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I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

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Re: I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

#271

Post by themafia »

krupan wrote: post #205
0xbadcafebee wrote: post #164

> this failed Apple App Store review because of Guideline 4.2 — Design — Minimum Functionality. They said “the usefulness of the app is limited because it seems to be intended for a small, or niche, set of users. Specifically, the app is intended for invited friends only.” This is why we need laws regulating mobile platforms. Apple shouldn't be able to dictate what you use your phone for, or what apps you can give to…

Have you heard of Android? Graphene OS? You do have freedom of choice here

I can run Android on Apple hardware? I have freedom to purchase. There is no choice.

Re: I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

#272

Post by esperent »

card_zero wrote: post #229
simondotau wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I often get in trouble on HN for being more sympathetic than most towards Apple. But that reasoning by Apple is ridiculous. They allow apps which only function if you buy a specific $100k+ EV, or some niche audiophile amp. Usefulness doesn’t get much more limited than that.

What even is the idea, what would be the value in weeding out niche apps, if they did it consistently? To reduce the work involved in keeping everything in the garden lovely?

I've been thinking about this because I'm working on an internal company tool. It's a web app but I was thinking about creating mobile apps. In the age of agentic coding, that's no longer a massive undertaking like it used to be.

However, I'm completely blocked by Apple app store review. There's no way an app designed for 30 people would pass.

I can't get an internal app onto people's phone. I could release it as a test app but that might get blocked at any point.

I can at least release a PWA but as I understand even that might get notifications blocked at any point, with no recourse, and of course functionality is highly limited.

So the goal here is clear: don't allow people to write small apps.

Apple can then make sure they are only allowing apps that required enough work, both initially and ongoing, that nearly everyone will feel the need to charge, or include ads, and then Apple gets a 30% cut every time.

As for why a car company's app passes, obviously they don't want anyone with enough power to challenge this in court, politically, or in the media. So those get a pass.

Re: I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

#273

Post by fc417fc802 »

rileymat2 wrote: post #242
Loughla wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are correct and I don't get OP's point. Don't want apple rules, don't use apple products. They are the business, they can do what they want with it, right?

We have consistently made exceptions to this rule in situations with limited choices. We would not abide by the electric company dictating a range of things, even of you have the option to run your own generator. The truth is there are two reasonable platforms, as long as that is the case we should apply scrutiny.

I'd go even farther than that. The US should adopt an equivalent of the second amendment regarding end user control over personal electronics and it should bind not only the government but also private enterprise. We are increasingly dependent on these devices to go about our day to day lives and they have not only been used against us for mass surveillance but are also quickly gaining the ability to exhibit intelligence and act autonomously.

Re: I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

#274

Post by bpt3 »

dnnddidiej wrote: post #183
bpt3 wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that's your standard, you basically can't interact with any entity other than megacorps, which you obviously disdain. What is the benefit of that perspective? It's just social media. If it goes away tomorrow, no real loss. Use it accordingly.

It is good to point out this alternative is 90% likely going to be a rugpull on "nice cosy 90s style social network" by systemic factors. Regardless of the intent of the owner. I just realised federated helps re. censorship but not privacy/secrecy needs.

It's not a rugpull, because there's nothing invested by users.

Again, there's no alternative that meets your original criteria let alone your additional ones.

Re: I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

#276

Post by caust1c »

> I’d like it to eventually pay for itself [...] — but that’s a problem for later.

Hard pass from me dawg. If you don't know the business model now, folks like me are tired of trusting their data to randos on the internet without a plan for sustainability. Guaranteed to end up being just another data farm.

Neat you got the domain tho.

Re: I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

#277

Post by vel0city »

timr wrote: post #259
julianeon wrote: post #253

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are absolutely right and that jumped out at me. I should also point out the obvious: if people were selling online assets making $9k/year for $9k, there would be a line out the door of people lining up to buy them. If anyone here is selling an asset that makes $X a year for $X, I'll buy it! I make my money back in 12 months and everything else is profit. So let's value it as it would be valued on, say, Flippa, a…

Yeah, but you have to scale the projections for uncertainty about the future, and exaggeration by the seller. In particular, if someone on the internet tells me they’re making $x a month from spammy ads on a squatted domain, I immediately discount the claim substantially due to bullshit. I increase the discount rate if the person making the claim is trying to sell me said domain.

Projected revenues for this domain is at $100k this year!

How much are you trying to sell the domain for?

Uhh...about $100k.

Re: I bought Friendster for $30k – Here's what I'm doing with it

#278

Post by wrqvrwvq »

armada651 wrote: post #246
plandis wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is forcing you to exclusively buy into Apple’s ecosystem? Are other competitors banned where you live?

Apple is, because of vendor-lock in. Once you're sufficiently dependent on Apple's ecosystem it becomes painful to switch to a competitor because it requires switching to a different smartphone which then locks you out of most of Apple's ecosystem.

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