We are live!

The day has finally come. We have officially pushed the launch button and the product is now live. We have had a good response so far from the early Beta group, and we decided it was ready for the big time. We are excited about the response so far and are trying to track both the enthusiasm and the suggestions in order to create a better product. We have had a few bugs pop up, but we are working to fix them in real time to keep everyone happy, and although it is keeping us very busy, please keep the commentary coming. We will publish every comment on this site unless it is vulgar or inappropriate (those just go to close friends). Here’s a quick breakdown about where we’re at with SideStripe...

We have launched our V 1.0 version of the product. So far, we are trying to focus on giving our users a way to see search results from their friends while they are searching on Facebook or Google. The base results are coming from profile information, however, we have also made ways for people to enter in their own information, and create their own results that their friends can see when they search. For example, I can now add a review on Eagle Eye (I saw it last night). My review will be visible by everyone in my social network, and searchable when someone searches. Additionally, if I do a search for movies and cannot find the result that I am looking for, I can simply ask a question in my search that will go to my network. It is quite convenient. We have a number of other features that we are excited about and that we will be putting out soon, so make sure to stay tuned... 

Thanks for your interest in SideStripe and keep the comments coming.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Have All Your Friends in your Back Pocket?

Who do you ask when you’ve got questions like: Which laptop computer should I buy? White is better, the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3? Where’s a nice, romantic dinner spot to take my new date? Which hotel should I stay at in Cancun? What’s the best club in Vegas? Anybody have recommendations for a plumber? Which daycare do you take your kids to? Which doggy daycare? What movie should I see tonight?

Generally, we find answers to these questions by doing a search online or asking our friends and family. Searching is much easier with instant results and you don’t have to call or spam all your friends to get the answer.  On the other hand, the answers that your friends and family would provide, would be much more valuable to you because you know and trust them and you can actually have a discussion about the question. They are not random people that posted something on the Internet.  

Well what if we could get instant answers from our friends without having to spam our entire network? Imagine searching for “xbox vs playstation” and instantly seeing that your friend Jill has an Xbox 360 and loves it because of all the great Xbox Live features, and your other good friend Mark also has an Xbox 360 and likes it because because he can play Tiger Woods ‘08 with his friends from back home.

You’ve just imagined SideStripe.

Getting close to Launch!

Well, we are getting very close to launch. I would say it is just a matter of days now. All of the parts of the app are working properly now, the website is almost ready, and we are testing as much as possible looking for bugs. 

We have been trying some new designs for the UI, and are happy to have an old friend (Daniel) helping us out. It is great to get outside opinions, and our beta testers and board have been very helpful in giving us feedback. 

Travis an I launched a product last year and so we have some experience with the whole "viral" (mmm, low budget) launch strategy. It will be cool to try out a more consumer/viral strategy. 

The launch list seems endless, but we are making really good progress. I can't wait until we are all ready and can push the launch button. 

We have a new home!

We got a new office! Woohooo!!!!

We have just moved into the smallest office ever. To be more accurate, it is really more of a conference room, but that is OK because it is cheap. We are here, and that is what is important. It makes it easy to find each other. It is also a step up from Travis's apartment over in Emeryville (although I will certainly miss the taco truck).

If it is true that great things can come from humble beginnings than I think we must be destined for complete world domination.

Ahh but there is more - check out this one of our CEO (below). He is high spirited but very demanding. Hail the Chief!

Welcome

Hello everyone, and thank you for visiting our blog. Perhaps it would help to give you some background and bring you up to speed on how we got here, and where we are going.

One afternoon, while I was searching Google to find the latest about the new iPhone (which I was considering buying), I found that I was running into a little problem. While I was getting plenty of information from many sources in my search, I kept asking myself "who are these people reviewing and giving me information? Was it someone that used to play Castle Wolfenstien (yes, I played it) on their Apple II in 1980 and has a special shrine to Steve Jobs?? Perhaps it was someone that Steve fired, who has a personal vendetta and a voodoo doll that they stab with pins when they get mad? I had no idea who any of the people were that were my information sources, and it left me still searching for a more reliable resource.




My first thought? I will call Travis. Travis is my friend, and likely the best technical resource on the planet. He knows basically everything about technology, and could give me a personal (and accurate) review on the iPhone while simultaneously coding and drinking very strong coffee. He gave me the information that I needed, and then I hung up to go to the Apple store. As I was driving to the store, I realized how much easier it would be if there had been a way for me to get the information from Travis without having to call him. If there was just a way to take all that information from everyone that I know and use it to solve problems, make decisions, or just to make me laugh, then life would be much easier. And thus, an idea was born.

We want to give you an internet experience that makes you wonder how you ever used to get along without us. We want to make every site on the Internet a social experience. We want to arm you with the power of all your friends. They will be with you wherever you go, providing useful information or answers to questions that you can depend on.

Welcome to sidestripe.