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Show HN: Hackernews for Mac

35 points by i386 14y ago

dylangs1030 14y ago
My first impression based on theme - good job. Now I'm going to download it. EDIT: Just downloaded. Looking. When will you add login sessions? Will you incorporate no-procast? Is there any way you can incorporate a notification system to show up in the upper right hand corner, or even in the side panel on Mountain Lion? I know some of the mobile apps have thread notifications. EDIT 2: It would be great if you added poll functionality for the 300+ people. And buttons for New and Leaderboards, etc. I'm saying all of this because I'd use this if you made it a full featured app. I'd probably pay between $0.99 - $2.99 for an app with everything I just said above. Especially if you could put in different widgets that have been developed by other people (best time to submit, notifications, stats, etc.)
- i386 14y ago
  Thanks for the feedback! Working on threaded comments, voting, flagging and sessions now. Not sure when I'll be done by please check back weekly for updates :) Never heard of no-procast. Ill check it out. Not sure what todo for the auto-polling just yet. I can imagine that would be annoying as hell for a lot of people so I'd make it an optional preference. Yeah, I was thinking about pricing it around that point. Another thought I've had here is to offer it for free and have an in app purchase for extras like instapaper etc.
i386 14y ago
I wrote Hackernews for Mac. Feel free to ask me questions :) EDIT: Quick shout out to Grant Paul who built the fantastic newsyc app for iOS (http://newsyc.me http://newsyc.me) which this is partly based on and inspired from.
- dylangs1030 14y ago
  I like the app a lot. I wrote down a bunch of my basic questions I had after using the app in a top-level comment. Suffice to say, I'm keeping it. I'll keep the praise to this comment and the questions to the other ;). I like how simple it is and true to the theme.
- mchaver 14y ago
  It seems to require 10.8 and above! Haven't gotten around to updating my OS. Regardless, just looking at the screen shot I really like the color scheme and design. If you don't mind, here is a shameless link to a simple Chrome Extension for Hacker News I made: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/programming-news/ggmnmmjaecmnabilobpplklijinifpip?hl=en-US&gl=US https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/programming-news/g...
  - i386 14y ago
    It uses NSSharingService to provide sharing via Twitter/Facebook/iMessage/etc which is a 10.8 API. I could provide you a binary without those bits for you to try - ping me at james.w.dumay@gmail.com
- ruswick 14y ago
  Why does it not support anything lower than Mountain Lion?
  - i386 14y ago
    Uses the Sharing Service APIs that were introduced in ML. Ill work on some way to roll out a different version for =< 10.7 users.
    - micampe 14y ago
      You don’t need a separate version, you can check for available features at runtime: https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/developertools/conceptual/cross_development/Configuring/configuring.html https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/devel... http://www.cocoawithlove.com/2009/09/building-for-earlier-os-versions-in.html http://www.cocoawithlove.com/2009/09/building-for-earlier-os...
      - i386 14y ago
        Ill check that out :)
- pinwale 14y ago
  fyi, ReadItLater is now called [Pocket](http://getpocket.com/blog/2012/04/introducing-the-all-new-read-it-later-now-called-pocket/ http://getpocket.com/blog/2012/04/introducing-the-all-new-re...). Also, any chance of an alternate ui like [Skim HN](http://www.skimhn.com http://www.skimhn.com)
  - i386 14y ago
    I didn't realise they had renamed so thanks for pointing it out. Could you tell me a few things you like about Skim HN?
    - pinwale 14y ago
      I like the categories that created via filters. Try clicking edit on Skim HN. It drills down into HN than just the front page. Also, the lessmeme.com is a filter for excluding links that are also were on Techmeme. It'll be cool to have some filtering capabilities in a native HN application. As much as I like the HTML & web, I also like using native OS X apps.
- hospadam 14y ago
  I really like the app so far. A few feature ideas - adding a preference to load the story or comments first. That might fit in a bit better with some people's workflows of looking at the comments first. Also - I found myself wanting some "read/unread" feature of the story column. I'd love to know if I've already seen a story or not. Keep up the good work. I assume you plan to sell this on the App Store?
  - i386 14y ago
    Thank you :) Seeing the comments first is a popular request so Ill try todo that one soon. Grant Paul (of the newsyc iOS app) and I were discussing making all the read/unread state work via iCloud so the iOS and Mac apps sync up nicely but we haven't agreed on it just yet. Yes, I am planning to sell this on the AppStore when its in a state I'm happy with. I'm thinking of making it free and make Readability/Instapaper/etc functionality an In App Purchace.
    - hospadam 14y ago
