4 ms·

Ask HN: Review our app, textpanda (web-based input shortcuts for the lazy)

17 points by tr4nslator 18y ago

tr4nslator 18y ago
After getting such useful feedback on HN for typd.in this week (special thanks to huhtenberg/LogicHoleFlaw/ken), I thought I'd put our next project out there to get some more ideas. textpanda is a simple bookmarklet that lets you define shortcuts for any text input on the web (think really simple emacs bindings). Since it's more of a quick proof of concept than anything, we're not quite sure what to add next (functions and other dynamic replacement? real user authentication? subscriptions to other users' macros?) and would love to hear what you guys think.
brm 18y ago
I'd pay you and you're not charging me... Simple doesn't have to be free, I'd gladly pay 5 bucks a month to have this, so why not start charging?
- timcederman 18y ago
  I pay $10 a month to use a cell phone, and you'd happily pay $5 for a keyboard shortcut?
  - deleted 18y ago
    [deleted]
  - redorb 18y ago
    i agree nice service, but not chargeable ....
    - tr4nslator 18y ago
      I agree. It's not monetizable in its current state, but I'm curious what features you think would get it closer, such as: * more rich replacement (including functions/regex) * dynamic content like stock prices * ability to chain expansions quasi-recursively * SSL / privacy As a reference point, TextExpander (http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/ http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/) is an OS X app that offers similar functionality, and it's $30.
jollyjerry 18y ago
I like the idea and interface a lot. It'd be nice if there was browser extensions to turn this on by default rather than to have to click a bookmarklet to have it enabled.
jcapote 18y ago
Excellent execution. It's earned a place on my toolbar. +1 User
kirpekar 18y ago
no lol?
dmr83457 18y ago
Very cool. Will be using this regularly. Only problem I see is that the panda attaches to the very bottom right of text areas and can be oscured by scrollbars
- tr4nslator 18y ago
  That's a good point. Fixed.
rksprst 18y ago
When you type an abbreviation, if you type a comma right after that, the expanded text is doubled. I'm assuming this is a bug?
- tr4nslator 18y ago
  I'm having trouble recreating this. What's your OS/browser?
  - rksprst 18y ago
    Safari 3.1.2 on OS X 10.5.5 (I think). Just tried it now and it works fine. I might have been on Server 2008 with Firefox, it was 8 days ago... (I know late reply)
babyshake 18y ago
This is almost as cool as typd.in! I wonder if there's a good way for the two to work together...
truebosko 18y ago
How do I actually use this on other sites? Seems I can't or am I missing something? Also you probably know this but if I make the abbreviation: hh = hello hello Then add another one like: hhy = hello hello to you hh is replaced with "hello hello" before I can finish typing hhy.

17 points by tr4nslator 18y ago

After getting such useful feedback on HN for typd.in this week (special thanks to huhtenberg/LogicHoleFlaw/ken), I thought I'd put our next project out there to get some more ideas. textpanda is a simple bookmarklet that lets you define shortcuts for any text input on the web (think really simple emacs bindings). Since it's more of a quick proof of concept than anything, we're not quite sure what to add next (functions and other dynamic replacement? real user authentication? subscriptions to other users' macros?) and would love to hear what you guys think.

brm 18y ago

I'd pay you and you're not charging me... Simple doesn't have to be free, I'd gladly pay 5 bucks a month to have this, so why not start charging?

timcederman 18y ago
I pay $10 a month to use a cell phone, and you'd happily pay $5 for a keyboard shortcut?
- deleted 18y ago
  [deleted]
- redorb 18y ago
  i agree nice service, but not chargeable ....
  - tr4nslator 18y ago
    I agree. It's not monetizable in its current state, but I'm curious what features you think would get it closer, such as: * more rich replacement (including functions/regex) * dynamic content like stock prices * ability to chain expansions quasi-recursively * SSL / privacy As a reference point, TextExpander (http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/ http://www.smileonmymac.com/TextExpander/) is an OS X app that offers similar functionality, and it's $30.

jollyjerry 18y ago

I like the idea and interface a lot. It'd be nice if there was browser extensions to turn this on by default rather than to have to click a bookmarklet to have it enabled.

jcapote 18y ago

Excellent execution. It's earned a place on my toolbar. +1 User

kirpekar 18y ago

no lol?

dmr83457 18y ago

Very cool. Will be using this regularly. Only problem I see is that the panda attaches to the very bottom right of text areas and can be oscured by scrollbars

tr4nslator 18y ago
That's a good point. Fixed.

rksprst 18y ago

When you type an abbreviation, if you type a comma right after that, the expanded text is doubled. I'm assuming this is a bug?

tr4nslator 18y ago
I'm having trouble recreating this. What's your OS/browser?
- rksprst 18y ago
  Safari 3.1.2 on OS X 10.5.5 (I think). Just tried it now and it works fine. I might have been on Server 2008 with Firefox, it was 8 days ago... (I know late reply)

babyshake 18y ago

This is almost as cool as typd.in! I wonder if there's a good way for the two to work together...

truebosko 18y ago

How do I actually use this on other sites? Seems I can't or am I missing something? Also you probably know this but if I make the abbreviation: hh = hello hello Then add another one like: hhy = hello hello to you hh is replaced with "hello hello" before I can finish typing hhy.