Show HN: Waldo, a free background messenger for iOS

1. "background messenger" = Content is created in the background (ie what you're up to at a high level comes from the phone versus you needing to manually input it), and then you can see what other people are up to before you message them. We've worked on a couple ways to better describe this -- the two components of both creating content passively/in the background, and using that info as a springboard into messaging -- and other ideas were "contextual messenger," "automatic away message," and "passive messenger." It's been tough to find a description that captures those two elements -- any preferences based on those alternatives (or ideas)?

2. Definitely a fair point -- "background messenger" is the quick couple word decriptor (as in, Facebook is a social network), and "A window into your best friends' lives / Waldo keeps you in the loop, all the time" is the value prop we're trying to convey. I think you make a good point, though, that bridging those two needs work.

3. This has been one of the more interesting challenges -- getting away from the notion that it's for spying on / being spied on. The goal of the app is to help you stay connected to the most important people in your life by providing an authentic window into their world, wherever they may be, without them having to manually update all the time.

So we make sure of three things: one, you're only sharing high-level location (ie it's 'Out in SOMA' and not your dot on a map), and you can go hidden whenever you like. Two, there's no feed or history, it's only real-time -- so there's no "where was Tom last Tuesday" kind of thing anyone can do. And three, it's with a close-knit group of people -- it's a very different audience than public/FB friends/Twitter followers, and you can block anyone you don't want.

We're seeing people use it to save a text when coordinating (see if someone's already on their way) and also, more interestingly, to stay in rhythm with people they're close with who may not by nearby -- instead of a 30 minute call to parents or a sibling recounting the week, people use it to feel closer to what those close friends and family are up to when they can't be there, and then have richer interactions when they do connect.

Appreciate you checking it out and the feedback -- hope this helps explain some, and I definitely hear you on explaining the value proposition more clearly. Thanks a lot.