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jhacks

109 karma · joined November 20, 2011

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jhacks··on Netflix exec: HBO would have more customers thru online-only subscriptions
HBO is perfectly aware of the potential value of a digital subscription model. They already have a very usable app in place for users to access their content. However, it would be incredibly foolish for them to head into that now. It would not put them in a powerful position. They would just lose millions.

The cable system is still entrenched. They gain tons of customers through cable providers. If they were to abandon that model... do you really believe all of those who were subscribing to HBO / premium channels would switch over to HBO as a digital subscriber? Of course not. Sure, many would switch but they would lose a lot of customers. Would they gain back customers whom didn't opt in to the cable provider method but would opt in for digital subscription? I'm sure this would happen. But it likely wouldn't overcome the loss of cable provider subscriptions.

HBO has consistently stayed ahead of the curve and been very innovative. They will switch when the time is right and not any sooner. They sure as hell will not need to be "dragged kicking and screaming."

jhacks··on Ask HN: Coders:Do you create your own graphics/icons, and how did you learn?
I personally do. However, I haven't been coding for decades. I learned just for my startup and mainly deal with frontend with my co-founder on backend. Still, it wasn't necessary for me to create icons. It is nice to know though. Plus, I enjoy design. I would DL inkscape (unless you have adobe illustrator) and get svg files of icons you like. See how they have done it. Most icons are very simple shapes. I personally think they are more effective when bare and simple. Its as simple as just drawing and connecting lines. Smoothing edges. And most of it is actually fairly precise / logical and.less artistic (I.e. no need to learn to draw). With time you'll get better. And you can create cooler and more complex icons, logos, and so on.
jhacks··on Is AngularJS a hoax?
I am currently starting up with Angular and have wondered the same things. It's why I have considered looking into Ember because there a few large production apps using Ember and it makes it easier to trust the framework. I am starting to enjoy Angular though. So it's tough to figure out.
jhacks··on Need a browser with one Tab
I'll have to see if chrome has a similar feature.
jhacks··on Need a browser with one Tab
I personally experience this problem. However, I "solve" it by opening up a few windows. I use specific windows for specific content. So, window #1 is random articles I set aside to read, #2 is work-related research, and so on. It's still not ideal, but better than nothing. I think the issue is that there is only one convenient way to organize open documents -> VERTICALLY. It's just much easier to scan and scroll through (and can't get the issue where the tabs are quickly indiscernible due to lack of space).

Ideal solution (IMO) is multiple browser windows horizontally and tabbed content within each vertically.

jhacks··on Ask HN: Ideas for network where members pay?
The one issue I see with this is that there are too many variables outside commute that make these employees not very swappable (i.e. cultural fit, skillset, etc.).

It's hard enough when it's just one employer and employee involved. Now add another set? If any of the four parties involved aren't good to go... then it won't work.

I could be wrong, but just seems a working scenario is too rare to justify this as a variable business/network.

jhacks··on Should I Just Buy This Domain?
Thanks for all the advice guys! I'd edit original post but I suppose it gets locked. Anyway, I went through with the purchase. I think it was worth it.

Does anyone happen to have advice on domain transfer? I have a feeling it gets done through the same I bought it through but not quite sure yet. Hopefully transaction goes through soon / shortly.

Thanks again everyone!

jhacks··on Should I Just Buy This Domain?
That is a good point. It's tough though, I agree that in the future, the URL system might not be as important. However, right now that transition hasn't been made.
jhacks··on Should I Just Buy This Domain?
Sounds good. You don't have email (well, there is tastylabs contact) in your profile, but any other preferred form of contact?
jhacks··on Should I Just Buy This Domain?
I assume you are being sarcastic?

However, I wouldn't think bothering with anything but .com is worthwhile?

jhacks··on Should I Just Buy This Domain?
Yes. That is likely in my subconscious. Also, I think going above 4 figures makes it "large" (for me) so more difficult to swallow. My co-founder and I have already spent countless hours on the startup, I've spent money on the trademark and even minimal hosting costs. And I know we will have more costs once we launch and get things going (although hopefully we can be break even or cash flow positive as quickly as possible). What's $1.5k at the end of the day?

I think it's going to be worthwhile to buy.

jhacks··on Should I Just Buy This Domain?
Really? Wow. Honestly doesn't seem worth it to wait. It'll most likely only help to have it earlier for word of mouth and SEO.
jhacks··on Ask HN: Review my startup.
Honestly, there isn't much on this landing page to review. The online dating space is quite crowded. What benefits do you bring to the table? You should stress them. Or put a video together. Something to entice users to sign up. As it stands, there is nothing compelling me to sign up.

