I would suggest creating a new email or using a Gmail disposable email address (ex: [email protected]). The amount of emails that I still get from all these events after attending SXSW last year is ridiculous.
If you are completely client side, how are you tracking the total number of notifications served? I would assume you would have to send some data back to the server to keep track?
A "zillion" is probably too many. Focus on one, ship that, then move on to the next one if anything. Focus is really important (especially since you want to start your own startup one day based on these projects).
Also, keep in mind that context switching is expensive -- switching from one project to another requires a change in your mindset and maybe even the technologies/syntax you're working with. It's very easy to burn out just switching between projects.
Here's a schedule that I follow:
- Wake up at 5:30am. Hit the gym, eat breakfast, go to work.
- Work from 10am - 6pm.
- Be back home by 7pm, eat dinner.
- Work on pet projects from 7:30 - 10:30pm. Go to sleep so I can wake up early again.
I've realized that consistency is really important. 3 hours may not seem a lot every day but if I do this everyday for 2-3 weeks, that adds up to a lot of time spent towards one project.
Another thing to consider is the scenario that copyright holders start going after Put.io like they did for Megaupload. If they were to get their hands on the database, they will have a record of exactly what each user has downloaded/shared. I wonder what that would mean for the user in terms of legalities and may be even penalties?
Really cool app (and great timing!). I have some feedback though about the website (haven't used the product):
* I can't find anyway to contact you guys directly. Checked the Twitter page for an email address (no luck). Checked the blog for an email (no luck). Couldn't even find anything in the WHOIS (no luck, privacy protection enabled). You should add for a way to people to contact you (if not an email address, then at least a contact form)
* The Developer features look awesome! I am interested but I don't see any way to get more information.
* Seems like there's a lot of demand for more cities (while you're at it, add Toronto and Ottawa please :)). I think you should capitalize on the demand and add a form on the website for people to sign-up for notifications. So, something like "Not yet in your city? Enter your email and select your city and we will notify you as soon as it's available". This should help a lot with marketing once the cities are available.
* Little design nitpick: The text under "A new kind of city map" is hard to read because of the white-font. It might make it better if you make the background image a bit darker.
Otherwise, the app looks amazing and I can't wait until it's launched in Canada!
Have you checked out Priceonomics? They're a YC startup that gives you analytics on the market price of a product and send you notifications when the item is available for a good price.
Is there a reason you are not going with a domain marketplace to sell this (eg: Sedo, Flippa)? I feel like posting on such sites would get it the exposure it needs to be sold.
ICracked doesn't seem like the typical internet startup: an app/platform. Instead, they're solving a problem that a lot of people face by having a more local solution/presence.
I find it interesting how YCombinator is diversifying the type of companies in their portfolio. Kudos to YC for doing this -- I think it definitely opens up more opportunities for people.
Another advantage of having accounts: users can "link" stories together to make a book. So if I post story1, story2, story3, I can log in to my account and order them as story1 -> "Chapter 1", "Chapter 2", etc. You can have other cool features too: table of contents, "Save a PDF of your book"