The Echo Dot was the best-selling product on Amazon this holiday season - <AUTHOR> https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/26/the-echo-dot-was-the-best-selling-product-on-all-of-amazon-this-holiday-season/ <comment><USER2> Google is miles ahead in terms of a conversational assistant.

There is a lot of friction in using voice activated services. If I have a choice of typing "Weather in XXXXX zip" in the address bar vs. asking an assistant, I choose the former. Therefore, every time I use anything else but Google, I am afraid it won't recognize my command and I immediately feel like throwing that thing out of the window.

I need to be 100% sure that I will get a return on my time invested when it comes to searching or asking for information. When a Google search fails in a browser, at least I have something to bite on.

For other things such as timers, calendars, game scores, home lights, music - assistants are nice.

<comment><USER3> Having to say "OK, Google" instead of just "Google" (or "Alexa") is a deal- breaker.

Google's products don't feel like they are designed by humans.

<comment><USER4> Have you ever been in a room with an Alexa unit when people are trying to talk about it? It's like a comedy routine with the device activating spuriously over and over.

<comment><USER3> I have, and it's pretty funny. We quickly adapted to just saying "A." or "her".

Probably in a few years this whole debate topic will seem quant, as devices will be much at figuring out when we're addressing them than the primitive idea of a wake-word. :-)

<comment><USER5> You're assuming that these devices have anything to offer even if they worked.

<comment><USER6> Considering their enduring popularity in mass-appeal science-fiction constructs (stories, movies etc), I'm pretty sure they do have "something to offer".

<comment><USER7> I want one sounding like EDI from massefect II and II or Orac from Blakes 7

</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER8> Are there any assistants that aren't connected to the web? Or at least aren't by default. Here are some things I'd love to be able to do that don't need the web.

        Set a timer
        Set a reminder for something in X minutes
        Take a voice note
        Create lists (maybe could be pushed to phone via bluetooth)
        Maybe some home auto stuff

I imagine most of this stuff could be shared to my phone via bluetooth if I needed it on the go (like a shopping list).

<comment><USER9> As I understand it, all the voice assistants rely on a backend to do the voice processing, at a minimum.

<comment><USER10> There are several freely available voice datasets.

[https://voice.mozilla.org/data](https://voice.mozilla.org/data)

If everyone who reads HN commits a little time to Mozilla Common Voice in 2018, we might have a non-cloud solution in 2019.

<comment><USER11> This is awesome. Thank you for pointing me in this direction. This kind of corpus is going to be extremely important to getting a more diverse array of voice applications out there in the open.

</comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER12> Google might be ahead in some conversational things, but functionality wise, Alexa is way better.

Probably has something to do with being on the market first, but developing a skill is a much better experience than it is with Google (imo). I think that's a big reason why.

I've developed a number of skills for some big companies, and I'm fighting Amazon right now about getting my open source one published ([https://github.com/m0ngr31/kodi-alexa](https://github.com/m0ngr31/kodi- alexa))

<comment><USER13> I find 3rd party skills a painful experience to use.

Having to open a skill like an app before asking what I want Alexa to do feels completely wrong. It leads to me basically never using any third party skills.

If I wanted to open apps I'd use my phone. I want something more natural.

<comment><USER14> You can do it all in one command: "Alexa tell SkillX to do ActionY".

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER15> Makes sense, but give me the Google Home. The Chromecast pairing is insane, a better speaker in the mini, and frankly, I'll invite Google to own my life before Amazon.

<comment><USER16> Out of curiosity, why Goole before Amazon?

<comment><USER17> Personally I resent the fact that Amazon has done everything in their power as a company to make it so I cannot stream amazon prime to my chromecast.

That alone has tarnished my opinion of the company.

<comment><USER18> I hate that Google has done nothing to enable me to stream things to my Chromecast.

Unless I use Chrome. Which I don't. Or Android. Which is annoying if I look at something on my laptop.

<comment><USER19> I agree it would be nice to be able to cast without Chrome on a laptop (looks like VLC had experimental cast support but removed it), but it's literally in the name...

As for Android, I was fairly certain iOS at least can cast as my Apple fanboy roommate was having fun messing with the volume and pausing playback.

<comment><USER20> Use SodaPlayer.

<comment><USER18> I didn't know that app.

But it's a crutch AND doesn't allow the same stuff: If I watch a YT video, it's in my browser. No way to throw it at the TV. If I watch Twitch, it's in my browser. No way to throw it at the TV.

Maybe it can handle URLs. But if I have to copy the URL, paste it somewhere, fiddle to get to the same spot in the video ... then I can just launch Chrome and curse just as much.

(Highly ironic that the player offers the option to install a Chrome extension to open movies in SodaPlayer. For me the whole selling point of the thing would be to .. not need Chrome ofc)

</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER21> Who could imagine that people would install telescreens voluntarily, and pay for the privilege?

<comment><USER22> It's long been clear that Huxley's vision has won out over Orwell's.

<comment><USER23> It's more a mix of both than an either-or. In the western world we can see Huxley's vision much more dominantly, while in China / NK it's not far a stretch to full Orwellian.

However, Orwell's envisioned surveillance apparatus is ubiquitous all over the planet, no matter what nation you live in.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER24> Several times this last week I got essentially a "sorry, we're busy" message from my echos. I assumed quite a few must have just come online, but of all companies I expected Amazon to have made scale work.

<comment><USER14> I've been seeing this a lot the past few days as well, even just with some skills while others continue to work: "I'm having trouble reaching Skill X right now".

</comment></comment><comment><USER25> As a Star Trek fan, it is pretty cool. I would not have bought it if "Computer" was not a wake word option. I showed my young girls a few clips from TNG when Geordi is asking the computer to play music and dim the lights. The experience is pretty similar. Aside from that, playing music and podcasts is how we use it. It beats having to find the song you want on a phone.

</comment><comment><USER26> Hard to tell how significant that news is since Amazon doesn't list any Google Home product.

And with Google Home Mini priced at $29, it's easy to speculate that it sold quite a few as well.

<comment><USER27> Also that the Echo can essentially "only" be bought on Amazon. While they advertise them there, a very small supply was sent to stores. Amazon uses the retail space for advertising but they're out of stock which drops you in the lap of Amazon. With other products sales will be split between retail and online (and retail is up about 4% this year). Or something that is only advertised online doesn't attract impulse buyers or people who want to see a demo before they buy.

