Thread & String

Gmail finally comes to iOS

In a move that few could have predicted, Gmail finally has it’s own native app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. 

I wouldn’t have believe it unless I saw it myself, so get ready to pick your jaw up off you desk and check out the listing in the App Store here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/gmail/id422689480?mt=8

The reason that this is so shocking to me is because I am a recent convert from Android to iOS, and the only thing that had me double guessing the migration was how poorly iOS managed my email (I use Gmail for personal, and work uses Google Apps). Google has had 4 years to build a native email experience for iOS users, but they’ve alway forced people to use their web app (which is good by Web App standards - which doesn’t say much) or hack it into iOS mail center (which makes it difficult for thinks like labeling and starring).

Here are some screen shots from the app store. 

Some early users are reporting errors - but with how long we’ve waited, how can we resist?

Let me know what you think!

SF Bay Tech Events (10/31)

SV New Tech: Calling All Start Up Warriors 

When: Tuesday, November 1 - 7:00 PM
Where: Palo Alto, CA
Price: Free
What: One of the most established start up communities in Silicon Valley - this is a hot ticket. It’s a community of 6,000 people in the SF Bay Area who share interests in startups, technology, and innovation. Join on Tuesday to see four companies demo and network with other tech enthusiasts.

To RSVP and get more information, Read more.

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Start up Genome: Cracking The Code of Innovation

When: Thursday, November 3 - 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: Stanford, CA
Price: $25.00
What: Why do start ups fail? This event tries to see if there is a mathematical function to early company success - “to crack the code of innovation.”

Buy tickets and find more details here.

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Women 2.0 Founder Friday

When: Friday, November 4th - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: San Francisco, CA
Price: Free
What: Founder Friday is open to aspiring and current entrepreneurs, technologists and investors and is free to those who attend (this is an open event for females and males) to network and connect. Hosting this month are: Sumaya Kazi - Founder of Sumazi; Priya Haji - Co-Founder/CEO of Saveup; Annie Chang - Founder of LOLapps.

Tickets are free - but you can RSVP and find more details here.

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Geo-Loco Conference

When: Thursday, November 3rd - 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Where: San Francisco, CA
Price: $595.00
What: This is a pricey ticket, but it’s worth the price to be a part of the conversation. Adding layers of ‘Social’, ‘Local’, and ‘Mobile’ is definitely the hot topic du jour.

Hit the link for more details and tickets.

Biz Dev Blues

“Hello, 

Congrats on your company’s success. I work at another start up that has absolutely nothing to do with your industry - I was wondering if we could spend 30 minutes on the phone brainstorming about potential ways that we’ll never work together. I don’t plan on listening to you, or your company’s objectives - but I will spend time pitching outlandish partnerships that only benefit my company… don’t worry though, there is referral revenue in it for you! 

I look forward to developing business with you.”

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I’ve had the pleasure of working with plenty of talented entrepreneurs and companies, but there is a small percentage of people still conducting business development like we’re still trading links in a web ring in 1999.

In a growth stage start-up, business development and partnership deals should be constructed to benefit the end user - otherwise you’re leveraging the user experience too early. Whenever bizdev-ers pitch a partnership and offer referral revenue as the lone or main incentive, I hope they realize they are essentially asking a company to integrate a disguised ad into their product. It’s like saying “standing alone, there isn’t a large enough incentive for offering this service to your customers - but we’ll slip you a couple bucks under the table… so it’s cool.”

Instead, focusing on the user will win.