Update @ 11/12/07 ~ 1200h: Looks like Leo gives 10 reason why he’s back. Nothing so far about his concerns about TWiT / Twitter confusion.
When Leo Laporte leapt from Twitter to Jaiku earlier this year, the blogosphere was in a bit of an uproar. I was. Sort of. And the reason was because Leo didn’t want people confusing the service, Twitter, with his podcast, TWiT.
At the time I wondered why Leo just didn’t sicc some high-powered lawyers on the gents at Twitter; generally that seems to be the established thing to do when it comes to protecting your trademark / copyright (although I am no lawyer), as my understanding is that if you don’t defend it you can lose it.
By abandoning Twitter for Jaiku for this reason — well, it just seemed ineffective and childish.
Nevertheless, it seems like Leo has come *back* to Twitter today at http://twitter.com/leolaporte, raising the white flag with “I surrender, Twitter. You win“.
(Incidentally, he’s also dropped SixApart’s Vox for Wordpress for his blogging platform of choice, although that happened almost two months ago).
At any rate, there’s no apparent reason why he’s come back to Twitter, and there’s no further updates as to his thoughts about people confusing the two terms. Did it have anything to do with his thoughts about Jaiku? That because its in closed beta he only had 76 people following his Jaiku feed? (compared to the 1200+ followers within hours of announcing that he’s back on Twitter?) Or perhaps he’s merely come to his senses about the non-issue of people confusing Twitter with his podcast.
Or, maybe its a little of all of the above.
Given the amount of consternation earlier this year, I wonder if anyone else has taken notice — and furthermore, if Leo’s going to let us in on why he’s come back.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:56 am | Permalink
I think it’s all about where your friends and contacts are. I didn’t even know about Jaiku until I participated in a workshop with two guys from Jaiku. I think their service is more impressive but I didn’t switch because all my contacts are on Twitter. Once my network hops over I will probably hop over with them.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:56 am | Permalink
Yep, networks effects are important … no question. What’s funny — not “ha ha” funny, mind — is that they’re *still* in closed beta, so that we can’t actually try Jaiku.
(and if anyone knows when this will be let me know)
November 11th, 2007 at 10:28 am | Permalink
They just moved to Google country so I guess they’re still settling down. Google buys Jaiku, Jaiku moves to San Francisco, Jaiku gets settled and starts working on getting out of beta?
November 11th, 2007 at 10:37 am | Permalink
Hey, maybe.
I’m interested in trying Jaiku, but I’m still waiting for my invite. Guess I’m not as important as Leo Laporte. :)
November 11th, 2007 at 11:00 am | Permalink
And now I regret not asking them for an account when they said I should try it. Oh well. Shame on me.
This is my favorite Jaiku picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/silvertje/1423903734/in/set-72157602121381223/
Must. Be. Connected. Must. Have. Phone.
November 11th, 2007 at 1:52 pm | Permalink
Tony: jaiku was open prior to the aquisition of google.
November 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pm | Permalink
Marcel — for how long? I’ve been been on that waiting list forever — predating the Google acquisition, I’m sure.
And let’s presume it was open … well, yoinks, 70 odd followers on Jaiku for Leo Laporte is kind of soft, don’t you think?
November 15th, 2007 at 9:10 pm | Permalink
I noticed that Leo now has a feed of his Twitter on his blog.
Paul