5 ms·

The problem I was trying to solve is the difficulty/speed of finding places relying on 2D tech of maps and GPS. For some scenarios (unmapped areas, indoors, co

The problem I was trying to solve is the difficulty/speed of finding places relying on 2D tech of maps and GPS. For some scenarios (unmapped areas, indoors, congested environments, no address system) a gif makes finding a place much easier. Future improvements: multiple gifs for each place (for different approach directions), unique links for specific deliveries e.g. gif.direct/redhouse/123456 Its my first coding project I've shipped so any feedback greatly appreciated Stack: Rails, a bit of JS for maps (leaflet), python AWS Lambda for video processing (MoviePy, FFMpeg), S3

detaro 6y ago
Seems like an interesting idea, but I'm still not quite clear what it does exactly (other than speeding up an uploaded video). And only showing it in a video isn't great - IMHO you should expand on the text on the page, link a live example, ... I also can't replay the demo video without reloading the page. One of the few marketing uses of a pun where I'm not groaning immediately ;)
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  Very helpful feedback thanks
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  Changes made!
CositaS 6y ago
At first I was assuming this was using streetview. I realise not everywhere is included on streetview, but when it is, it would be nice to have the option of using that instead of having to shoot your own video.
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  That was one of my first thoughts too when making this. I'll have a go and see if I can hack something together :)
  - dhosek 6y ago
    I would imagine that use of streetview imaging would not meet the api agreement for google maps. They have little incentive to allow it to be reused in something like this.
  - cheeaun 6y ago
    There used to be this cool demo(?) called Hyperlapse few years ago, basically stitching multiple street view images https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/04/09/hyperlapse-crazy-high-speed-timelapse-videos-made-using-google-streetview/ https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/04/09/hyperlapse-crazy-hi...
kohtatsu 6y ago
It looks really good: the idea is cute, and your intro video is great. Would you be open in adding Sign in with Apple? https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sign_in_with_apple https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sign_in_with_apple I don't have an active Google account, and with Apple's service in I can opt-out of giving my direct email away.
- njsubedi 6y ago
  Ah, the problem. I have started using my custom domain and a random username for each service, derived from the service's domain. Pretty easy way to not give away your email.
  - kohtatsu 6y ago
    I do this as well, but it's a lot nicer (and actually private) to have a random @privaterelay.appleid.com.
    - thih9 6y ago
      > (and actually private) It's private, assuming we trust Apple. For now Apple is privacy friendly, but this might change in a couple of years.
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  Thanks for the kind feedback! Yes I'm looking into a few of these options at the moment One I've just been given is metomic.io/alias which looks to solve that
jamesrcole 6y ago
Suggestion: allow the creator to control the play speed at specific places in the gif. Eg play it faster along a long stretch of straight road, but then slower when making turns. In first example on the site, I find it difficult to see where that last turn into the diveway happens because it happens so fast.
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  Yeah great suggestion. My aim is to automate this using a simple computer vision algo that detects the lateral movement of objects in a frame and slows down those specific parts Until that point I'll have to persuade people to slow down the recording on those parts. Still, I think the sample video is understandable at least
JadeNB 6y ago
Thanks for sharing this; it looks neat! The text currently says "Its free" (rather than "It's free").
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  Thanks! changed :)
blackboxlogic 6y ago
When you get things polished, please display attribution for the map. See https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  Ah yes, couldn't have done without it, will add now
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  Fixed! :) (e.g. https://www.gif.direct/pyongyang https://www.gif.direct/pyongyang)
spuz 6y ago
I'm honestly completely mystified what this service is. You say: "Upload a video" - upload a video of what? "Set a target location" - a target location of what? Then you give a sample gif which does nothing but confuse me more. Who is this for? What does it do? Why is it better than the alternative? Is the video generated automatically? If so, how? If not the why am do I need your service at all? From what I can tell, you upload a video and then create a link for it? Why not just upload the video to YouTube or streamable? It also displays a map with a pin. Why would I not just sent a link to Google maps? You also ask me for my location - why? I get that it's your first product but I really think you need to look at this from the point of view of someone who knows nothing about the service.
- jack_riminton 6y ago
  I hear your concerns and thanks for taking the time to respond. I will try to work on the messaging edited: flippancy
  - tofof 6y ago
    Your reply is flippant. I came here to express almost the exact same list of concerns. Upload a video of what? I believe the answer is of the path between an easily located starting point and the actual final destination, but I'm not entirely clear. You mention unmapped or indoor areas in another reply, but your page needs to make this more clear. Set a target location of what? I'm actually puzzled by this one. If I'm correct on the first guess then it's presumably either the starting or ending point. However, neither of those makes particular sense. The starting point is easily reached, by definition, and the ending point can't be targeted on a map, by definition. Your page needs to actually answer the Who, What, Why, and How questions the unfamiliar user will be wondering. In particular, "we do video magic" is entirely uninformative and is the only explanation of what you're actually offering that might be new. I can already upload a video and provide a map with services I already use. Something that seems to be a main feature - "let the owner know you're on your way" is hidden in the 'sample' page and unmentioned on the first. From it, I deduce the problem you're solving is last-100-feet for deliveries or visitors. And why does the 'see a sample' page ask for my geolocation? Edit: I am actually curious - this might be interesting - and I hope you'll answer these questions here!

detaro 6y ago

Seems like an interesting idea, but I'm still not quite clear what it does exactly (other than speeding up an uploaded video). And only showing it in a video isn't great - IMHO you should expand on the text on the page, link a live example, ... I also can't replay the demo video without reloading the page. One of the few marketing uses of a pun where I'm not groaning immediately ;)

jack_riminton 6y ago
Very helpful feedback thanks
jack_riminton 6y ago
Changes made!