<comment><USER28> I saw a huge stock of Echo Dots (Echos Dot?) in at least one local store.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER29> Am I the only one that thinks these are useless? I got one last Xmas and stop using it after a month or so.

<comment><USER30> I got new tires, but didn't buy a car, so they are worthless.

That is basically what you are saying here. We both agree, it will tell you the weather, your commute, and play some music. Those are the things you grew tired of, but many people have their entire homes wired to these devices (me included). I don't use them daily, I use them hourly at home. It runs my sprinklers, lawn mowers, vacuums, lights, alarms, timers, starts my car, on and on. You have to invest in things to get the most out of them.

<comment><USER31> That is the creepiest thing ive ever read on HN. I am 25 so maybe I am just getting jaded but that seems incredibly intrusive.

<comment><USER32> It's about increasing productivity, which saves time (hassle, etc). Time is among our scarcest of resources.

Imagine not having to chop wood for your fireplace. Wouldn't that be amazing, to save such time? The natural gas and or electricity company is going to learn something about your lifestyle.

Imagine if you could tap your smartphone and easily get a taxi. That seems like it could be extremely useful. But then the company is going to learn something about you.

Imagine ordering a pizza or other takeout and giving them a form of payment other than cash. That'd be super convenient, not having to only carry cash all the time and being able to order online. But then the company knows something about you, such as what food you like to order and when.

Imagine buying a car from Tesla or a dealer and getting it routinely serviced. Of course now they're going to know how many miles you put on it and they'll learn something about you from how you treat your vehicle, the condition of its interior, etc. The gas station and charging station too, is going to know how often you fill up. But geez it'd be amazing if we had automobiles.

Imagine if we had trains, airplanes and buses that could haul large numbers of people very efficiently. That'd be pretty cool, what a hassle it would save not having to walk or ride a horse for 1,000 km. Of course, then lots of companies and government agencies are probably going to learn something about you every time you purchase a bus ticket, every time you get on a plane.

Imagine going to the blacksmith, the store, or Amazon.com, and ordering cookware and not having to craft your own. What a staggering savings of time that would be. But then the blacksmith might learn something about your lifestyle.

I don't see much creepy about what the parent said. It's a concentrated form of the types of technological productivity gains you're using on a constant basis in modern life and throughout your day, and humans have been using since the beginning.

Nearly every single thing you touch on a daily basis that is made by people is conceptually similar to what the parent is doing in terms of boosting automation / productivity. From using a pencil you bought at Target to the drink you buy at the convenience store, you're doing the same thing, and they all involve some trade-off (most of which are entirely meaningless).

<comment><USER33> To take one non-Tesla example:

> But then the blacksmith might learn something about your lifestyle.

But once the blacksmith has sold me the pot, that's the end of the data- exchange. He doesn't receive a continual feed of data about my usage of the pot. Maybe I'll go back five years later to get the pot repaired; that'll be a surprise to him. Perhaps he'll ask how I broke it, and I can fib to him.

Home automation is a great convenience and time-saver. That's not the concern. The concern is that megacorps are in the loop and are monetizing our lives.

An Amazon Echo _should_ in an ideal world be able to operate just fine on a LAN without an Internet connection, or with just a web-server front-end for the owner to use. Just like my wifi AP or my weather station.

</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER34> That happens when you lower the crap out of the price. For 30 bucks with a freebie, I even bought one. And a google home mini. In the same room.

<comment><USER10> Someone put an Echo Dot in my stocking. I've been ranting about these devices for a while and even recently wrote a little blog post:

[https://h4labs.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/voice-as-a-user- inte...](https://h4labs.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/voice-as-a-user-interface-is- almost-here/)

Is it worth getting a Google Mini too? I'm told that it's actually smarter. I'm going to set up my Echo so I can reorder all the stuff I hate to shop for.

We've been waiting half a century for "Voice as a User Interface". Now we're only a decade away?

<comment><USER35> I would say that the Amazon Echo is generally better at DOING STUFF (e.g. setting alarms and reminders, playing music, adding stuff to your Amazon shopping cart ( _of course_ ), controlling your TV if you have a Fire stick, etc). Supposedly controlling smart home gear, although I haven't dipped my toes in those waters yet.

The Google Home is generally better at ANSWERING QUESTIONS and providing information. Random queries that pop into your head a thousand times a day (e.g. Who starred in such-and-such movie? Who won the _last_ time the Atlanta Falcons played the Carolina Panthers? etc).

Occasionally though, Alexa will surprise you by answering a question where Google flopped. Either way, like others in this thread, I now have both since they discounted them so low for the holidays. But for the Google, I get by with the "Mini" version... whereas I sprung for the full-size Amazon Echo because I use it for music, audiobooks, podcasts, etc and want the better sound.

<comment><USER36> I actually find ghome to be better for smart home use. The app is a little more intuitive with organization and it is a _lot_ better with recognizing the names of your stuff. Alexa would have trouble recognizing arbitrary names while ghome almost always gets it right.

I started with Echo but ended up replacing it with Google Home because I like it so much more.

<comment><USER37> Thankfully I am not the only one who thinks this! I had an argument with my brother over IoT devices with Echos vs Google Home products.

Google Home still requires you to use 3rd party apps but you are forced to set up the device in a location in your home/apartment. I can walk into my apartment and say "Ok Google, turn on all lights" and not have to worry about which brand of lights turn on.

When I used my Echo Dot my brother got me last Christmas, I had so many issues with the same command.

<comment><USER38> You can create "Routines" on the Echo (like IFTTT procedures). You could easily create one for "Alexa turn on all lights" that triggers all of your smart home lights regardless of brand.

<comment><USER39> And then another one for "dim all lights" and another one for "brighten all lights" and another one for "set all lights to warm white" and another one for...

</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER40> Ok, it is cheap. It is also cool. But does the techies here find it really useful? If so, why?

<comment><USER41> It gets OK use I've found from people who are between 28-40 adopting new technology like voice commands.

I have two kids. You should see how they use Alexa. A ton.

Like we adopted technology in ways the generation before us could never imagine, so will the next. Never forget that we have decades of bias cooked into our souls; the mouse and keyboard being the primary instruments of UI and email being the main method of communication.

The next generation has no guarantee of using the same tools we did... and in fact is very likely to be using something entirely different that seems unproductive to us.

<comment><USER10> Must be a small window of people. I'm over 50 and have no problem wanting to use voice.

