In reading some of the comments here, I wonder if O'Reilly's point is being addressed?
Most of the focus in the comments is on what makes a viable business model (ad-supported vs. pay-for-use) or a rational valuation (is Slide really worth half a billion?), but my reading made me think that O'Reilly was trying to get people focus on something bigger, specifically, is what you're working on worthwhile?
Like, if you got hit by a bus tomorrow, will you consider your life well-spent to have built that sheep thrower when you could have been doing something else?
He was definitely emphasizing a focus on something "bigger" and a shift away from many of the current crop of apps/startups. Can't say I disagree with him either. There are so many smart people out there. We can definitely do more.
Most of the focus in the comments is on what makes a viable business model (ad-supported vs. pay-for-use) or a rational valuation (is Slide really worth half a billion?), but my reading made me think that O'Reilly was trying to get people focus on something bigger, specifically, is what you're working on worthwhile?
Like, if you got hit by a bus tomorrow, will you consider your life well-spent to have built that sheep thrower when you could have been doing something else?