Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#1

Post by dutchbrit » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 8:30 PM UTC

After a lot of work, I'm proud to show HN my first real "startup idea". HN has been a real inspiration to me. Attach.io allows users to upload files up to 2GB (soon to be 8GB) and share them with others.

Attach.io offers the regular file for download, and also if possible, an alternative preview version, so users can view files on their iPad for example.

PSD files get converted to PNG AVI, WMV etc... to MP4 EPS/AI to PDF DOC(X), PPT(X) etc... to PDF

This is a sneak preview, and is not 100% complete.

Things I still have on my ToDo list:

Allow users to email link to others, currently they have to copy/paste (not clear for non-tech people).

Add a convert in progress with ETA for preview files. At the moment, a preview button will only be shown when a preview file is available/convert is complete.

Add the ability to pause/resume uploads.

Add warning when files above 2GB are added to the list.

MP4 files can currently only be played in Safari & iPad. This should be resolved within the next few days.

Possibly convert other filetypes too, any suggestions?

Note: This is a one man show, I designed & programmed everything myself, with the exception of the background image. I'm more of a programmer though than a designer.

My current expenses: .io domain: $100 (Name.com) & background image: $2 (Graphic River), Total: $102

Attach.io is currently running on one dedicated server. I will be getting new strong servers after the Alpha stage.

All feedback & criticism is appreciated. I have only tested this in Firefox, Chrome & Safari on the Mac, so if there are any render issues, please link a screenshot to me, or send an email to hello@attach.io

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#2

Post by dutchbrit » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 8:30 PM UTC

Link: http://attach.io

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#3

Post by inovica » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 8:33 PM UTC

That looks interesting. What about the expenses of the server?

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#4

Post by dutchbrit » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 8:34 PM UTC

inovica wrote: post #3

That looks interesting. What about the expenses of the server?

Currenty, I'm running on a dedicated server, $100 a month.

Looking at getting Hetzner's XS 29 (1 or 2) to start off with.

http://www.hetzner.de/en/hosting/produkte_rootserver/xs29

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#5

Post by johnpattiyson » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 8:50 PM UTC

The big black button does nothing for me.

I can't scroll the TOS (have to click and drag to select text to see further down).

The contact popup seems half-done - blank with some text up at the top looks unbalanced.

OS X Safari

The design is incredible - striking, fresh.

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#6

Post by dutchbrit » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 8:59 PM UTC

johnpattiyson wrote: post #5

The big black button does nothing for me. I can't scroll the TOS (have to click and drag to select text to see further down). The contact popup seems half-done - blank with some text up at the top looks unbalanced. OS X Safari The design is incredible - striking, fresh.

Regarding the big black button, do you mean after dragging a file, and clicking the button, the file doesn't upload?

Thanks for the feedback so far - I rushed the contact page (also need to clean up the HTML + reduce http requests). Regarding the TOS - I have the same issue here, but there's also a non visible scrollbar on the right that you can pull down (standard Safari) - I'll make a custom scroll bar to fix this however.

Now, to come to the big black button. Did you drag & drop a file first? And it doesn't go to the upload progress after clicking it? Or do you mean design wise? :)

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#7

Post by johnpattiyson » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 9:05 PM UTC

dutchbrit wrote: post #6

johnpattiyson wrote: post #5

The big black button does nothing for me. I can't scroll the TOS (have to click and drag to select text to see further down). The contact popup seems half-done - blank with some text up at the top looks unbalanced. OS X Safari The design is incredible - striking, fresh.

Regarding the big black button, do you mean after dragging a file, and clicking the button, the file doesn't upload? Thanks for the feedback so far - I rushed the contact page (also need to clean up the HTML + reduce http requests). Regarding the TOS - I have the same issue here, but there's also a non visible scrollbar on the right that you can pull down (standard Safari) - I'll make a custom scroll bar to fix this…

I go to the website. See a big black call to action button, so I click it. Maybe without reading the text first. Nothing happens. I get that if I drag and drop files then click it does stuff, but it needs to do something, anything, whenever it's clicked.

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#8

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 9:07 PM UTC

dutchbrit wrote: post #6

johnpattiyson wrote: post #5

The big black button does nothing for me. I can't scroll the TOS (have to click and drag to select text to see further down). The contact popup seems half-done - blank with some text up at the top looks unbalanced. OS X Safari The design is incredible - striking, fresh.

Regarding the big black button, do you mean after dragging a file, and clicking the button, the file doesn't upload? Thanks for the feedback so far - I rushed the contact page (also need to clean up the HTML + reduce http requests). Regarding the TOS - I have the same issue here, but there's also a non visible scrollbar on the right that you can pull down (standard Safari) - I'll make a custom scroll bar to fix this…

[deleted]

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#9

Post by dutchbrit » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 9:09 PM UTC

johnpattiyson wrote: post #7

dutchbrit wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding the big black button, do you mean after dragging a file, and clicking the button, the file doesn't upload? Thanks for the feedback so far - I rushed the contact page (also need to clean up the HTML + reduce http requests). Regarding the TOS - I have the same issue here, but there's also a non visible scrollbar on the right that you can pull down (standard Safari) - I'll make a custom scroll bar to fix this…

I go to the website. See a big black call to action button, so I click it. Maybe without reading the text first. Nothing happens. I get that if I drag and drop files then click it does stuff, but it needs to do something, anything, whenever it's clicked.

Good point, I'll add an alert of some kind when no files have been added & a user clicks on the button.

Re: Show HN: Attach.io, a new way to simply share files

#10

Post by johnpattiyson » Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 9:09 PM UTC

johnpattiyson wrote: post #7

dutchbrit wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding the big black button, do you mean after dragging a file, and clicking the button, the file doesn't upload? Thanks for the feedback so far - I rushed the contact page (also need to clean up the HTML + reduce http requests). Regarding the TOS - I have the same issue here, but there's also a non visible scrollbar on the right that you can pull down (standard Safari) - I'll make a custom scroll bar to fix this…

I go to the website. See a big black call to action button, so I click it. Maybe without reading the text first. Nothing happens. I get that if I drag and drop files then click it does stuff, but it needs to do something, anything, whenever it's clicked.

Also, the upload progress screen flashing by is alarming for very small files. Either wait a second before showing it, and so skip it for small files, or keep it on screen for at least a second even if it's done.