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> What do Path, Hipstamatic, Highlight, Hipster (yes, that’s an app), and Color have in common? They create absolutely nothing of value. The post begins with a

> What do Path, Hipstamatic, Highlight, Hipster (yes, that’s an app), and Color have in common? They create absolutely nothing of value. The post begins with and relies upon this faulty premise. This is not explained, and I would argue that Hipstamatic and Path do create value for the users. The latter allows me to socialize with people in a more private manner, while the former takes photos, values in of themselves. Furthermore, why must the users of these apps necessarily be "hipsters"? Is this a requirement for the use of these apps? (Clearly not, as Hipstamatic was one of the biggest apps on the store last year, and not all of those users can be generalized as hipsters).

joelrunyon 15y ago
> What do Path, Hipstamatic, Highlight, Hipster (yes, that’s an app), and Color have in common? They create absolutely nothing of value. This is like complaining Jersey Shore adds nothing of value to people's lives. Sure, it doesn't, but it's not supposed to. It's entertainment. Just because people are easily entertained and advertisers will pay for those eyeballs, doesn't mean it's not a financially viable business. Some apps solve problems and are useful. Some apps entertain (solving a different problem - boredom). Confusing the two purposes leads to posts like these. (For the record, I completely agree that there are a lot of useless apps out there, but how is that different from there being a ton of useless TV shows, movies and video games out there? If you don't want to contribute to that because you think it's a poor use of time, then don't, but it doesn't mean that there's not a market for it and that there isn't money to be made there).
- DavidZhangToGo 15y ago
  Definitely agree. I really love Path's design and I use Instagram. But I do think those apps + a lot of tech blogs give people a narrow view of what most startups are actually doing - which is solving real problems that people have.
  - joelrunyon 15y ago
    I thought your point was that most startups aren't solving problem and "create nothing of value" as you put it.

joelrunyon 15y ago

> What do Path, Hipstamatic, Highlight, Hipster (yes, that’s an app), and Color have in common? They create absolutely nothing of value. This is like complaining Jersey Shore adds nothing of value to people's lives. Sure, it doesn't, but it's not supposed to. It's entertainment. Just because people are easily entertained and advertisers will pay for those eyeballs, doesn't mean it's not a financially viable business. Some apps solve problems and are useful. Some apps entertain (solving a different problem - boredom). Confusing the two purposes leads to posts like these. (For the record, I completely agree that there are a lot of useless apps out there, but how is that different from there being a ton of useless TV shows, movies and video games out there? If you don't want to contribute to that because you think it's a poor use of time, then don't, but it doesn't mean that there's not a market for it and that there isn't money to be made there).

DavidZhangToGo 15y ago
Definitely agree. I really love Path's design and I use Instagram. But I do think those apps + a lot of tech blogs give people a narrow view of what most startups are actually doing - which is solving real problems that people have.
- joelrunyon 15y ago
  I thought your point was that most startups aren't solving problem and "create nothing of value" as you put it.