On 26 August, Maxthon CEO Jeff Chen was interviewed on the online show “New Product Manger” by Tencent to share his thoughts and experiences on product development. Below is an abstract of the interview:
“Q: What kind of product do you think users would accept?
Jeff: It is important to provide choices and options so users can achieve what they want. A product must meet the needs of users.
Q: What is the key to be a leader in the highly competitive Internet industry?
Jeff: The Internet industry is developing very fast. What is anticipated in 3 to 5 years could happen in a year or two. And due to the increasingly intense competition, especially after the entrance of some big companies to the browser development sector, the industry will inevitably move in an accelerated pace with new influx of resources, personnel, and technologies. So it is necessary to always plan ahead for the next few years.
Q: What are the differences of the standard between the Internet Industry in China and worldwide?
Jeff: Foreign developers emphasize more on developing platforms for various feature extensions, while Chinese developers focus more on developing user features. Both approaches have strengths and weaknesses. Yet Chinese developers could make reference more to foreign developers on platform extension, platform and even standard establishment.
Q: Will Maxthon consider developing operating system based on the browser’s foundation?
Jeff: It would be unrealistic if we released a browser-based operating system with few functions and weak security. Studies and work on such can only follow natural progress.
Q: Maxthon has many innovative features. But these features can be easily borrowed by competitors. What do you think?
Jeff: The development of the Internet is unstoppable. And there is nothing like that others cannot do something just because Maxthon does it first. The rapid development of Internet will drive developers and product people to seek ways to improve their products every day.
But grand ideas do not necessarily separate your product from the rest, since others could use your idea right after your product is released. Details are actually more important. Details can build product character, improve user experience, and create competitive advantages. These are areas where ground can be gained.
Q: How do you get the good ideas and implement them in Maxthon? What inspires you?
Jeff: It is easy to get ideas if you always think about your product. You have to spend more time in order to do better than others. It is not that you are much smarter than others, but that you spend more time with your product, to find problems and solutions. Then ideas and innovations will also come.
Q: What makes it quality to become a good product manager?
Jeff: The top requirement of a product manager is that he must genuinely love his product. He must also use his product and thoroughly know every facet of this product, strengths and weaknesses. He must be good at thinking, on both product and strategic level.”
Editor’s note:
Tencent QQ is the most popular free instant messaging computer program in Mainland China, and the world’s third most popular IM service.
