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Ask HN: Sign up for my HN November side project beta: Minklinks

2 points by iuguy 16y ago

As an alternative to NaNoWriMo I decided I'd do the HN November Launchpad - see http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1773398 for more details. My project is now underway, there's code checked in and some basic functionality, but I need people to sign up for the beta (either next week or the week after) to try the app out. Basically Minklinks is an anti-social bookmark sharing service. It creates a personal bookmarklet where you can send links to your friends with one click. I wanted to write this as my wife and I send lots of links to each other, and I was fed up with signing into e-mail on which ever computer I found the link on. If you like the concept, please sign up for the beta at http://www.minklinks.com/.

iuguy 16y ago
As an alternative to NaNoWriMo I decided I'd do the HN November Launchpad - see http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1773398 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1773398 for more details. My project is now underway, there's code checked in and some basic functionality, but I need people to sign up for the beta (either next week or the week after) to try the app out. Basically Minklinks is an anti-social bookmark sharing service. It creates a personal bookmarklet where you can send links to your friends with one click. I wanted to write this as my wife and I send lots of links to each other, and I was fed up with signing into e-mail on which ever computer I found the link on. If you like the concept, please sign up for the beta at http://www.minklinks.com/ http://www.minklinks.com/.
barrydahlberg 16y ago
Can you add something that tells me what it does without having to watch through to the end of the video? Even after watching it I'm wondering how it knows which friend I want to send to and why it's anti social, does it not say who it's from? This might be interesting if you can get the pitch across clearly. Nearly 1/3 of the way through Novemberm good luck!
- iuguy 16y ago
  Thanks for that. Basically when you want to share a link with someone you have a lot of options but none that are both easy and ubiquitous. Minklinks changes that by making it really easy to send links to anyone without using a social network or opening up your email. Email is ubiquitous, so your link gets submitted to minklinks and is sent on to your friend. You can specify friends when you create the bookmarklet (so I can create a "Send to BarryDahlberg" bookmarklet) or (if I have time) a little pop-over with a countdown timer will kick in, where if you click inside you'll get a form to add people to send it to. When I send you a link, you get an email from Minklinks telling you that iuguy minklinked you, with the link, a title and an optional message. I'm hoping to get the initial bookmarklet done this weekend, all the mail side works, the creating a minklink via a form, user registration etc. Once I have the basic bookmarklet, I'll open up the beta to people who submitted their email address, then I'll have open registration. Thanks ever so much for the feedback on the pitch, this is just what I need!
  - barrydahlberg 16y ago
    I think what I missed was a great big screenshot of browser with a "Send To BarryDahlberg" button in it. Random feature suggestion, when someone receives a link they should be asked "How do you want to receive Minklinks in future? Email, Twitter, Farcebook?" That way the receiver gets the choice and the sender never has to bother signing up for any of them.
    - iuguy 16y ago
      That sounds like a great idea. My goal is to get the basic MVP out of the way in November but I've got a bit of time between december and january where I'd like to see how the initial bit goes then start looking at adding features. I think allowing the receiver to choose how they receive minklinks could be quite disruptive, especially if there was something like notifo or prowl support.
      - barrydahlberg 16y ago
        Mm it's an interesting idea actually. E.g. I don't mind that other people message me via Facebook, I just find it annoying that I need to be there to read it.

2 points by iuguy 16y ago

iuguy 16y ago

As an alternative to NaNoWriMo I decided I'd do the HN November Launchpad - see http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1773398 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1773398 for more details. My project is now underway, there's code checked in and some basic functionality, but I need people to sign up for the beta (either next week or the week after) to try the app out. Basically Minklinks is an anti-social bookmark sharing service. It creates a personal bookmarklet where you can send links to your friends with one click. I wanted to write this as my wife and I send lots of links to each other, and I was fed up with signing into e-mail on which ever computer I found the link on. If you like the concept, please sign up for the beta at http://www.minklinks.com/ http://www.minklinks.com/.

barrydahlberg 16y ago

Can you add something that tells me what it does without having to watch through to the end of the video? Even after watching it I'm wondering how it knows which friend I want to send to and why it's anti social, does it not say who it's from? This might be interesting if you can get the pitch across clearly. Nearly 1/3 of the way through Novemberm good luck!

iuguy 16y ago
Thanks for that. Basically when you want to share a link with someone you have a lot of options but none that are both easy and ubiquitous. Minklinks changes that by making it really easy to send links to anyone without using a social network or opening up your email. Email is ubiquitous, so your link gets submitted to minklinks and is sent on to your friend. You can specify friends when you create the bookmarklet (so I can create a "Send to BarryDahlberg" bookmarklet) or (if I have time) a little pop-over with a countdown timer will kick in, where if you click inside you'll get a form to add people to send it to. When I send you a link, you get an email from Minklinks telling you that iuguy minklinked you, with the link, a title and an optional message. I'm hoping to get the initial bookmarklet done this weekend, all the mail side works, the creating a minklink via a form, user registration etc. Once I have the basic bookmarklet, I'll open up the beta to people who submitted their email address, then I'll have open registration. Thanks ever so much for the feedback on the pitch, this is just what I need!
- barrydahlberg 16y ago
  I think what I missed was a great big screenshot of browser with a "Send To BarryDahlberg" button in it. Random feature suggestion, when someone receives a link they should be asked "How do you want to receive Minklinks in future? Email, Twitter, Farcebook?" That way the receiver gets the choice and the sender never has to bother signing up for any of them.
  - iuguy 16y ago
    That sounds like a great idea. My goal is to get the basic MVP out of the way in November but I've got a bit of time between december and january where I'd like to see how the initial bit goes then start looking at adding features. I think allowing the receiver to choose how they receive minklinks could be quite disruptive, especially if there was something like notifo or prowl support.
    - barrydahlberg 16y ago
      Mm it's an interesting idea actually. E.g. I don't mind that other people message me via Facebook, I just find it annoying that I need to be there to read it.