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I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

skrivr.com

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Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#21

A one-line description of why Faraday is different/cool from other calendars would help - both in your flat-file post ("It's a simple day calendar called Faraday, and it's the first iOS calendar to XYZ..."), as well as Faraday's home page, under the video. I can't tell enough from the screen cap, except that the UI reminds me a bit of the Clear to-do list app that was making the rounds a few weeks ago. Good luck with…

Absolutely, I've heard similar from other folks checking out the app. I'm going to spend time this weekend updating the "marketing" stuff. Website, photos, copy, etc. Some of the decisions I made don't show Faraday in its best light, or don't do enough to really sell it and differentiate it from every other calendar or todo app out there. I had like 3 paragraphs about differentiation alone in the original version of my post, but decided to scrap it for later.

Thanks for your input and the kind words!

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#22
post #13
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon S3 can serve static HTML.

You know, the sad thing is that I've got a Linode server that's more than capable of handling the load of static pages. I just liked the themes on Skrivr and didn't want to let aesthetics distract me from writing up my post, so I just went with their theme and posted. Probably should have set something up on my own in advance.

The good news is that tomorrow you can post a new story to HN: "I posted a story to HN yesterday and all I got were some stupid lessons". :)

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#23
You've done pretty well to have you app approved with your "support" link going to a 404 page (http://faradaycal.com/support). I had an app rejected just because the reviewer couldn't see a contact email address on the support page we provided... even though there was in fact one there!

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#24

You've done pretty well to have you app approved with your "support" link going to a 404 page ( http://faradaycal.com/support ). I had an app rejected just because the reviewer couldn't see a contact email address on the support page we provided... even though there was in fact one there!

Good catch. That just jumped to the top of my list. Regardless of the app store approval, the last thing I'd want is to piss off a user because they can't contact me about an issue. Much appreciated.

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#25
post #22
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, the sad thing is that I've got a Linode server that's more than capable of handling the load of static pages. I just liked the themes on Skrivr and didn't want to let aesthetics distract me from writing up my post, so I just went with their theme and posted. Probably should have set something up on my own in advance.

The good news is that tomorrow you can post a new story to HN: "I posted a story to HN yesterday and all I got were some stupid lessons". :)

BRB WRITING AN EBOOK

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#26
post #19

The app looks very neat... A pity I use more my iTouch than my iPad for calendaring (which is not very often), and that it's a 2nd Gen iPod: no iOS5, no downloading. Maybe when I buy a new one...

Thanks! Unfortunately, iOS 5 is required for a few of the tricks I'm using in the app. For what it's worth, my fiancee uses my old iPhone 3G and she can't run Faraday either. I really hope the next gen iPhone/iPod Touch will send the low-end iOS5-capable device prices down so they're more available than they are now.

The problem is not the price (of course a cheaper iTouch 4 wouldn't hurt), it's the time spans. The iTouch line needs a new version (retina display!?), and afaik they are a profitable line for Apple, so it's not like they will ditch it. But no new version yet, and I'm still waiting for my new one. Anyway it's a great looking app, congratulations and I bet it will get traction from this HN post :)

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#28
Congratulations, it looks like you're on your way to escaping from developer obscurity :) I really like the clean spare design of your calendar app. Great job on the promotional page and video, it looks very professional. However, when I watched the video I had a bit of difficulty understanding the number of steps required to set the background color for each list item. Very sharp looking, though, I like it.

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#29
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! Unfortunately, iOS 5 is required for a few of the tricks I'm using in the app. For what it's worth, my fiancee uses my old iPhone 3G and she can't run Faraday either. I really hope the next gen iPhone/iPod Touch will send the low-end iOS5-capable device prices down so they're more available than they are now.

The problem is not the price (of course a cheaper iTouch 4 wouldn't hurt), it's the time spans. The iTouch line needs a new version (retina display!?), and afaik they are a profitable line for Apple, so it's not like they will ditch it. But no new version yet, and I'm still waiting for my new one. Anyway it's a great looking app, congratulations and I bet it will get traction from this HN post :)

The iPod Touch has had a retina display since it first came out in September 2010.

The last update to the iPod Touch was in October 2011, so that may be the one you're looking for.

Re: I launched an iPhone app yesterday, and all I got were some stupid lessons

#30
About the app:

- I'm really surprised Apple's ical doesn't let me create entries like that. You've out appled apple. If I could create todo's and categorize them GTD style I might return to iOS.

- Floating Tasks (where they carry over) to me would be an instant sell. It's an absolute must and few people even know about it. I'd buy it on the spot if there was there.

- My work flow is - create todo's in general, and then the floating todo's get scheduled on a day. Each day, I then assign a time to them (drag them) and I have my schedule for the day. My job is just to create the todo's as they come up, or enter the hard appointments. In the end, todo's become calendar items.

- Allow syncing via wifi to your computer instead of just through icloud or google sync. All three would appeal to everyone

- If you want to connect off line feel free, I have obsessed over the perfect calendar/todo system for about 6 years trying to replicate the productivity nirvana I had on Palm OS with DateBK6. DateBK6 was the one app made me use the Treo years after it was outdated and it was by far the smartest and most productive app I've ever used in my life. All my efforts through Windows Mobile, iOS and now Android have been to replicate that experience.

Pimlical is becoming more intuitive by the day, it's highly gestured workflow is sinking it's teeth into me. I might not be fond of Gingerbread but the tractorbeam of a working calendar/todo is too strong. The app was built by the same company that has built the best calendar/todo I've ever used, DateBK6.

About the site:

- The video was great. The music selection helped express the magicalness of how light and easy it is.

- It might be worthwhile having an interactive demo where people can drag things themselves. Might be a moot point in the beginning but a lack of buttons can be intimidating. Not for me though.

Good luck.

What I like about yours is natively tying in the power of gestures. They're simple, but could become advanced easily for advanced users.

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