[Posted on January 10, 2008 - 2:57 PM]
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We've tracked down Kevin Fox, the playful designer who crafted the look and feel of Gmail and other Google Inc. programs and who told the world last Friday that he was leaving Google to join an unnamed startup. Turns out the new endeavor is FriendFeed, familiar turf for Fox, who -- if the reindeer antlers are a clue -- seems pleased to reunite with the Google gang of four who founded the company. Created when former Googlers Bret Taylor and Jim Norris were entrepreneurs in residence at Benchmark Capital, FriendFeed borrows a concept from the Facebook News Feed. FriendFeed lets users create customized feeds from a wide range of social networks, including Facebook, Digg, del.icio.us, Flickr, Last.fm, Twitter and Tumblr. Still in private beta test, FriendFeed faces competition from several other sites that are trying to help people organize material across social networks, including Spokeo, ProfileLinker, MyLifeBrand and Fuser.
"We have a lot of big hopes and ideas for FriendFeed," says a welcome message to Fox penned by Paul Buchheit, who coined the "Don't be evil" motto at Google and who recounts some of the good old days when he and Fox worked together on Gmail back in 2003.
"One of the most difficult aspects of any product is integrating all of your ideas into something simple, cohesive and broadly appealing," blogs Buchheit. "That requires a talent that not many people have. Fortunately Kevin does, and we're thrilled to have him join us here at FriendFeed."
Back on his own blog, Fox modestly undermines his departure's impact on his alma mater, saying, "I haven't worked on Gmail, Calendar or Reader in months, and my departure won't have any impact on their continuing greatness. Their current designers are awesome and if they weren't I wouldn't have left."
The startup world is likely to get a boost this year from many a departing Google exec, First Round Capital's Howard Morgan recently predicted to Tech Confidential. Another current example is David Hirsch, a high-level sales rep who is leaving Google's New York office at the end of January to invest in startups and has already become a member of New York Angels, of which Morgan is the vice chairman. - Mary Kathleen Flynn
See Jan. 4 post from Kevin Fox's blog
See Jan. 7 post from Paul Buchheit's blog
See Jan. 4 post on David Hirsch from Silicon Alley Insider
See December 2007 post on Howard Morgan from Tech Confidential
