Application idea.

[Paul Gregory]

Hi, I have an idea for an app, its quite simple in principal, its easy to understand what it is for and what it does.

Probably a sort of cult following.

Guaranteed to sell some to the ready made cult maybe bigish sales.

I don't know how to make a app, so... I need someone else to make it...or just sell the idea.

I can't tell you what it is because then I could not sell the idea.

Catch 22... Advice please.

Thanks.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

You can get a 3rd party to develop it (once they sign an NDA of course) but the cost will depend on how complex the app is.

Can't see anyone buying an idea I'm afraid.

 

[Paul Gregory]

That's kinda stomping on it without knowing what it is.
An NDA is a nondisclosure something I take it.

I also have some cracking ideas for some software, I don't know much about software but I can programme machine code and use silicon chips.
The software is useful, if it were free I would get it, same with the app, if it were free I would download it.

If it was free app and/or software millions would use it.

The app and software are not in anyway linked. The app is trivial but some become obsessed with the subject. The software is useful there are similarities to 3D printing.

You say you can't see anyone buying an idea...why not?

I can't be bothered with either really, I would prefer to hand them to those interested in software development.
I don't want to spend time learning programming, it just not my thing.
Programming seems to be a system devised by humans, a sort of common language, physics does not come into the language, any language would do, if I was to get into programming I would start by inventing my own language.

Any programmers interested.

I take cash.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Yes an NDA is a non-disclosure agreement.

Not sure how you can say that about all programming languages as they have all been developed from different roots and for different purposes.

Having an idea for an application and knowing if it's even possible or how much work and money it will take to develop it are very different things and anyone who might invest to cover the development costs would need to be convinced there is a potential return for them.

But the app development is usually the easy part, marketing and getting people to actually use and pay for it is much harder.

 

[Paul Gregory]

Programming languages simply switch switches, the mathematics of switching switches is by definition Boolean algebra. Programming languages are not. Programming languages are based on a qwerty keyboard in hex, the logic is language like grammar, I use grammar to communicate here, but it is simply protocol, their are many languages in the world, who is to say which is best, all have faults, non are complete.
Maths is a universal truth. The objective of a programming is to switch switches in logical order to cause or not cause physical change in a controlled and understood way.

Anyway back to the thread.

So I can download an NDA (thank you) any one interested in developing software sort of similar to 3D printing tech, its on similar lines, millions will want it, price being the main factor as to how many get it.
I am happy to work with the '' what it does and what its for '' side of things, I can work out the numbers but then so could a computer if a programming existed to do it.

Thanks.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Here is the problem Paul, you are asking people to buy it, or develop it, but you are not willing to tell them what they are buying or what the app is about, so how can anyone develop something without knowing what it is, or indeed, buy something without being able to value it.

 

[toastking]

I've been widely taught that NDA's are practically useless since

A) people using them are too secretive about their ideas to ever make a real go of it and promote it widely
B) People in the position to act on your idea in a better way than you are, will probably be, or know someone, clever enough to work-around your NDA
C) Most people that put them together don't make it fit the law properly and so its just a useless bit of paper that a disinterested person signs.

Its rough I know because the concept of an NDA is something that feels comfortable to me. If its solid, works within the laws of the land, the idea is worthy and both parties are reputable then it'd work.

But if you take nothing else away from this little bit of mine (sorry) then the biggest problem is that you want an NDA because essentially you don't trust them not to nick your idea. Be clear they are thoroughly aware of this when asked to sign it. As such you have an uphill struggle in building a working relationship when you've metaphorically done the equivalent of a kid pointing a finger at them and shouted 'liar' at them!

PS I'd love to be wrong as noted

 

[OldWelshGuy]

THAT is the problem right there, as I said you are asking for one way trust, and sadly no relationship can work on that

 

[Deleted member 226268]

Catch 22... Advice please....

If you cannot write the App yourself, and don't trust anyone with knowing the idea,
because you think they would nick it,
you would best forget all about it, and think up something else.

 

[toastking]

Not in my boat, I would hand the idea over to someone else I liked and see if they wanted it... then move on to something else.

There are plenty of ideas and ideas are rarely as world-changing as their 'creators' think they are, especially if they cannot execute them, then an idea isn't worth a lot at all.

If I was in this predicament myself I know 2 guys I'd contact 1 - Fliplet allows you to create apps very easily and its a great system and 2 - a small development co. who I get along with. The latter in fact occasionally takes on great ideas and builds them for people cheap/free so that they can build their portfolio in a given direction. I'd trust either not to nick my idea as they specialise in the making rather than the selling and I specialise in the selling and not the making.

Frankly if they did, I'd just accept that I was a fool for trusting too many people and should've known as they had a much better capacity to deliver than I did.

The lesson here, as mentioned by @OldWelshGuy is it is all about building relationships before you ask for something, then you increase your chances exponentially.

 

[pacage]

I don't know much about software but I can programme machine code

You speak binary?

I don't think @Paul_Rosser meant to 'stomp' on it, just pointing out nobody will pay for an idea. How would that go, we give you the money first because you don't trust us? Good luck with that.

