I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#1

Post by acconrad » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 6:43 PM UTC

I Hope This Bubble Kills The App
adamconrad.posterous.com

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#2

Post by acconrad » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 6:46 PM UTC

DISCLAIMER: for the record, this is a rant I wrote at 3 am so please don't take it too seriously. I'm mostly sharing it so you can have a good laugh, because apparently a few people thought it was funny and said I should share it.

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#3

Post by thetrumanshow » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:07 PM UTC

Ahem: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/... :)

Just sayin'. But, to your point, yes I would welcome a world where all the ultra low-fi junk would disappear and where there was less noise in the app marketplace... like 2003, except with today's consumer awareness.

But the exact opposite will happen. Right now, our peers are building tools to allow ever lower-fidelity apps to enter the marketplace, that is, enabling less and less qualified people to try their hand at building products.

I have yet to find the saving grace in this situation. I see two paths: 1) create tools to help people build crap apps, and make money while I can, 2) move up the value chain, and make money while I can.

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#4

Post by aspir » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:16 PM UTC

My thoughts exactly. Doesn't anyone want to innovate, or "change the world" anymore?

If someone's going to go through all of the labor to make a copy of groupon or an iFart app or a twitter API mashup just for the cash, they should just write a Forex trading algorithm. They'll make more money that way, and their models will be infinitely more computationally unique than any consumer copycat.

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#5

Post by gte910h » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:24 PM UTC

The idea that small useful programs should die and not be sold is a sad idea IMO.

And app is not necessarily a business, but it isn't something that should die.

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#6

Post by dstein » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:29 PM UTC

aspir wrote: post #4

My thoughts exactly. Doesn't anyone want to innovate, or "change the world" anymore? If someone's going to go through all of the labor to make a copy of groupon or an iFart app or a twitter API mashup just for the cash, they should just write a Forex trading algorithm. They'll make more money that way, and their models will be infinitely more computationally unique than any consumer copycat.

A location-based fart app that leverages the social graph of my friends? Call Sequoia!

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#7

Post by acconrad » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:37 PM UTC

gte910h wrote: post #5

The idea that small useful programs should die and not be sold is a sad idea IMO. And app is not necessarily a business, but it isn't something that should die.

Except you said "useful." I'm all for that. But you should keep building them. Just cause a company builds a useful application does not mean they should close up shop and start elsewhere with a new name.

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#8

Post by acconrad » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 7:38 PM UTC

thetrumanshow wrote: post #3

Ahem: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/... :) Just sayin'. But, to your point, yes I would welcome a world where all the ultra low-fi junk would disappear and where there was less noise in the app marketplace... like 2003, except with today's consumer awareness. But the exact opposite will happen. Right now, our peers are building tools to allow ever lower-fidelity apps to enter the marketp…

Ha loved that article. As long as you're in caloric deficit, you will lose weight :-p

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#9

Post by deveren » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 8:04 PM UTC

This is the exact problem companies wishing to develop useful programs face everyday. Now we have a consumer base that only buys because of hype/something going "viral". If you do create something beneficial one of the only ways to be noticed is to treat what you develop as one if those "candy" apps. The words software, and programs have disappeared.

It's still a bit of a gold rush, and investors mean well. However, there needs to be more innovative thinking on their end as well. We don't need a new photo sharing program, or ways to post a picture online. It's funny that this article uses weightless angle be because all of this technology has made us, well bigger. Technology is great, but it's time we get back to solving real problems.

BTW, I'm looking for an excellent programmer for a new project!

Re: I Hope This Bubble Kills The App

#10

Post by api » Tue, Mar 29, 2011, 8:08 PM UTC

"...Ninja Warrior Agile ScrumMaster and Incompetent MBA Popped Collar..."

Epic.