I started with computers as a teenager before the Mac was released. Growing up watching the original Star Trek in reruns, I thought we'd all be talking to computers by now.

<comment><USER42> > Growing up watching the original Star Trek in reruns, I thought we'd all be > talking to computers by now.

I thought the same, but I also thought the computer would be a massive box somewhere on site like the Enterprise's computer

</comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER43> I have an original Echo, it's fine.

I use it to listen to the radio via TuneIn, to turn lamps on and off and to set timers. That's about it really.

Sometimes I use it to convert American imperial units to metric, which is handy when converting recipes in the kitchen (e.g. "what's 2 cups in millilitres")

I'm at my parents house at the moment, my Mum primarily uses it to set timers, and reminders (e.g. remind me tomorrow to do X). Although our pet dog absolutely hates it though, which is amusing.

<comment><USER44> I have a Google Assistant. I use it for timers, playing music (on my Chromecast), and playing the news. That's about it. I can't find another use case where it seems like the best tool for the job.

<comment><USER45> Same here. For $30, it's great value. Some people try to make it more than it is, or try to use it for absolutely everything. Not all workflows work well with voice, but the few that do bring great value. Same thing with Chromecast, for 35$, it's just decent value.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER46> Can we be absolutely certain that everything before "Ok, Google" or "Alexa" isn't being recorded, by the companies or by back doors created by the security services? Seems too much like a telescreen for my liking.

The problem is I would love one I could trust!

<comment><USER47> >Can we be absolutely certain that everything before "Ok, Google" or "Alexa" isn't being recorded, by the companies or by back doors created by the security services?

It's all proprietary, so the answer is: no.

<comment><USER48> Correction: it's all proprietary, so the answer is: yes; you could reverse engineer firmware

<comment><USER49> That won't help you find out if Amazon is storing the recordings in a datacenter somewhere.

<comment><USER45> The question here is if the data is being sent back at all or not. If you can show that either Google or Amazon is saying voice data _outside_ of the command after the hotword, you already have yourself a huge scandal.

No voice data without hotword should ever even leave the device.

</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER50> Drop-in is another great feature. If you have more than one echo you can use them as an intercom. You can also use it to make calls to/from it. This is very useful if you have kids at home that don't own a phone yet.

</comment><comment><USER51> I bought my parents five Dots for Christmas to use as intercoms. They live on a farm, with multiple outbuildings, so if something happened, they can yell at the Echo in the building they are in for help. Any other use they get out of it (my dad uses the music feature a lot) is just an added bonus.

<comment><USER14> Do they have wifi in all of those farm buildings?

<comment><USER51> Yes.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER52> Given amazons spotty history when it comes to quality- product-piracy e.g. - this will be hacked and used to plan burglarys and during extended periods of absence. I shall be interested to see what PR Guns amazon has laying in store for that day.

</comment><comment><USER53> I don't need that, I already have The Clapper.

<comment><USER10> If you weren't Walter Bright, I'd downvote the comment. You've been waiting half a century for this:

[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NM4yEOdIHnc](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NM4yEOdIHnc)

Of course, we aren't there yet but it's a step in the right direction. There's nothing like a few multi-billion dollar companies in an arm's race to get us to the next level.

Maybe an open source version is more your cup of tea? First, we need good speech recognition:

[https://voice.mozilla.org](https://voice.mozilla.org)

</comment></comment><comment><USER54> I'm eagerly awaiting when either Google Home or Alexa show/display your query via projection on your various walls/surfaces in your house. The info appears/projects onto walls and other surfaces and remains for a few minutes.

They have the Amazon Show but you have to be up close and it's only in one room. I want my digital info/queries to be seen and accessible by just looking up wherever i am in my home.

</comment><comment><USER55> Is it just me or do none of these voice products seem like they are ready for the consumer? I have never seen one work properly on a consistent basis.

</comment><comment><USER56> 3 months from now, let's see how many of those purchasers or recipients use it for something more than "play a song", "what's new", and "timer, 2 minutes". I hope it's a lot.

Otherwise, we can imagine the next headline: "The Echo Dot was the most- returned product on Amazon this post-holiday season."

</comment><comment><USER57> The echo is great. Hands free control of lights, switches, radio, shopping cart, recipes really makes it great. I was on the fence about getting one but I can't imagine not having one. Same with voice control for the tv.

</comment><comment><USER58> Thanks to some great third-party plugins I easily linked my RPI:3 with echo...not ground breaking...to be able to link to separate devices is pretty cool

</comment><comment><USER59> Fun fact: in Italy there's no Alexa products at all. There's simply no market / will to spread it there

</comment><comment><USER60> I don't really care why other people buy Echo Dots.

I bought one because it's a useful companion to my Echo. /shrug

</comment><comment><USER61> Alexa is supported in way more countries than Google Home. Personally I have no option its either Alexa or none.

</comment><comment><USER62> Title should be this:

"An always listening device that record all your private conversations, that may or may not have been compromised (or will be compromised) by the private and government entities for surveillance and profit purposes has been the best selling product in the USA (where people refuse to give-up rights to own guns because they don't trust the government)"

<comment><USER48> Ok, I'll bite. How does Alexa/home/whatever differ from your laptop? your laptop has a 10x more dangerous attack surface with a full featured web browser and a load of internet-connected apps, and yes it has a microphone too.

<comment><USER63> Laptop will differ in how much control you have over security. Attack vectors are less likely to be replicable across all users. Smart phone/watch would work better in your point vs Alexa.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER64> Funny the article doesn't say whether it was because echos Dot was sold damn cheap during the sale

</comment><comment><USER65> 'Amazon says bestselling product made by Amazon'

</comment><comment><USER66> Very revealing discussion. Most of the participants just argue about Amazon vs. Google here, some fear surveillance, some consider the devices useless, a few want to understand if the HN crowd finds it useful. This is something I notice here on HN in product-related discussions more and more: people just say what THEY think about product X (typically a negative opinion or complaint), rather being creative, constructive or inquisitive.

Why do you think millions of people bought an Echo Dot or a Google Home? Not from YOUR perspective, but from the perspective of millions of people that seem to see value in this product?

<comment><USER67> Might I suggest some simple reasons for the increase in sales for the Dot?

* Novelty value, it's a fun idea. It looks cool to buy an "edgy" product for your nephew / niece etc.

* The marketing team worked hard to direct prime customers to buy one for their family / friends as gifts.

* People are out of ideas and it's something new, novel and affordable.

