Browser-based software ported from desktop software is silly.

Posted by Me on September 9th, 2007

Photoshop Express Screenshot

Adobe just announced Photoshop Express. Well I guess they announced it a while back, but they just previewed it. What’s the point?

To me, traditional desktop software for desktop tasks works great. Desktop software for things like spreadsheets and photo editing is better.

  • It doesn’t require an internet connection to work
  • It’s fast
  • It *can* work with any data from the net that a browser can.

    So, what’s the allure of this watered down browser-based software? Why are all these startups spending all this time to port non-broken software to browsers, which I find to be more limiting? Is it because Google might buy it, or because people find it useful or in some way better?

    Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
    • BlogMemes
    • co.mments
    • del.icio.us
    • Digg
    • Furl
    • Reddit
    • Slashdot
    • StumbleUpon
    • Technorati
  • Multiply gets 16.6 x $1,000,000. To Catch Up?

    Posted by Me on September 8th, 2007

    Multiply the losses


    Apparently, Multiply has been around for a long time, but the social network hasn’t really taken off. I hadn’t heard of it, but I guess that doesn’t mean too much. They just picked up $16.6MM from VantagePoint Venture Partners et al, presumably because they…well, I guess they believe they still have a chance.

    Or maybe they just need some more cash to execute their strategy to target the Philippines and Indonesia. Apparently, they’re in the top 10 sites in both locations, says TechCrunch.

    Rating: ★★☆☆☆

    Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
    • BlogMemes
    • co.mments
    • del.icio.us
    • Digg
    • Furl
    • Reddit
    • Slashdot
    • StumbleUpon
    • Technorati
    Host Unlimited Domains on 1 Account

    I just don’t get Scribd…

    Posted by Me on September 3rd, 2007

    Scribd - open document storage, but why?

    Scribd is out there talking about how many “words” they have on their site from about 200K user-uploaded documents (much of which is copyrighted, I might add).

    Here’s what I don’t get: of everything I saw on the Scribd, nothing required being in a document per se. In my exploration of the site, I found guides for this or that, top 10 lists, screenplays, etc. All of these things could (and I’m sure do) exist as web pages. And there’s this company called “Google” which helps people find web pages (and documents for that matter) over the web.

    These guys are trying to be the of documents? I’m not sure there’s a need. Maybe they’ll be the Pets.com of documents.

    Rating: ★★★☆☆

    Suckiness, right on your desktop

    Posted by Me on August 26th, 2007

    Sucky Startups Mac Dashboard Widget Screenshot

     Get the Sucky Startups Dashboard Widget Here

    Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
    • BlogMemes
    • co.mments
    • del.icio.us
    • Digg
    • Furl
    • Reddit
    • Slashdot
    • StumbleUpon
    • Technorati
    Host Unlimited Domains on 1 Account

    To be fair, I thought I should feature the worst Y Combinator startup too

    Posted by Me on August 18th, 2007

    Dropbox “Private Beta”The honor of the suckiest startup of the group, in my oh so humble opinion, goes to Drop Box. First of all, I have to say the ideas from Y Combinator’s demo days seemed more differentiated than TechStars’. I was actually excited about some of the ideas, assuming the execution lives up to the sound clip.But Drop Box is entering an important market that no one gives a crap about and no one spends money on. From MySpace onward (the online storage incarnation of the company)…there are zillions of players that all charge too much for backup. The “Time Machine”esque portions of the service seem cool enough, but I don’t think it’s going to overcome the fact that people ain’t gonna pay. So for that, they get my vote.   

    Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
    • BlogMemes
    • co.mments
    • del.icio.us
    • Digg
    • Furl
    • Reddit
    • Slashdot
    • StumbleUpon
    • Technorati

    Ugly Adolescent Companies — Find ‘em Here First

    Posted by Me on August 17th, 2007

    Likening sucky web 2.0 startups to adolescent kids, Fred Wilson says “There will be a shakeout. Bad companies based on bad ideas will shut down. Some already have. But I think this phase of technology revolution that we call web 2.0 is going to grow into a wonderful adulthood.

    I couldn’t agree more. And if you’re looking to find the pimply, ugly adolescents, you’ve come to the right place :).

    Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
    • BlogMemes
    • co.mments
    • del.icio.us
    • Digg
    • Furl
    • Reddit
    • Slashdot
    • StumbleUpon
    • Technorati

    Copyright © 2010 SuckyStartups. All rights reserved. Add to Technorati Favorites