 users in less than two weeks.  Luck is timing uncontrollable events and often the well-timed product catches a wave which was building long before its arrival.  At the moment, Meerkat is about to drop in on a big one.

THE GOOD

And We’re Live In Two!

Anyone can broadcast out livestream TV to thousands - okay, for me it’s tens - of people with two-taps, and be up in 2 seconds.  And it’s free!  It’s incredible how blasé we’ve all become; extraordinary is the new normal.  Last week I “Meerkated” (yeah, by the time you’ve read this, it’s already a verb, embrace the insanity) my late day run through trails in the Presidio.  There was low connectivity and low light, and it totally worked; I had followers join me for over 20 minutes of my run; I wonder if any of them were watching from a treadmill in some dark, dank frozen part of the world - like NYC.  

Keep It Clean, Keep It Classy

While Meerkat’s user interface, graphics, and overall appearance has that dressed down “I woke up like this” one-dot-oh feel, the real thoughtful design is in how the user interaction fundamentals force sharing to prevent the creep-factor; which is key for Meerkat's success.  How, beyond the “swipe left” to report inappropriate streams, is this achieved?

1. Your Meerkat livestream broadcasts out to just your Twitter followers; want to prevent someone from viewing? just block them from Twitter and they’ll be cut-off from your streams.

2. Comments are not only public to the Meerkat stream but also posted in your Twitter feed; which keeps the “take off your shirt” requests to a minimum.      

These are not the moves of livestream rookies; with fundamentals like these the Meerkat team has made a conscious decision to keep it safe and creeper free.  

OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT

First of all, kudos to the team for a quick release of Meerkat into the wild.  While Twitter was digesting Periscope, Meerkat trumped them both and hit the ground running.  Can Meerkat use this first mover advantage to distance themselves from the herd?  

It’s now time to grow users while keeping it authentic, safe, and fun.  And by “safe” I mean uncreepy. The meerkat team should focus on the following:

Sharing is Caring (and Growing)

I should be able to share current and scheduled streams. This sort of happens with the retweet and like buttons which share streams in your Twitter Feed, but this should be expanded and more direct.  Select the stream and share with: Meerkat, Twitter, Facebook, Message, Email.  Again this should be two taps and simple, easy.

More Transparency

Just as Pandora posts your music stream of songs as Facebook activities, Meerkat should post livestream videos watched as Tweets.  It would be quite obvious who’s spending too much time watching inappropriate Meerkats - for the pervs, this could get awkward.

Horizontal Viewing/Recording  

Most people watch video with their devices horizontally oriented; in fact, most apps like WatchESPN and Netflix only play in horizontal mode.  I mean, it’s odd to cut-off the frame when your device is held in the most comment orientation.   It’s even worse if you want to save the video to YouTube, which looks like this:  see what I mean?

My Meerkat Stream of My Meerkat Stream on YouTube, so meta.

Meerkat On Demand

Which brings me to another kind of sharing.  While Meerkat doesn’t record your streams in their cloud, (I’ve accepted the fact that “servers” have been replaced by more friendly “clouds”) it does allow you to download the stream to your phone.  Which you can then post to video sharing sites, since YouTube has 1 billion users, let’s focus on it.  I’m not suggesting Meerkat change this, it’s smart to leverage YouTube infrastructure, rather than roll your own.  

However, when I’ve just finished generating a stream, I should be given the option to save to device or directly post to YouTube - two taps, easy.    

Save/Share your Meerkat 

A deep link directly to the YouTube video can then be listed with my Meerkat Feed (more on that in a moment) and shared with my Twitter followers, so others can watch my streams later.  This addresses a competitive disadvantage to that of Periscope and others while just making Meerkat more social.  

Meerkat Feed

There should be a basic, clean Meerkat Feed for accessing recorded meerkat streams, my comments, and comments from others.  This would help wean the young Meerkat off of Twitter. Essentially, the “See profile on Twitter” is not enough and this should be moved in app and display just Meerkat related activity.  I don’t need a Twitter experience within the Meerkat app, I can go to Twitter for that.

FUTURE

Everything I’ve said may soon be obsolete as the Meerkat story is yet to be written.  If the livestream wave continues to grow Meerkat could be the next Snapchat or Twitter.  