I really don't think people put much thought into presents in general, if there is something new, kind of affordable and in your face, it's a given you're going to buy it.

<comment><USER68> The aggressive price cuts in competition with Google also put it at the perfect price for "novelty electronic good that may or may not be useful"

(We bought one for a pretty tech savvy 89 year old who we thought might actually get practical benefits from IoT plugs as well as enjoy the novelty value of something that interacts vaguely like a human since he doesn't go out so much these days. But that's something of an edge case)

<comment><USER69> > But that's something of an edge case

The Baby Boomers are retiring in droves right now. It's becoming less and less so (in the USA).

<comment><USER70> I have retired baby boomers for parents. I can confirm that they are both somewhat tech savvy and enjoy the dot.</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment>


Ask HN: Work abroad or telecommute? - <AUTHOR>

I want to travel and learn new languages, however I also have to support myself.  I have the opportunity to work for a startup abroad. I'm also considering simply living abroad and finding a telecommute job to support my travels.<p>So, which would HN recommend? Finding a telecommute position to support life abroad or taking a job abroad? <comment><USER2> There's a big difference between living somewhere and traveling through it - which one do you want to do?

Unless you magically have the right nationality, if you want to stay in a foreign place for any length of time you typically will need a visa, so you will need a local employer to sponsor a work permit. So if you really want to live somewhere else, take a job.

As to finding a telecommute job, it can be hard. If you want to go down that plan (i.e. telecommute in your native country and travel around abroad) I suggest you find that job and work a while in it before you start traveling.

Personally while I like traveling very much, there's nothing like really living in a different country to grow your horizons. I have lived in 4 countries - 5 if you count Scotland :-) - and don't regret any of it. If you have the interest and the opportunity, take it.

</comment><comment><USER3> Work abroad will give you Less freedom for travel because you are tethered to one place. However, you may be able to work something out to telecommute for certain periods with this job.

You should probably take whatever job is more interesting to you. Or perhaps you are unable to find a telecommuting job. I'm a freelancer, so I can do pretty much whatever I like. ;)</comment>


Show HN: Draft – A Design Feedback Tool for Designers and Small Teams - <AUTHOR> https://www.draftapp.co

<comment><USER2> I love the signup page on this site. The writing style of the app itself speaking to you is a great twist and kept me scrolling at least.

I have to agree with others here that there are a lot of apps in this space, but the interactive demo right at the top is an awesome way of getting across just how simple this is to use, so I can see that going some way to help this page stand out in a list of many.

<comment><USER3> Thanks Michael, we put a lot of thought into how we could present the app to people so I'm glad you picked up on all of our little ideas :)

</comment></comment><comment><USER4> First of all, this looks very nice and I have nothing bad to say about this particular product at all.

But I can't help but wonder why there are so many apps like this. Off the top of my head there's Notable, LayerVault, Shipment, Cage, Marqueed, Moqups, the recently released Flatsie, and a ton of others that all offer some variation of the "show your work to clients" theme.

I'm really curious what pushed you to release your own version of this. Does Draft do something that, say, Notable doesn't? Or do you think the market for this is so big that it can comfortably support one more similar app?

<comment><USER3> Thanks for the comment, I'm Chris (designer on Draft).

So there were a couple of reasons for doing this but the main one was scratching my own itch (so to speak). I was getting tired of emails back & forth with clients for feedback and although I had tried some alternatives, including some of the ones you mentioned, I never found one that fit my particular workflow.

I guess we'll see about the market size and if there is room for this or not :)

<comment><USER5> Small thing:

"If you cancel & there is more than 7 days of the month left you won't be charged at all. However if there is less than 7 days of the month left, you will be charged for the entire month."

should be "...there ARE..." in both cases.

<comment><USER3> Thanks for the heads up, changing that now.

</comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER6> Enjoyed the landing page and the product looks very simple and useful. However, I was thrown off by the demo image used (a login page) and was confused where I could sign up for your app. I think it would be useful to show a different image for the first interaction.

Additionally, consider letting the first-time visitor upload something of their own, drop a comment, and email it to their friends, coworker, or client right from this first page. Onboard them and get them using the social functions immediately to get behavioral patterns started.

<comment><USER3> Hi Steve, many thanks for taking the time to have a look and provide feedback. Excellent point on the login confusion, I'll have to address that as others may also have this.

With regards to the behavioural patterns on initial viewing, I definitely agree and this is something we're planning, just need to get it done :)

</comment></comment><comment><USER7> I think the site looks great. Kudos for giving the actual use case of the app with showing instead of telling. I think its a great overview of what you offer.

I am curious as to why you have so many monthly price points - I would have expected 3 for simplicity (or even 1 if you were so bold)

I don't have perfect clarity into the "buyers" of these servies, and maybe its as simple as them needed this level of options.

<comment><USER3> Hi, we've since simplified pricing so there are now only two options - <https://www.draftapp.co/plans>

For an individual there is a Solo plan at $10 per month. This gets you 5 projects, unlimited storage.

For teams there is a Team plan at $25 per month. This gets you unlimited projects, unlimited storage.

Again, thanks for the comment.

</comment></comment><comment><USER8> I loved the way you guys presented the simplicity of the app above the fold itself!

I agree that there are lots of players in the space and adding to the list given above, namely, Easyproof, Proofhq, Pixelapse and Conceptshare come to mind. Also, there's Framebench that's making some noise with its novel real time functionalities. I really think they might have something there.

<comment><USER9> Hey thanks for the mention! I'm a founder at Framebench (www.framebench.com) and we're trying out some new stuff with real time technologies. We too plan to launch soon and would love all your reviews!

Again Chris, Kudos on the design and the uber cool way you explained the applications use case. Congrats :)

</comment></comment><comment><USER10> The site looks great. Simple, to the point with an obvious call to action.

I have one question about the pricing. You say "x projects" and the cost is monthly. Is that x projects per month? If I start a project in one month, and it continues into the next billing cycle, do I get to start two new projects whilst I complete the outstanding third one?

<comment><AUTHOR> The projects limit are the total you can have under your plan, your allowance isn't incremented monthly. So in your example if you require a third project you would have to either upgrade or delete a project.

</comment></comment><comment><USER11> Good idea, but unfortunately that product is really hard to establish because of the learning curve it introduces to everyone involved. I find it to be highly effective for beginning phases, but to transfer that information to another platform has been the determining factor for my version. :3

<comment><USER3> Hey, thanks for the comment. I had similar reservations but having used the app with clients I've that the majority have found it quite valuable in helping them explain their feedback, only a very small % have had issues understanding it.

