Re: [Skunkworks] Craigslist Kenya
Shortly after Craigslist unveiled 140 new pages (including Kenya's) two weeks ago, Wired ran a cover story on "Why Craigslist Is Such a Mess<http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/17-09/ff_craigslist?currentPage=all>." It's a provocative title and if you haven't read the article, it is well worth a few minutes of your day. Several counter-intuitive points and assumptions are raised, that perhaps can guide the "opining" ... Cheers, - Chris On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 1:15 PM, Edward Obiko <edobie@gmail.com> wrote:
Opine...
-- OO
Omingo Obiko _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
This is what I have been saying all along ... with the coming of the submarine cable, users will simply use Craigslist, Facebook, et al and we will stop developing our own apps (why do we need to) ... and we shall be left out in the software revolution as well. R ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Kiagiri" <ck@google.com> To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2009 9:43:21 AM GMT +03:00 Iraq Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Craigslist Kenya Shortly after Craigslist unveiled 140 new pages (including Kenya's) two weeks ago, Wired ran a cover story on " Why Craigslist Is Such a Mess ." It's a provocative title and if you haven't read the article, it is well worth a few minutes of your day. Several counter-intuitive points and assumptions are raised, that perhaps can guide the "opining" ... Cheers, - Chris On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 1:15 PM, Edward Obiko < edobie@gmail.com > wrote: Opine... http://kenya.craigslist.org -- OO Omingo Obiko _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 9:36 AM, Riyaz Bachani wrote:
This is what I have been saying all along ... with the coming of the submarine cable, users will simply use Craigslist, Facebook, et al and we will stop developing our own apps (why do we need to) ... and we shall be left out in the software revolution as well.
R
there is this new craigs list like site : http://www.nsoko.com/ which is very hard to navigate or use (clearly by someone addicted to way too much flash) then there is this 1980's vintage design : http://kenya.craigslist.org/ which is way easier to navigate and use.
Riyaz, I don't know what value add there is to develop an app that does what craiglist or FB does and call it a new name? Innovation is far much more than the name it has to be the functionality first, and imitating will just make you a poor imitator always. Look at Nation Media Group with Zquka (however it's spelt), it's doesn't account for innovation Kiania On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 10:27 AM, <ashok+skunkworks@parliaments.info> wrote:
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 9:36 AM, Riyaz Bachani wrote:
This is what I have been saying all along ... with the coming of the submarine cable, users will simply use Craigslist, Facebook, et al and we will stop developing our own apps (why do we need to) ... and we shall be left out in the software revolution as well.
R
there is this new craigs list like site : http://www.nsoko.com/ which is very hard to navigate or use (clearly by someone addicted to way too much flash)
then there is this 1980's vintage design : http://kenya.craigslist.org/ which is way easier to navigate and use. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth .... -Richest Man in Babylon
True ... so what do we have to show, and what are we working towards ? This is part of a bigger rant I have been meaning to write ... but we have discussed ideas on this list for ages. Very few have come to reality. The original purpose of skunkworks - like the name implies - was to incubate something ... to get all these minds together, throw ideas around, and most importantly execute some of these ideas. We kind of settled for skunkworks being a "community" and that's perfect. But we've settled for the easiest part - the chatting and helping each other, and every once in a while bashing :) Individual members do interesting things ... we have Wesley, Mworia, chekelea and the likes ... but these guys would be doing these things with or without the community. Why don't we execute ? Why when an idea is sent out on the list - doesn't someone take ownership and just go out to execute ? I keep asking myself this question ... So - where is the revolution ? And don't tell me the fiber is bringing it ;) R ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd" <kianiadee@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:43:40 AM GMT +03:00 Iraq Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Craigslist Kenya Riyaz, I don't know what value add there is to develop an app that does what craiglist or FB does and call it a new name? Innovation is far much more than the name it has to be the functionality first, and imitating will just make you a poor imitator always. Look at Nation Media Group with Zquka (however it's spelt), it's doesn't account for innovation Kiania On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 10:27 AM, <ashok+skunkworks@parliaments.info> wrote:
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 9:36 AM, Riyaz Bachani wrote:
This is what I have been saying all along ... with the coming of the submarine cable, users will simply use Craigslist, Facebook, et al and we will stop developing our own apps (why do we need to) ... and we shall be left out in the software revolution as well.
