Followup to the Why and What

It was pointed out to me that I should really identify myself. Fair enough, I'm Kathy Brown, Engineering Manager. My day job is managing a team of people that develop/maintain/operate a variety of Sun's web properties, including java.sun.com. In my spare time I'm helping out as a PM for Project Alameda. It's been really interesting. Since I'm in implementation, I often get involved in projects well after marketing has thought about them a bit. It's been refreshing to be on the ground floor of an idea that still needs polishing.

Up until now, I've kept this blog anonymous because there is the thought that we would turn it into a group blog. But if that happens we'll just have people sign their entries.

Oh and we are also really curious on what people think what channels we should add to Alameda, I think I forgot to mention that before.

Enjoy JavaOne.

Posted on: Jun 26, 2004

Posted by: KitchenSink

Category: archive

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Comments:

Please add TV guide, it's the most common feature of Watson that I use. Also, weather, yellowpages and phonebook. This is the type of app that needs to be cross platform and well updated given that all these sites break on a regular basis. Watson will be useless within a month of their EOL date for many of the channels. Please provide something with equivalent or greater functionality. I'd certainly be willing to pay for it.

Posted by yuriwho on June 28, 2004 at 08:08 PM PDT #

An obvious channel given your interests would appear to be a Java BugParade channel. It would be very nice to be able to use your new web service directly from your new application.

Posted by Jon on June 29, 2004 at 06:04 AM PDT #

I think everything currently found in Watson should be added. I like you Amazon idea too. The tool I'd most like to see added (and I wish Watson would've added it long ago) is a REVERSE PHONE directory in addition to the usual White/Yellow Pages.

Posted by Anonymous on June 29, 2004 at 07:15 AM PDT #

There are two channels that I use in Watson every day. The first is the TV Guide, and the second is the third-party Baseball channel. If either of these tools were missing from Alameda, I would probably not be interested in the product.

Posted by Evan Pimental on June 29, 2004 at 08:27 AM PDT #

On the Kitchen Sink blog it was mentioned that 'non-techies seem not be able to visualize how a software application might work nor do they think in linear, decision tree fashion.' Using a Mind Map� with plenty of images to illustrate the ideas and concepts might bridge the gap between 'Techies' and some of 'The rest of us.' Often having the formal, linear, decision tree on one (half of the) screen and the Mind Map on the other (half) works best. Two screens for the big time. <www.nova-mind.com> Disclaimer:- I shall distribute NovaMind on reconstruction of my own site - and do training.

Posted by George Wade on June 29, 2004 at 11:34 AM PDT #

A TV channel with Elgato Systems EyeTV support on Mac OS X would be the selling feature for me. TitanTV support for EyeTV has improved a bit but its listings are still inferior to TV Guide (and Yahoo! TV) for my area.

Posted by sjk on June 29, 2004 at 06:58 PM PDT #

As mentioned, everything in Watson should be continued. I use the weather multiple times a day, especially the doppler radar. Enhancements: The stocks should not just list the value of the S&P/Nasdag/DJ but also the _change_ from the prvious day. Some simple graphs like inter-day, week and month for a selected stock would also be very helpful. Something to go mapping/routing would be great. I use Mapquest, which is okay, but it would great if it were in Watson.

Posted by Charles Bouldin on June 30, 2004 at 03:17 AM PDT #

Ebay is a must. Also, the track mail packages channel. If either Ebay or the track mail packages were missing I would have to say no to the new product. I think lots of small business owners would feel the same way. We need more channels that are aimed at small buinesses.

Posted by Rob on June 30, 2004 at 10:54 AM PDT #

Maybe you could have the "search" channel search 5 major search engines at once and you could also add a channel to send SMS text messages to mobile phones - the seeker already has these features.

Posted by Mike Mann on July 19, 2004 at 03:19 AM PDT #

Watson is kept in my dock on for the reason to check TV programs. TV is the only important channel for me.

Posted by Scott on September 02, 2004 at 11:01 AM PDT #

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