So you’re thinking you would like to build that neat next generation application which will revolutionize the world, but you don’t know where to start, ha?

Well, I have some good news for you. I doesn’t need to have a ton of features, it doesn’t have to be complex, it doesn’t even have to be unique. All it has to do is make the user fall in love with it. Let’s take three simple products that I’m sure you’ve heard of:

1. 37signals Basecamp. It’s a lite online project management and collaboration tool. They have around 500,000 users registered.
Why did Basecamp hit the market so bad? Well:
- It’s simple (it doesn’t have all those features you never use, as in Microsoft Projects)
- It’s intuitive (the buttons, the texts, the forms are exactly where you would expect them to be)
- It makes my life better (why? well, when you have to manage 20 projects at the same time, you kind of need a way to centralize and track each and one of them)

2. The iPod
I’m so in love with iPod that I have 4 of them on my desk. I just can’t get enough. It’s the best simple product ever invented. Why?
- once an iPoder, always an iPoder. It’s simplicity and ease of use makes you fall in love with it instantly.
- Feature-free. Do you think I’d want to have wi-fi, bluetooth and other complicated stuff on my iPod? NO. I love it just because it’s so simple.
- Smooth and clean. Users like things to look grool (great and cool), and Apple is the company that does this the best !

3. Last but not least … Google.
Why is Google the number one search engine in the world?
- Simple - I only have my search box, and I love it !
- Reliable - I know Google will never be down and I know that it will always give me good results
- Cool - Google is the coolest company in the world. Why? look at their products, employees, offices.

To sum it up, to have that intelligent application up and running as soon as possible, it has to be:
Simple, feature free, easy to use (intuitive), reliable and good lookin’. That’s it.

Good luck!