Read on Twitter
A wild internet rabbit hole:
Found out about @WorkFlowy the other day. Thought it looked pretty cool. Also thought it looked a bit like @RoamResearch.
But then I learned about Transno ( http://transno.com ). Looked similar to WorkFlowy, except had a ~mindmap~ feature.
(1/3)
Found out about @WorkFlowy the other day. Thought it looked pretty cool. Also thought it looked a bit like @RoamResearch.
But then I learned about Transno ( http://transno.com ). Looked similar to WorkFlowy, except had a ~mindmap~ feature.
(1/3)
So, I googled “what’s the difference between WorkFlowy and Transno?”
I end up looking at a chat on @DynalistHQ...
I end up looking at a chat on @DynalistHQ...
In it, a Dynalist team member details that Transno isn’t like WorkFlowy, but like Mubu.
Transno, based in Singapore, ripped off the UI of Mubu, which is based in China. So, Transno isn’t “like” Mubu, it *is* Mubu.
Transno, based in Singapore, ripped off the UI of Mubu, which is based in China. So, Transno isn’t “like” Mubu, it *is* Mubu.
Now I’m invested in this drama. Transno turns out to be on the DL.
We only know it’s based in Singapore from a deleted tweet.
In its privacy policy, we find out it’s made by the same company that makes Lark, an “all-in-one productivity tool.”
We only know it’s based in Singapore from a deleted tweet.
In its privacy policy, we find out it’s made by the same company that makes Lark, an “all-in-one productivity tool.”
How could Lark copy Mubu?
A cofounder of Lark happens to be a VP of ByteDance, which *acquired Mubu last year.*
So, ByteDance, also based in China, acquired Mubu. VP of ByteDance created Lark, in Singapore, and Lark created Transno. All this to better market Transno in the US.
A cofounder of Lark happens to be a VP of ByteDance, which *acquired Mubu last year.*
So, ByteDance, also based in China, acquired Mubu. VP of ByteDance created Lark, in Singapore, and Lark created Transno. All this to better market Transno in the US.
Now, there are 4 tools — WorkFlowy, Roam, Transno, and Mubu — that are all weirdly similar.
Then I read this: “I know Dynalist was inspired by Workflowy, but Transno looks like a bit more than just inspiration to me… Worth looking into?”
Remind you: I’m on a Dynalist chatroom.
Then I read this: “I know Dynalist was inspired by Workflowy, but Transno looks like a bit more than just inspiration to me… Worth looking into?”
Remind you: I’m on a Dynalist chatroom.
Wait a second.
I go to http://dynalist.io and, guess what, Dynalist...
Not Roam, WorkFlowy, Transno, *or* Mubu
...is the godfather of infinitely bullet-point listing + hashtags + whatever [[these]] are.
I go to http://dynalist.io and, guess what, Dynalist...
Not Roam, WorkFlowy, Transno, *or* Mubu
...is the godfather of infinitely bullet-point listing + hashtags + whatever [[these]] are.
5 tools, all basically the same.
Now, Twitterverse, which do I sign up for?
Now, Twitterverse, which do I sign up for?
Update:
I got it wrong. Dynalist actually copied WorkFlowy. So obviously there's so biases from each app's users.
I also got the last tweet wrong. Roam is pretty different, just encompasses the features of the other two, I mean three — wait no, four. Yeah that's it.
I got it wrong. Dynalist actually copied WorkFlowy. So obviously there's so biases from each app's users.
I also got the last tweet wrong. Roam is pretty different, just encompasses the features of the other two, I mean three — wait no, four. Yeah that's it.
