Patrick's dashboard

Patrick asked a question in TinyGrab on November 05, 2009 20:19:

Does direct FTP upload bypass TinyGrab servers altogether?

I just want to know if, with this new FTP-in-app functionality, the application sends my login info to TinyGrab at all, does it get stored remotely at all, and do images get sent through TG servers at all?

Basically, I want to be sure my login isn't seen or stored by anywone, my pics aren't seen or stored anywhere by MY server, and there is no intermediary in any of these processes.

Patrick replied on September 15, 2009 15:36 to the problem "Filesize Too Large Error" in TinyGrab:

I tried with smaller and different shots and it worked fine.

Then I went back and tried again, and it failed again.

The problem here isn't the limit, it's the fact that TinyGrab chokes after this error and won't work at all anymore until a restart. That's the main issue.

Patrick reported a problem in TinyGrab on September 15, 2009 15:21:

Filesize Too Large Error

Uploading a grab last night, I got an error that the filesize was too large for TinyGrab. While this did not crash the app, it did stop it from functioning and it wouldn't respond to anything after that. No new grabs would be processed until the app was restarted.

Why is there a filesize limit that is within the realms of a normal screenshot filesize? This was simply a shot of the iTunes window.

Patrick started following the idea "Direct FTP Upload from the Client" in TinyGrab.

Patrick replied on September 11, 2009 14:57 to the question "Chess Wars Still Not Working" in Blunder Move:

You guys sent me a gift card already. It's appreciated. Still frustrating. I'll add you on facebook now.

Patrick asked a question in Blunder Move on September 11, 2009 12:43:

Chess Wars Still Not Working

We're about two updates in since I came here and reported problems I'm having with Chess Wars. I still have never been able to successfully initiate a challenge or play ONE GAME of chess, because I get an "oh noes the intertubes aren't working" message every time.

I'm able to send an invite, whatever that does, but cannot challenge my friends who have the game. I get the internet error everytime, WiFi or 3G, and no it isn't my connection.

This is so frustrating.

A comment on the idea "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's" in TinyGrab:

"bud"? Did I just step in to an episode of the Andy Griffith show? – Patrick, on August 31, 2009 21:17

Patrick replied on August 31, 2009 20:56 to the idea "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's" in TinyGrab:

I'm talking to Chris on AIM. We'll handle this there, so the kids can play on here.

Patrick made a comment on "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's", but it was removed. see the change log

Patrick replied on August 31, 2009 20:37 to the idea "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's" in TinyGrab:

It's nothing like a cloud service - the images are going to MY server. My app - sorry, the app I paid for but isn't mine - just has to ask YOUR server if it's ok to send a file to my own server.

That's not the same at all.

And right or wrong, I trust Google a little more, at least from a reliability standpoint.

Patrick replied to "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's", but it was removed. see the change log

Patrick replied on August 31, 2009 20:15 to the idea "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's" in TinyGrab:

How embarrassing this is becoming for you.

First of all, your company was founded in 2006. You're barely three years old. Don't talk about yourself like you are Accenture.

Your website has a picture of a kid, presumably you, next to a tripod. Two kids run this company. You have the company equivalent of a podcast; your parents bought you a computer and you made a piece of software and put it on a feed to see who would bite.

Comparing yourself to Google - wow, the arrogance on you. Stop it.

And now your friend comes along and can't be bothered to brush his hair out of his face long enough to make sense.

"We have a long standing relationship with his company..."

DO YOU? You liar. His company is three years old, and you look like you're 14. Stop. Stop with your lying. You haven't had a long standing relationship with anything but a juice box, CHILD.

You're trying to make yourself look like a company, and it's embarrassing.

And now you're bordering on libel for making me sound like I've threatened to badmouth you or spread falsities. I tried to have a dialogue, and you're being a bitch.

Patrick replied on August 31, 2009 19:57 to the idea "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's" in TinyGrab:

I'm not threatening anything, but good idea. I think I will tell a few people about your awful product.

"If TinyGrab fails you get a refund!"

