Just come across this 4 month old blog from an anonymous author known as Brad. His skepticism and sobering view on the IT industry is well thought out and presented convincingly. It makes a good reality check to the rather optimistic view from the industry.

Link - Twilight in the Valley of the Nerds

2006.09.06 [business] - comments (0)

I've heard about Yelp when they first start around 2 years ago. Social networking sites were the buzz word. They take that and use it for local shops and restaurant recommendation. With much larger competitors I thought they were a long shot.

Recently I look at it again. Sure enough people are drawn to it and leave comment all over. There are many devotees who have written hundreds of reviews on everything. Nearly every business establishment in my neighborhood, no matter how obscure or small, got multiple comments. I have lived in the neighborhood for a long time and walked pass some obscure establishment like American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine countless times. But only through the Yelp comments do I find out what they are doing.

The Map-tastic feature works really well. It merges Google Map and the search result. It allows user to move around on the map and have the search result refreshed. Yelp is where I will go for local search.

2006.05.26 [business] - comments (0)

A report from Public Policy Institute of California says that California is still strong in biotech industry. What really interest me is its contrast with the IT industry. While biotech may turn out marvels in science, its not likely to be a powerful engine of economic growth. The report says "biotech is not an enabling technology like information technology that lays the foundation for other industries and promotes growth in many other sectors".

Original report is available online.

2005.04.27 [business] - comments (0)

Reuters reports low-cost computers and open source software making it cost less to invest in a startup. I always think open source is an under appreciated revolution. Not only is it redefining laws of economics and inspires people to collaborate, now it also form the basis of a low-cost computing platform and sprawl a new wave of innovations.

2005.04.03 [tech, business] - comments (0)

Apparently my characterization of the craigslist as a struggling non-profit in yesterday's post is more a myth than fact. According to Chronicle's report, its annual revenue is estimated to be $7 million. Consider their low operation overhead, they do not have advertising cost, another reason for their non-commercial image, this translates to a very good profit for a 14 person company.

The article also bring up a common root of the two companies. Both were started in 1995 by pocket-protector-type programmers, craigslist by Craig Newmark and eBay by Pierre Omidyar. eBay went on to become the most successful Internet business. craigslist is still a community communication board. Their contrast would make an interesting story in Silicon Valley history.

2004.08.14 [business] - comments (0)

EBay bought 25% stake in Craigslist, as founder Craig commented in his blog. This is not your usual "community effort sold out to big corporation" story. It begins when craigslist first established as company, Craig made a gift of some equity to a guy who was working with him at the time. He reasons that the equity really had more symbolic than actual dollar value. Given the success of craigslist, this is probably self-deprecation. Indeed, this person latter left the company and decided to sold his stake to eBay. The irony is this person is going to make all the monetary gain while Craig would likely to shoulder all the criticism.

Being a for-profit company or owned by big corporation is not necessary a bad thing. People need to make a living and an office need money to run. Even slashdot.org a fervently independent outlet is now owned by VA Software. But craigslist has made a name of itself by strongly resist to commercialize. The web design is basic and text only, entirely free from advertisement. All services are free with the exception of job posting as its sole income. Had it decided to brought in venture capital, craigslist has every potential to be a contender to eBay, a 50 billion dollars corporate giant. But it choose to stay this way, running like a struggling non-profit, forgoing the dream of uncountable wealth.

While it might look a mistake now that he gave away equity to a person who later sell to big corporation and profited, I believe he acted in the interest of the organization at that time. He understand the website that bears his name is more than himself. By making some form of employee ownership he could make it a better and more accountable organization.

I can only hope the ownership change will strengthen craigslist's service without straying it from its mission. No matter what it is going to be, craigslist has already made its name as an antidote to the dot-com frenzy.

2004.08.13 [business] - comments (0)

Among all the rhetoric about IT outsourcing, I find this article on wired particularly insightful. The visit to the India IT firm is an informative read. More importantly, the author is looking for facts over myth. In the face of an economic change that instill anxiety and threaten the livelihood of many, he ask the all important question, what will it becomes next? The is no sure answer except that change is inevitable.

2004.02.24 [business] - comments (0)

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has launched a "Let the Music Play" campaign to fight back the recording industry on criminalizing music sharing over the Internet. Their assessment of the impact of peer-to-peer technology on the recording industry is very perceptive.

"The problem is that there is no adequate system in place that allows music lovers access to their favorite music while compensating artists and copyright holders."

Instead of suing users, perhaps their should learn a few lessons from Apple's iTunes music store and update their business plan.

Herald to the EFF to stand-up for consumers' right! Support by becoming a member.

2003.06.30 [business] - comments (0)