Back when YouTube wasn’t yet part of Google, content discovery was a mess.  Meerkat should help answer “what do I want to watch?” and help me find content.  Do I want to watch Adam Goldberg wining about everything in general but nothing in particular (which is awesome BTW) or take in the sights and sounds of a cafe in Tangier?  With geotags, hashtags, and just tags content will be better organized and with actual search, collaborative filters, and recommendations, content will be more discoverable.      

THE BOTTOM LINE

Why is Twitter so afraid of a little Meerkat?  (Two weeks ago, Twitter choked off Meerkat’s ability to ramp up new users with a list of their Twitter followers.)  They understand the enormous potential of livestream video and see an aspirin for their member engagement headache.  Livestream video could be the Reality TV of the future.  Forget the cable and content owner wars, livestream video could steal viewers away from them both.  Last week I watched 30 minutes of a live concert on my Apple TV, from a Meerkat stream; 30 minutes I was not watching Netflix, HBO, Hulu, or ESPN.

In the livestream race, Meerkat has taken the early lead, with a product built by one person in eight weeks. It’s a solid first version but their success depends on how fast they can iterate.  How will they respond to their members? to other livestream apps? to Twitter?  For this revolution is happening and it will not be televised, but it will be livestreamed.

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Update                             26 MAR 2015

Usability Obsessing  

I know this is the “way too early” review of Meerkat so blame it on my OCD, but I have to mention the tiny usability details making me itch.  By no means are these priority (more for the backlog / parking lot) so call me Captain Obvious as I list a few below, if little details bore rather than calm you just skip to the next blog:

• The “search” magnifying glass to find people is not search; it’s more like an “add” since the username must be exact

• Stream comment text is often cut-off

• It’s almost impossible to read previous stream comments as the scroll is snapped to the top with every new comment  

• Stream tag at the top is cut-off, either limit it or allow me to tap to read

• Stream comments often cover the video, allow me to slide them down or limit to just two rows

• Number of followers watching also covers the video. Similar to Facebook likes, hyperlink the “# watching” which when tapped opens the list

• The flag is confusing; does this report the stream or the user or both?  will it remove the stream from your list?

• The unfollow flow is not obvious and should be from the stream.   

• The “follow me” link is cool, but it should be device aware and open in app when available

That was cathartic, much better now.

iTunes Radio “Free” Mobile

iTunes Radio on mobile is a hit: easy to use, great sound quality, and music content on par with Pandora.  But is it enough to pick up the slack from slumping iTunes sales?  

With the February Winter blahs in full swing, my wife and I were jazzed about about popping down to Palm Springs for our friends’ wedding.  Travel, pool, and hotel room time would provide plenty opportunity to give the 18-month-old service from Apple my full attention.  

Overall, it rocked!  iTunes Radio Mobile on my iPhone 6 has all of the features I’ve enjoyed over the past year on my Apple TV version.  I should also mention I have iTunes Match and listen ad-free, iTunes Match costs $24.99 for a year.

THE GOOD.

Thoughtful Design  
I mean, this is Apple we’re talking about.  Is the visual design clean, smart, and ridiculously good looking? of course!  Behold, the iTunes station screen: every UI element has purpose and is given appropriate heft, without trying too hard.  The effect is the essentials stand out; less used elements fade to the background; and ancillary features stow away under the ”i” menu.  

iTunes Radio Station and Info Menu

It’s also cool how Apple pays homage to radios of old, with a smart “Tune This Station” slider which adjusts to Hits, Variety, or Discovery and then matches songs accordingly.      

Sharing is Caring

Hipsters rejoice!  while this isn’t the “mixtape” feature I’ve been clamoring for, it’s still pretty great.  The stations you create need care and feeding to grow into your dependable dance party juggernaut or that perfect smooth jazz station to set the mood with your honey.  Much like Pandora, it learns based on your song voting likes and dislikes; in addition to the  aforementioned “Tuner” to help get the station just right.  

But what makes this noteworthy, is the shared stations continue to morph as you update them; so you’re essentially curating music for your followers.  It’s like a living “mixtape” or your own personal radio station.   The artisanal pickle is so over, a new cottage industry could grow as music trendsetters curate handcrafted music stations for their followers/customers.