R
there is this new craigs list like site : http://www.nsoko.com/ which is very hard to navigate or use (clearly by someone addicted to way too much flash)
then there is this 1980's vintage design : http://kenya.craigslist.org/ which is way easier to navigate and use. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth .... -Richest Man in Babylon _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
Riyaz, Sounds like a challenge,though there is a pending traffic system that Stephen Ndungu(BTW these guy is sharp and has ideas that need to be executed);and as much as so,Aki aka chekela had previously in a certain thread proposed lots of other ideas........Just wondering to implements these ideas? My 2cents; 2009/9/3 Riyaz Bachani <riyaz.bachani@ke.wananchi.com>
True ... so what do we have to show, and what are we working towards ? This is part of a bigger rant I have been meaning to write ... but we have discussed ideas on this list for ages. Very few have come to reality.
The original purpose of skunkworks - like the name implies - was to incubate something ... to get all these minds together, throw ideas around, and most importantly execute some of these ideas. We kind of settled for skunkworks being a "community" and that's perfect. But we've settled for the easiest part - the chatting and helping each other, and every once in a while bashing :)
Individual members do interesting things ... we have Wesley, Mworia, chekelea and the likes ... but these guys would be doing these things with or without the community.
Why don't we execute ? Why when an idea is sent out on the list - doesn't someone take ownership and just go out to execute ? I keep asking myself this question ...
So - where is the revolution ? And don't tell me the fiber is bringing it ;)
R
----- Original Message ----- From: "David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd" <kianiadee@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks forum" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2009 10:43:40 AM GMT +03:00 Iraq Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Craigslist Kenya
Riyaz,
I don't know what value add there is to develop an app that does what craiglist or FB does and call it a new name? Innovation is far much more than the name it has to be the functionality first, and imitating will just make you a poor imitator always.
Look at Nation Media Group with Zquka (however it's spelt), it's doesn't account for innovation
Kiania
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 10:27 AM, <ashok+skunkworks@parliaments.info<ashok%2Bskunkworks@parliaments.info>> wrote:
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 9:36 AM, Riyaz Bachani wrote:
This is what I have been saying all along ... with the coming of the submarine cable, users will simply use Craigslist, Facebook, et al and we will stop developing our own apps (why do we need to) ... and we shall be left out in the software revolution as well.
R
there is this new craigs list like site : http://www.nsoko.com/ which is very hard to navigate or use (clearly by someone addicted to way too much flash)
then there is this 1980's vintage design : http://kenya.craigslist.org/ which is way easier to navigate and use. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
--
[Asentric Consulting Ltd]
If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth ....
-Richest Man in Babylon _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- James M. Muendo Timsoft Technologies & Solutions Ltd. P.O Box 28016 - 00200, Nairobi. Mobile: +254725567508 skype:tim.rick http://rickdeesadvantage.blogspot.com/
Everyone, James Muendo wrote:
Riyaz,
Sounds like a challenge,though there is a pending traffic system that Stephen Ndungu(BTW these guy is sharp and has ideas that need to be executed);
Well we can start simple and see how it goes. If 30% folks on Skunkworks list could point their webcams outside their office windows and place the url on skunkworks blog/BB (put ip filters to limit folks from Kenyan IPs to access the webcams). If the worry is what if too many folks view one webcam - well we can setup icecast to stream from a central location and only a single stream comes from one webcam. We could easily outdo KDNs traffic network and that will be cheap for everyone since we are keeping it local :). But then .... how many are willing? Cheers, Mich
Hi all, On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 12:43 PM, Michuki Mwangi <michuki@swiftkenya.com>wrote:
We could easily outdo KDNs traffic network and that will be cheap for everyone since we are keeping it local :).