      I think you're on to something there. I've always thought apps that are enhancement experiences of websites that are free struggle to stand on their own. I think a free app supported by in app purchases of features the website can't match is spot on. Keep up the good work!
  - i386 14y ago
    EDIT: just pushed a update that allows you to view comments first. Check for updates via the Application menu or by restarting the app.
- mrdazm 14y ago
  Very nice work. Clean, simple UI and I love how you managed the article vs comments views.
  - i386 14y ago
    Thank you :)
nicksergeant 14y ago
Love it. Obviously lots of work to be done, but I really like the idea of Hacker News as an app instead of a URL I can open on a whim.
george88b 14y ago
Looks great! I will definitely use it in the future, and would pay for it. One thing I noticed though is that when you close the window by hitting the red circle in the top left, the app stays in the icon try but clicking the still active icon does not reopen the window.
- i386 14y ago
  Thank you! Working on making the window come back when the dock icon is clicked now :)
  - nicksergeant 14y ago
    Awesome :)
nohorse 14y ago
Hn has an API?
nicksergeant 14y ago
Bug report: when you close the window of the app and then click the dock icon, the window never re-appears (you have to quit / re-open).
- i386 14y ago
  Thanks mate. Working on getting a update out that fixes that :) EDIT: Just rolled out a fix. You can check for Updates in the Application menu.
  - rev087 14y ago
    It's a simple "fix", but this is actually the (silly) default behaviour for Mac apps. After closing the window you can bring it back from the Window menu item > Main Window.
    - nicksergeant 14y ago
      Ah, thanks!
tiger10guy 14y ago
What's wrong with the browser version?
recycledair 14y ago
This is fantastic, I like it. Though, I'd love the option to configure the stories selected in the left pane to open to comments first rather than the story. I usually browse HN in this way. It allows me to get peoples' opinion of the piece before hopping in and investing a bunch of time reading what might end up as blogspam, etc.
- i386 14y ago
  That sounds easy enough to implement. I wanted to enforce Stories first because a lot of people on HN don't read the full story before they comment. Did you try the CMD+1/CMD+2 shortcuts for switching between the Story and Comments?
raphaelcaixeta 14y ago
This is awesome! Great job.
annon 14y ago
None of the pages on your site appear to be scrollable on the desktop? It looks like you have an overflow:hidden attached to body, which will prevent anyone from being able to scroll down if their browser is not tall enough.
- i386 14y ago
  That doesn't sound right. What browser are you on? I've tested here on Chrome, Safari and Firefox (but not IE). I think it looks a bit wonky on iOS but I'm working on that. EDIT: Found it. Thanks for the report - should be working better now.
  - francispelland 14y ago
    Perhaps not your target market I guess, because it doesn't work for me either.
ggasp 14y ago
Great! I'd like to have a better interface to read —much like ReadKit or Reeder.
rev087 14y ago
Some small usability suggestions for your roadmap: - When resizing the window, make the left pane width fixed. - Limit the resizing of the split panel so neither panel ends up with zero width. - Use the share symbol that mountain lion uses instead of the word share. - Restore the window dimensions and position after reopening the app. - Highlight the current story selection in the list.
- conradev 14y ago
  To extend the suggestion to use the share symbol, I would also suggest using icons for the flagging and voting buttons.
  - i386 14y ago
    Thanks for the feedback, I just haven't had time to cook up icons yet :)
- i386 14y ago
  All of those are great suggestions. Ill add them to my TODO list. Do you know if there is a standard share icon or do I have to create one myself? EDIT: looks like using NSShareTemplate does the trick.
dbyrd 14y ago
Readability style page cleanup would be a good feature.
- i386 14y ago
  Agreed. I've added that to the TODO list :)
HunterV 14y ago
Hey, just thought I'd take a sec to thank you for making this free. We're faced with so many free apps nowadays that we forget all the work that goes into it to selflessly help the community.
beshrkayali 14y ago
Commenting from the app. Great so far! Thanks :)
dotmanish 14y ago
Is there a way for me to make it default to view the "Comments" tab of the story first (instead of trying to load the story from the source)? I sometimes judge a story by its comments first.
- i386 14y ago
  Someone else suggested this earlier. Its on the roadmap :) EDIT: just pushed this. Check for updates via the Application menu or by restarting the app.
swartz 14y ago
Works great for me...Thanks
pan69 14y ago
Hmm. Mackersnews...
jvzr 14y ago
Looks great! I have no other suggestion -- that was not already posted here already -- other than handling unread comments. I use hckrnews.com and its Google Chrome extension to keep track of comments, and it's insanely great.
lightyoruichi 14y ago
Dude add Buffer's sharing. Awesome app so far. Loving it.

