HN user
The writer makes the wrong assumption that the current mobile devices (e.g. iPad) will never have the creation tools that the previous generations of computer have had. IMHO, it's only a matter of time. And in the same vein it's never been more accessible to build something better than what's out there and get it out to the public.
Your point about being fine tuned for low memory+power devices is spot on. Each app process on an Android phone is given 16mb of native heap space to play with - it's a lot for some functions but requires disciplined memory use to write stable apps (sorely lacking still).
Beyond their features, these guys are great - they're determined and helpful. And for a service like theirs these things are paramount. Congratulations PagerDuty!
Build things that people will ultimately find useful...
as opposed to products that are conducive to a quick sell to the angels and VCs.
Build a product that can potentially make money on its own merit. A 2 million dollar series A round should not be considered as a sign of a successful startup.
This article does raise some valid points (regardless of the intentions of the writer). Strike the part about Intellectual Ventures because it unfortunately overshadows the main point.
Agreed. Totally didn't mean to bring down the T-pain app to the level of the farties :)
An App Store bubble burst would probably be the best thing to happen to the App Store - the sooner the better.
1) A bubble burst weeds out apps that don't have enough intrinsic value to the customer in the first place (E.g. T-pain, fart apps, and so on)
2) Devs, entrepreneurs, and investors will be forced to evaluate and form actual business plans/models as opposed to "let's throw an app out there and make some money"
3) An app won't always be and shouldn't be the end all and be all of a startup business plan - it's another platform that allows you to reach out to more customers
Let's put it this way: most symbol based systems (Chinese and Japanese kanji) aren't very scalable because each symbol represents multiple objects/ideas. The only way these languages can grow to incorporate more and more modern ideas is to get deconstructed into characters that represent sounds (Japanese hiragana).
I for one think that it's a positive thing to move away from the symbolic characters - it'll make languages easier to learn and let more people communicate with each other.
Sure, Facebook is the 3rd largest nation, but how many of those accounts are multiples belonging to the same person?
IMHO -> ideas != product. if she could find a way to shape her ideas into actual product plans then maybe it would be easier for other people to realize their potential. more often than not, ideas are only as good as how you're able to convey them to others.
The echo chamber of the Valley - great point. There are a lot more companies than we care to admit that fall into this category IMHO.
Ain't that the truth :)
Hey, if I enable adwords on my printed documents, will Google pay for the ink? Do that and i'm sold :)
Great points. I personally find that teaching software engineering concepts/skills to others helps me shore up my own knowledge - in many cases, it actually helps me learn more effectively than just teaching myself.
Also, I believe the key to being a good teacher is putting oneself in the other person's shoes - which is, as the author mentions, essential to explaining technical matters to nontechnical people.