Show HN: Tap2Tab - Instantly Sends A Webpage From Computer to iPhone/Tablet

by RobMcCullough • 15 years ago

15 26 15 years ago

Hi HN! I just threw this together in the last few days -- inspired by the TC Disrupt Hackathon.

I just got myself an iPad recently, and I really wanted to be able to send the page I was reading on my computer to the iPad. I didn't find anything that was easy and quick so I made it myself.

This is a "rough draft" of a web app. There are a few rough edges and browser quirks. I wanted to see if anyone else would use it. If so, I will put some more work in to cleaning it all up! Let me know what you think.

mceachen• 15 years ago

Google has a "chrome to phone" browser extension and android app (that manages the push notification) -- https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/oadboiipflhobonjjf... -- but I found that it didn't work well for me, because having multiple concurrent logins to google (for adgrok.com and mceachen.org) confused the extension.

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

Hmm, the Google tool sounds familiar now that you mention it. Do let me know how Tap2Tab works for you.

seancron• 15 years ago

Some quick feedback about the landing page:

* There's a problem with the header. It's distracting right now. Here's what it looks like when I scroll the page in Chrome 12 beta: http://awesomescreenshot.com/05ddvrz35

* The footer seems completely unnecessary and is only taking up valuable screen space.

* Try to find better pictures for the landing page. It may not sound rational, but the seeing the clearly old PC with a floppy drive makes me feel that this is outdated. And the white iPad looks weird to me. Especially on the whitish background. Try using a picture of the black iPad to add more contrast. Also, see if you can find a picture without the distracting glossy overlay.

* Try to move it higher above the fold. Use http://browsersize.googlelabs.com/ to visualize where the fold is for what percentage of people on the internet.

* Maybe try adding a login dialog? Not all users will remember the url, even if it is obvious. But many are familiar with what to do on a login page.

Some questions that I thought of while browsing it:

* How does it support more than one webpage?

* How is this different from Instapaper?

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

Thanks a ton for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

It doesn't support more than one page. If you pull something up on the computer and decide you want to go outside and read/watch it on the iPad, you Tap2Tab it.

The difference between Tap2Tab & Instapaper is that it works for YouTube, Netflix, PDF documents, ect. There is no reformatting of content, it redirects you to the page just like a URL shortener.

truant• 15 years ago

didn't you know instapaper?

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

Yup, I use it an love it. Despite the similarity Tap2Tab serves a totally different purpose. I mentioned it above but Tap2Tab works on Videos, Netflix, Youtube, Google Maps, ect. It doesn't alter the content at all, it just redirects you to the page.

drivebyacct2• 15 years ago

What does this offer me that Chrome2Phone doesn't already do. I can send links, YouTube videos, my clipboard, etc with a lighter interface and no personalized url.

jahmed2• 15 years ago

Second for Chrome2Phone. Its awesome and I use it surprisingly often. I do wish there was a Phone2Chrome..

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

I hadn't seen Chrome2Phone, the choice is yours xD -- I guess I'll focus my efforts on iOS.

tejaswiy• 15 years ago

Does Chrome2Phone work with iOS? (Honest question, first glance seems like Android 2.2 push notification + fire off activity for Chrome2Phone.)

zin• 15 years ago

Push Browser http://pushbrowserapp.com is Chrome2Phone + Phone2Chrome for iOS

mikecane• 15 years ago

I don't have any tablet, but this is something I've wondered about -- getting something to tablet without having to email myself the frikkin URL (that's not how it works, um, does it?). I've asked two people with tablets to try it,

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

Very cool! Thank you.

zwentz• 15 years ago

What if someone else uses the same URL I did?

For example: i.tap2tab.com

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

They'll have to choose another.

waterside81• 15 years ago

Good stuff Rob, simple & easy to use. This was always a minor pain point when looking at a google map on my laptop and wanting to view the same map on my iPhone.

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

Ooh thank you! I hadn't thought of using it on Google Maps yet but that is a really good use case!

jarin• 15 years ago

This is handy, sort of the reverse of Later Locker (which I use all the time for sending links to myself from my iPad): http://laterlocker.com/

jasonlbaptiste• 15 years ago

this is neat. been spending a lot of time thinking about content shifting. It wasn't instant for me, but is this using websockets?

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

Nah, nothing fancy. Just a few lines of PHP and a meta tag refresh xD

cllabs• 15 years ago

I had a similar idea cloned from chrome2phone for iOS at http://whopushed.me and the associated App Store app.

Never got around to creating the bookmarklet since uptake was low and I find going to the website simple enough.

The integration is very nice though!

RobMcCullough11• 15 years ago

Thank you

lgarron• 15 years ago

I've been using QSQRCode to send data to my phone: select, send to Quicksilver and display QR code for the phone to scan. Tap2Tab sounds like an interesting approach, though, and I'm curious to see how much it could do.

Show HN: Tap2Tab - Instantly Sends A Webpage From Computer to iPhone/Tablet

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