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No matter what the future may bring for TikTok, it has surprised me because it definitely showed that the Chinese are coming with their unicorns and coming hard

No matter what the future may bring for TikTok, it has surprised me because it definitely showed that the Chinese are coming with their unicorns and coming hard. I was expecting something like that but in a decade or so. You can argue that is not that technically advanced and slightly derivative, but its explosive growth, smart user engagement tactics, polished presentation (a constant weak point with Chinese products) is nothing short of amazing.

capableweb 6y ago
Name one US unicorn that is not "not that technically advanced and slightly derivative". Basically all the work developers are doing nowadays is in one or another building on the shoulders of giants ("slightly derivative")
- cambalache 6y ago
  SpaceX. In any case there is nothing wrong with being "slightly derivative", especially since the concept is really vague, but there are still degrees. So I would argue that what SpaceX, Tesla or DeepMind(Google) are doing is more difficult and challenging comparing to what tik-tok, twitter or instagram do. Even if you claim all work is derivative.
atian 6y ago
“How did you go bankrupt? Two ways. Gradually and then suddenly.”
luckylion 6y ago
There's a documentary People's Republic of Desire that I recommend to anyone who thinks China is pretty behind on tech and basically just a manufacturing giant. They're not. Social Streaming on Twitch for cheers & donations? Yeah, they've been doing it for years on their own platform. I'm not surprised at all that they find international success. Any very large domestic market will create viral products and give their makers enough money and reach to go global.
- sushid 6y ago
  No one in their right mind would say that they're behind on tech or just a manufacturing giant. The parent comment is merely stating that no Chinese app has enjoyed global success and that many of their apps are very janky with poor UI/UX (generalizing here of course).

capableweb 6y ago

Name one US unicorn that is not "not that technically advanced and slightly derivative". Basically all the work developers are doing nowadays is in one or another building on the shoulders of giants ("slightly derivative")

cambalache 6y ago
SpaceX. In any case there is nothing wrong with being "slightly derivative", especially since the concept is really vague, but there are still degrees. So I would argue that what SpaceX, Tesla or DeepMind(Google) are doing is more difficult and challenging comparing to what tik-tok, twitter or instagram do. Even if you claim all work is derivative.

atian 6y ago

“How did you go bankrupt? Two ways. Gradually and then suddenly.”

luckylion 6y ago

There's a documentary People's Republic of Desire that I recommend to anyone who thinks China is pretty behind on tech and basically just a manufacturing giant. They're not. Social Streaming on Twitch for cheers & donations? Yeah, they've been doing it for years on their own platform. I'm not surprised at all that they find international success. Any very large domestic market will create viral products and give their makers enough money and reach to go global.

sushid 6y ago
No one in their right mind would say that they're behind on tech or just a manufacturing giant. The parent comment is merely stating that no Chinese app has enjoyed global success and that many of their apps are very janky with poor UI/UX (generalizing here of course).