In all honesty, I think if its as good an idea as you think it is, surely its worth learning how to build a rough beta version yourself. If you can't be bothered, perhaps the idea isn't that hot.

Also, the rant on programming languages simply switching switches and maths is a universal truth?? Kinda sounds like, "you programmers are just switch flipping monkeys, I'm great, make my thing for switch flipping is beneath me!"

Granted I may have picked that up wrong, wouldn't be the first time.

 

[Cameron Ziafat]

I would suggest learning to trust other people before moving any further with your idea.

 

[Lloyd N8N]

I've got experience of this - I created an app to record and monitor amateur footballers stats - the sort of stats you see on Sky Sports when they talk about players.

My app is/was called MyGameStats.

Without blowing my own trumpet, it is a great app and was tweeted about by quite a few professional footballers (including Harry Kane) and personalities like Tim Lovejoy.

My app had 000's of downloads of the free version - and a decent amount of in-app purchases, which allows the user to record more stats, but not at the sort of numbers to make any money, after paying a developer.

You need to spend a lot of money on marketing - and you need to spend constantly, updating your app when there's bugs, glitches and software updates.

I seem to remember that after apples % and tax, you get about 43p per 69p download.

 

[MarcusCornelius]

App Stores got extremely oversaturated (both iOS and Android) and it is EXTREMELY difficult to get to any meaninful user base. All mobile platforms offer many option to do in-app advertisement and large companies are dumping a lot of money to this because in-app ads are very effective - user needs to make just two taps to download the app (one to get to app page in App Store and other to purchase or download). As a result, in-app advertisement take majority of user download traffic leaving outsiders almost nothing.

As far as I see, there are just two approaches that work (you can combile both):

1) In-app advertisement - you need good budget though.

2) App promotion outside of App Stores - high-ranking tech blogs like TechCrunch would help but it is VERY hard to get there: you need to either do a pitch that would really impress them or work individually with journalists from these blogs.

 

[password01]

Hi Paul Gregory,

With all due respect your idea is probably not worth too much. I mean that, if you enter into the right circles you will come to understand that ideas are cheap. It's the execution that is costly. I am a software type with a creative mind and a decent commercial awareness, I could come up with probably a dozen ideas before lunch each day, with about half being "good ideas". Seriously, i'm not being smart here.. you need to understand that.

I would also be cautious about expressing you're views about programming to programmers. Whatever a programming language is, Software Engineering is a very difficult subject to master.

In creating a valuable product that end users will love and rely on, you need to consider all things such as Requirements, code quality, code maintainability, version control, quality control etc.

It's all well and good when somebody is building something brand new without any users, but once people start using, it gets more difficult because you have to make changes without breaking current features and upsetting users.

It is very common for non developers to underestimate software engineers. Word to the wise, realise their value before you start approaching them or things wont work out, because the good guys won't touch you and the not so good guys will break your hear and pocket.

 

[The Byre]

I've got this great idea for an app. It's killer. Seriously!

A Nicki Minaj hologram.

Wow! I mean, we could like hang out and I could talk to her and stuff and that would be like mega kewl. Imagine loading Nicki Minaj into your iThingy and bringing her out to wow your mates and impress your parents and stuff. We could talk about stuff she is interested in and we could like hang.

Then we could talk about stuff I am interested in and she could learn about all the things I like, like hanging out with me mates and stuff.

Thing is, I don't know Jack about programming or how to make a hologram like they did on Startrek, when I was a kid. And that was like forever ago and they must be able to do like really kewl stuff nowadays. Way better than back then, what with all these iThings they've got now.

But I'd be really useful cos I know a shed load about Nicki Minaj and she is really for real. And she writes like really deep stuff about snakes and goggles and stuff. She writes lyrics that are so deep that even I don't understand them. I recon she writes metaphors about her pet cat all the time and how it's now so wet that "he's gonna need goggles!"

I never did get that one.

And she watches Judge Judy all the time, so she says and that's like all about legal stuff.

So if any programmers are like out there, then we could get together and get this like really sick thing going.

 

[Easy Loans Company]

You may be on to something there Byre...

 

[Alan]

So if any programmers are like out there, then we could get together and get this like really sick thing going.

You forgot to ask for payment for your idea.

 

[The Byre]

I don't really need money, cos me mum's on benefits.

Anyway, asking for money would be deeply disrespectful to her Minajesty.

There was a lawyer guy telling people that they could talk to him for half an hour for free and he knew all about apps and stuff like that and I went and talked to him. I told him about my idea for a hologram of Her Minajesty and he got a coughing fit and had to leave the room, but then (when he was feeling better and had calmed down a bit) he told me that there would be stuff like something called 'Image Rights' and that they belonged to some geezer called Universal.

He said that that it was all about merchandising and that we would have to license Her Minajesty and pay them every time we used her, so if I start asking for money as well, it would make the whole thing too expensive.

So just knowing that I have made Her Minajesty available to so many people and that I have enriched their lives with Her presence would like payment enough.