With regards to transferring that information to another platform, do you mean transferring all of the comments/feedback to something like a spreadsheet? Or something else?

</comment></comment><comment><USER12> When compared to InvisionApp, which is what I use currently for sharing mocks and annotations capability - they have more features and for the same/similar price.

You won't beat them in features (atm) so you gotta beat them in price.

If you guys are cheaper, I'd give it a whirl!

<comment><USER3> Hi Jimmy, we've since simplified pricing so there are now only two options - <https://www.draftapp.co/plans>

For an individual there is a Solo plan at $10 per month. This gets you 5 projects, unlimited storage.

For teams there is a Team plan at $25 per month. This gets you unlimited projects, unlimited storage.

</comment></comment><comment><USER13> Great site, only problem I found was some wording at the bottom:

"I was built by Simon Reed & Chris Mahon. Simon made me work they way I do and Chris who gave me my good looks."

Simon made me work THE way I do and Chris -who- gave me my good looks.

\</comment><comment>

Beautiful site!

<comment><USER3> Thanks benny, made those changes.

<comment><USER13> No problemo'.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER14> Small bug in the demo: When I click for a text box the scrollbar on the right of the page disappears. This causes the entire display of the page to shift right by (half of?) the scrollbar width to remain centred. It's pretty visually disorientating.

Win7 x64, FF 17.0.1

<comment><USER14> Sorry, clarification: When I mouse over the textbox itself. If I click on an existing comment or click to create my own new one, it doesn't do it until I mouse over the textbox to enter text.

It is only when the mouse cursor is on the textbox too, once the input is on the textbox I can move the mouse off it and the page scrollbar returns, yet I can still keep typing as it's the active input still.

<comment><USER3> Hi, thanks for the detailed feedback, we'll get that fixed.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER15> There are dozens of websites doing this for free. Why should one use your service?

<comment><USER3> Hi, thanks for the comment. Every plan comes with a free 14 day trial for people to try it out for themselves to see how it compares to any alternatives.

After that it's up to that individual to decide if the experience we've created is something they would like to continue using or not, hopefully they do :)

<comment><USER16> This may just be me, but 14 days seems kind of strict for the type of projects it is for and given the learning curve of all the parties involved like someone else mentioned. It could take two weeks before everyone on my team has even had the time to go over it. If there was a file or size limit, it might be more friendly.

<comment><USER3> Hi, thanks for the comment. Interesting viewpoint, we'll look at increasing it to a month, do you think that would be sufficient time to test it out?

<comment><USER16> Thanks for responding!

I would think so. I mean, I'd want to use it throughout the entire iterative process, so that means I'm waiting at least a week for everyone's feedback, implementing it and getting it back up there and then having them look at it again. Toss in another project to ensure that it will be easy to navigate the site and I think that could easily take a month, but definitely more than two weeks.

<comment><USER3> No worries, thank you for taking the time to give us feedback!

We'll update it so that the trial is increased to 30 days to give people more time to get a feel for the product and anyone who has signed up prior to this will have their trial extended to make up for the difference.

<comment><USER16> Awesome, thanks so much! I should be giving it a go in the next week or so once we start our next project.

</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER17> Looks really interesting. I'll definitely consider using this. Seems great for collaboration.

Idea: integrate something like this with a version control system like Git(hub)?

<comment><USER3> Hi, thanks for the comment. We do have version control for each design/image you upload. If it has the same name, you can flip between previous versions. Is that what you meant?

</comment></comment><comment><USER18> I like this a lot. It wouldn't be HN if I didn't have a nitpick to contribute: dragging the textareas to the right takes it past its right border (Chrome 24 / Mountain Lion).

<comment><USER3> Hi, thanks for the comment. I can't quite replicate this, any chance you could email us at firstname.lastname@example.com ?

<comment><USER18> I tried emailing email@example.com both from gmail and my dreamhost mail and both returned to sender

<comment><USER3> Doh, sorry that should have been firstname.lastname@example.com

</comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER19> There is also a pretty cool (and free) alternative: <http://mocku.ps>

<comment><USER20> Free is always nice, but sometimes free can mean not around very long, which is not so nice, especially if you have tons of data stored, talking of which, is there a way to export your content from the app ?

<comment><USER21> > but sometimes free can mean not around very long, which is not so nice, > especially if you have tons of data stored...

I do wish people would remember this when talking about how unjust it is that PACER charges 10 cents a page (up to a maximum of 3 dollars per document) for court documents.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER22> Take a look at - <http://webklipper.com/webklipper>

</comment><comment><USER23> the right product in this space is going to shake things up on price. everyone is trying to squeeze too much out of this concept. and that's why it hasn't gained near the traction with agencies as it could. its not cost effective.

<comment><USER3> Hi Michael, thanks for the comment. Interested to know your thoughts on our product, do you think we're trying to do too much?

For now we've tried to keep things simple with a limited feature set (i.e. only what you really need to get going).

But very interested to know what you think we could do better so we can improve.

</comment></comment><comment><USER23> pricing too high. max pricing should be about 15.00 a month but just have a limit of storage and force people to dump old stuff.

<comment><USER3> Hi Michael, we've since simplified pricing so there are now only two options - <https://www.draftapp.co/plans>

For an individual there is a Solo plan at $10 per month. This gets you 5 projects, unlimited storage.

For teams there is a Team plan at $25 per month. This gets you unlimited projects, unlimited storage.

Again, thanks for the comment.

</comment></comment><comment><USER24> we use <http://clarify.io> pretty cool too (and free)

<comment><USER3> As above, thanks for the comment. Always interesting to see how others are approaching this problem.</comment></comment>


Tiny Robotic Bee Assembles Itself - <AUTHOR> http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/02/robotic-bee

<comment><USER2> All the discussion is on the submission from yesterday:

<http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3606394></comment>


The Skyrim mod that's also a job application - <AUTHOR> http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/196520/The_Skyrim_mod_thats_also_a_job_application.php <comment><USER2> For anyone interested in the followup: he ended up working at Bungie on Destiny [http://www.gamespot.com/articles/skyrim-s-falskaar-mod- maker...](http://www.gamespot.com/articles/skyrim-s-falskaar-mod-maker-lands- games-industry-job/1100-6416394/). Truly inspiring. I'm hoping I can someday pause work life and embark on something similarly titanic - a magnum opus, if you will.</comment>


Adam Curry launches a new, open podcast directory - <AUTHOR> https://podnews.net/update/podcast-index-open-directory <comment><USER2> I remember when he did this 15 years ago. He hosted fraudulently uploaded podcasts with ad-inserts. Along with his podcast network that literally stole the names from several of the biggest podcasts at the time through their Podshow Contract. This looks to be exactly the same. Scammers gonna scam.