In regards to design, it's a bit old looking. The font (including the logo) is far too generic. The image is a bit clip-art-esque. The generic submit buttons aren't helping either. These are your calls to action... they need to pop!

Sorry to be harsh. But I think being honest is the most helpful thing.

Good luck!

jhacks··on Ask HN: How would I go about creating my own platform API?
I am solving a problem. It's a video chat platform. The basic functionality I can provide and it's enough to solve the issue. However, I am always thinking ahead... sometimes too far off ahead, but I recognize when something is not currently pertinent. This isn't pertinent currently. However, I still would love do what Google does with their Hangouts, and enable others to create apps for my platform.
jhacks··on Co-Founder Lost Motivation and Quit - What Now?
Thanks for the reply. My gut was telling me to do the same. It can't be launched as-is, but I'd say the backend is 80% there. However, the last 20% is quite important. But I think it should be something I could put together. The issue isn't so much what's not done but the fact that I don't know Ruby, Rails, or backend development at all really. Then there is the linking of the backend and frontend with AJAX. Which although I have yet to do it... I've become familiarish with it. And then pulling things from local environment to the server. Again, never done it... but I'm sure I can learn.

It's going to be hard, but I feel going solo for now might just be the more realistic option. I don't want the headache of hiring developer(s)... nor do I think it'd be safe to risk finding a strange co-founder at this stage.

Well, going to be a tough couple of months ahead of me! That's for sure.

jhacks··on Nexus 7 - how do I recognize different file extensions (i.e. html, css, etc...)?
I solved problem. It's the way the device connects with the USB - as a media (MTP) device. I did it over FTP with an app and when copy/pasting folder/files I needed, it worked.
jhacks··on Ask HN: Why is AAPL down to $527 a share from $705?
You have it pretty right on with the "over priced based on the presumption that they'll continue to beat expectations, and they haven't." The iPhone 5 wasn't a record breaker new device, it was them being complacent and creating a marginally improved phone. The iPad Mini was them REACTING to Nexus 7, Kindle, Etc. And now with Microsoft coming in with Windows 8 phone, Windows tablets, etc... more competition for them.

And it's not like investors (and the stocks they invest in) are necessarily going up / down for a great reason. A lot of it is also emotional. And I think the factors I noted play into the emotion that Apple might have seen their peak in all out domination of smart phones (although android has greater share) and tablets. They would need another true innovation to see the type of growth they showed before.

jhacks··on Co-Founder Agreements...
I don't think there is a way to "bump" threads... but no one can help? Maybe I phrased my question wrong.
jhacks··on Is it just me or do others completely balk at signing into sites with Facebook?
I agree with you on that. I would rather not use my Facebook account to log in somewhere. I don't mind if it's an option, but if it's forced or you're pressured to do it... I am turned off.
jhacks··on Microsoft bashing Google Apps on Youtube
Haha... I found that pretty funny.
jhacks··on [dead]
"6) Even so, your entire rant about specialization has been said far better by a far better human than you: "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." Who here doesn't feel their heart stir upon reading that? And I've spent more than a few hours working my way through that list. And yet...

...and yet the great RAH is wrong. A society without specialization is a tribe of hunter gatherers. If you want anything more - be it material goods, services, or even our modern morality - then you need specialization. You get to pick one: A primitive hunter gatherer society, or specialization. If you are not personally gathering all the food you eat and crafting all the clothing and tools you use, then you have specialization. And if you are doing that, then you will eat nuts and berries, wear furs, and have no tools. Full stop. There are no other options."

I was thinking the exact same thing. The author is either very naive or very stupid. However, as they don't make a decent point at the end of their tirade, I'll go with naive. Good luck without specialization.

It's the most hypocritical thing I've read in a while. He complains about calling a plumber to fix the toilet. That we should learn to do things ourselves. Well, if everyone really took that logic, then where would the manual come from? Guess what? Someone who specialized. Whatever about the toilet itself and the plumbing and everything in your damn house, no matter how big or small. You say you want to read to learn more. How would these books have been written for you to learn anything without the specialization you detest? If everyone were a Renaissance man... we would not get very far as a species. I do believe we are very capable, but it's just inefficient to try to learn everything.

If you want to live link a hunter gatherer, be my guest, but you can't take some approach that's neither that nor the current model of all humans becoming highly specialized. I'll take specialization.

