Pop.com
Productivity
video calls
SHOW HN2020
239points
136comments
#209of 3,028 in 2020
Top 7%of 2020 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
17 positive, 33 neutral or asking, 3 mixed, 25 critical, out of 78 comments about the project. Thread score -0.09.
Idea: 9 for, 2 againstDocs: 1 for, 6 againstExecution: 1 for, 6 againstPerformance: 1 for, 3 againstPricing: 1 for, 2 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Positional audio and social feel make group conversations natural
From 3 comments
This is really cool, I joined the launch chat and people were emulating in real life behaviors like standing in a circle and moving their focus to the speaker. I also noticed…
joshuakelly on HNThis is awesome! Tried with a friend just now and the 3D audio is really something else.
pojntfx on HNIf you've ever tried social apps in VR, you'll know that the "social presence" is what sets it apart from a 2D video call, even though you only see avatars of others and not…
shafyy on HN
Works in the browser without a download
From 2 comments
Here's a screenshot: https://i.imgur.com/VVt0zCU.jpg In short, you move around in the virtual space and your avatar's head is your webcam feed. There is also positional audio, so…
Raphmedia on HNThis is really cool, I joined the launch chat and people were emulating in real life behaviors like standing in a circle and moving their focus to the speaker. I also noticed…
joshuakelly on HN
Objections
Landing page explains nothing before asking for camera access
From 3 comments
Your homepage doesn't explain anything about what I should do when I land on it. What's a space? What's going to happen if I create or join one? Why would I want to do this? Or…
sbarre on HNNo demo, and no explanation on the site before requesting mic and cam permissions
obilgic on HNIs it a trend to provide your visitors absolutely no information and expect them to click around?
ibdf on HN
Fails to load or work on some browsers and devices
From 4 comments
I can't get it working. I've tried in vanilla (no content/script blocking) Firefox and Chrome. I've accepted the microphone permission, but it seems there's a hard requirement on…
hundchenkatze on HNWent to the site with an iPad. Click create. It said it needed permissions. I said ok. It said something will be shown in the browser for me to confirm. Nothing happened. I could…
thebravoman on HNFirefox on Android. Avatar gives a black screen instead of (presumably) an image from the phone camera
andybak on HNPage only loads for me in incognito mode, normal mode just throws this error: https://imgur.com/a/JlEeyZj I disabled both privacy blocker extension, but no luck.
tiborsaas on HN
Walking around a virtual space adds friction to calls
From 1 comment
It's a cool idea but after trying it, I feel it needlessly incorporates all the constraints of the real world into the virtual world. Why should I waste time clicking my mouse to…
oliv__ on HN
Requests
Add a demo video or clearer explanation on the front page
From 2 comments
I'd add a video demo in the front page. Without a demo or something in the front page is hard to figure out what it does. Maybe you guys (the team) know it well and the…
edumucelli on HNYour homepage doesn't explain anything about what I should do when I land on it. What's a space? What's going to happen if I create or join one? Why would I want to do this? Or…
sbarre on HN
Password protection for spaces
From 1 comment
Nice idea. I had a bunch of "phantom" avatars for some reason (https://imgur.com/a/ixBGuK8) Some thoughts: - the idea someone just mentioned in the "launch party" about having a…
richrichardsson on HN
Show own avatar and speaking indicators
From 2 comments
I gave access to my camera and everything, but I didn't understand what this product does until I saw this screenshot in another thread: https://i.imgur.com/VVt0zCU.jpg I think…
vincentmarle on HNNice idea. I had a bunch of "phantom" avatars for some reason (https://imgur.com/a/ixBGuK8) Some thoughts: - the idea someone just mentioned in the "launch party" about having a…
richrichardsson on HN
Questions
How much was the domain
From 3 comments
Ok I got to know: how much did you spend to get pop.com?
chickenpotpie on HNI'm afraid to ask how much money you burned on a premium domain like that...
dandigangi on HNHow much for the domain?
mritchie712 on HN
How does it make money
From 1 comment
Have you done any measurements of capture-to-display latency? I've been interested in why Discord feels more natural than Zoom and so far I think it comes down to latency. As far…
ghostpepper on HN
Why does it need camera access
From 1 comment
Your homepage doesn't explain anything about what I should do when I land on it. What's a space? What's going to happen if I create or join one? Why would I want to do this? Or…
sbarre on HN
Alternatives named
Mozilla Hubs
From 2 comments
Cool! I think this kind of avatar embodiment is the future. I'm working on one that doesn't use the camera, but audio lip syncing to provide a good experience. https://jel.app…
gfodor on HNMozilla Hubs is awesome for this too, you can set up the room with objects like presentations, or just various tables and it also lets you have a little window for your webcam…
mangoman on HN
wonder.me
From 1 comment
This is awesome. Reminds me of https://wonder.me quite a bit.
bradhe on HN
getmibo
From 1 comment
https://www.getmibo.com does something very similar.
y10003 on HN