Mobile/ProductPlanning/Notes-2014-10-28

Roadmap & Funnel update

Jenn

• Roadmap
• Review of status of Nightly features in development
• Any 35 or 34 issues to be aware of?

Hot items

Everyone

• L10N in progress for Privacy Coach
  • [Status Here]
  • Awaiting confirmation from AMO on drop dead for upload of files, to meet the launch deadline.

Goals check in

Mark & Karen

• [ON TRACK] FxMobile: Ship new Search Activity for Android in Fx35.
• [ON TRACK] FxMobile: Establish a GTM plan for project 105 v1 release, including deployment, marketing and required Cloud Services resources.
• [ON TRACK] FxMobile: Agree on joint e.me Android launcher & lock screen plan for a Beta Launch in Q1, including fulfillment of all assets and UX flows as required
• [ON TRACK] FxMobile: Add required content server metrics for tracking Suggested Sites in Fx35
• [ON TRACK] FxMobile: Land a set of client-side password improvements (for FxAccounts) in Fx36

Insights

Worth a Read

• Google's Sundar Pichai was promoted last week in a move that solidifies Google's movement towards a unified, backend-anchored, multi-screen experience. Pichai was originally fronting Android and Chrome OS (and a couple other related services), and now takes on Google's most important web properties, including Gmail, Search, AdSense, and the infrastructure that runs it. This gives business units inside Google better alignment around company goals, and shows the confidence Google has in Pichai. Expect further alignment in Google's unified experience movement through products like Inbox and moving more Google Account data in the cloud, where it doesn't rely on a client app.
• Ars Technica has an overview of some of the more interesting changes in Lollipop which focus on unbundling apps and APIs to mitigate fragmentation risk, an enhanced setup process focusing on user experience, and the shift in the Nexus brand from a market-share builder to a premium offering.

Notes

• re/code's Code Mobile event is on, as well as WSJD Live (read/watch the Jack Ma interview) and there's lots of good stuff to be had. Check back often, and I'll summarize next week.
• Google launched its Inbox mail app to consolidate Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo! mail in one place. Chrome-only for now, and it needs an invite. Positive feedback from most, and another way to bring more content into the Google lens.
• Amazon added to the pile of HDMI-connected streaming sticks with it's Fire Stick, and Google's updated the hardware in the Chromecast, but no new features announced yet.
• Apple's pushing Safari to non-Safari users on Yosemite, including Firefox users.
• Microsoft is opening up the service (via APIs) to Android, iOS, and third-party web sites/apps (and, at the same time, offered unlimited OneDrive storage to 365 subscribers - double whammy).
• Lots of discussion over the last week on Apple apps like Spotlight that phone home and send info back even if you don't actively do anything.
• Youtube is looking at ways to offer a paid subscription service which would (likely) all but eliminate pre and post roll ads. If this rolls out, expect even more ads on the free service.
• Walmart joined CVS and Rite Aid in disabling Apple Pay in a move that's likely linked to their membership in the Merchant Customer Exchange. While you're hear a lot around what's best for the customer, this is around the multiple billions to be had in transaction fees and, more importantly, who gets the user data behind it.
• Interesting interview with T-Mobile USA CEO John Legere who pushed unbundling contracts and iPhone support for the network, which continues to show strong subscriber growth (but are still struggling with making a profit) at the expense of the 800-pound gorillas.

Feedback

Rob

Release

• Looks good
• Starting to get casting more feedback (4 comments)

Pre-Release

• Casting feedback (4 comments)
• One piece of feedback on Tablet Mode (back button behavior with URL bar selected)

Marketing

Arcadio

Partner review

No notes - in-meeting updates from Mark & Karen

Roundtable

• iOS investigation
• Demo time starring St3fan!