Open them in two tabs and click back and forth. Is there any connection between YongFook and 37s?
Sure, there's a thin line between inspiration and plagiarism, but there's a great degree of openness to Ryan's post.
I agree that the shopping experience is extremely close to that of 37 signals, but given that the thing he's selling (URL shortener + analytics + campaign/goal monitor) is unrelated to any current 37 Signals products, it doesn't feel "too close" or disingenuous to me.
Also, he's the primary developer of the open source activity stream/ blogging tool Sweetcron, so there's another reason I give him the benefit of the doubt. He seems to have a healthy respect for the creative process.
they're not related.
Of course I'm not saying people should blatantly copy another companies designs, but that I don't see why people should ignore perfectly good concepts (i.e. the way the mid-range plan sticks out) from other companies designs, just for the sake of it…that just seems like an awful way of spending your day, "umm okay, so how can we make this information look as good as this, without it actually looking like this?"
However I'm also a 37s customer, as are millions of other non-hackers out there. I can say without reservation that the design similarities between Peashoot and the 37s suite of products crosses the line. If you have good ideas, you shouldn't need to dress them up to look like another company's products. It sends the wrong message to your customers, most importantly, but it's also bound to generate bad karma between you and other professionals in your space.
But yeah, its UI feel and some layouts take inspiration from 37s more closely.
For me, this app though more than technology implementation choices is an example of business ingenuity.
Good concept, good market aim, running early, clear message and value.
It can stay alive through its analysis skills. Analysis of how to deliver clearly and enjoyably valauable information through good design and clever choices of ideas (not merely technologies).