"If TinyGrab fails, we will hack in a code to make it work completely differently! That's right - while we're failing financially and scrambling for new jobs, it will be a top priority to get a new version out first, to not screw our customers, since we designed this thing ass-backwards!"

"If TinyGrab fails, we will release the code!"

All promises from, sorry, NOBODY. You're as credible to me as I am to you.

"Give us your FTP info, we will control everything from our handy, dandy, TinyGrab magic servers! Step right up! Step right up!"

And forget the fact that you're poaching the hell out of GrabUp, but no one can do it to you? Get off your high horse.

Real professional, COMPANY.

I'm glad I finally elicited some emotion from you, though. Did you have to check with your server API to post that?

Patrick replied on August 31, 2009 19:43 to the idea "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's" in TinyGrab:

The point is that I wouldn't use your server - FOR ANYTHING. I upload to my own, and send it from the app to my FTP. Therefore you have nothing to support.

Your dependence on registration and licensing through your site is only dictated by the boorish nature in which you've designed the app to need your server to do ANYTHING.

Open it up, make it not need to touch your server, and if someone steals a copy here and there, bad karma on them, but I guarantee you a lot more professionals will purchase your app.

I want a dependable solution, not a meaningless promise.

Look at your Get Satisfaction tag - "im indifferent" - how in the hell do you think that makes customers feel?

Patrick replied on August 31, 2009 19:28 to the idea "Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's" in TinyGrab:

I'm really sorry/surprised to hear this.

No one likes handing control and access to their personal or corporate FTP servers over to a stranger. This is pretty much DRM'ing a service, and nobody like DRM.

You say if you go out of business, you'll refund my money. Do you understand what a laughable statement that is? If you go out of business, you might not have any money. You're going to spend my money running your servers for this service and paying yourselves. Where is this "magic" refund going to come from when you close shop?

A company with no real reputation cannot play the "trust us" card. Your website says "this is a side-project". It SAYS that. So no, that doesn't instill a lot of confidence.

Thanks for pointing out that I don't ever really own the software. Given your complete cavalier attitude about software rights and complete closed-minded stance on hearing out ideas from customers, I'm all set to pass now.

Keep your walled garden up and run your closed service. I'll find another solution. There will be an open source solution that will bury this service in months with this weird ecosystem you've built this on.

And when I find it, I'll be sure to let everyone on your Get Satisfaction page know about it like you've done over at GrabUp's.

Patrick shared an idea in TinyGrab on August 31, 2009 18:46:

Open Up TinyGrab - Drop the API's

My concern, before spending this money on the pro version, has to do with operation long-term. I bought grabup, which is now broken and my money was wasted.

I'm concerned that a lot of your application uses API's to your site/service, and if you go out of business, I'm, again, stuck with an app that is broken and useless.

Please consider revising the architecture of this app to be self contained, use license codes to unlock the software, and make it entirely self-sufficient.

This includes managing settings and FTP information in the app, unlocking a paid app without a verification server, and opening up the way in which TinyGrab recognizes new screenshots, in case Apple changes the way OS X names or stores them going forward.

It's in the best interest of your customers to not cripple your software by making it phone home via API's to function. This will give me a lot more confidence in the product. The day you do it, my money is yours.

Nobody likes the "it's your software, we'll just keep it down at my house" approach to development.

Patrick replied on August 29, 2009 04:57 to the question "Do you have a Snow Leopard compatible version in the work?" in grabUp:

I paid for grabup pro and my workflow needs it! Please update ASAP!

Patrick started following the question "Do you have a Snow Leopard compatible version in the work?" in grabUp.

Patrick replied on July 31, 2009 17:40 to the problem "Can't invite anyone" in Blunder Move:

I sent the crash report. I have no more time to devote to this really. It's a 99 cents app. I'll keep a look out for an update. Sorry.

Patrick replied on July 31, 2009 17:18 to the problem "Can't invite anyone" in Blunder Move:

We are friends on facebook, and yet nothing on my challenge tab at all. And it crashes sometimes when I switch tabs.