Talk to each other, guys! Standardize

Friday, May 18th, 2007

Gizmodos feature article on The Infinite Video Format War Is Coming is an excellent example for illustrating the problem of developing services, applications and products to non-standardized markets.

What I can offer as free advice is:

• Use non-propriety standardized formats. Talk to each other, guys! Standardize. Customers will acknowledge this.
• Support all formats - best as out-of-the box, alternatively through add-ons.
• Don't lock-in your customer/user - let him move freely between solutions.
• Focus on the user-experience (e.g. good performance, low command distance i.e. Fitts Law)
• Prepare, streamline and optimize your development to compete on prize.