Simplistic 'Yo' Messaging App Soars in App Store Charts, Proves Vulnerable to Hacking

[IJ Reilly]

I’m going to stand by the description of this app as simplistic (for trying to boil social interraction down to a single word), though I will agree that this is an editorial judgement. That being said, the concept of “simple” is relative, making your description of the app as simple an editorial comment as well.

As for misunderstanding the definition of the word, having spent my professional life embroiled in the complexities of the English language, I won’t pretend that the usable definition isn’t/won’t changing/change. But if you’ll consult your nearest dictionary, I think you’ll find my understanding of the term is fine.

As an editorial judgement, possibly -- but not as a description of functionality, and the latter is very clearly how MR was using the word. They were trying to communicate the minimal level of effort needed to use the app, not that it makes a complex task appear less complicated than it is in reality. MR makes these kinds of head-slapping errors on a daily basis. I don't see the point of defending them.

 

[nia820]

And people wonder why intelligence is on a decline. Because of apps like this.

 

[Prof.]

The reviews are amazingly fake.

 

[NightFox]

Yo

Sent from my iWatch

 

[jeremylaforet]

The word I believe you were seeking here is "simple," meaning lacking in complexity, easily understood. The word "simplistic" means overly simplified.

Yep. And this is not the first time Kelly Hodgkins has made this mistake.

 

[johnmacward]

I think simplistic is accurate.

Edit: Beat to the punch.

Sorry.

 

[MisakixMikasa]

The reviews are amazingly fake.

That reminds me some really funny amazon reviews...

 

[dojoman]

Useless unsafe app trying to gain popularity so some big company will buy it. Not every messaging app will be bought out like What's App.

 

[TsunamiTheClown]

So now nefarious hackers can make it seem like you said "Yo" to someone you totally didn't say "Yo" to!

Good god, imagine the disruption! Teen social pecking-orders could be overturned all over the world! Is there no end to the depredations hacker wreak upon us?

This comment wins the internet for the day.

 

[VenusianSky]

Crap like this is why I don't even browse the app store anymore. These cr-apps make the cheap-bin software at the old computer shops not look so bad.

 

[Tiger8]

mama

LMAO!

http://www.ahajokes.com/ym01-2.html

 

[GeneralChang]

As an editorial judgement, possibly -- but not as a description of functionality, and the latter is very clearly how MR was using the word. They were trying to communicate the minimal level of effort needed to use the app, not that it makes a complex task appear less complicated than it is in reality. MR makes these kinds of head-slapping errors on a daily basis. I don't see the point of defending them.

Oh, I wasn’t defending their use of the word. I was simply stating that I think the word is a good description of the app despite it’s contextual misuse.

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The reviews are amazingly fake.

Oh man, those are amazing. This is just like the section on Amazon that compiles hilarious product reviews. I may have to go peruse some more of these just for the laughs.

 

[SeaFox]

SO finally users are so dumb they need a special app for each message they send. I think I will make a "What's up?" app and then a few other apps for sending various replies.

THANK YOU.

We're really hitting rock bottom. This app looks like the flimsiest excuse for information harvesting I've ever seen. "Give us all your contacts information and we'll let you say 'Yo' to them." Not talk to them -- just let them know you're trying to reach them, so they can then call you or open some other messaging app to communicate. When you could have just said "Yo" with iMessage instead to start with.

 

[LadyX]

Is that the iPhone 6?

I like how they added the Square to the home button. Makes it look nicer.

LOL! I like how you just ignored the main topic of this thread and focused on this instead.

 

[SchneiderMan]

Yo

 

[Windlasher]

SO finally users are so dumb they need a special app for each message they send. I think I will make a "What's up?" app and then a few other apps for sending various replies. I can have an entire ecosystem of message apps: "yo", What's Up", "Hey", "duh" and 50 or 100 others. My new message apps will fill the first 10 screens on the home page.

Do I need to translate these to other languages?

This might work even better in Chinese. I can make a huge pile of "one charter apps."

That would be funny as hell. You would need several hundred apps to have a conversation. Each one would be .99.

 

[BrianMojo]

For what it's worth, they don't seem to be letting you verify your phone number right now (I just downloaded the app and am not getting my verification SMS). So maybe they are not allowing contact searches & such until the security problem is resolved.

 

[Windlasher]

And people wonder why intelligence is on a decline. Because of apps like this.

We need one just for men. It would just send a grunt noise.

 

[Larry-K]

If I believed in the Apocalypse, I'd be pretty sure this was a sign of its impending arrival.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

They need a million dollars to further develop sending "Yo" to other people?

Wow...

 

[Arndroid]

Yo yo yo

 

[TallManNY]

Yes, I'm over 30

Thanks for the explanation but I still don't get why kids wouldn't use their existing messenger (say Whatsapp) to send the "Yo".

These apps also offer emoticons, which I hear are popular with teens and tweens, very quick to send a response or "mood" gauge in just one emoticon.

Why yet another app? Whatsapp etc. also offer pop-up messages and doesn't seem much slower to use.

Firs of all, this doesn't need to be as popular as WhatsApp. If it gets 1% of the users as WhatsApp, that would be a huge thing. So think of it as a nitch product going for just 5% of the smartphone population.

Second, it is faster than Whats App. Two taps. Open App, tap friend. Whats App is five taps to send the letter Y. And you might have many more conversations going on Whats App resulting in a bit of searching to find your friend. I'm expecting people to have just a few "Yo Friends".

It works and makes a bit of sense. Definitely worth throwing a bit of funding at.

 

[LadyX]

LOOL! Seriously guys, you have to read the reviews for this app. I was bored and so I decided to check this app out out of curiosity. The reviews are hilarious, they're unbelievable. I am so confused as to what they're talking about. BTW, I installed the app but quickly deleted it after seeing how stupid and useless it is. But if you read the reviews a lot of people think otherwise

 

[2457282]

I downloaded the app.
I sent my wife a "yo." Got one back.
Didnt know what else to do....
Deleted the app....

Well that was fun.... for 5 seconds...

 

[Tech198]

Yo

How basic pf an app can you get... You can say this in iMessage.

And now its harvesting personal info ? I'd rather Apple do it, then some company i've never heard of.

Maybe whoever developed this must of had a lazy day .....

It's cool