whitegloveapps

Thanks--zipping the subdirectory, then uploading it, worked to install the plug-in. (If it's not too much trouble for you, putting it in the WordPress Plugin Directory, http://wordpress.org/plugins/, would let WordPress users find it easily.) Unfortunately, when I tried to activate it I got this error: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_FUNCTION in /home/content/61/6806261/html/wp-content/plugins/thedaywefightback/thedaywefightback.php on line 13

Thanks for making the plugin! How do I add it in WordPress? I went to https://github.com/darkness/thedaywefightback, downloaded it as a .zip, and tried to install it via http://www.my-site-name.com/wp-admin/plugin-install.php?tab=..., but got the error "The package could not be installed. No valid plugins were found. Plugin install failed."

I was thinking of someone who tweeted "I really need to find a bathroom!" Then put down your phone and go look for a bathroom--I don't think anyone on Twitter will help you with that. (In addition to the usual, "here's what I ate for breakfast" tweet.)

I do endorse people on LinkedIn when I know that they have that skill because I've worked with them on that particular topic; in that case I agree it's a nice thing to do. A lot of times, I know that skill is part of their job, but if I haven't seen them do it, I don't feel qualified to endorse them. I guess I'm missing the point by not just blindly endorsing people...

I think you're right. Planning is worthwhile; the business plan becomes a time sink when people focus on making it long and perfectly formatted, and have financial projections out for many years. The reality is, a startup is still looking for its business model; all the things that flow from that will change if the model changes.

There's definitely value in re-evaluating once you've been in business for a while: some things you have to learn things by experience, so after you've learned them you can plan better.

I pretty much agree with you that a company needs to have customers to attract. (Although I bet there are examples where the product didn't have that many customers, and the company was bought for the idea or the people on the team.)

What I'm suggesting is that, like the developer of my apartment complex, if the company isn't in it for the long haul, they may not pay attention to improvements or feedback customers are suggesting. The company may figure they're going to get acquired soon, so if some of the customers just stop using the product, they can still be claimed as users...

Glad to hear you have that perspective. Especially with project work, keeping clients happy so they come back to you for the next project is key. Maybe you should've managed that apartment complex!

Your point that it's hard to do intense, creative work for more than a few days is well-taken: everyone was worn out after the weekend!

I've seen this today. It's interesting; I'm not sure if I like it. Pretty cool that Google can pull search results so quickly, but it can be a bit distracting...

Right, social media isn't the best way to have private conversations: that's what email is for! If it's something private, like where I'm meeting someone, I switch to email rather than have my whereabouts posted on social media for all to see.

That's very true. For any fact you needed for a report, you used to have to go to the library, look for a relevant book, try to find what you were looking for... Now, you can just do a search online and have the answer in seconds.

Great post, Amit! The biggest thing I learned in my first startup was that I had time to work on a side project. Even if it's just 5 hours a week, find something to create. Either come up with an idea yourself, or find someone who needs help with a startup.

I agree that one-button interfaces can be frustrating for the reasons you mention. What makes this one work for me is its anticipation of what you'll want to do next. For example, the sequences are designed so the most likely action comes up first. And there are only a few possible actions, so if you want a less-used one, it's not hard to get to it.

For a more complex device like a pager where there are many options you might like to do at any given point in the menu structure, I see how just one button would make the user experience worse.

Awesome! Please leave your email address on any page on http://www.whitegloveapps.com, or email me at Jeremy (at) WhiteGloveApps (dot) com, and I'll keep you updated with our monthly newsletters.

Thanks for asking! We're developing our first app now, a shopping app for smartphones. We'll post about it on our blog and HackerNews when it comes out.

Thanks for the mechanical expertise! I guess this is an example of how virtual systems have less limitations than mechanical systems, so virtual-system interfaces can be more intuitive.

Can you explain further why "wiring the panel 'correctly' would make the fan take longer to do its job?" Would the fan take longer to get up to speed?

That's true: if you don't have to use the interface that often, a good product design can make up for it. But if you were turning the fan on & off several times a day, it'd probably get annoying!

Good question about the Polar monitor's moving-the-watch-to-the-strap action. I find it works about 90% of the time. It gives an audible beep when it senses that motion. Like you said, it's important a device quickly give you feedback whenr an action has been accomplished.

Yes, Apple's commercials are quite effective at showing intuitive user experiences. For example, the Mover app where you transfer pictures by flicking them to another iPhone: they only showed the app for a second, but you understood the interface right away. (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mover-lite/id312165666?mt=8)

Good point: 30 years ago, who knew they needed a phone with them at all times? Now we can't live without one and, increasingly, the apps on it (like maps, restaurant reviews, and movie times).

I was just waiting for the first grammar or usage mistake to be made and pointed out in this thread. :-)

It's ironic that now, when anyone can publish their writing to the world in a blog, so many people don't have the writing skills to communicate effectively.

Really? Which names' results seem odd?

I came upon it when I needed to guess the gender of some contacts we selected to send marketing postcards to.

I definitely agree that the word "citizen" is preferable when a general term for people is required. "Citizen" makes people sound like equals; consumer makes it sound like a few of us make something, and the rest just take it.