35 points by i386 14y ago

My first impression based on theme - good job. Now I'm going to download it. EDIT: Just downloaded. Looking. When will you add login sessions? Will you incorporate no-procast? Is there any way you can incorporate a notification system to show up in the upper right hand corner, or even in the side panel on Mountain Lion? I know some of the mobile apps have thread notifications. EDIT 2: It would be great if you added poll functionality for the 300+ people. And buttons for New and Leaderboards, etc. I'm saying all of this because I'd use this if you made it a full featured app. I'd probably pay between $0.99 - $2.99 for an app with everything I just said above. Especially if you could put in different widgets that have been developed by other people (best time to submit, notifications, stats, etc.)

i386 14y ago
Thanks for the feedback! Working on threaded comments, voting, flagging and sessions now. Not sure when I'll be done by please check back weekly for updates :) Never heard of no-procast. Ill check it out. Not sure what todo for the auto-polling just yet. I can imagine that would be annoying as hell for a lot of people so I'd make it an optional preference. Yeah, I was thinking about pricing it around that point. Another thought I've had here is to offer it for free and have an in app purchase for extras like instapaper etc.

i386 14y ago

I wrote Hackernews for Mac. Feel free to ask me questions :) EDIT: Quick shout out to Grant Paul who built the fantastic newsyc app for iOS (http://newsyc.me http://newsyc.me) which this is partly based on and inspired from.

dylangs1030 14y ago
I like the app a lot. I wrote down a bunch of my basic questions I had after using the app in a top-level comment. Suffice to say, I'm keeping it. I'll keep the praise to this comment and the questions to the other ;). I like how simple it is and true to the theme.
mchaver 14y ago
It seems to require 10.8 and above! Haven't gotten around to updating my OS. Regardless, just looking at the screen shot I really like the color scheme and design. If you don't mind, here is a shameless link to a simple Chrome Extension for Hacker News I made: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/programming-news/ggmnmmjaecmnabilobpplklijinifpip?hl=en-US&gl=US https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/programming-news/g...
- i386 14y ago
  It uses NSSharingService to provide sharing via Twitter/Facebook/iMessage/etc which is a 10.8 API. I could provide you a binary without those bits for you to try - ping me at james.w.dumay@gmail.com
ruswick 14y ago
Why does it not support anything lower than Mountain Lion?
- i386 14y ago
  Uses the Sharing Service APIs that were introduced in ML. Ill work on some way to roll out a different version for =< 10.7 users.
  - micampe 14y ago
    You don’t need a separate version, you can check for available features at runtime: https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/developertools/conceptual/cross_development/Configuring/configuring.html https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/devel... http://www.cocoawithlove.com/2009/09/building-for-earlier-os-versions-in.html http://www.cocoawithlove.com/2009/09/building-for-earlier-os...
    - i386 14y ago
      Ill check that out :)
pinwale 14y ago
fyi, ReadItLater is now called [Pocket](http://getpocket.com/blog/2012/04/introducing-the-all-new-read-it-later-now-called-pocket/ http://getpocket.com/blog/2012/04/introducing-the-all-new-re...). Also, any chance of an alternate ui like [Skim HN](http://www.skimhn.com http://www.skimhn.com)
- i386 14y ago
  I didn't realise they had renamed so thanks for pointing it out. Could you tell me a few things you like about Skim HN?
  - pinwale 14y ago
    I like the categories that created via filters. Try clicking edit on Skim HN. It drills down into HN than just the front page. Also, the lessmeme.com is a filter for excluding links that are also were on Techmeme. It'll be cool to have some filtering capabilities in a native HN application. As much as I like the HTML & web, I also like using native OS X apps.
hospadam 14y ago
I really like the app so far. A few feature ideas - adding a preference to load the story or comments first. That might fit in a bit better with some people's workflows of looking at the comments first. Also - I found myself wanting some "read/unread" feature of the story column. I'd love to know if I've already seen a story or not. Keep up the good work. I assume you plan to sell this on the App Store?
- i386 14y ago
  Thank you :) Seeing the comments first is a popular request so Ill try todo that one soon. Grant Paul (of the newsyc iOS app) and I were discussing making all the read/unread state work via iCloud so the iOS and Mac apps sync up nicely but we haven't agreed on it just yet. Yes, I am planning to sell this on the AppStore when its in a state I'm happy with. I'm thinking of making it free and make Readability/Instapaper/etc functionality an In App Purchace.
  - hospadam 14y ago
    I think you're on to something there. I've always thought apps that are enhancement experiences of websites that are free struggle to stand on their own. I think a free app supported by in app purchases of features the website can't match is spot on. Keep up the good work!
- i386 14y ago
  EDIT: just pushed a update that allows you to view comments first. Check for updates via the Application menu or by restarting the app.
mrdazm 14y ago
Very nice work. Clean, simple UI and I love how you managed the article vs comments views.
- i386 14y ago
  Thank you :)

nicksergeant 14y ago

Love it. Obviously lots of work to be done, but I really like the idea of Hacker News as an app instead of a URL I can open on a whim.

