Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#1

Post by tr4nslator » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 9:17 AM UTC

Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)
textpanda.com

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#2

Post by tr4nslator » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 9:17 AM UTC

After getting such useful feedback on HN for typd.in this week (special thanks to huhtenberg/LogicHoleFlaw/ken), I thought I'd put our next project out there to get some more ideas.

textpanda is a simple bookmarklet that lets you define shortcuts for any text input on the web (think really simple emacs bindings). Since it's more of a quick proof of concept than anything, we're not quite sure what to add next (functions and other dynamic replacement? real user authentication? subscriptions to other users' macros?) and would love to hear what you guys think.

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#3

Post by brm » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 6:04 PM UTC

I'd pay you and you're not charging me...

Simple doesn't have to be free, I'd gladly pay 5 bucks a month to have this, so why not start charging?

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#4

Post by jollyjerry » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 6:17 PM UTC

I like the idea and interface a lot. It'd be nice if there was browser extensions to turn this on by default rather than to have to click a bookmarklet to have it enabled.

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#5

Post by timcederman » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 6:49 PM UTC

brm wrote: post #3

I'd pay you and you're not charging me... Simple doesn't have to be free, I'd gladly pay 5 bucks a month to have this, so why not start charging?

I pay $10 a month to use a cell phone, and you'd happily pay $5 for a keyboard shortcut?

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#6

Post by redorb » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 7:07 PM UTC

timcederman wrote: post #5

brm wrote: post #3

I'd pay you and you're not charging me... Simple doesn't have to be free, I'd gladly pay 5 bucks a month to have this, so why not start charging?

I pay $10 a month to use a cell phone, and you'd happily pay $5 for a keyboard shortcut?

i agree nice service, but not chargeable ....

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#7

Post by jcapote » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 7:13 PM UTC

Excellent execution. It's earned a place on my toolbar. +1 User

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#8

Post by tr4nslator » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 7:17 PM UTC

redorb wrote: post #6

timcederman wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I pay $10 a month to use a cell phone, and you'd happily pay $5 for a keyboard shortcut?

i agree nice service, but not chargeable ....

I agree. It's not monetizable in its current state, but I'm curious what features you think would get it closer, such as:

* more rich replacement (including functions/regex) * dynamic content like stock prices * ability to chain expansions quasi-recursively * SSL / privacy

As a reference point, TextExpander (http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/) is an OS X app that offers similar functionality, and it's $30.

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#9

Post by kirpekar » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 8:00 PM UTC

no lol?

Re: Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

#10

Post by dmr83457 » Wed, Oct 15, 2008, 8:44 PM UTC

Very cool. Will be using this regularly.

Only problem I see is that the panda attaches to the very bottom right of text areas and can be oscured by scrollbars