Thinking about building an app

[Flywin Lannister]

You guys are dropping great info, I'm learning allot, keep it coming


by the way, I was reminded of that short video service Vine that was popular a few years ago

from what I understand, I dont think it was created by Twitter

but it was able to become popular through Twitter's platform and being integrated in their system

without Twitter necessarily endorsing it I think

Not sure, I'm doing research on it now

Vine (service) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

@Vine. Exactly.

It was not created by Twitter. Twitter bought Vine and presented it as if they made it (or as part of the Twitter product family). They did the same with Periscope.

You got it.

 

[D.C Young]

@Vine. Exactly.

It was not created by Twitter. Twitter bought Vine and presented it as if they made it (or as part of the Twitter product family). They did the same with Periscope.

You got it.

Are you familiar with Vine?

How did it become integrated with Twitter? Or was it ever integrated at all?

Because at some point, it simply became synonymous with Twitter.

 

[D.C Young]

This is not possible.

Instagram controls Instagram. Specifically: the app you download is called a 'client'. The client gets sent by Instagram to the App Stores (iOS, Google Play etc.). Anything that users see is in this client.
If Instagram wants users to see a new feature, they have to put this in a new version of the client (this is why you get updates: new features and bug fixes are usually in updates).

If you go to the App Store, search Instagram, you can see what version is available and can even see 'New in this version'.

so how do you think I can make money off of my idea (with the limited information that you have about my idea)

to recap what my idea is, it's basically a feature that a instagram user can add to their picture as a caption

and this feauture will give their picture a *added effect*....right now, Instagram doesn't have it


so how can I make money off of it? what should my next step be?


- I can't do the patenting route cause I dont have the money to research, create and then ultimately protect my patent.


- I could build my own Instagram like App with this added feature, but I can't compete with Instagram, plus this feauture isn't that amazing and groundbreaking to the point where a Instagram user would actually migrate over to my app.....in my opinion, maybe I'm wrong

but I'm a 1000% sure that this feature would be very intriguing to many instagram users to add to their picture without having to migrate to my potential app

 

[D.C Young]

YES! Please do tons of research before building something like that. You are very likely wasting your time.

I'm an app developer, and I'm gonna tell you right now cuz I don't want to see you toiling away for months at something that will likely fail in less than 24 hours (it happens all the time), if you are planning on building something that lets you profit from their data, they will 100% cut you off. The app business economy is extremely cutthroat. They don't want you to win.

Now if you're just trying to make a couple of bands in the short term and don't care what happens then by all means. But they will find out and they will cut you off. Even if you did start a communication channel with them in honest intention. You most likely will have to come up with something that doesn't piggyback off of some other company's data or users.

how can I do that?

 

[semtex]

I mean they have an API that you could ask for access to

Instagram Developer Documentation

Idk how rich the API is or if it has any methods that would suit what you're talking about though.

If you are not a developer then good luck, they prob won't even grant you access

 

[Flywin Lannister]

how can I do that?

I was about to answer but if you only want a few bands - then it means you will definitely not put in the time to make your own app and see it through.

100s of apps are released DAILY. Even 'making a few bands' sounds easier than done.

 

[D.C Young]

I was about to answer but if you only want a few bands - then it means you will definitely not put in the time to make your own app and see it through.

100s of apps are released DAILY. Even 'making a few bands' sounds easier than done.

nah I didn't mean it like that

the whole reason why I co-signed that quick money thing is

because I think/thought that was my only option after going through this thread

but ideally, I want to build a business around my idea....

as of right now though, I'm starting to realize that, maybe that isn't my only option (that quick money thing)

I think Vine could be a great case study for me, not sure though, still researching

 

[WheresWallace]

@D.C Young A provisional patent only costs about $120 dollars maybe cheaper. A provisional patent gives you protection for 1 year.

 

[D.C Young]

@D.C Young A provisional patent only costs about $120 dollars maybe cheaper. A provisional patent gives you protection for 1 year.

yeah I'm familiar with that

but after that one year, I will probabl be assed out cause I probably still wouldn't have the money at that point

plus, they could simply just jack it after that 1 year timefram

 

[L&HH]

Are you familiar with Vine?