But then .... how many are willing?
Nail on the head, the problem is there's way too much inertia to change. I
mean look at the forum, how many people in this forum have posted an item? how about registering? The address is http://my.co.ke/phpbb/ How about http://jam.get.co.ke/ (and another microblog that was posted on the forum weeks ago) How about the local file sharing http://get.co.ke/ and a host of many good sites: http://www.dealer.co.ke/ http://www.zatiti.com/ http://www.chekelea.com/ ... My 2 cents.
@Chris et al I actually did read that article and that's exactly where I hoped the convo would head. Since many of us are too fixated on first making the $$$ than running the idea isn't this the reason why these 'counter-intuitive' products will always out-do our models. Alex once gave us a Video done by Paul Graham on Start-Ups, which had a sort of provocative statement, 'don't worry about the money'. Is there space not to worry about the money here? Is it possible to complete a trade albeit online without breaking like 10 laws to do with taxation, advertising, licenses? Just wondering... On 9/3/09, Lmwangi <lmwangi@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all,
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 12:43 PM, Michuki Mwangi <michuki@swiftkenya.com>wrote:
We could easily outdo KDNs traffic network and that will be cheap for everyone since we are keeping it local :).
But then .... how many are willing?
Nail on the head, the problem is there's way too much inertia to change. I
mean look at the forum, how many people in this forum have posted an item? how about registering? The address is http://my.co.ke/phpbb/ How about http://jam.get.co.ke/ (and another microblog that was posted on the forum weeks ago) How about the local file sharing http://get.co.ke/ and a host of many good sites: http://www.dealer.co.ke/ http://www.zatiti.com/ http://www.chekelea.com/ ...
My 2 cents.
-- OO Omingo Obiko
In Kenya we have potential sites. for example http://www.onlineduka.co.ke I believe we can have our own content!
kamongoclassifieds.com On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 1:42 PM, Willie Ong'uti <williexm@gmail.com> wrote:
In Kenya we have potential sites. for example http://www.onlineduka.co.ke I believe we can have our own content!
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
Correct me if I'm wrong, the so-called counter intuitive model that I'm refering to is the simplicity of just hooking up individual buyers and sellers without charge, logins etc and making money off a select group of 'premium' advertisers. When asked how Craigslist makes money, Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, this was his response. "We really don't have a business model. We are a community service, and we found some years ago that we could provide a really good service to employers and recruiters. Then we asked our community, "What is the right thing to do along these lines?" They told us to charge the people who would otherwise be paying more money for less effective advertising. And that has helped set our moral compass. We are charging recruiters and employers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York." Craigslist is a very simple model that requires few resources and has low overheads, so a complex business model with multiple revenue channels is not required. Source(s): http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3465621 On 9/3/09, Theus Owicho <owichot@gmail.com> wrote:
kamongoclassifieds.com
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 1:42 PM, Willie Ong'uti <williexm@gmail.com> wrote:
In Kenya we have potential sites. for example http://www.onlineduka.co.ke I believe we can have our own content!
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- OO Omingo Obiko
The article had the line But in the battle with MetroVox he had an asset that more than compensated for these shortcomings: For years he had worked on his site with an uncanny, machine-like constancy, doing all the painstaking and repetitive things that would make most people desperate with frustration and boredom,* and he had done them happily.* This is the part, I think, where it will be difficult to copy him. On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 1:00 PM, Edward Obiko <edobie@gmail.com> wrote:
@Chris et al I actually did read that article and that's exactly where I hoped the convo would head. Since many of us are too fixated on first making the $$$ than running the idea isn't this the reason why these 'counter-intuitive' products will always out-do our models.
Alex once gave us a Video done by Paul Graham on Start-Ups, which had a sort of provocative statement, 'don't worry about the money'. Is there space not to worry about the money here? Is it possible to complete a trade albeit online without breaking like 10 laws to do with taxation, advertising, licenses? Just wondering...
