Mark_B

Before, back when they complained in the first place - that was completely awesome. But to gripe about having wasted time evaluating other solutions? This is something everybody should do. No matter how happy you are using any product, be it software, hardware, utilities, daily transportation, you consider evaluating costs/benefits of a "Plan B".

Interesting to see the "too little too late" comments on their comments. Proof that 1) no matter how hard you try to apologize and make things right, you can't please everybody and 2) unfortunately, these people are the most vocal.

They can start by getting rid of the spammy taglines at the end of outgoing email messages.

These kinds of postings MUST be fake.

I think it's great that you're trying this. Please keep it up! Some feedback items:

I'd say hold off trying to monetize - take a look at Facebook: it doesn't cost a penny to use the service, all ad driven. If it's easy to stick a Google ad in here and there, go for that.

Also, for creating the blogs - I would suggest taking away the requirement of contacting an admin to gain access. If you really want people to come back often, let em blog as much as they want. If you are fearing that the spammers come by, delete them - it's your site!

One minor design nit-pick / feedback - the mouseover menu items - could you make them a bit bigger? Kind of small targets.

I don't know if really is size causing something to get lost. My guess would be that people really don't bother looking at anything beyond the front page.

The tech bubble is a comin' back around...

Data source: http://www.google.com/governmentrequests/data.json

Until an iPhone can provide the tactile satisfaction of pressing buttons or the current generation of gamers prefers a touch interface, IMO, no. Pardon the pun, but iPhone vs. Nintendo gaming is like comparing Apples to Oranges.

Woo hoo! 10:10 = "Happy Time"

Probably because your average guy or gal (the people Ubuntu would want to reach out to the most) have ever even heard of it.

Agreed! Strange though that Amazon doesn't heavily advertise how much of their developer-oriented services are actually free for people to 'kick the tires'.

I always end up getting extra sauces from Arby's. I end up making egg sandwiches with the Horsey Sauce. Awesome + Super Cheap!

Good luck!!

I would say all that is worth a full-on article. Lots of info - would love to see it done up with 'proper treatment' :-)

FTA:"...the elimination of poverty and Kit-Kats for everyone"

Break me off a piece of that future history!

HEY! I just noticed your comment is id 1234567. CONGRATULATIONS!!

Agreed! I for one would happily pay a couple of bucks to save myself days of scraping.

FTA: "We didn’t have any cash, but we said, “How about if we give you an iPhone and pay your bills for a couple of months?” They’re amazing."

Really!? For some reason, the "Shenanigans Meter" in my head hit a 9.5 after reading this line. Does a tactic like this actually garner good results?

Agreed, but with auto filtering preferred over the plugin/search box minus method.

To clarify - the price of selling on Ebay seems right.

Exactly what kinds of buyers are they trying to attract by listing on Ebay?

Sure, the price is right, but their choice of sales vehicle doesn't make me take their business seriously.

To quote a comment in the linked article that is in the same vein that stood out for me: "if I want to be titillated by softcore crap, I know where to go and it ain't the app store."

Tried logging in using a throwaway account and got "403 Forbidden: The server understood the request, but is refusing to fulfill it."

I'd say another Kindle - You'd likely give it away or sell it and Amazon would get another ebook customer.

I have an account on GMX.com as a backup account.

So far so good - minimal spam (well none so far) has reached my inbox and they are always adding in features like Facebook integration.

As an aside, just in case anybody is interested (as I was), here's the scoop on the Happy Bday copyright from Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/birthday.asp

Please don't think this a trollish answer but, why not just ask the people behind the various HN apps how they're getting their data.

I wonder how long the no location will last. After all, hitting Alt-1 show current location in google maps in the browser.

In that case, if you can pay bills and live comfortably on whatever they offer, I'd say that experience > $$ earned.