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After the Gold Rush

techcrunch.com

41–50 of 131 posts

Re: After the Gold Rush

#41

I like to scan these articles for numbers before reading. If I don't see any, I exit out. If you're going to talk about financial/economic phenomena please at least conduct a modicum of quantitative research and give us some concrete data to discuss, not just opinions in a void.

It could have had better supporting arguments and evidence, but I couldn't find enough of it and just skimmed to the end to make sure I wasn't missing it.

Re: After the Gold Rush

#42
As someone who has worked at Google for a few years, I can't agree with the author's characterization of tech behemoths. While they have embraced the start-up mode of doing things for some new projects and are very free with their investing, their core business is everything you'd expect from a big business.

I'm not sure it's possible to grow as large as Google, Apple or Facebook and remain agile. The product and organization gains too much inertia on its own. Even if you have a brilliant idea for improving the product there are hundreds of people you need to convince, months worth of meetings and reams of design docs required.

The big companies may be innovating on the edges, but their established products are all ripe for disruption.

Of course, if you look too disruptive they'll probably just buy you with their mountain of cash.

Re: After the Gold Rush

#43
post #32
post #24

Then[1] and Now[2] [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/09/technology/09silicon.html [2] http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/technology/caution-rebuffe...

I am not sure of what to infer from these. In the end, the entire macroeconomic background is different.

Even in 2008, there was a lot of denial about the impact of the downturn on Silicon Valley.

"And they assert that they are not feeling anything like the pain that followed the collapse of the dot-com bubble, which led to big job losses, an exodus of talent, a plunging commercial real estate market and a significant drop in investment in start-up companies."

Re: After the Gold Rush

#44
post #33

I agree with this article overall, especially re: Google, but I do not agree about Facebook. Most American users 13-25 do not use Facebook anymore. Facebook will either have to work out a business model that makes it profitable to frequently buy WhatsApps/Instagrams and then Snapchats/Telegrams/etc or they will end too.

I agree. I ask myself this question; "If was to disappear tomorrow, what would happen?" The answer for Facebook and me, is nothing. If Google disappeared tomorrow, I would be hurting for many services I probably take for granted. I suspect if Facebook disappeared tomorrow, most people's lives would not materially change for the worse. Perhaps they would even change for the better.

I think a lot of people would be better off without Twitter.

Re: After the Gold Rush

#45

As someone who has worked at Google for a few years, I can't agree with the author's characterization of tech behemoths. While they have embraced the start-up mode of doing things for some new projects and are very free with their investing, their core business is everything you'd expect from a big business. I'm not sure it's possible to grow as large as Google, Apple or Facebook and remain agile. The product and org…

"Of course, if you look too disruptive they'll probably just buy you with their mountain of cash."

Woe! :P

Re: After the Gold Rush

#48
I've gotta say as someone who is not actively developing full time, most of the comments in here read like people in denial. It doesn't really matter what anyone's opinion is, or what any of us say though - the future will bring what it brings. That said I hedged my bets a couple years ago against the tech world's macro economic future and culture.

Re: After the Gold Rush

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. I ask myself this question; "If was to disappear tomorrow, what would happen?" The answer for Facebook and me, is nothing. If Google disappeared tomorrow, I would be hurting for many services I probably take for granted. I suspect if Facebook disappeared tomorrow, most people's lives would not materially change for the worse. Perhaps they would even change for the better.

I think a lot of people would be better off without Twitter.

I think twtr stock symbol may not exist by 2018 actually

Re: After the Gold Rush

#50

As someone who has worked at Google for a few years, I can't agree with the author's characterization of tech behemoths. While they have embraced the start-up mode of doing things for some new projects and are very free with their investing, their core business is everything you'd expect from a big business. I'm not sure it's possible to grow as large as Google, Apple or Facebook and remain agile. The product and org…

>Of course, if you look too disruptive they'll probably just buy you with their mountain of cash.

Or just copy you.

Even if they are 10-20% worse, they have a bigger, cheaper distribution channel than you which they can stuff their product into.

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