New York Times: Xobni launches public beta | Hacker News Reader

New York Times: Xobni launches public beta

nytimes.com

42 pointsbrezina22 comments

Congrats, guys.

Matt, classy getting this to the NYT. Definitely a step up from Techcrunch.

Funny how the biggest startup (by far) of all YC-funded actually IS NOT a CRUD-powered website but a classic algorithmic software that solves your problem.

Congrats guys.

By what metric is Xobni the biggest YC startup "by far"?

Loopt. The market for what they are doing is going to emerge suddenly in 3 years or so and they will be well positioned to conquer.

Have to say, I heard that 3 years ago. And 6 years ago... Mobile is going to be big!!!

It's already society-changing big, but it hasn't quite converged with the internet and when it does Loopt will be there.

Or, the next gen iPhone could just have gprs and expose that to javascript. In which case webapps could have all sorts of functionality included.

I hope the carriers eventually allow full IP access without extra extra charges, but I don't think they're ever going to give up the text messaging revenue stream. It's a tough problem, because they don't want to have to compete with VoIP providers on their own cellular networks.

And eventually we'll have the new network on the old TV frequencies that's open.

I wish!

I meant GPS dammit :/

one word: plastics

Loopt should keep a serious eye on the south korean market then, because it's currently the most advanced country with mobile phone technology. They all walk around watching real TV on their phone (not internet TV or else pseudo-TV). You can see a little of our own future just watching them.

Loopt is an awesome service, and also not "just" a website. I have no doubt they'll be successful (assuming they execute), but the potential isn't nowhere close to Xobni's. Every Internet user is also an email user, and email is a mess. Big and hairy problem to solve, but I like how they pick which little pieces to bite off first.

Another YC startup I like a lot is Webmin: problems they solve are very real and I like their OSS approach. I use both webmin and xobni myself.

However, the point I was trying to make was that most valuable businesses that YC funded ARE NOT just websites, they actually do some heavy lifting, because too many guys here are too fixated of becoming next Reddit.

that's just great. I don't make it into the picture, but bonforte's dog does. :<

That is no ordinary dog. That is Zoe our CGCIO - Chief Garbage Can Inspecting Officer

who's cuter? well I think this is settled then.

YC companies consistently score impressive PR hits. Would love to know how this one came about.

I agree - would love to see how they scored a NYT article?! Impressive.

Wrong question. Maybe it's something to do with the billy G. demo ~ http://www.google.com/search?q=xobni+bill+gates

How did they get billy G. interested? Making something MS wants?

Congratulations, great to see the NYT coverage!

I'm surprised they didn't mention Xobni for Yahoo! Mail: "And Web e-mail services like Gmail and Hotmail are growing much more rapidly than the desktop-based Outlook, where Xobni is planting its flag, for now"

Gotta hold something back for the next press release.

Congrats, guys. I had to uninstall you last night, though, because it did slow my Outlook to a crawl. I may not be the best test case, though, since I have gigs of archived messages.

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