WebOS is far from enough for Geek developers.

After reading the 10 reasons why Geek liked webOS published by HP on webOS's developer blog, it inspired a little bit of thinking.

Platform competition is application Competition

Currently, the smartphone market has become an application competition. Using applications to drive platform development and promote hardware sales is already a clear trend. Therefore, even if webOS is excellent, lack of applications is enough to be fatal. After HP has mastered webOS, the funds are certainly no problem, and the hardware quality can also keep up. Therefore, the key issue is the improvement of applications.

Since webOS is so open, why won't developers flock to it? Why is the number of applications still so small? Obviously, relying only on Geek to develop programs is not enough.

Furthermore, even if a large number of Geek developers develop programs for webOS and the number of applications increases, will it drive the development of the platform? Not necessarily.

Take Linux as an Example

Linux is the most freely developed system. Countless Geeks around the world develop programs for it, But it lags far behind in the computer desktop market share.

Why don't Windows users turn to Linux systems with higher freedom, security, and customization? In my personal experience, one of the important reasons is the lack of the most commonly used software. For ordinary users, there is no need for a large number of software, but for popular software that everyone uses. When you show Linux's beautiful 3D desktop and talk about its freedom, security, and stability, a friend will ask: "Is there QQ? Can I see PPS? Can I play CS? Can I use Photoshop? Can I use Word ?"

Yes, some software does have alternatives, such as QQ and Linux, but their functions are far from good. The reason is very simple. Because Windows has the largest number of users, developers can make profits, therefore, they use Windows as their preferred platform. This is particularly prominent in China.

Lost lead

In the mobile device field, iOS has already taken the lead. Taking iPad as an example, many Chinese vendors have made software for it soon after it went public, qiyi, Sohu, Sina, QQ, Xunlei, Youku, and PPTV have all created iPad applications. Users can get services they commonly use at any time. Naturally, they have a stronger desire to buy and form a virtuous circle.

If webOS can get this kind of treatment, it will basically win.

However, the current situation is that it will not become the preferred platform for developers, or even the second consideration, because iOS/Android has already taken the lead and has a large user base and a mature ecosystem, become a platform that developers cannot bypass.

How to transfer users to camp

To attract developers, a large number of users need to use webOS devices first, which means converting iOS/Android users and moving them to the camp. So what are the obstacles to user transfer?

Many people rely on iOS, not necessarily on the system itself, but not necessarily on specific applications, it depends on the various services provided by it (Twitter/Google Reader/Instapaper/Flipboard/Zite ). The user's transfer barriers are precisely service dependencies.

Do users need Reeder? No, but Google Reader is not required. Is it necessary to leave the official Twitter client? No, it cannot do without the Twitter service; can't it do without instaper? No. Read it Later services are not required. People who rely heavily on Zite on iOS may first consider buying webOS: Are there similar personalized magazines?

The transfer of a smartphone user to a new system is a trade-off process. If several key services can be replaced, the obstacles to the transfer will be reduced.

Why is the transfer from iOS to Android far less difficult than the transfer to webOS. In most basic applications, Android provides more alternatives than webOS. WebOS is not a lack of software, but a lack of outstanding alternatives to services used by users. Take the input method as an example. How many popular Chinese input methods are available in webOS on Android? If this obstacle is not broken? How to open the Chinese market?

That is why Microsoft is willing to win the developer with the money. Because applications with a large number of users are constantly appearing on the system platform, it will gradually break the psychological barriers of user transfer.

GRASP key points

Blindly pursuing quantity is a mistake because quantity is not a key factor. What needs to be pursued is: applications developed for services with a large number of users and quick Logon of new services.

There are not many services with a large user group, and it is not difficult to count and monitor them. When there are a large number of such services on the platform, and there are excellent applications for such services, the user's obstacles to changing the system will be significantly reduced.

It is critical that the new service can log on quickly. This will create a suggestion in the user's mind, that is, selecting this platform will not miss the latest popular services. For example, if a new Kik is created on the iOS platform and webOS does not appear for a long time, users may worry about changing the system.

Therefore, as a follower, webOS needs to occupy the market. First, we need to obtain users through the marketing war. How should we conduct marketing? You can refer to the cases of Mac vs PC in the past, such as excellent advertisements and enthusiastic Evangelists, to consolidate and expand your user base with the concept of "Happy Few", which is the basis for winning developers, second, focus on attracting developers in various ways, porting popular applications/games on other platforms, or encouraging the development of applications for such services. At the same time, focus on the promotion of applications in various media, rather than just the promotion of devices, so that other system users can realize that their own services webOS can be provided, and it is likely better. In this way, even if you cannot beat iOS/Android, you can gain a place in the market.

Microsoft wants to understand this and RIM wants to understand it. Is HP clear?