GG1

Beats said:

GG1 said:

CloudTalkin said:

substance said:

How is this app that much different any app that has 'everything-and-the-kitchen-sink' built into them (like Facebook had they not broken Messenger out into a separate app)? 

And why is WeChat so popular in China?  What's to prevent the latest and greatest chap app to come around in a year or two to knock it off its pertch?

Facebook isn't even close to being like WeChat.  Bet your bottom dollar, they are trying though.  So are all the major players. The article touches on it, but doesn't go far enough.  WeChat is a fully fleshed out ecosystem in a single app.  It's built so that a user never has to leave their environment to do anything that's done electronically.  A Chinese user could have no other apps on their phone besides WeChat and they wouldn't miss a beat.  ← That's not hyperbole.  Whether using an iOS or Android device, every aspect of a users digital life can be handled through WeChat.  The user never has to leave the app.  The next largest social app in China is QQ.  Both are owned by Tencent.  That is one thing that is similar.  Facebook (WhatsApp & FB Messenger) and Tencent (WeChat & QQ) own the top two messaging apps in their respective spheres of influence.  No one else is even close.

I observed this in China. It really offers so much beyond chat it really could be an OS with multiple services. Where Amazon failed with Fire Phone (only shopping), I think Tencent could succeed with a WeChat Phone (payment, banking, shopping, social media, mass transit ticketing, etc.). Built by Huawei.

Edited for clarity.

So basically rip off Apple's hard work with ZERO originality and push them out of the market.

CloudTalkin said:

substance said:

How is this app that much different any app that has 'everything-and-the-kitchen-sink' built into them (like Facebook had they not broken Messenger out into a separate app)? 

And why is WeChat so popular in China?  What's to prevent the latest and greatest chap app to come around in a year or two to knock it off its pertch?

Facebook isn't even close to being like WeChat.  Bet your bottom dollar, they are trying though.  So are all the major players. The article touches on it, but doesn't go far enough.  WeChat is a fully fleshed out ecosystem in a single app.  It's built so that a user never has to leave their environment to do anything that's done electronically.  A Chinese user could have no other apps on their phone besides WeChat and they wouldn't miss a beat.  ← That's not hyperbole.  Whether using an iOS or Android device, every aspect of a users digital life can be handled through WeChat.  The user never has to leave the app.  The next largest social app in China is QQ.  Both are owned by Tencent.  That is one thing that is similar.  Facebook (WhatsApp & FB Messenger) and Tencent (WeChat & QQ) own the top two messaging apps in their respective spheres of influence.  No one else is even close.

seanismorris said:

The data isn’t that useful besides determining who’s not practicing social distancing.

Now if you actually knew which people had been infected (but pronounced recovered) and knew their cell phone number.  Then, you might be able to determine if the virus is able to go temporary dormant (undetectable) but the people still be infectious.

In China (etc) some people have been pronounced infected, clean, and infected again.  Was the virus just dormant before making a resurgence?  Or, are people are getting infected all over again.

I don’t know which is worse.  When you get sick and recover, you should build up antibodies that prevent reinfection.  If that protection only lasts a few weeks... that would be bad, really bad.  

In some other countries their governments continue to tract people that were infected using cell phones.  The US’s anonymous data collection is almost useless by comparison.

Seems like our government should just ask.  They could ask people to install an news App where you can enter symptoms if your sick, and get people to enter additional data like “has a doctor confirmed COVID-19”?  They could also have qualified people call to get more information.  And, if necessary get a test done in person.

If the App provided localized data, virus tracking, quarantine information, recommendations on what to do if you’re sick, if schools are closed, businesses that are open, those that deliver, etc.  it would see a lot of usage.  And, the user data would be useful!

What most people are getting now is a President saying it will be business as usual real soon.  That he’s not sure closing businesses is a good idea.  Then, he’s ordering GM to make ventilators, and considering putting multiple states under quarantine.  Talk about mixed messages...

digitol said:

    TESLA.