Of course! Because the market for yo-styled communication software and devices is worth around 7 trillions USD.
If twitter is valued around 50 billions USD with 140 char messages then it is only fair and sensible to value Yo at ((140 - strlen("yo")) * twitter_valuation) USD.
I hope Apple's response to this wasting of their time is to decide that none of these apps meet the basic requirements of usefulness and pull all of them, including Yo, from the App Store.
It was funny for a while but let's not start a trend of worthless trademark trolling becoming the new software patents.
I actually don't like that Apple acts as arbiter of what's considered 'useful'. Especially since I don't have a choice of App store. I'd rather they just check for malicious code or use of private APIs and let the rest through. Alas, that's not the choice they made.
Couldn't agree more. It's not necessarily apps like Yo that are at fault, but the ensuing media circus around these apps (OP case in point) that contribute to people thinking this is a viable "startup idea" or startup strategy.
1. A method of monosyllabic communication over a communications network, comprising:
- a bespoke user interface selected from a colorway including purple, violet, orchid and lavender,
- sending at least one monosyllabic communication,
- wherein, in response to receiving a first message from at least one messaging subsystem, producing an audible vocalization of consisting of at least a "Yo",
- receiving agile tweetstorm heuristics, including but not limited to fullstack machine learning for map reduce.
All kidding aside, Yo's use case is real. We just typically call it a ping. But implicit in a ping is a response. I assume that typical use of Yo also involves a response. So, someone please do the right thing and implement a "Ping" app which, upon receiving a ping, gives the user an explicit option to respond with "ACK".
Frankly I don't get all the hate. I remember being in middle school and ringing my friends just once and wait for them to ring back, it was a common thing to do. This is the modern version, nothing more.
It should be noted that Yo has been consistently falling down the app charts since it hit the peak during its 15 minutes of fame. It's currently #65 in category on the App Store when it used to be #5 overall (and received the funding).
> That may be true, but the YOLO app is also a bit of a joke. Explains Betty Xi, one of the team members who helped create YOLO, their app was built to “poke fun at Yo.”
When we launched coffitivity.com (a silly but surprisingly popular website) we had about 100 clones come out, a few in the app store actually using our name. We had a little more pride than to try to get them taken down.
Don't sell your idea short by calling it "silly." I have actually used it quite often when I just want a little ambient noise quickly to get some work done. Nice work and much appreciated!
Coffitivity is actually a pretty neat idea. If I had decent audio-recording gear, I'd probably ride the New York subway for a bit and record some night-time and day-time audio for y'all.
Everyone agrees that YO was an easy to make and good for nothing application.Generating a huge amount of funding was a marketing gimmic and ofcource it attracts compitition give that its so "easy to develop".
Someone should open source code and people should submit similar apps. Copyright infingement is a little far fetched when other apps are specifically parody/satire apps.
Ah don't get too mad at them. They have a responsibility to do these things so their shareholders don't pull them aside and give them an earful about "not doing enough". At least now they can say they tried. Even though it most likely will not change anything.
It's also another way to keep their name in the press.
Yo is the "Hot Dog Toaster"[1] of the app world. It does one thing and does it great. But there are other things that have the same functionality AND will also do more. It is a single use app(liance) that will just clutter your place up eventually.
Maybe they should try and get iMesssages pulled. Because I stopped using Yo app after first 3 mins but now between friends we sometimes text "yo" to start/end the conversation. But that is getting old too.
Is it possible that funding this kind of project is form of fraud/giving money to friends/family ?
I mean if you are in position to fund such project using company money and your friends work for that project then 10M valuation checks out. Maybe you could use your money as well for tax purposes (no idea how that works in US). People aren't usually too happy to give money away and it's hard to believe anybody takes 10M valuation seriously so fraud is one natural hypothesis to consider.
