Stephen Fry's Pushnote goes titsup

Pushnote, the startup backed by Stephen Fry that attracted a wave of publicity from his endorsement last year, has gone titsup. A farewell message on the site hints that the founders, having pocketed Fry's cash, got bored with it: It was a lot of fun and we made a lot of friends, but our passions have led us elsewhere. The …

[Jeebus]

Fry for all his silliness with technology is respected and smart, his offering at I-Squared prove it beyond doubt.

Shame you can't take a leaf out his book and support what you believe instead of towing your sponsors line.

[Anonymous Coward]

When your sponsor's line breaks down, it will need to be towed.

[Z80]

toeing

[Lee Dowling]

For someone so educated and "IT-literate", he does use a lot of junk when it comes to computing. Starting with lots of Apple hardware fandom and continuing through junk like Twitter, etc.

His video on Linux and open-source was spot-on, which makes me wonder exactly why he does things like that.

Oh, and his books are atrocious too, apparently. That said, he's still better educated generally than I am, so it's nice to know he has weaknesses in areas that I consider my strength... :-)

[Anonymous Coward]

@Lee Dowling

>why he does things like that

Someone has to and no doubt he saw it as a something which might have taken off. If nobody invested in anything we'd still be licking our balls which for some might even now be a step forwards. Some you win some you lose, so long as the winners outweigh the losers you're in front. I just wish I had enough spare cash to be able to speculate.

[I. Aproveofitspendingonspecificprojects]

Appropos of nothing

> If nobody invested in anything we'd still be licking our balls.

Where did they put your halfpenny to stop you doing that?

[Christian Berger]

He's not "IT-literate"

Stephen Fry is a lot of things, but he isn't, and probably never will be "IT-literate".

However there are lots of people who think they are. Those people believe that it's enough to use pre-made software. That is like saying, "I can use a phonebook, therefore I'm book literate".

Literacy has many parts. It's not only the ability to consume works, but also the ability to create them. With tools there probably is also a literacy of use. You need to know what makes a tool special. Using a computer only for pre-defined tasks is like using a book to balance a table by putting a book under its short leg. Of course that's _one_ possible use of a book, but people doing so generally miss the point of what makes books books.

I admire Stephen Fry for many things but he also sets a very bad precedent of being ignorant about your own weaknesses. This is his biggest flaw. Unfortunately he is not alone with this.

[JDX]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

IT-literate is equivalent to saying you know how to drive a car and keep it running smoothly, not saying you are a mechanic. You can be IT-literate and not understand how to program or how the internet works.

[Mike 61]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

"You can be IT-literate and not understand how to program or how the internet works."

No, you can't.

[Charles Manning]

He's just a brand

Fry is just a brand.

He is sufficiently IT-literate to be considered so by his fanbase. That does not mean he understands anything about the innards. Many parents consider their kids are computer wizzards because they know about CtlC/CtlV.

He writes books that are sufficiently entertaining to his fanbase. That does not mean he writes literature that has merit in the RealWorld.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: He's just a brand @Charles Manning

>Fry is just a brand

Correct, J. S. Fry & Sons, they used to make Turkish Delight before being bought by Cadbury.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

Erm yes you can.

My most significant other is a SAP proffesional and hasn't a clue how the internet "works" or how to program.

IT-Literate simply means you are comfortable with the various GUIs from web browsers to Operating systems.

My mum can map a network drive but if you said "What is TCP?" she'd say it was a smelly ointment you put on cuts (amongst other things)

[Charles Calthrop]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

where does IT literacy end if you need to know how to program? If you need to be able to program in every language used on the web, no one in the world is IT literate

Am I IT literate as I build ontologies and search algorithms for websites? Or am I not because I know jack about css or how https works compared to http?

My dad was upset he could not run maple on the ipad and loves to tell me about the supercomputers he used in his nuclear pyhsics labs in the 70s, but he can't configure an email account My mum has no idea what html is, but emails me about it security from guardian technology section. Surely she is more it literate than him?

[Christian Berger]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

No it's not, even if you don't know every detail of your car, you can still use it as a car. You steer it yourself. That's the essence of a car.