george88b 14y ago

Looks great! I will definitely use it in the future, and would pay for it. One thing I noticed though is that when you close the window by hitting the red circle in the top left, the app stays in the icon try but clicking the still active icon does not reopen the window.

i386 14y ago
Thank you! Working on making the window come back when the dock icon is clicked now :)
- nicksergeant 14y ago
  Awesome :)

nohorse 14y ago

Hn has an API?

nicksergeant 14y ago

Bug report: when you close the window of the app and then click the dock icon, the window never re-appears (you have to quit / re-open).

i386 14y ago
Thanks mate. Working on getting a update out that fixes that :) EDIT: Just rolled out a fix. You can check for Updates in the Application menu.
- rev087 14y ago
  It's a simple "fix", but this is actually the (silly) default behaviour for Mac apps. After closing the window you can bring it back from the Window menu item > Main Window.
  - nicksergeant 14y ago
    Ah, thanks!

tiger10guy 14y ago

What's wrong with the browser version?

recycledair 14y ago

This is fantastic, I like it. Though, I'd love the option to configure the stories selected in the left pane to open to comments first rather than the story. I usually browse HN in this way. It allows me to get peoples' opinion of the piece before hopping in and investing a bunch of time reading what might end up as blogspam, etc.

i386 14y ago
That sounds easy enough to implement. I wanted to enforce Stories first because a lot of people on HN don't read the full story before they comment. Did you try the CMD+1/CMD+2 shortcuts for switching between the Story and Comments?

raphaelcaixeta 14y ago

This is awesome! Great job.

annon 14y ago

None of the pages on your site appear to be scrollable on the desktop? It looks like you have an overflow:hidden attached to body, which will prevent anyone from being able to scroll down if their browser is not tall enough.

i386 14y ago
That doesn't sound right. What browser are you on? I've tested here on Chrome, Safari and Firefox (but not IE). I think it looks a bit wonky on iOS but I'm working on that. EDIT: Found it. Thanks for the report - should be working better now.
- francispelland 14y ago
  Perhaps not your target market I guess, because it doesn't work for me either.

ggasp 14y ago

Great! I'd like to have a better interface to read —much like ReadKit or Reeder.

rev087 14y ago

Some small usability suggestions for your roadmap: - When resizing the window, make the left pane width fixed. - Limit the resizing of the split panel so neither panel ends up with zero width. - Use the share symbol that mountain lion uses instead of the word share. - Restore the window dimensions and position after reopening the app. - Highlight the current story selection in the list.

conradev 14y ago
To extend the suggestion to use the share symbol, I would also suggest using icons for the flagging and voting buttons.
- i386 14y ago
  Thanks for the feedback, I just haven't had time to cook up icons yet :)
i386 14y ago
All of those are great suggestions. Ill add them to my TODO list. Do you know if there is a standard share icon or do I have to create one myself? EDIT: looks like using NSShareTemplate does the trick.

dbyrd 14y ago

Readability style page cleanup would be a good feature.

i386 14y ago
Agreed. I've added that to the TODO list :)

HunterV 14y ago

Hey, just thought I'd take a sec to thank you for making this free. We're faced with so many free apps nowadays that we forget all the work that goes into it to selflessly help the community.

beshrkayali 14y ago

Commenting from the app. Great so far! Thanks :)

dotmanish 14y ago

Is there a way for me to make it default to view the "Comments" tab of the story first (instead of trying to load the story from the source)? I sometimes judge a story by its comments first.

i386 14y ago
Someone else suggested this earlier. Its on the roadmap :) EDIT: just pushed this. Check for updates via the Application menu or by restarting the app.

swartz 14y ago

Works great for me...Thanks

pan69 14y ago

Hmm. Mackersnews...

jvzr 14y ago

Looks great! I have no other suggestion -- that was not already posted here already -- other than handling unread comments. I use hckrnews.com and its Google Chrome extension to keep track of comments, and it's insanely great.

lightyoruichi 14y ago

Dude add Buffer's sharing. Awesome app so far. Loving it.