Libertyblues Posted January 5, 2016 Posted January 5, 2016 Especially in the apps field internet giants have a huge advantage in marketing new trends. Aren't they inhibiting innovation because an app developer knows he can't compete with a Google copy of his app? Doesn't this inhibit innovation?
LibertarianSocialist Posted January 6, 2016 Posted January 6, 2016 I have often wondered about this. Some online apps such as Facebook acquire much of their desirability from the fact that they are so widely used. Even if a competitor was superior, the fact of having no users would make it inferior. As in Facebooks case, their popularity can be sustained for a very long time, and significant profits can be derived from this monopoly. We are always told that superior products will overcome inferior, but what when the value of a thing comes not from its own personal qualities, but from its popularity alone? Perfect example of individual market actors making terrible collective decisions. Is their a term for such phenomena? It does permeate our society in all aspects of life. From OS's to battery power tools.
shirgall Posted January 6, 2016 Posted January 6, 2016 On 1/5/2016 at 2:01 PM, LionBlue said: Especially in the apps field internet giants have a huge advantage in marketing new trends. Aren't they inhibiting innovation because an app developer knows he can't compete with a Google copy of his app? Doesn't this inhibit innovation? No. Google, Apple, Amazon, etc. have tons of competitors even for their core apps. Obligatory Disclaimer: I work for Microsoft.
Libertyblues Posted January 6, 2016 Author Posted January 6, 2016 On 1/6/2016 at 4:33 PM, shirgall said: No. Google, Apple, Amazon, etc. have tons of competitors even for their core apps. Obligatory Disclaimer: I work for Microsoft. Then my concern is not valid? That app developers need not fear that their ideas would be stolen?
shirgall Posted January 6, 2016 Posted January 6, 2016 On 1/6/2016 at 8:23 PM, LionBlue said: Then my concern is not valid? That app developers need not fear that their ideas would be stolen? The big profit makers would rather buy a good idea than suffer the damage to "good will" of getting caught stealing an idea. It happens, sure, but it's far more reasonable to fear being shafted by a little guy than a big one if you have a popular idea. 1
Nick900 Posted January 6, 2016 Posted January 6, 2016 On 1/6/2016 at 8:23 PM, LionBlue said: Then my concern is not valid? That app developers need not fear that their ideas would be stolen? Here's a list of 187 companies that Google alone have purchased: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Google The goal of app building is to make an app, get some ad revenue then sell it to Google 1
shirgall Posted January 7, 2016 Posted January 7, 2016 On 1/6/2016 at 10:43 PM, Phil_sp said: Here's a list of 187 companies that Google alone have purchased: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Google The goal of app building is to make an app, get some ad revenue then sell it to Google That is a common business plan pitched to Angel and other Startup investors. 1
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