> Sidekick is a new hardware device […] So your "new hardware device" is a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2019) with a stand, isn't it? What's your motivation to offer hardware instead of selling the Android app separately as well, so customers could use it without the hassle of getting hardware shipped?
I was really split on mentioning this but I picked up Camo after reading it mentioned on HN somewhere:
It’s yearly subscription software but doing the app route you mentioned. Grabbed a little iPhone camera mount clip for like 10 bucks and it’s really something.
Seems like a pretty gross security and privacy risk with extremely limited upside for the employee, all with the friction of supporting a totally separate device for a remote IT org if anyone adopts this Orwellian tool at scale.
Totally agree that there's a huge privacy risk if it were abused by employers.
The teams that use Sidekick want to feel like they're in the same room with an always-on video -- it's actually the most effective way to get their jobs done.
I don't get it. HWe use an RTC room on existing PC, with an alert and PTT mode. so we have always on listen-audio. Its like a web-based walkie-talkie (remember Nextel?) It's rigged to our Mattermost too Ours cost like $500 to build - this would cost us over $500 every two months at discount price.
Whoa that's a super cool setup, and one I haven't seen before. I'd love to learn more if you have a writeup anywhere? And how many teammates do you have? It seems like 10?
No write-up, I'll post one (or you can DM me).
7 core staff, 3-5 contractors and we let our clients in too. Most solutions breakdown for us because of our loose definition of "user"
Awesome product, and the subscription model is really really smart! Is there support to plug in headphones and microphone? For instance, if you're in a situation where there's background noise (a partner who may be doing their own activities, or kids/pets prone to make loud noises) Sidekick would still be tremendously useful. One setup might be to keep it default-unplugged so you can hear a colleague who wants to pin…
Yes you can plug in headphones and a mic. Just so I understand, are you worried about bothering the other people in your home?
Really appreciate that you like the idea! Let me know if you have any other questions, would be happy to chat through them.
Awesome product, and the subscription model is really really smart! Is there support to plug in headphones and microphone? For instance, if you're in a situation where there's background noise (a partner who may be doing their own activities, or kids/pets prone to make loud noises) Sidekick would still be tremendously useful. One setup might be to keep it default-unplugged so you can hear a colleague who wants to pin…
Thanks and yes - there's an aux input, and many of users do exactly what you outlined!
As the founder of a remote company this defeats the purpose for me. Benefits of remote: - No commute - No office politics - No forced schedule - Less meetings - More writing - Forced communication - No "assess in seats" culture In part, this seems to defeat at least: - No forced schedule - Less meetings - No "asses in seats" culture My hunch is that your market research consisted of only talking to companies that are…
I'd consider using a product like this and I don't give a shit about draconian politics. The issue is that remote work has downsides. One downside is dramatically less collaboration. I like collaborating with team-mates, not just drudging away by myself. If this could help create more of a spontaneous back and forth in-person feel, that could be valuable. I don't know how it would feel, I'd have to try it and see. But I think you and the other people in this thread are being way too negative and defensive. Not all of us love remote work and especially not the "remote work is better in every way for everybody and anyone who thinks otherwise is a reactionary" culture.
As the founder of a remote company this defeats the purpose for me. Benefits of remote: - No commute - No office politics - No forced schedule - Less meetings - More writing - Forced communication - No "assess in seats" culture In part, this seems to defeat at least: - No forced schedule - Less meetings - No "asses in seats" culture My hunch is that your market research consisted of only talking to companies that are…
I'd consider using a product like this and I don't give a shit about draconian politics. The issue is that remote work has downsides. One downside is dramatically less collaboration. I like collaborating with team-mates, not just drudging away by myself. If this could help create more of a spontaneous back and forth in-person feel, that could be valuable. I don't know how it would feel, I'd have to try it and see. Bu…
Thanks so much! Yes, we totally understand we're not going after all remote workers but there's a large set of people like you we want to help.
As the founder of a remote company this defeats the purpose for me. Benefits of remote: - No commute - No office politics - No forced schedule - Less meetings - More writing - Forced communication - No "assess in seats" culture In part, this seems to defeat at least: - No forced schedule - Less meetings - No "asses in seats" culture My hunch is that your market research consisted of only talking to companies that are…
I'd consider using a product like this and I don't give a shit about draconian politics. The issue is that remote work has downsides. One downside is dramatically less collaboration. I like collaborating with team-mates, not just drudging away by myself. If this could help create more of a spontaneous back and forth in-person feel, that could be valuable. I don't know how it would feel, I'd have to try it and see. Bu…
I keep hearing this but it makes no sense to me. If people need to collaborate, what exactly is stopping them from doing it over video? On my team we collaborate all the time remotely.
As the founder of a remote company this defeats the purpose for me. Benefits of remote: - No commute - No office politics - No forced schedule - Less meetings - More writing - Forced communication - No "assess in seats" culture In part, this seems to defeat at least: - No forced schedule - Less meetings - No "asses in seats" culture My hunch is that your market research consisted of only talking to companies that are…
We totally agree that for a portion of the remote workforce, asynchronous communication is actually preferable. Sidekick probably isn't for them.
The teams that love Sidekick actually need to feel like they're in the same room to get the job done. They actually want to be on the call at the same time because that's how they can be effective. These are teams like cofounders or operations teams.