On 9/3/09, Lmwangi <lmwangi@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all,
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 12:43 PM, Michuki Mwangi <michuki@swiftkenya.com>wrote:
We could easily outdo KDNs traffic network and that will be cheap for everyone since we are keeping it local :).
But then .... how many are willing?
Nail on the head, the problem is there's way too much inertia to change.
I mean look at the forum, how many people in this forum have posted an item? how about registering? The address is http://my.co.ke/phpbb/ How about http://jam.get.co.ke/ (and another microblog that was posted on the forum weeks ago) How about the local file sharing http://get.co.ke/ and a host of many good sites: http://www.dealer.co.ke/ http://www.zatiti.com/ http://www.chekelea.com/ ...
My 2 cents.
-- OO
Omingo Obiko _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- A Cruce Salus
I love the flow of this and based on the existing inertia, I did some research of my own and think we can add a component of crowdsourcing and google earth into all this. Can we borrow some existing models and implement them locally? Here are but a few http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/bright-side-of-sitting-in-traffic.htm... http://www.gpsfortoday.com/car-tracking-google-cell-phones-and-real-time-tra... http://gislounge.com/crowdsourcing-traffic-and-roads/ We can combine both the webcams and google earth and see where it takes out. I have met some fabulous GIS techies like Luchiri and others. Who can take leadership on this? It's not as much the idea as who takes leadership, linux could be nowhere without Linus and the rest of the crew. My thoughts David On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 11:43 AM, Michuki Mwangi<michuki@swiftkenya.com> wrote:
Everyone,
James Muendo wrote:
Riyaz,
Sounds like a challenge,though there is a pending traffic system that Stephen Ndungu(BTW these guy is sharp and has ideas that need to be executed);
Well we can start simple and see how it goes. If 30% folks on Skunkworks list could point their webcams outside their office windows and place the url on skunkworks blog/BB (put ip filters to limit folks from Kenyan IPs to access the webcams). If the worry is what if too many folks view one webcam - well we can setup icecast to stream from a central location and only a single stream comes from one webcam.
We could easily outdo KDNs traffic network and that will be cheap for everyone since we are keeping it local :).
But then .... how many are willing?
Cheers,
Mich
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth .... -Richest Man in Babylon
Look at Nation Media Group with Zquka (however it's spelt), it's doesn't account for innovation
.and they own N-Soko too..... On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 10:43 AM, David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd < kianiadee@gmail.com> wrote:
Riyaz,
I don't know what value add there is to develop an app that does what craiglist or FB does and call it a new name? Innovation is far much more than the name it has to be the functionality first, and imitating will just make you a poor imitator always.
Look at Nation Media Group with Zquka (however it's spelt), it's doesn't account for innovation
Kiania
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 10:27 AM, <ashok+skunkworks@parliaments.info<ashok%2Bskunkworks@parliaments.info>> wrote:
On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 9:36 AM, Riyaz Bachani wrote:
This is what I have been saying all along ... with the coming of the submarine cable, users will simply use Craigslist, Facebook, et al and we will stop developing our own apps (why do we need to) ... and we shall be left out in the software revolution as well.
R
there is this new craigs list like site : http://www.nsoko.com/ which is very hard to navigate or use (clearly by someone addicted to way too much flash)
then there is this 1980's vintage design : http://kenya.craigslist.org/ which is way easier to navigate and use. _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
--
[Asentric Consulting Ltd]
If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth ....
-Richest Man in Babylon _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general
-- Best Regards, Paul Njoroge. Skype: njorogepaul
participants (12)
-
ashok+skunkworks＠parliaments.info -
Christopher Kiagiri -
David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd -
Edward Obiko -
James Muendo -
Kipkemoi -
Lmwangi -
Michuki Mwangi -
Paul Njoroge -
Riyaz Bachani -
Theus Owicho -
Willie Ong'uti