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Comment by aditya | Hacker News Reader

I don't think it's a question of which apps are still missing. The iPhone platform (to abuse a much abused word) is pretty much in the same spot as the Facebook one was last year.

This means that even though the early apps will have a definite advantage, there will always be an opportunity to make a 'better' tip calculator (contrived example) and new opportunities will open up as the platform matures.

IMHO, iPhone apps are a much bigger deal than facebook apps since all the latter seem to do these days is clutter your profile and make you waste time.

So, honestly, go out there, 1. find a problem (like mass transit directions) 2. solve it with an iPhone app. 3. PROFIT !!!

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Thanks, that sounds interesting.

> like mass transit directions

The problem with that is the (potential) specificity for a town, which dilutes the user numbers. I'm not sure how many I could get here in Munich where I can test it on a daily basis. Any New Yorkers have ideas for how such a service should work for their city?

But the question is, why would you choose to solve that with an iphone app, instead of just a website?

I can see the point in iphone apps that use features you can't get in the browser, like access to gps or the accelerometer etc, but other simple apps seem to be there just because they can be, rather than filling any real need.

ironically enough, an iPhone app would probably be more successful. A website would require marketing, but an iPhone App does its own marketing, through its name, icon and the community word of mouth. Plus there are advantages in UI design that could make a native app more helpful in getting the info quicker.

A website would require marketing, but an iPhone App does its own marketing, through its name

This is a myth. And people will realize in a couple months once there are tons of apps in the App Store. You will need marketing wherever you go. For word-of-mouth, your app needs to be really stellar. And that is true, everywhere.

I suspect the more appealing part about the App Store is that more people will want to actually pay for your app right away if you provide them with enough quality. It feels like the expected payoff with the App Store would be higher for individual developers this way as opposed to making viral apps on facebook and monetizing via ads.

I don't think its a myth. Apple really has done a lot of the marketing on behalf of developers. Everyone iPhone user knows where to get their iPhone apps. Just that right there is huge. Yeah, you still have to work hard outside the store, but setting up the location, the trust (no need to worry about Apple) and the ease of use is a marketing marvel that webapps just don't have. I think its hard to ignore the advantages. Going above and beyond that will help you immensely, but at least you don't have to replicate Apple work.

Well, I can't deny all of this because it's true. However, it is not very useful ultimately since everything is relative. Everybody on the App Store gets these advantages. Yes, there is a central location to look for but when you have thousands of apps and you are not in the top few, you are essentially back to the user already knowing about your app.

That part is true, however, creating a webapp means it can be used on the iPhone, lots of other phones, games consoles, laptops, etc etc etc

Maybe this is actually the Steve Jobs closed system vs. Android open system sort of debate. Sure, you could make a webapp, but could you make a lot of money off a webapp? If you only had the time to work on one, I know which one I would pick. There may be more users of those other platforms, but how do you get them to use your app? Apple's closed system does a lot of the work for you.

e.g. A replacement for all the torch applications that is just a blank web page.

If you want an example of a successful mass transit direction service, I like http://hopstop.com

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