However in IT there are people who actually want a train buy cars and the car industry builds cars without steering wheels.

BTW there are many IT illiterate people who put together their own PCs from components. That has little to do with it. It's like saying, you built your own instrument, therefore you are a musician. It doesn't work that way. In fact you will find IT literate people often having some old beat down Thinkpad simply because it works reliably. Many of them don't care for speed or anything.

[streaky]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

"even if you don't know every detail of your car, you can still use it as a car"

Yeah but you still don't *understand* the car is the problem with your idea. You wouldn't take that lack of knowledge and suddenly decide "I'm going to make cars".

Well you might.. but you might lose all your money.

[Wild Bill]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

Apparently lots of Reg readers are IT-pedantic. Who'd have thought.

[Christian Berger]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

"You can be IT-literate and not understand how to program or how the internet works."

What is computer literacy then? The ability to turn on a computer? The ability to buy one? The ability to put together a system from pre-fabricated parts?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: He's not "IT-literate"

Upvoted for the sheer abundance of crap analogies.

Your post was like a man wearing a hat made out of tuna, in a cat factory.

[toadwarrior]

I know, how can stephen fry like things that I don't like? That makes him wrong and possibly brain damaged.

Push note is a good idea in that it allowed you to avoid website owner's censorship. I'm not surprised the register thinks it is dumb but they're welcome to have an opinion.

Most start-ups fail so I can't hold it against him that he supported one that's now gone given that's generally going to be the case.

[Aldous]

so you have no problem if i spray paint my opinions on your dwellings walls then? after all if you don't agree with what i do to your property (or content?) its bad censorship

[Dom 3]

Failed ideas

Apple's Newton, the EO Communicator, Windows Tablet PC, etc., etc. When are people going to learn that slab / tablet computing is Simply Never Going To Work?

[Armando 123]

Re: Failed ideas

Yeah, because the iPad is, um, wait, Baldur's Gate is coming out for the iPad?

#include "emily_littella.h"

Nevermind.

[streaky]

Re: Failed ideas

"Windows Tablet PC"

My windows tablet is fine, what's the problem?

Hint: it's a real tablet so it's actually useful but you get the point...

[Anonymous Coward]

As Dan Le Sac said...

Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry. Except in this case.

[Dcope]

Thats....

Quite Interesting......

/Ashamed of self.

[LosD]

Didn't notice that it was the editor until this: "It also had a fatal flaw in that website owners could not remove Pushnote comments on their content."

That's a feature.

[Field Marshal Von Krakenfart]

insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

attributed to: Albert Einstein, Rita Mae Brown, Chinese proverb, Rudyard Kipling, Benjamin Franklin

insanity: using the same quote over and over and attributing it to a different author.

[Rob Morton]

Re: insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

As Alan Turing once said "If you're stuck, just make stuff up and attribute it to some famous dead bloke."

[John Styles]

There was something like this in the very early days of the web that Dave Winer got immensely annoyed by, what was it called?

[Anonymous Coward]

"There was something like this in the very early days of the web that Dave Winer got immensely annoyed by, what was it called?"

Mrs Winer? Did she get bored and move on too?

[Anonymous Coward]

Other "web annotation" systems

Is it mentioned in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_annotation ?

[apjanes]

There's no shame in...

trying and failing. What is a shame is not to try at all!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: There's no shame in...

Taking the money and running.

Seems like people still believe that anything with the words “Social Media” tacked on is a gold mine and can’t wait to invest real money in it, how do people think that inane drivel shared = money?

[Efros]

Julie Burchill

People, glass houses, and casting stones springs to mind a far as that harridan is concerned.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yep...

"A stupid person's idea of a clever person" is probably one of the *kindest* criticisms in her repertoire.

[John H Woods]

Re: Yep...

... but I would say Julie Burchill is a clever person's idea of a stupid person.

[Peter Murphy]

Re: Yep...

"A stupid person's idea of a clever person" describes most op-Ed writers to a tee. Not all, but most.

"A stupid person's idea of a clever person" does also hold for Stephen Fry - but only when he was playing General Melchett in Blackadder Goes Forth.