How did it become integrated with Twitter? Or was it ever integrated at all?

Because at some point, it simply became synonymous with Twitter.

Vine could have and is a standalone service. Vine was bought by Twitter before it even launched but its initial intent was never to be some kind of Twitter ad on. The problem with you comparing yourself to the creators of vine is they had a lot of industry experience and connects. This allowed them to get venture funding. From there their were likely some closed door conversations with Twitter and they liked enough to just acquire it before it launched. The key thing is vine did not need Twitter to be a functional app. It could have popped off organically and would have been the video answer to Instagram a lot of ppl were trying to do back then.

 

[L&HH]

so how do you think I can make money off of my idea (with the limited information that you have about my idea)

to recap what my idea is, it's basically a feature that a instagram user can add to their picture as a caption

and this feauture will give their picture a *added effect*....right now, Instagram doesn't have it


so how can I make money off of it? what should my next step be?


- I can't do the patenting route cause I dont have the money to research, create and then ultimately protect my patent.


- I could build my own Instagram like App with this added feature, but I can't compete with Instagram, plus this feauture isn't that amazing and groundbreaking to the point where a Instagram user would actually migrate over to my app.....in my opinion, maybe I'm wrong

but I'm a 1000% sure that this feature would be very intriguing to many instagram users to add to their picture without having to migrate to my potential app

This isn't something you're going to be able to get people to do natively through the app. It's something that they're going to have to add to pictures they take from their regular camera app. Then once they add whatever caption filter to that, then they'd have to upload it on Instagram.

 

[D.C Young]

Vine could have and is a standalone service. Vine was bought by Twitter before it even launched but its initial intent was never to be some kind of Twitter ad on. The problem with you comparing yourself to the creators of vine is they had a lot of industry experience and connects. This allowed them to get venture funding. From there their were likely some closed door conversations with Twitter and they liked enough to just acquire it before it launched. The key thing is vine did not need Twitter to be a functional app. It could have popped off organically and would have been the video answer to Instagram a lot of ppl were trying to do back then.

that's a good point you brought up

yeah, my idea isn't necessarily a standalone service unless I turn it onto a app, but that would mean I would have to compete with Instagram

I'm trying to figure out a way to where a instagram user can take my widget and add it to their picture

 

[D.C Young]

This isn't something you're going to be able to get people to do natively through the app. It's something that they're going to have to add to pictures they take from their regular camera app. Then once they add whatever caption filter to that, then they'd have to upload it on Instagram.

I'm glad you made this post because it led me to think more about the technical side of my idea

ok, who would I reach out to in order to ask them questions regarding the technical side of my idea.

I want to sign a NDA with an individual or a company that can answer my technical questions regarding my idea

like, what are these individuals or companies called?

 

[Data-Hawk]

I've looked into it myself and I understand its competitive but so is any other field with a high upside. OP's idea might be a long shot but that doesn't mean he should just give-up before he gets started.

I don't anyone is saying give up. Just forget about going to a company with an idea and make sure your app doesn't rely on their service in anyway.

For example, imagine if the creator of Instagram went to Facebook with his idea of having a Facebook like site but put more of the focus on pictures? He probably would of been laughed at. Im sure 100's of people thought about an Instagram like site before Instagram, the creator of Instagram was just the one to do it and do it right and had the user base to back it up.

 

[L&HH]

I'm glad you made this post because it led me to think more about the technical side of my idea

ok, who would I reach out to in order to ask them questions regarding the technical side of my idea.

I want to sign a NDA with an individual or a company that can answer my technical questions regarding my idea

like, what are these individuals or companies called?

Clarity.fm

I'll tell you this most people will not sign an nda. Trust me, you're idea is worthless to them. It's the execution that matters. That's what ppl care about. How many downloads do you have, daily active users, etc. The problem with a nda is it puts the signor at risk that isn't worth it. But there might be people who don't care.