6 ms·

I really like the concept of "text this number to perform action". There was a post a few months back about a postcard creation service where you just text a ph

I really like the concept of "text this number to perform action". There was a post a few months back about a postcard creation service where you just text a photo.

bmulcahy 3y ago
Do you remember the name of the post card service? Sounds neat!
- dieselgate 3y ago
  don't remember and can't seem to find it from searching :(
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- schemescape 3y ago
  I recall this being similar: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36371168 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36371168
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- djbeadle 3y ago
  I'm a big fan of https://www.thesimplepostcard.com/ https://www.thesimplepostcard.com/
nolastan 3y ago
Thanks! I created the initial MVP of Mel right after we shut down Remedy back in 2017, so the SMS-based UI was top-of-mind. A great post-mortem on Remedy here: https://www.fastcompany.com/40483774/remedy-wanted-to-cut-peoples-medical-bills-but-the-health-care-system-wouldnt-let-it https://www.fastcompany.com/40483774/remedy-wanted-to-cut-pe...
cl3misch 3y ago
How do you "text a photo"? Does this imply iMessage or MMS? I'm based in Europe and nobody uses SMS or iMessage here, so genuine question.
- nolastan 3y ago
  In the Messages app, next to the text field, there is a camera icon.
  - cl3misch 3y ago
    :D well, _that_ implies iMessage and/or MMS I guess. As I said, nobody in central Europe uses that afaik.
- dieselgate 3y ago
  I have a TCL flip phone (alongside an iPhone 8): can text a flip phone photo by going to photo gallery, selecting a photo, going to “options” and then “share”. Message then becomes an option and an MMS text is possible. This isn’t one size fits all but would start by going to the photo itself and then generate a text
- marssaxman 3y ago
  How do you send a message to someone's phone number, then? Or do you somehow not use phone numbers anymore?
  - cl3misch 3y ago
    We mostly use Whatsapp or Signal, which both use phone numbers for account identification/verification. I am surprised again and again how different the US and Europa are in this respect, and even more about how little people are aware of that. Nobody uses iMessage outside of the US, and the UI of Whatsapp/Signal/Telegram are arguably much better.
- distract8901 3y ago
  It's nearly universal parlance in the USA to call MMS and SMS 'texts'. They are shown and treated as the same thing by the phone OS. I wouldn't expect the average layperson to even know there's a difference. I'm honestly surprised that's not the case everywhere. Do you distinguish SMS and MMS in casual conversation?

I really like the concept of "text this number to perform action". There was a post a few months back about a postcard creation service where you just text a photo.

bmulcahy 3y ago

Do you remember the name of the post card service? Sounds neat!

dieselgate 3y ago
don't remember and can't seem to find it from searching :(
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
schemescape 3y ago
I recall this being similar: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36371168 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36371168
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
djbeadle 3y ago
I'm a big fan of https://www.thesimplepostcard.com/ https://www.thesimplepostcard.com/

nolastan 3y ago

Thanks! I created the initial MVP of Mel right after we shut down Remedy back in 2017, so the SMS-based UI was top-of-mind. A great post-mortem on Remedy here: https://www.fastcompany.com/40483774/remedy-wanted-to-cut-peoples-medical-bills-but-the-health-care-system-wouldnt-let-it https://www.fastcompany.com/40483774/remedy-wanted-to-cut-pe...

cl3misch 3y ago

How do you "text a photo"? Does this imply iMessage or MMS? I'm based in Europe and nobody uses SMS or iMessage here, so genuine question.

nolastan 3y ago
In the Messages app, next to the text field, there is a camera icon.
- cl3misch 3y ago
  :D well, _that_ implies iMessage and/or MMS I guess. As I said, nobody in central Europe uses that afaik.
dieselgate 3y ago
I have a TCL flip phone (alongside an iPhone 8): can text a flip phone photo by going to photo gallery, selecting a photo, going to “options” and then “share”. Message then becomes an option and an MMS text is possible. This isn’t one size fits all but would start by going to the photo itself and then generate a text
marssaxman 3y ago
How do you send a message to someone's phone number, then? Or do you somehow not use phone numbers anymore?
- cl3misch 3y ago
  We mostly use Whatsapp or Signal, which both use phone numbers for account identification/verification. I am surprised again and again how different the US and Europa are in this respect, and even more about how little people are aware of that. Nobody uses iMessage outside of the US, and the UI of Whatsapp/Signal/Telegram are arguably much better.
distract8901 3y ago
It's nearly universal parlance in the USA to call MMS and SMS 'texts'. They are shown and treated as the same thing by the phone OS. I wouldn't expect the average layperson to even know there's a difference. I'm honestly surprised that's not the case everywhere. Do you distinguish SMS and MMS in casual conversation?