CositaS 6y ago

At first I was assuming this was using streetview. I realise not everywhere is included on streetview, but when it is, it would be nice to have the option of using that instead of having to shoot your own video.

jack_riminton 6y ago
That was one of my first thoughts too when making this. I'll have a go and see if I can hack something together :)
- dhosek 6y ago
  I would imagine that use of streetview imaging would not meet the api agreement for google maps. They have little incentive to allow it to be reused in something like this.
- cheeaun 6y ago
  There used to be this cool demo(?) called Hyperlapse few years ago, basically stitching multiple street view images https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/04/09/hyperlapse-crazy-high-speed-timelapse-videos-made-using-google-streetview/ https://thenextweb.com/google/2013/04/09/hyperlapse-crazy-hi...

kohtatsu 6y ago

It looks really good: the idea is cute, and your intro video is great. Would you be open in adding Sign in with Apple? https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sign_in_with_apple https://developer.apple.com/documentation/sign_in_with_apple I don't have an active Google account, and with Apple's service in I can opt-out of giving my direct email away.

njsubedi 6y ago
Ah, the problem. I have started using my custom domain and a random username for each service, derived from the service's domain. Pretty easy way to not give away your email.
- kohtatsu 6y ago
  I do this as well, but it's a lot nicer (and actually private) to have a random @privaterelay.appleid.com.
  - thih9 6y ago
    > (and actually private) It's private, assuming we trust Apple. For now Apple is privacy friendly, but this might change in a couple of years.
jack_riminton 6y ago
Thanks for the kind feedback! Yes I'm looking into a few of these options at the moment One I've just been given is metomic.io/alias which looks to solve that

jamesrcole 6y ago

Suggestion: allow the creator to control the play speed at specific places in the gif. Eg play it faster along a long stretch of straight road, but then slower when making turns. In first example on the site, I find it difficult to see where that last turn into the diveway happens because it happens so fast.

jack_riminton 6y ago
Yeah great suggestion. My aim is to automate this using a simple computer vision algo that detects the lateral movement of objects in a frame and slows down those specific parts Until that point I'll have to persuade people to slow down the recording on those parts. Still, I think the sample video is understandable at least

JadeNB 6y ago

Thanks for sharing this; it looks neat! The text currently says "Its free" (rather than "It's free").

jack_riminton 6y ago
Thanks! changed :)

blackboxlogic 6y ago

When you get things polished, please display attribution for the map. See https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright

jack_riminton 6y ago
Ah yes, couldn't have done without it, will add now
jack_riminton 6y ago
Fixed! :) (e.g. https://www.gif.direct/pyongyang https://www.gif.direct/pyongyang)

spuz 6y ago

I'm honestly completely mystified what this service is. You say: "Upload a video" - upload a video of what? "Set a target location" - a target location of what? Then you give a sample gif which does nothing but confuse me more. Who is this for? What does it do? Why is it better than the alternative? Is the video generated automatically? If so, how? If not the why am do I need your service at all? From what I can tell, you upload a video and then create a link for it? Why not just upload the video to YouTube or streamable? It also displays a map with a pin. Why would I not just sent a link to Google maps? You also ask me for my location - why? I get that it's your first product but I really think you need to look at this from the point of view of someone who knows nothing about the service.

jack_riminton 6y ago
I hear your concerns and thanks for taking the time to respond. I will try to work on the messaging edited: flippancy
- tofof 6y ago
  Your reply is flippant. I came here to express almost the exact same list of concerns. Upload a video of what? I believe the answer is of the path between an easily located starting point and the actual final destination, but I'm not entirely clear. You mention unmapped or indoor areas in another reply, but your page needs to make this more clear. Set a target location of what? I'm actually puzzled by this one. If I'm correct on the first guess then it's presumably either the starting or ending point. However, neither of those makes particular sense. The starting point is easily reached, by definition, and the ending point can't be targeted on a map, by definition. Your page needs to actually answer the Who, What, Why, and How questions the unfamiliar user will be wondering. In particular, "we do video magic" is entirely uninformative and is the only explanation of what you're actually offering that might be new. I can already upload a video and provide a map with services I already use. Something that seems to be a main feature - "let the owner know you're on your way" is hidden in the 'sample' page and unmentioned on the first. From it, I deduce the problem you're solving is last-100-feet for deliveries or visitors. And why does the 'see a sample' page ask for my geolocation? Edit: I am actually curious - this might be interesting - and I hope you'll answer these questions here!