Huh. I was actually looking for a Chrome bookmark sync for my iPhone two or three weeks ago and I came across Xmarks. I didn't choose it because I was really hoping for a standalone app that would interface with Chrome's built-in bookmark sync. While it's sad to see any popular software company shutter its doors, since it is going away (in a comparatively short 90 days, no less) I'm personally glad I didn't start using it.
End of the Road for Xmarks
11–20 of 111 posts
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#12with the emergence of competent sync features built in to Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, it’s hard to see users paying for a service that they can now get for free
After taking so many knocks, it's easy to be disheartened. But why not at least give this a go? It doesn't involve a large engineering investment - just charge for what you already offer! When the alternative is shutting down, where existing users need to move on anyway, you might as well. Those users might appreciate the value of what they have now that it is about to disappear...
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#13Sad to see them go, but this might be a good lesson for several people out there who go into startups with the "make product now, worry about revenue model later" mentality. While that can be successful in many cases, there is a downside as well where many businesses don't survive.
Either way, I'll miss xmarks since I use it on all my computers and my phone :( Thanks for the great product for the last several years.
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#14They are failing because they can't even ask people to pay for their service. They skipped that and went directly to we are shutting down our servers in 90 days.
DHH needs to give them some scream therapy about business models. The one he does about asking your customers to pay for your service.
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#15I, for one, am extremely disappointed to hear this news. I use Xmarks extensively on chrome and firefox across 3 computers. It is so easy to setup and use. I've never managed to get the Chrome sync working as it always hangs up and never finishes setting up.
I think I'd have paid for Xmarks as a service.
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#16Oops. I just switched to Xmarks after Chrome's sync ate a chunk of my bookmarks because of a version mismatch.
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#17Oops. I just switched to Xmarks after Chrome's sync ate a chunk of my bookmarks because of a version mismatch.
It's okay. I've had so many problems with xmarks and chrome that you'll be glad you didn't get to switch.
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#18with the emergence of competent sync features built in to Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, it’s hard to see users paying for a service that they can now get for free After taking so many knocks, it's easy to be disheartened. But why not at least give this a go? It doesn't involve a large engineering investment - just charge for what you already offer! When the alternative is shutting down, where existing users need…
Maybe it's because it creates an obligation for them to continue the service for a reasonable amount of time.
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#19Todd, will you open-source any code?
Re: End of the Road for Xmarks
#20Does anyone else find it odd that two million active users is "not enough users". Most startups would kill for that.