<comment><USER3> Oh yeah I remember this too! Good times.

ETA: was his the venture backed startup that hired Scoble until they ran out of money or was that something else

Edit 2: the Scoble podcast VC thing was different. But it too went up in flames in spectacular Web 2.0 fashion.

<comment><USER4> Meevio?

</comment></comment></comment><comment> book-sandworm Gave Adam Curry's content (No agenda) a shot a couple of years ago. They created content that was at least flirting with creating their own dimension (figuratively). It seemed more like they were interested in their ego's then actually doing real research. To me it seemed fuel for unfounded conspiracies and provoking for provocation sake.

Not sure how people this disconnected with the rest of the world are able to create an "open podcast directory".

Pretty much seams like there is a platform wars going on when it comes to podcast. Looking what youtube did to video content as a platform I think companies like Spotify (Gimlit) smell blood when it comes to podcasting. Think that would be a shame for that industry, podcasting collectives like Radiotopia are awesome because of that, they have to lean on quality and content. Not on some fancy algorithm that tries to keep you engaged as long as possible. Looking at the content he creates, seems like the complete opposite.

What made podcasts awesome was that the platform was fairly neutral (rss feed). Yes you have Apple podcasts, but I don't know anyone that really likes podcasts and still uses that app.

<comment><USER5> I use Apple Podcasts for simplicity. Is there a better app that still enables Indie self hosted podcasts to proliferate? I've never run into any problems with Apple Podcasts, it's a low tech solution for a low tech problem.

<comment><USER4> Overcast is cool ([http://www.overcast.fm](http://www.overcast.fm))

<comment><USER6> Overcast is my current choice. (For iOS, I don't have Android so can't comment.) I tried them all. I don't particularly like any of them.

I've requested a feature and reported a bug via their Slack. I'm hopeful they'll get added and fixed, respectively.

I still don't have a way to easily binge on some large archives. Like History of Philosophy without any Gaps. [https://historyofphilosophy.net](https://historyofphilosophy.net)

And Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History doesn't sort correctly in any podcast client I've tried, making it even harder to binge.

What I really want is a NetNewsWire (RSS client) that can play audio (directly).

I also want client-side metrics and listening history. To help me remember when I heard something, better determine if I'm actually listening to misc content, etc.

<comment><USER7> Castro has listening history. But it doesn't handle in-order bingeing of podcasts any better than any other client I've tried.

It's puzzling how no one has done this yet:

\- play podcasts in chronological order, keeping x of them downloaded and getting the next one when one is finished.

</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER8> Not a huge Curry fan but I'm REALLY not a fan of the co-host of his podcast. I have been reading John C Dvorak, in real-time, since the mid-80s. I challenge you to find someone so consistently wrong about technology and be wrong in the most douchebag way possible.

<comment><USER9> I was excited when I saw the name because I thought it was about Kubernetes but it's just a pun about podcasts...womp womp

</comment></comment><comment><USER3> This is one of those ideas that is good in theory until you look at how it will actually be used, as well as the actual problems it solves and doesn't solve.

For better or worse, Apple has been the defacto podcast directory for almost every podcasting app for over 15 years. In the aughts, a number of startups tried to take on that space (notably Odeo, which incubated and then pivoted into Twitter) and all of them failed. Apple has been largely an absentee steward, which has worked out well for podcasting. It wasn't until Google decided to take podcasts seriously about five years ago and launched its own podcast directory. Spotify's podcast directory started about five years ago too, though took longer to build momentum.

All three are largely copies of one another — although Spotify has exclusives in its directory that can only be played in its app — and most major podcasts choose to submit their RSS feed to those directories, with some also choosing to share with other services (Stitcher, Luminary, etc.) that can do some fucked up stuff with the audio. It's all a game of reach for a podcast publisher, unless you choose you don't want Luminary or Stitcher to insert their own ads into your content — or you have an exclusive with some service or another.

So now there is ostensibly yet another podcast directory, except it can't offer a good value prop for existing except that it is "open" — which sounds good if you're Alex Jones or you make content that has been kicked out of the other directories — but will realistically impact only a small number of podcasters.

The target audience, I assume is podcatching apps. Right now, most of them scrape the Apple or Google podcasts directory to save the insanity of trying to maintain their own directory.

So what value is there for this "open" directory to someone who has a podcatching app? Well, nothing unless there is a critical mass of podcasts submitted. Moreover, the service says it's free, but is also asking for donations, which makes me worry about the viability of the index longterm. Given how difficult the market is for creating a third-party podcasting client when Google, Apple, and Spotify exist with their own apps and established indies (Overcast), I would strongly discourage anyone from building their own podcatcher as anything more than a hobby project.

So what's the point? Podcasters will still have to submit to the major indexes anyway and podcatchers or client apps already have enough problems without having to worry about a little-used alternative that doesn't have a business plan associated with it.

I'm all for open and I'm not mad this exists — but I certainly wouldn't build my app off its API.

<comment><AUTHOR> The main problem it solves, as mentioned in another comment, is that this project is not beholden to a corporate entity which is in turn beholden to its shareholders. The "censorship of conservative content" has never been about politics but about making advertisers happy: advertisers who demand that their ad buys not be displayed with/alongside content they deem inappropriate for whatever reason. It was the political right who used this tactic to great effect in the 1980s, going after advertisers and boycotting companies advertising on "non-family-friendly" media content (usually television). The media companies want to keep the ad money rolling in so they made a content pivot/censored content. The same thing is happening now; follow the money: that's where the effort to silence is being bought and paid for. Companies like Apple, Google/YouTube, Reddit, and Facebook are simply caught in the middle of a political tug-of-war and trying to find the least crappy path through it.

<comment><USER3> You're not getting it. I understand the aim. I'm asking how it can solve that problem if it doesn't have massive mindshare for podcasters to use and submit to?

Because simply having another directory in existence and requesting people submit their feed to it isn't going to be easy. And if the index doesn't have the content, it is useless, regardless of its mission.