Why exactly is it 'natural' to speculate negatively using poorly formed logical conclusions? Those VCs that gave them money agreed to the valuation. Just because you disagree agree with it does not imply that there is fraud going on inside the company.
[+] [-] kybernetyk|11 years ago|reply
If twitter is valued around 50 billions USD with 140 char messages then it is only fair and sensible to value Yo at ((140 - strlen("yo")) * twitter_valuation) USD.
[+] [-] _pmf_|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BettyXi|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] amirmc|11 years ago|reply
2. See it go viral.
3. Somehow raise money -- because crazy user 'growth' is the new 'eyeballs'.
4. Pay lawyers to take down similar apps -- also created in a weekend.
5. Users get bored and move on to the next thing.
Apps like this are no different to a short-lived meme. This is not value creation.
[+] [-] FlailFast|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cenhyperion|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thoth|11 years ago|reply
Well shoot I better start on my "Dude" app that lets whoever you messaged respond with "Sweet".
[+] [-] warcode|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] robert_tweed|11 years ago|reply
It was funny for a while but let's not start a trend of worthless trademark trolling becoming the new software patents.
[+] [-] amirmc|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fookyong|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lauradhamilton|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] wastedhours|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] SuperKlaus|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] teachingaway|11 years ago|reply
1. A method of monosyllabic communication over a communications network, comprising:
- a bespoke user interface selected from a colorway including purple, violet, orchid and lavender,
- sending at least one monosyllabic communication,
- wherein, in response to receiving a first message from at least one messaging subsystem, producing an audible vocalization of consisting of at least a "Yo",
- receiving agile tweetstorm heuristics, including but not limited to fullstack machine learning for map reduce.
[+] [-] drivingmenuts|11 years ago|reply
Honestly, it's hard to tell.
[+] [-] SurfScore|11 years ago|reply
Hodor
[+] [-] tragic|11 years ago|reply
> Worst of all, the hilarious Yo, Hodor!, clearly a parody of Yo, has also received the notice.
If I were you, I'd get Hodoring like it's the last night on earth.
[+] [-] sp332|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] FlailFast|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|11 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] scott_s|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] krapp|11 years ago|reply
I mean... ok, yes literally it does in Yo's case but... never mind.
[+] [-] coldtea|11 years ago|reply
And we can do it with any IM app, or even better with SMS or Messages without necessitating the other user download any BS app for that.
[+] [-] cliveowen|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jarman|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fookyong|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pessimizer|11 years ago|reply
REQ -> ACK
[+] [-] opendais|11 years ago|reply
You can't claim an app to message people is your IP.
[+] [-] matthewcford|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] minimaxir|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bitlord_219|11 years ago|reply
Should have called it "Dumb Yo." http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/02/09/42085/dumb-starbucks-cof...
[+] [-] BettyXi|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] return0|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tomasien|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Deinos|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pavel_lishin|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] amolgupta|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] alexnimh|11 years ago|reply
My app would be called something like fuckyo!
[+] [-] poopsintub|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] acconrad|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ianstallings|11 years ago|reply
It's also another way to keep their name in the press.
[+] [-] __m|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|11 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] jack-r-abbit|11 years ago|reply
[1] http://www.amazon.com/s/?field-keywords=hot%20dog%20toaster
[+] [-] Khaine|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] WWKong|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rcavezza|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bluecalm|11 years ago|reply
Is it possible that funding this kind of project is form of fraud/giving money to friends/family ? I mean if you are in position to fund such project using company money and your friends work for that project then 10M valuation checks out. Maybe you could use your money as well for tax purposes (no idea how that works in US). People aren't usually too happy to give money away and it's hard to believe anybody takes 10M valuation seriously so fraud is one natural hypothesis to consider.
[+] [-] kordless|11 years ago|reply
Why exactly is it 'natural' to speculate negatively using poorly formed logical conclusions? Those VCs that gave them money agreed to the valuation. Just because you disagree agree with it does not imply that there is fraud going on inside the company.