Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
1–10 of 67 posts
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#2No pricing info right now but it looks like it'd be fun to try out. As it's free that may help build up a user base.
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#3No pricing info right now but it looks like it'd be fun to try out. As it's free that may help build up a user base.
I agree with you the pricing information is missing. Also, in a privacy focus era, what could be interesting is to know what kind of information is kept by Focusmate on its users.
[Edit]: just found [0] in the blog. Apparently, there is a free plan allowing you to have 3 sessions/week (12/months). You can subscribe for 5$ / month to unlimited session. The plan is setup to support the development of the platform and to keep it ads free.
[Edit II]: the privacy policy is available here: [1]
[0] https://blog.focusmate.com/the-next-chapter-of-focusmate-int... [1] https://blog.focusmate.com/privacy/
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#4No pricing info right now but it looks like it'd be fun to try out. As it's free that may help build up a user base.
Their turbo plan is $5 per month for unlimited sessions. Their free plan gives you 3 free sessions a week.
It's a bit weird that as a signed up user I can see the pricing information but it's not publicly available on their homepage. Anyway I like the service as 1 or 2 sessions in a day helps me get into the rhythm.
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#5I love this idea, but I think there is a stronger pricing model than paying per session.
Is the founder on HN? Please talk to me - this is a large market that I've been keeping an eye on for a while. If this is executed with the right toolset, this could be a Zoom or a Slack one day.
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#6I love this idea, but I think there is a stronger pricing model than paying per session. Is the founder on HN? Please talk to me - this is a large market that I've been keeping an eye on for a while. If this is executed with the right toolset, this could be a Zoom or a Slack one day.
Taylor Jacobson submitted focusmate to Show HN 9 months ago:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18884258
He's posted on HN a few times, mostly promoting focusmate but he hasn't been active since the post I linked above.
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#7Video surveillance is not the solution to this problem. It's outright creepy. I think a simple chat group or a game can better serve the purpose of providing a virtual "office environment". I think highfidelity is working on something along those lines, but you can already use an opensimulator/secondlife space as realtime hangout place.
I'm also critical of their "behavioral triggers". For example, "Pre-commitment" has more often be found to have the reverse effect: when you tell people what you will do, you end up not doing it. And social pressure is hit or miss. (Their generic list of neurotransmitters is also suspect). I see a future in this but with a different structure: paid behavioral coaches that teach you how to be more disciplined. That would be a valuable service, because right now remote work is not for everyone for the reason that they 're not disciplined. That's something malleable
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#8Could someone summarize what is a "virtual coworking" or "accountability partner"? I don't really understand the concept. Is it about having a video chat with a person who is watching you work?
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#9I used Focusmate a lot and then dropped it. I think it serves its purpose well until you get used to it and then productivity starts dropping again.
I also would like to highlight something which is not particular to Focusmate but rather a phenomena spreading to all these SaaS platforms: Focusmate is not free. It's a paying product that costs $5/month.
There is absolutely no details of pricing on the home page. There is no pricing page on the website. The FAQ itself doesn't mention pricing. This will only come up after you signup and start using it. There are details on the blog but that's about it.
It really gets on my nerves when services do that and I decided to ignore anything that ignores my right to know the price beforehand. But I can see it working with the general public for a while.
Re: Focusmate – Virtual Coworking Helps You Get Things Done
#10There seems to be various unrelated domains that are tapping into the power of virtual presence of others to enhance personal performance.
The obvious one is the Peloton exercise bikes with the video of the live instructor motivating them.
Before the virtually connected humans, we had real ones such as "pacers" in running: https://livehealthy.chron.com/pacer-running-2865.html
There's probably a meme or jargon that encompasses all the above psychology but I don't know what it is.