4 ms·

This is what's known as a sucker's game: At the end of the day you're playing on someone else's playground and they set the rules. In an ideal world you own you

This is what's known as a sucker's game: At the end of the day you're playing on someone else's playground and they set the rules. In an ideal world you own your own playground, but if you can't afford one find one with more open policies. If you want an example from the big boys take a look at Facebook: They couldn't offer a custom experience on iOS so they forked Android (Amazon did the same thing too, and so will Samsung before long).

babs474 14y ago
Yes, that was a painful lesson that was reinforced when my app was unceremoniously dumped. I've since moved to a firefox app hosted by me, not an appstore. The chrome extension is still available but google has made it really difficult for a non appstore extension to be installed. I'm also looking into greasemonkey. So I can come back from this stumble but I'm wondering if there is just some bigger hammer waiting for me as soon as I get back up.
- michaelpinto 14y ago
  Something to keep in mind: Google was never really interested in the idea of "open" — yes they love "open" when it helps them, but it's actually a very opaque company which has a "my way or the highway" mindset. Honestly I prefer the honesty of companies like Apple that don't pretend to be anything but a huge company. But chalk it up to a good learning experience! And be glad that you didn't start to make real money, hired employees and then watched it all implode in a minute because of a small call at a big company.
  - babs474 14y ago
    Here is my question though. I've solved the appstore issue. I've got a small amount of customers who are still being served and satisfied. I've got a forward path with firefox extension. I can continue business as things stand. Am I just going to run into some other iceberg. I know this company really really doesn't like my extension. They have many resources, and I have none. Will I just get lawyered into the ground? Because I've got a feeling they are going to keep coming after me. edit: Another thought, you are so right about the google my way or the highway attitude. I was notified of my app being taken down by a red "taken down" notice. No warning, no contact, no explanation or appeal process. If nothing else maybe some other developers will take this story as a warning.
    - michaelpinto 14y ago
      What you're talking about is really an add-on feature with fans rather than a true business. Your real talent is clearly the ability to spot an opportunity, build something and get it out there: So why not think about the audience of customers you want to build? Start with that and then look at the opportunities. And look at a bunch of them...
      - babs474 14y ago
        You might have a point here. This really started out as a social experiment, and then it took off, so I started charging so it could be sustainable. Looking at unedditreddit through the harsh prism of business, it probably isn't that great of an opportunity. I just got ruffled by the idea of somebody forcing me to shutdown because it didn't fit with their interests, and it made me want to fight. I probably just need to make the rational decision to work on something with more potential. Thanks for hashing this out with me.
        michaelpinto 14y ago
        my pleasure! : )
  - narayankpl 14y ago
    "Google was never really interested in the idea of "open" — yes they love "open" when it helps them, but it's actually a very opaque company which has a "my way or the highway" mindset."... Shades of Microsoft
argonaut 14y ago
Facebook did not fork Android.

babs474 14y ago

Yes, that was a painful lesson that was reinforced when my app was unceremoniously dumped. I've since moved to a firefox app hosted by me, not an appstore. The chrome extension is still available but google has made it really difficult for a non appstore extension to be installed. I'm also looking into greasemonkey. So I can come back from this stumble but I'm wondering if there is just some bigger hammer waiting for me as soon as I get back up.

michaelpinto 14y ago
Something to keep in mind: Google was never really interested in the idea of "open" — yes they love "open" when it helps them, but it's actually a very opaque company which has a "my way or the highway" mindset. Honestly I prefer the honesty of companies like Apple that don't pretend to be anything but a huge company. But chalk it up to a good learning experience! And be glad that you didn't start to make real money, hired employees and then watched it all implode in a minute because of a small call at a big company.
- babs474 14y ago
  Here is my question though. I've solved the appstore issue. I've got a small amount of customers who are still being served and satisfied. I've got a forward path with firefox extension. I can continue business as things stand. Am I just going to run into some other iceberg. I know this company really really doesn't like my extension. They have many resources, and I have none. Will I just get lawyered into the ground? Because I've got a feeling they are going to keep coming after me. edit: Another thought, you are so right about the google my way or the highway attitude. I was notified of my app being taken down by a red "taken down" notice. No warning, no contact, no explanation or appeal process. If nothing else maybe some other developers will take this story as a warning.
  - michaelpinto 14y ago
    What you're talking about is really an add-on feature with fans rather than a true business. Your real talent is clearly the ability to spot an opportunity, build something and get it out there: So why not think about the audience of customers you want to build? Start with that and then look at the opportunities. And look at a bunch of them...
    - babs474 14y ago
      You might have a point here. This really started out as a social experiment, and then it took off, so I started charging so it could be sustainable. Looking at unedditreddit through the harsh prism of business, it probably isn't that great of an opportunity. I just got ruffled by the idea of somebody forcing me to shutdown because it didn't fit with their interests, and it made me want to fight. I probably just need to make the rational decision to work on something with more potential. Thanks for hashing this out with me.
      - michaelpinto 14y ago
        my pleasure! : )
- narayankpl 14y ago
  "Google was never really interested in the idea of "open" — yes they love "open" when it helps them, but it's actually a very opaque company which has a "my way or the highway" mindset."... Shades of Microsoft

argonaut 14y ago

Facebook did not fork Android.