[DAN*tastik]

Pushnote rebranding

Now known as Pushdaisy

[mark 63]

king kong

Fry said in QI one time that the danish for king is kong, therefore the movie was named kong king in denmark, or maybe it was sweden, but I have since been informed that this was all crap

[pewpie]

Re: king kong

Nearly every time I am unfortunate enough to see that slug crawl across my screen, I see him talking utter bollocks whilst his latest collection of yippering liberal dullards fight blindly for their slice of screen time.

In real life there's no second-takes, no writers, editing, mixing or other production tricks that can hide the fact that the man is pure bullshit. He's very good at bullshit - that's all.

[Hieronymus Howerd]

Re: king kong

oh, and he doesn't even really know all that stuff anyway. He has an earpiece and a team of people giving him the answers.

[Anonymous Coward]

Hi,

I'm a tailor and have just set up shop in town, specialising in imperceptible fabrics hand stitched to make the finest unapparel.

All our garments come with patented iParel™ technology to ensure only the cleverest of people can actually perceive them whilst you're wearing them.

So I was wondering whether Stephen Fry would be interested in investing in my business? If Mr Fry could soon be parted with his money, I'd be happy to meet him at a bus stop to collect the cash.

Please respond soon because there are many other potential backers waiting to avail themselves of this unique investment opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Isaac Solomon,

Houndsditch,

London EC3.

[LinkOfHyrule]

Are you the person who writes all the spam about princes in Nigeria needing my help/wanting to marry me even though they don't know what I look like? You are arnt you!

[Anonymous Coward]

I like Stephen Fry.

He seems kind and thoughtful.....

Much nicer than many of the glove puppets on the main stream media churning out the corporations toe the line toadyism.

[LinkOfHyrule]

Re: I like Stephen Fry.

He is nice. Very nice. Does not mean he can't get on my tits though - seriously, being on four TV channels simultaneously of an evening is a bit much! Stephen, maybe turn a few jobs down now and then yeah? I mean seriously, Direct Line insurance - what, were the former cast of the Bill and Casualty not available that day or something - leave something for the shit actors to do too please!

[Anonymous Coward]

it must be quite galling

as an investor to learn that the project has been abandoned because the founders could no longer be arsed. The mantra of "fail often" is all very well (possibly) but to fail to admit that this particular idea was flawed (or surpassed by a similar but better concept) is hugely arrogant and shows silicon roundabout levels of self-absorbed smugness, conceit and immaturity. Failing often is only valid if lessons are learned and responsibility taken; this clearly has not happened with these people. I wonder whether they will find new funding for their new ideas so easily?

the fact that one of the abandoned investors is SF makes no real difference except that it provides a cheap thrill for his detractors.

[Wibble]

Re: it must be quite galling

Seems so par for the course with the soshal meeja numpties.

Great summary of the "idea" in the article describing it as parasitic. Hmm, parasitic social media; that has quite a ring to it.

Goes well with the parasitic Paris and co.

[LinkOfHyrule]

No longer pushing notes, instead pushing up daisies!

Damn, I should replace that ear eater dude with the strange hair on that show with the ironic name that Stephen does, I am that funny!

[Hieronymus Howerd]

too late; see above.

[LinkOfHyrule]

You're right, I actually missed it and only spotted it after I posted mine. Still I added some colour to my version, well not colour, insult would be the correct word!

[DAN*tastik]

@ LinkOfHyrule

Mine was published a little while after being posted, probably after you posted yours too. So I'd say we're both the original ones.

[a well wisher]

A bit like the dolphins then ..

So long and thanks for all the fish - sorry - Money !

[TimTom]

Re: A bit like the dolphins then ..

...nah it was mainly small Fry.

[mickey mouse the fith]

I quite like stephen fry, the program he did where he traced his ancestors, some of whom died in the death camps in ww2 was very moving.

He seems to possess a lot of empathy, which is lacking in most tv personalities.

As for his investment in this, he put his money into something he believed would succeed. The fact it didnt really isnt his fault, everyone makes a misjudgment once in a while, and im sure his wealth could accomodate the financial loss it incured.

The people running this company sound very unprofessional however. Even if they did `just get bored` they should have anounced it with a bit more tact. I for one would never invest in any company they set up in the future lest they `get bored` and run off with my money again.