Other high notes include:

• two tap song purchase with Touch ID
• the basics: sound quality, music selection, performance
• history lists all songs, organized by device and station
• purchased songs can be played from history
• Siri command to play stations, like, dislike, wish list, and Shazam songs

I’m clearly pleased with iTunes Radio, but is it perfect?  No.  A few features have fallen flat, for example, there’ve been a few glitches with the learning algorithm, not Apple’s forte.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.

Let’s just put it out in the open.  For about a year I was a blissful listener, then had an awkward radio moment that just wouldn’t go away.

Glitchy Tuning Algorithm

Holiday Season, 2014.  I created the perfect Christmas Jazz station: festive, smooth, but not too kitschy.  We had been enjoying the station for a few days when, suddenly like a loud drunk at a office party, AC/DC’s “Back In Black” barges in; huh?  Alright, maybe the algorithm had a hiccup, select “Never Play This Song” and all’s well.  No, it kept on happening, two Christmas Jazz songs, then Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” followed by Billy Joel’s “Stranger.”  This was not ready for prime time: namely our holiday house party.  Conspiracy theorists, my wife and I were certain someone was messing with us.  

So that happened.  Maybe there wasn’t a large enough set of songs intersecting at Christmas and Jazz?  Maybe someone really was messing with us.  I still don’t have a definitive answer, but there it is, if anyone from iTunes Radio is reading, there’s a bug.  

Stand Alone Mobile App

iTunes Radio should be pulled from the Apple Music App; let’s make note of a few reasons why:

1. Reduce taps, currently it’s: tap once to open Apple Music App, tap twice to select the iTunes Radio App, tap thrice to select a station.

2. Seamless switching between Music and iTunes Radio Apps, if separated you wouldn’t have to breadcrumb out to switch between the two.  

3. Consistent UI/UX for Android and iOS, if Apple wants to reach across the aisle to Android users, a stand alone app is better suited and will have greater adoption than somehow mixing radio and iTunes together.

iPhone Home with iTunes Radio and Station

Also, the stand alone app wouldn’t have need for the bottom navigation bar, reclaiming space for “Now Playing” song controls, consistent with the more spacious iPad version.

Add Stations To iPhone Home

Shall I keep going?  Okay, I should also be able to add my favorite stations to the home screen.  Sure, playing a station with Siri voice command is great, and I’d argue even better than a station on my iPhone home, but it’s not always situationally appropriate.   For example, I don’t want to be that guy on the bus talking to Siri; even for SF, this is too soon, see “Her,” we're not there yet.   

Select Star To Dislike?

I keep vacillating on the Star.  

• I don’t like the Star: it’s counterintuitive to select a star (the iTunes “like” button) to then select “Never Play This Song” (the iTunes “dislike” button).

• I like the Star: it’s so smart to reuse the space left by not having a Rewind/Back selector; it’s beautifully well balanced, shows restraint, and great spatial economy.

So I’m torn, while it doesn’t make logical sense, it’s not clear where to put the “Never Play This Song” and “Add to iTune Wish List” options.  Do you have any ideas?  let’s see them in the comments.  

FUTURE

Siri voice command is an exciting glimpse to the future, another step closer to zero taps and an app-less interaction with our devices.  But I want more, for example, while listening I want to have Siri create new stations from songs or artists and it would have been nice to listen to iTunes Radio from the plane, which was a tiny one without WiFi.

• “Taste” an album, let me rent the album for 24 hours, the same as movies.  As an incentive the rental fee could go towards the album purchase,

• Listen offline, like podcasts, iTunes Radio should be available offline, snip off 30 minutes increments of songs to download for offline use. It would be played via iTunes Radio, so no rewind; rights agreements with content owners intact.

• Forward a specific song, not the entire station, to someone’s Wish List.  In fact, I should be able to buy a song for a friend.  

Finally, not really a feature, but worth mentioning, iTunes Radio should be available outside US and Australia, Apple Support Page. BTW this table is esthetically atrocious, come on Apple Web Team?!  

THE BOTTOM LINE

iTunes Radio is what I now expect from Apple, it’s beautifully designed and just works.  With Siri voice commands and integration with iTunes the mobile app shows great promise.  And with the addition of music stalwarts, like Dr Dre, Jimmy Iovine, DJ Zane Lowe, to their bullpen I’m expecting even bigger things from the content and overall listening experience.  So for now, enjoy iTunes Radio, but stay tuned for great things to come.

