Interesting concept, though I’m not sure I’d install something called `browserbuddy` on my phone.
Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
21–30 of 42 posts
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#22[deleted]
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#23How much research did you guys do on the name? This might be the most amazing product ever, but I'll never know. I'm not inclined to install anything with the name "X Buddy". For me, it brings the negative associations from this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonziBuddy
It's not a knock on anything you've done, because it looks pretty nice. But, just based on the name, I'm not sure I know what it does or why I'd want it. That's a decent amount of inertia to overcome to get someone to install an app on their phone called "browser buddy". It just screams malware to me... but maybe I'm just paranoid.
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#24How much research did you guys do on the name? This might be the most amazing product ever, but I'll never know. I'm not inclined to install anything with the name "X Buddy". For me, it brings the negative associations from this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonziBuddy It's not a knock on anything you've done, because it looks pretty nice. But, just based on the name, I'm not sure I know what it does or why I'd want…
Yikes! We'd never heard of that.
We picked "Browser Buddy" to name our surfing penguin logo.
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#25This is what I'm using Hacker News for. It doesn't require an app, it's super fast, the curating is done by real people (not by AI), and often the comments add a lot of value to the discussed article.
We check hackernews every day too but often have a hard time exploring specific interests that are not currently trending.
You're right though, the community/comments add a ton of value and its something we're thinking on.
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#26How much research did you guys do on the name? This might be the most amazing product ever, but I'll never know. I'm not inclined to install anything with the name "X Buddy". For me, it brings the negative associations from this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BonziBuddy It's not a knock on anything you've done, because it looks pretty nice. But, just based on the name, I'm not sure I know what it does or why I'd want…
Yikes! We'd never heard of that. We picked "Browser Buddy" to name our surfing penguin logo.
I suspected you hadn't, which is why I wanted to bring it up. It's admittedly a pretty dated reference, but was really common right around 2000. At least, it was commonly installed where I was around 2001. I don't think it was malware right away (it's been a while), but by the end of it's run, it seemed sketchy at best.
It's a tough balance to get right... you want to be approachable and friendly so that people will try your app. But you don't want to come across as a big purple gorilla or Clippy. I do like the penguin!
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#27Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
[flagged]
I didn't intend for my comment to be mean. Generally, I think that sometimes the most useful advice one can give a founder (like myself) is "you should consider to pivot". Sure it's not fun to hear, but it can save you a couple of months. In this specific case, I think it'll help the founders to consider that the pain they're aiming to solve might already be answered, better, by existing simpler solutions. I don't th…
Why even give "advice"? Why not phrase it as:
"I get a lot of value from HN: it's fast, doesn't require an app, curating is done by real people and the comments add a lot. I'd be curious to learn what types of content your product surfaces that's different from HN?"
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#29My concern with something like this is content marketing or other forms of surreptitious advertising. Will you clearly indicate “boosted” authors/publishers/pieces?
We don’t boost any authors/publishers/pieces. We don’t have any specific plan to monetize right now, but many AI-based products seem to work well as paid subscriptions vs using an advertising model.
>> We don’t have any specific plan to monetize right now
YC has changed. It's like we're back in the late 90's!
Re: Launch HN: Browser Buddy (YC W24) – A recommendation system for Internet writing
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
[flagged]
I didn't intend for my comment to be mean. Generally, I think that sometimes the most useful advice one can give a founder (like myself) is "you should consider to pivot". Sure it's not fun to hear, but it can save you a couple of months. In this specific case, I think it'll help the founders to consider that the pain they're aiming to solve might already be answered, better, by existing simpler solutions. I don't th…
I didn't think your comment was mean, I just think sometimes people are a little too quick to tell other makers their idea won't work without putting enough time/thought/consideration into if that's true.
When it comes to finding product market fit (and providing feedback into if it exists) sometimes it helps to consider whether or not you are in that market.
I am never buying a Labubu but you better believe there is product market fit there.