[Christian Berger]

I'm not criticizing him for investing BTW

I mean such a system, if properly done, could be beneficial. And after all, there are worse projects than keeping a few people of the unemployment lines. Furthermore he has enough money to gamble with it.

[Anonymous Coward]

*sigh*

Along with Apple bashing, El Reg does have a penchant for Fry bashing too. Gets a bit dull after a while.

Yes, Fry has been massively media invasive in the past - and I'll agree it can be a little tiring, but he's an all round good egg and very human like the rest of us.

Ego? - yes, massive one. But you can't be a public figure without having a massive ego - it goes with the territory, otherwise you wouldn't last a minute under the media glare.

Besides, anyone who was a good friend of Douglas Adams is worthy of some note.

As for this startup, oh heavens, a mistake - so what. Made a fair few of them myself, perhaps you have too.

[The Mighty Spang]

fry's biggest crimes

is to take up tv airtime with a radio show - QI and by being on a panel show he's contributing to death of new writing for tv.

i've got QI in mp3 format on my phone. you miss nothing. ocasionally somebody will say something like 'oh look there's one of them' but otherwise there is no loss. its radio with pictures. it should be on radio 4, but then they wouldn't do that they would loose 90% of the audience (the thick part who like nothing else than gawping at a flickering box. radio 4 is brilliant you know, you can enjoy a show whilst doing something with you life). at least HIGNFY (which please god, somebody f*cking shoot in the head, whats it like now, series 1367 with the same f*cking jokes every episode) has a small visual element.

as for panel shows that go on and on and on like energiser bunny... meh. no room for new comedy now which costs more money and might flop. lets just have another f*cking panel show!

and the most galling part of panel shows is we PAY these people to appear and on the backs of their appearance they run out and do countrywide tours and make fortunes (oh and watch the bias of who appears based on the production company-i.e. who is signed to them). screw them. they should pay the BBC for an advertising slot. make it like ebay, they have to outbid each other to ply their trade.

[bazza]

Re: fry's biggest crimes

"radio 4 is brilliant you know, you can enjoy a show whilst doing something with you life). at least HIGNFY (which please god, somebody f*cking shoot in the head, whats it like now, series 1367 with the same f*cking jokes every episode) has a small visual element."

HIGNFY is old hat? Hardly, it's been going on for only 22 years. Even The News Quiz on R4 is only just settling in aged 35. Sky at Night, now that's a proper programme, 55 years and counting, all with dear ol' P Moore at the helm.

I suspect that a lot of US based readers have no idea what Radio4 is... To give them some idea, it is a steamy mix of sex (Charlotte Green), laughs (1830), despicable violence (Archers) and intellect (everything else). Most Britons are addicted to it.

[sueme2]

whois

What is the stephen Fry thing of which you all talk? Can you eat it? if so does it go with beer? Can you get it in a deli or do you have to go to one of those hot dog people? I have been told that deep frys are bad, but listen to the crunch when they are going down.

[James Pickett]

"Along with Apple bashing, El Reg does have a penchant for Fry bashing too."

I'm sure we can do both. How many Mac users are IT-literate?

[Barry Lane 1]

@James Pickett

"How many Mac users are IT literate?" Most of them, I expect. The majority are disenchanted Windows users anyway.

[James Pickett]

@spang

Quite agree about R4. Compare and contrast (as you obviously have) HIGNFY and The News Quiz - only one is genuinely witty, and the same applies to virtually every other radio comedy 'transferred' to TV. Nothing like bigger cheques for suspending critical faculties, I guess...

[Alyas]

Speaking of going tits-up... I used to care.

[SunnyFrimley]

Wheres my Five pounds?

Cor, I noticed a couple of days ago that Pushnote had gone titsup, I saw that Andrew Orlowski had previously reported on Pushnote, so sent him an email telling him it had gone tits up.

The next day, this article appears. No email thanking me for the tip. No offer of a dinner date or fine wines. No request to follow me on Twitter. (I only have 9 followers, this would have enabled me to cross that big 1-0). Nothing.

I feel used. *sniff*