<comment><USER10> Well they could certainly seed their initial data by scraping Apple's directory, like most of the podcast player apps do. As for not having mind share, that's not necessarily a reason to just throw in the towel. Lot's of problems have this kind of chicken and egg scenario. Get something up and running and then try to chip away at the mindshare problem by getting podcasters to list there and podcast players to use this directory.

</comment></comment></comment></comment><comment><USER11> I wonder how The Podcast Index will handle fraud. There are other directories that are similar in that they allow anyone to submit without moderation and that leads to spammers re-hosting other podcasts with ad insertion.

<comment><USER3> Yeah, fraud is a major reason other people don't want to maintain their own directories. And I'm guessing there aren't a lot of fraud provisions built into this by design. Because "open."

</comment></comment><comment><USER12> From Curry's Wikipedia page:

"In late 2005 Curry was caught making anonymous edits to the Podcast Wikipedia page, deleting several sections concerning contributions made by fellow podcasting pioneers, Kevin Marks and Stephen Downes, while adding material that emphasized his own involvement with the development of the medium."

Edit: the entry goes on to quote Curry in a context where he admits performing the indicated edits.

</comment><comment><USER13> This sounds like a huge headache, but their heart is in the right place. Premium/non-RSS "podcasts" are a terrible experience.

</comment><comment><USER14> Here is a link to the actual site: [https://podcastindex.org/](https://podcastindex.org/)

</comment><comment><USER15> Years ago I was listening for one of early seasons of DSC for a year or so and it was kind of fun. Few years later I've looked him up and his new show has totally different vibe: grumpy old men with questionable political agenda. From DSC days I reckon he was a good entertainer but sucked in business. Hence I have little exepctations for his new venture.

</comment><comment><USER16> There is also [https://fyyd.de](https://fyyd.de) (it is integrated into [https://antennapod.org](https://antennapod.org)).

</comment><comment><USER17> I was excited for a moment, because I was a listener of his "Daily show" way- back-when distinctly remember when Apple got on board for example. At the time he was legitimately a pioneer of the technology, terminology and the medium.

Unfortunately/fortunately? I'd pretty much not tracked him for 15+ years, so had forgotten what a sleazy Bagshot crazy he's become. Sad.

</comment><comment><USER18> "Apple is starting to tinker with their directory"

This is the first I'm hearing of it. What are have Apple been doing to their index?

<comment><USER4> [https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/6/17655168/alex-jones- infowa...](https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/6/17655168/alex-jones-infowars- apple-itunes-podcasts-removed)

<comment><USER19> _"Podcasts that violate these guidelines are removed from our directory making them no longer searchable or available for download or streaming. We believe in representing a wide range of views, so long as people are respectful to those with differing opinions."_

Anything not distributed will be used as a locus of control. The justification for the action is immaterial. The problem is that the action is possible at all.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER20> Meh.... he's a conspiracy crank

</comment><comment><USER4> He went full alt right. This is likely owing to the deletion of podcasts with hate speech. Just FYI.

<comment><AUTHOR> That's the great thing about free speech: hate is overcome with more free speech.

<comment><USER21> Unless it isn't, see various oppressive governments. Nazi-germany showed how to hack free speech into oppression through censorship, book-burning. Russia showed and continues to show how to use techniques like generating multiple low-effort angles to balkanize readership and lionize their time, thus sowing confusion and discord. China.

Free speech won't and doesn't survive contact with the human race without an effective defence, and history shows merely counting on people to use more free speech leaves free speech and democracy open to coordinated brute force attacks.

<comment><USER22> Book burning is the opposite of free speech.

So is the great firewall of China.

Russia chills speech with assassinations.

Nearly all your examples are proving the opposite of your point.

<comment><USER21> My examples are not your examples, and your statements at best holds true for yours only.

The point is that merely thinking saying free speech should be free is not enough. As you well illustrate, the debate on what exactly free speech is means we need to define what falls outside of it very clearly.

<comment><USER22> Your examples were the CCP, Nazi and Russia. So were mine.

<comment><USER21> I gave examples of some of their strategies, on which I base my conclusions. Your examples are different, and therefore support different conclusions.</comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment></comment>


Facebook Billionaire Banned From US? - <AUTHOR> http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2012/05/16/us-citizenship-renouncing-facebook-cofounder-saverin-may-be-effectively-banned-from-the-country/ <comment><USER2> _Former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxation.-Any alien who is a former citizen of the United States who officially renounces United States citizenship and who is determined by the Attorney General to have renounced United States citizenship for the purpose of avoiding taxation by the United States is excludable._

It would be hard to prove that he renounced his citizenship specifically to avoid taxation (he did it nearly 6 months before the IPO, and had been living abroad for several years), and even you could prove it, it is not an automatic exclusion.</comment>


New York's longstanding Apple retailer Tekserve is closing up shop - <AUTHOR> https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/30/tekserve/ <comment><USER2> We had a similar situation to this in Minnesota with a company called FirstTech (they were actually Apple's first reseller!)

[http://www.twincities.com/2014/03/18/minneapolis- firsttech-a...](http://www.twincities.com/2014/03/18/minneapolis-firsttech- apple-retailing-pioneer-is-closing/)</comment>


lookatsrc.com - Browse and search the source of java frameworks - <AUTHOR> http://www.lookatsrc.com <comment><USER2> nice work.</comment>


Free English e-learning website for international kids - <AUTHOR> http://www.english-room.com/ <comment><AUTHOR> Wish I had this as an immigrant kid.</comment>


Pornhub's Premium Content Is Free All Month to Italians Stuck in Lockdown - <AUTHOR> https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/03/pornhub-premium-subscriptions-free-italy/ <comment><USER2> I don't understand why this is spun up as such a big story. Yes it's funny somehow and sex sells, but honestly it's not adding any real value (as enough porn is anyway free). This is purely a marketing stunt and I'm disappointed a community like HN would be so happy to promote it.

<comment><USER3> > I'm disappointed a community like HN would be so happy to promote it

If you're not interested in a specific shared link, I'd recommend not commenting on it. If links like this became the norm, maybe, but it certainly isn't.

Was it a marketing stunt, yes. Is it also a fun one that I'd argue will benefit some people during a time of distress, also yes. I know if I were in Italy, I'd use it.

</comment></comment><comment><USER4> Doing the Lord's work

<comment><USER5> With a free handout.

<comment><USER6> And with the other hand... _unzips_

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER7> All that Purell need to be put in good use.

