5 ms·

This is meaningless and misses a golden opportunity to compare and contrast the two platforms. Instead it just throws out a bunch of gibberish numbers and compa

This is meaningless and misses a golden opportunity to compare and contrast the two platforms. Instead it just throws out a bunch of gibberish numbers and compares apples to oranges, states that it's comparing apples to oranges, then continues on with the comparison. Most "internet" businesses fail. Most restaurants fail. That doesn't mean anyone who starts a pizza place is in a rush for fool's gold. The problem is that most people do things half-assed and cluelessly. Even most entrepreneurs. It's simply meaningless to count everyone who worked full time on a Facebook app as an attempt at anything.

dasil003 17y ago
Well given that the blub paradox extends to business-savvy as well, I think it's reasonable to throw some rough numbers out there for prospective entrants into the market to have some idea what they're getting into. However I agree with you that it's ridiculous to dismiss the market based purely on these numbers. First you would have to compare to other markets you could develop software in. You have to factor the entrenchment of market leaders in those segments, and also how each of the relative markets are growing or shrinking. Finally--and this is the thing that is keeping me out of iPhone development--you have to factor in the risks of developing on a closed platform with strict and arbitrary entrance requirements and how those things may change in the future. Both Apple and Facebook have the ability to rip the floor right out from under your profitable app. Personally I think they are both great platforms, but I would not limit myself to them unless I was just trying to do a quick flip. In terms of long term value I would want those apps to be tied to some valuable backend service or open web technology that would not completely kill the business if Apple decides to kill my app.

dasil003 17y ago

Well given that the blub paradox extends to business-savvy as well, I think it's reasonable to throw some rough numbers out there for prospective entrants into the market to have some idea what they're getting into. However I agree with you that it's ridiculous to dismiss the market based purely on these numbers. First you would have to compare to other markets you could develop software in. You have to factor the entrenchment of market leaders in those segments, and also how each of the relative markets are growing or shrinking. Finally--and this is the thing that is keeping me out of iPhone development--you have to factor in the risks of developing on a closed platform with strict and arbitrary entrance requirements and how those things may change in the future. Both Apple and Facebook have the ability to rip the floor right out from under your profitable app. Personally I think they are both great platforms, but I would not limit myself to them unless I was just trying to do a quick flip. In terms of long term value I would want those apps to be tied to some valuable backend service or open web technology that would not completely kill the business if Apple decides to kill my app.