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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

#201

Post by readitalready »

cortesoft wrote: post #89
readitalready wrote: post #33

I really wish more social networks would have a "fading connections" limit. So many social networks suffer from stale connections and networks, and these connections should expire after a year. Otherwise, it will permanently define a social network's content and editorial direction without algorithmic control. For example, Selena Gomez will always have 400million followers on Instagram, but she's socially irrelevant…

I am confused... what is harmed by having stale connections? Why would connections be used as an editorial filter?

Because you don't want to see posts from stale connections.

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

#202

Post by TZubiri »

sikozu wrote: post #111
TZubiri wrote: post #92

Probably being pedantic, but this is not buying Friendster to be precise, usually what is meant by that is that the company was bought. In this case the domain Friendster.com was bought, and a trademark was conceded (a new different trademark), I don't know precisely the implications of the trademark though, I think it's a different trademark and you still cannot imply that you are a continuation of the previous trad…

I think the distinction is warranted. Honestly if the prior Friendster company itself was bought - including all the assets, codebase and historical documents (no user details) that would've been such an incredibly interesting read. Buying the domain and getting the trademark is still cool, just not as cool.

fwiw, I think that subjectively it's roughly equivalent in this specific case. The domain name is a huge part of the brand, and is almost equivalent to the list of prior clients.

I think that it will probably be fine if they compete in the same space of a social network, doesn't look like someone is going to go after them, the company that would have a claim against them is defunct, so even if they have a legal argument, who would raise the case? If the owners do so under their personal name it's even a weaker argument.

So in practice, in this case, subjectively I believe that it's effectively very similar as buying the company.

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

#204

Post by skybrian »

al_borland wrote: post #169
skybrian wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps "remember when you met with your friends?" But taking a photo (possibly a group photo) is a more natural way to do that. Maybe it should integrate with photo-taking somehow? It would be annoying if you met up, forgot to do the ritual in person, and had no way to fix it.

While this probably could only be done with the cooperation of Apple/Google, something like what they did for contact tracing during the pandemic would be ideal. Picking up that you were in the proximity of various friends without any active effort. https://covid19.apple.com/contacttracing

That sounds creepy to me. Taking a photo together doesn't seem like friction to be removed?

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

#205

Post by krupan »

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

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

#206

Post by ajmurmann »

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…

You can still install this just not through a public listing on the app store. Apple provides various solutions for different audiences.

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

#207

Post by simondotau »

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…

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.

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

#208

Post by caseysoftware »

Aloha wrote: post #163
giancarlostoro wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and Microsoft giving up on Windows phones were both mistakes. You hit me right in the gut, are we long lost siblings? Lol

Windows Phone was so so good - it was THE phone I recommended to users who were on feature phones/non-smart phones because the UX was so simple and clean (and obvious) - with a side effect that if you HAD a smart phone before (Palm, Apple, Android, BlackBerry, the UX was contrary to what you were used to). Windows Phone died because MS didnt do enough to build the app ecosystem, and bailed out too soon. I also feel w…

I loved the Windows Phone too.

I was one of two non-MSFT I knew of that had one.. and I bought it because an MSFT employee was showing it off and I was convinced. The concept of Tiles was great and Cortana was respectable. It felt comparable to Siri and way better than Google.

I used it for a couple years until the apps I needed started disappearing due to lack of updates.

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

#209

Post by Loudergood »

alex1138 wrote: post #34
readitalready wrote: post #33

I really wish more social networks would have a "fading connections" limit. So many social networks suffer from stale connections and networks, and these connections should expire after a year. Otherwise, it will permanently define a social network's content and editorial direction without algorithmic control. For example, Selena Gomez will always have 400million followers on Instagram, but she's socially irrelevant…

Don't worry, Facebook already has Fading Connections You can be married to each other and your posts won't show up on the other person's feed (there's a post on HN about this)

Yup, it's annoying as all hell.

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

#210

Post by inventor7777 »

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

Unless you want third party WebViews... (on normal Android)

(Technically besides the point, but that is a broad statement)

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