Mobile Gmail + Calendar

For mobile, Gmail is great; and without much fanfare, Google Calendar get’s the job done.  However, the two together are, meh.

Happy new year!  If you’re like me, the end of the year speeds up to a blur of emails coordinating holidays, dinners, parties, even holiday dinner parties and the calendar, packed with reminders and lists, is as bloated as I feel from the holiday sweets and treats.

I could have used some help sorting myself out, but the deluge was too much for Gmail and Google Calendar, which were not working well together on mobile.    

Let’s start with an introduction: Gmail, meet Google Calendar.   I know, you’re probably thinking “Dude, Gmail is totally integrated with Google Calendar.”  (Not that you talk like that.)   

Sure, Gmail for desktop browsers is somewhat integrated with Google Calendar, which BTW continues to be the unsexy, utility player in the Google productivity suite.  The issue is with mobile, on my phone it’s like they never met.    

THE GOOD.

Calendar Invites in Gmail  
Calendar invites clearly stand out - even better than traditional desktop email software clients like Microsoft Outlook - and this is even better with Google Inbox, but you know how I feel about that.  Calendar specific attributes like who, what, where, and when are all given first class treatment.  Furthermore, the Inbox list view, even includes a crisp calendar icon with the actual day, so events stand apart from other email messages.  

Mobile Gmail Calendar Invite, Looks Good.

The design is clean, bold, and free of non-essentials.   

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.

So why focus on Gmail + Google Calendar?  The inadequacy is creating Google Calendar items from Gmail;  and I can’t ignore the potential for greatness and missed opportunities.  I present two examples:  

Create a Google Calendar Event from Gmail

I get it, as a product guy, I understand that users often don't know the full story and functionality, seemingly straightforward, is not.  But come on!  this already exists on Gmail for desktop browsers, just add it to mobile.  

Create Event Imagined In A Google Inbox Email Message

BTW, in Microsoft Outlook this is drag & drop, email into calendar, to pop open an event with the email text embedded in the body; while clunky, it works.  Come on Gmail, even Microsoft is showing you up here.

Quick Add to Calendar

It may be a minor comfort, but where are the smart “Add to Calendar” links, we know and love?  If you’re not yet smitten, Gmail recognizes dates and provides a sweet time saver for creating an event and can even look back to associate a time with a nearby date.  

Gmail Desktop "Add to Calendar" not available in Mobile

Where is this for mobile?  I can even check into my flights, which is awesome!  but I can’t simply add this to my calendar and wouldn’t it be great to send reminders to friends, perhaps those I’m visiting?  These are Calendar + Email basics, just say’n.   

The fix for mobile: Replace the mouse over with a one-tap to reveal the “Add to Calendar” menu, the rest would behave the same as Gmail for desktop.

As an example, let’s say we’re planning a ski trip to Tahoe.  

• We’ll volley a few emails back and forth to agree on dates

• Start a list of things with assignment so we all don’t bring just marshmallows, leaving us a few bars of chocolate and graham crackers short of s'mores  

• Once we have agreed on when, who, and what we’re bringing, I should be able to select the “Add to Calendar” line around the dates and create a calendar invite to everyone on the DL (with a final chance to edit before sending)

Once again, this is not rocket-surgery.

Mobile Gmail Imagined With "Add to Calendar"

THE FUTURE.

With the recent Gmail upgrade automatically adding Reservation Confirmations to Calendar, the future is almost here.  While close, I still can’t add all other emails (not of a specific reservation confirmation format) to my calendar.  And there’s no mobile answer for the “Add to Calendar” underline to create a calendar event from the enclosed email.   And, eh hem, can we all just accept Google Inbox as the new Gmail and move on.

THE BOTTOM LINE.

Gmail + Google Calendar on desktop browsers is good and showing more promise with recent updates, and the recent addition of Google Inbox, the future is bright!   On the other hand, Gmail + Google Calendar integration on mobile leaves much to be desired; and not exactly “mobile first.”  So in the meantime, I still have a strong excuse for missing the occasional appointment that never made it from email to my calendar.