<comment><USER8> "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

</comment></comment><comment><USER9> Who said the civic spirit is dead</comment>


Ask HN: Best TV series you watched in 2012? - <AUTHOR>

For me, Game of Throne. <comment><USER2> Louie, Season 3 stands out to me as the best show of the year. Every 'section'(between advert breaks) is extremely well written, directed, and even orchestrated. Each 'section' feels like an operatic movement, with each episode being extremely cohesive and emotive. From an artistic point of view, it's one of the best shows of the year. From a comedy point of view, it's probably the best show of the year, definitely the stand out show for me this year.

Homeland was also very good this year, it managed to keep up the suspense and excellent acting, I'm excited to see the new season next year.

I enjoyed Dexter, I'm not sure I like where they are heading though, it's getting darker and darker by the series. I also enjoyed Castle, I think it's very funny and well written, but perhaps I have a soft spot Nathan Fillion.

Most anticipated TV series for next year is the new Arrested Development. I love the first three seasons, I'm a bit nervous with netflix financing it, I hope the (probably) smaller budget hasn't meant too many compromises in terms of writing and production, but with the excellent cast from the previous seasons all returning, I'm excited to see how they're going to pick up from the end of season 3.

</comment><comment><USER3> Dexter S07 was very, very good. Some of the best writing on the show yet, even if still completely defies logic and believability. Really great acting from some of the cast too.

</comment><comment><USER4> I never watched Lost when it ran and even when it ended in 2010. My friends kept pushing but I never gave it a chance until a month ago. Once I made past a few episodes, I was hooked!!

<comment><USER5> How much have you watched? The first 2 seasons are fantastic, but I watched every season in the space of 2 weeks and after season 3 it just goes down hill and eventually became a chore for me to watch. I found the ending so very frustrating because there are so many unanswered questions...

<comment><USER4> I'm watching the last season now. Yes there are many questions that are never answered and the timelines never get explained, but I'm still enjoying it. I found the many, multi-faceted characters to be very easy to relate to and interesting to follow.

</comment></comment></comment><comment><USER6> Sons of Anarchy has been better and better each season, this years topped it off for me. There may be a few other shows and cartoons (Oh noooes.) But as far as live action it's SOA all the way.

(I must disclose that I haven't seen breaking bad yet, and from what I hear I need to watch it very badly. Especially since I love SOA as much as I do, or so I've heard)

</comment><comment><USER7> Felt compelled to post because I hadn't seen Suits mentioned. Modern Family continues to be reliable for laughs and hasn't been added yet. The League is the other show which I find myself laughing out loud at least a few times every episode.

Hell on Wheels surprised me by having a strong second season.

I had high hopes for Copper, but it hasn't really grabbed me in the 1st handful of episodes.

Agree with all the obvious ones:

Homeland, Louie, Newsroom, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, Community.

My wife is addicted to Castle and I've come to really enjoy it too. Since we've caught up to date with that we've now switched over to Person of Interest, which I'm really enjoying.

I've fallen behind with the following and plan to catch up ASAP:

Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, 30 Rock, Breaking Bad.

PS: yeah, I watch a lot of TV :)

</comment><comment><USER8> _The Legend of Korra_ , the new incarnation of the _Avatar: The Last Airbender_ series.

If you can get over the fact that it's a kids' show, it's one of the best- crafted series out there. I used to say it was the best animated series I'd ever seen, but now I'd go further and say it was the best show I've ever seen in any genre aimed at any age group. To properly catalog its qualities would take a fairly substantial effort on my part and produce a fairly lengthy piece of writing, so I'll just say this: it's a series that's obviously produced by extremely talented people who deeply care about what they're making, and the more you watch the show the more evident that becomes in a ceaselessly pleasing array of ways. I literally can't endorse it enough.

</comment><comment><USER9> I've watched a lot of 'bad' shows this year, really just for something to watch. I did really enjoy Breaking Bad, Dexter & The Walking Dead though!

I also re-watched Oz, The Wire & Seinfeld this year and I'll probably watch them again at some point in 2013..

<comment><USER10> +1 The Wire: Shieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

</comment></comment><comment><USER11> The Newsroom. A wonderful take on what broadcast news could be. Plus I'm a fan of Aaron Sorkin.

</comment><comment><USER12> I have been enjoying Person of Interest. A buttoned down cypherpunk and a ex cia black ops agent help/stop people indicated to them by an AI. But it's set in the present, not the future. Sometimes reminds me of the Wire.

</comment><comment><USER13> Breaking Bad continues to amaze me each year.

</comment><comment><USER14> Walking Dead, was hands down the best series last year for me. It's a well put together and produced show. Has a lot of drama without being soap opra'ish. Even if the zombie apocalypse is not your thing, it's still a great show. My wife hates zombie movies and absolutely loves the series.

</comment><comment><USER15> Boardwalk Empire

</comment><comment><USER16> Peep Show. It isn't from 2012 but I found it then on netflix. Best laughs, best writing etc. I loved the way it presented life in London especially the day to day grind. Definitely worth checking out.

<comment><USER2> I love Peep Show. They're currently airing the newest season, and I'm impressed by it so far, it's managed to live up to previous seasons, although it would be nice if they pushed the storyline a bit further from the same 'two dudes in a flat, one doing drugs, the other obsessing over a girl' theme that they've had since the first season

</comment></comment><comment><USER17> I can't decide. A few for me! Dexter, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and always Dr Who :)

</comment><comment><USER18> Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, Homeland, and Justified.

Oh, and Louie. :)

</comment><comment><USER19> Last Resort. Too bad the show got cancelled but it was the most promising new series.

</comment><comment><USER20> Game Of Thrones and Homeland.

<comment><USER20> Will have a look at Breaking Bad...

</comment></comment><comment><USER21> Fringe

</comment><comment><USER22> Breaking Bad, Walking Dead and Awake. Yes, Awake...

<comment><USER23> Very bummed that Awake got axed - interesting spin on a cop procedural.

</comment></comment><comment><USER24> I'm surprised no one quoted Arrow yet...

</comment><comment><USER25> Community. :)

<comment><USER26> Homeland and Game of Thrones

</comment></comment><comment><USER27> Love/Hate Irish Crime Drama

</comment><comment><USER28> Sherlock, Game of Thrones

</comment><comment><USER29> Breaking bad, no doubt

</comment><comment><USER30> Sherlock

</comment><comment><USER31> Boardwalk Empire

</comment><comment><USER32> Breaking Bad.</comment>