37 karma · joined May 18, 2010
I think the app stores are letting us developers test our little apps without a business in the foreseeable future, which I think is great. If the app is a success then we can think of building a business around it.
There is a safety net to selling an app for a price (not free), because the sales give an indication if the users like it or not and where to direct the energy.
Also, 37 signals doesn't believe in giving away apps for free.
Everyone, seems to think that we will be able to see updates on the home screen itself, which I don't think will work.
For example email: What will I see on the homescreen? who sent the email, when it was sent? will I see a brief message on the screen? How much information will I see in a tiny box/slice/tile. I don't think I will be able to see a lot of it.
Twitter: I think, I will be able to see the last tweet. A little helpful.
Facebook updates: I think it would work same as twitter.
The user has to launch an app to get the complete information. I think its bad if MS tries to make the phone into a taskbar notification system.
I feel that someone can look at the problem differently. To make a site based on a common interest and get people to pay for it. The users of the site will find a way to make friends.
1. I don't think an algorithm could be developed to find friends. On the other hand, I think people make friends on game sites where, they strike out on their own to make friends. Even meet up sites, where you go to play golf with a bunch of strangers or go play chess.
2. I don't think this kind of site will get traction and people will not pay for it.
eHarmony exists because it makes finding your potential mates easier, it is for people who have given up on bars and friend's recommendation. Yes, there are other ways to meet people but the frequency of finding a good mate will be very less, I think.
I think people just become friends who get along with each other and don't look for friendship actively, like we look for dates on a dating site.
The concept of a site finding a friend has always bothered me, like facebook is trying to find a friend for me or saying "share more info to find more friends"...
The best thing you can do is launch a portal for like minded people to mingle.
Everything cannot be solved by technology.