Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Presently Puffery
This week, I am reading much hullabaloo in the blogosphere over Presently, a proposed online presentation application from Google.
Every blog post I read makes me simultaneously shrug while rolling my eyes.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I would actually get excited if there was actually something concrete to report. And sure, it absolutely makes sense that Google is working on a presentation app to round out its suite of online apps at Google Spreadsheets and Documents. The rumor even has a timely, provacative news hook, what with MS releasing an update to its Office Suite last week.
But every blog post I've read this week breathlessly posts that "someone" at Google posted a header file from a Google app at Google Spreadsheets and Documents (nee Writely)...and then whoever that "someone" was quickly took it down. And that the header text made reference to "Presently"...and because Writely was the former name of the Google online word processor, it would stand to reason that Presently would be the new code name for a proposed online presentation tool.
So let's break this rumor down into classic who, what, where, when, and why reporting;
WHO: Google
WHAT: New, free online presentation application code name Presently
WHERE: At Google Docs and Spreadsheets
WHY: Because MS released a new Office last week, it make sense to start a timely, competitive rumor
WHEN: No official word from Google "we won't confirm or deny"....so, ummm....presently?
It appears that bloggers are easy to manipulate. All someone at Google had to do was put up an intriguing file and take it down -- without ever saying a word. An army of bloggers will fill in all the details...without even asking Google to comment.
You will note that there is no press release or statement from Google on the subject. You can do a search at Google News today and get a handful of non-specific news stories that talk about all the web and blog speculation.
But do a blogsearch at Google Blogsearch and boy-oh-boy: hundreds of posts!
Blogs are terrific for spreading rumors.
Just because it's a rumor that everyone wants to be true doesn't mean that we shouldn't put on our critical thinking hats!
This week, I am reading much hullabaloo in the blogosphere over Presently, a proposed online presentation application from Google.
Every blog post I read makes me simultaneously shrug while rolling my eyes.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I would actually get excited if there was actually something concrete to report. And sure, it absolutely makes sense that Google is working on a presentation app to round out its suite of online apps at Google Spreadsheets and Documents. The rumor even has a timely, provacative news hook, what with MS releasing an update to its Office Suite last week.
But every blog post I've read this week breathlessly posts that "someone" at Google posted a header file from a Google app at Google Spreadsheets and Documents (nee Writely)...and then whoever that "someone" was quickly took it down. And that the header text made reference to "Presently"...and because Writely was the former name of the Google online word processor, it would stand to reason that Presently would be the new code name for a proposed online presentation tool.
So let's break this rumor down into classic who, what, where, when, and why reporting;
WHO: Google
WHAT: New, free online presentation application code name Presently
WHERE: At Google Docs and Spreadsheets
WHY: Because MS released a new Office last week, it make sense to start a timely, competitive rumor
WHEN: No official word from Google "we won't confirm or deny"....so, ummm....presently?
It appears that bloggers are easy to manipulate. All someone at Google had to do was put up an intriguing file and take it down -- without ever saying a word. An army of bloggers will fill in all the details...without even asking Google to comment.
You will note that there is no press release or statement from Google on the subject. You can do a search at Google News today and get a handful of non-specific news stories that talk about all the web and blog speculation.
But do a blogsearch at Google Blogsearch and boy-oh-boy: hundreds of posts!
Blogs are terrific for spreading rumors.
Just because it's a rumor that everyone wants to be true doesn't mean that we shouldn't put on our critical thinking hats!
Labels: Blogging
¶ 2/06/2007 05:57:00 PM