It is specialization that has enabled our species to thrive and progress so far. It is generations of specialization on top of specialization that has helped give us all we have.

You either take it all or leave it all. Anything else is pure hypocrisy.

jhacks··on Show HN: I just redesigned my college newspaper's website (and it's responsive!)
Nice! I've got to get on learning responsive design. I really like how it's laid out both on desktop browser and on the phone. Good work.

The only comment I have is a stupid nitpicky one. The logo and search bar seem to be placed too far to the right (desktop browser) and it seems to have pushed the search button beneath the search box. I guess this could have been intentional, but it looks a bit off. If you can pull the logo and search box left to fit the search button, I think it'd look cleaner.

Anyway, how do you like Binghamton btw? (I graduated in 2 years back. I wish I was still there!)

jhacks··on Mobile Web Design Help
Not exactly what I'm looking for, but thank you for the link.
jhacks··on Mobile Web Design Help
Thank you for that! I will be getting that book and reading through it. The description seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. If anyone has any other suggestions or materials... feel free to share them. Thanks!
jhacks··on Beginner Learning Python: 2.7 or 3?
Thanks for all the replies everyone! It definitely seems like it'd be worthwhile just going through and learning 2.7 then and using related libraries to create what I want (once I've learned and am able to do so).

However, this has me thinking. It seems like Ruby (and related frameworks, like Rails) don't have the backwards-compatibility issue that is seemingly plaguing Python?

The newest version of Ruby was easily adopted (compared to Python 3) as it remained backwards-compatible. Even upon researching the next evolution of Ruby (2), it seems that it won't be huge leap and, again, will remain backwards-compatible.

My question is... if I'm looking to start building a website now and use Python 2.7 (and likely Django), what would I do when the time comes and Python 3 is really the go-to version?

Would I need to rewrite the code entirely? Will the older code ever become compatible or easily transitioned?

It seems like Ruby would be the better choice to avoid possible fragmentation issues?

I could be entirely wrong here though. So, please, if someone could help me with this, that would be great. I went through some of Learn Ruby the Hard Way. And I'm willing to switch over to Ruby.

I like them both in different ways in terms of syntax/readability. But I don't know enough to really make a decision beyond that.

But this Python fragmentation between 2 and 3 makes me worried. I'd feel safer choosing to learn Ruby. I don't know though.

jhacks··on Treadmill Desk Update
That's pretty awesome. I'm all for treadmill desk. I converted my desk at home to a standing desk. I would do a treadmill, but don't have the room. If only I could stand while at work though... I hate sitting all day.
jhacks··on Ask HN: What will you do when you're 40 and still unsuccessful?
Very well said.

Working hard is fine, sometimes. However, if you're working hard for years and seemingly getting nowhere, then you clearly what you're doing is wrong.

It's not easy to create and build a business or startup. But that's doesn't mean it's an unachievable goal that, despite working yourself into the ground, you'll never achieve.

If you are killing yourself for years and years, you're probably never going to make it. There's not that much of a difference between those who succeed and those who fail. It's about working smart, not hard.

Yes, you might have to work both smart AND hard at times, but if you are working hard becomes never-ending then you need to assess how smart you are working.

jhacks··on Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)
I'd probably do this if it were in NY.
jhacks··on Need help creating website from scratch
Thanks again.

Okay, so you just use it as a tool to get the image out there, but not to then generate the code. I'm not looking to be have an artistic website, I actually like minimalist and easy to use, so I'll just code that myself, no splicing necessary.

Thanks again for the help.

jhacks··on Need help creating website from scratch
THANK YOU!

That was incredibly be helpful. I will work my way through this stuff for sure and hopefully all works well. I'm sure I'll stumble and fall a bit... but that's part of the learning process. I'm in between a rock and a hard place. I want to focus on productivity (build a good website, quickly), but don't want to skimp on fundamentals and get lost in all either. I'll to try my best to find the balance, but knowing me I'll likely take the slower route and learn all I can... hopefully it ends up being the better choice.

Anyway, I guess it's time to dive into the front-end a bit more. In regards to photoshop, is splicing the accepted way to design html/css? Or do designers ever go straight to the code?

And I think going the jQuery route will be more effective. I'm sure you'd learn javascript by default when learning the jQuery framework anyhow.

And then there is the back-end. Which I will tackle after the above. Although, one question on that... as I only know limited PHP (and mySQL), I'm open to learning something different (Python/Django, Ruby/Rails), what are the reasons to choose one over another?

Anyway, I'll take this all one step at a time.

Thanks again!

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