I have exactly the same thoughts but also think stealth-mode is bullshit.
Having just started on my first tech startup about a month ago, I am trying to go for the "be open and honest about everything" meets "release early, release often" approach on the basis that if the idea is crap, I would rather hear about it earlier and fail quickly (so I can change direction or reset and move on with the next idea).
I am also going with a hardware-based product and am still building the site (what you will see was put together yesterday afternoon as a quick draft as we work through the "presenting the idea" stage of things and refine and streamline the concept), which is very likely to change over the next month which is also a reason I haven't done a "Ask HN: Is my startup crap?" post.
I've been in this industry for many years.. there are a bunch of people throwing software onto a hushpc. They come and go every year.
The consumer marketplace for infrastructure hardware is fickle indeed.. the customers who could actually hook everything up with your box often fall into the 'experimenter' market.. they are putting their own boxes together.
The 'enthusiast' market for these devices is pretty good, but often it's like the 'audiophile' market in the 80's. No matter what you sell, it's never good enough. So even though they are willing to pay a premium, it only takes a couple of them with a ground hum problem to eat up all of your profits in technical support.
The 'rich guy' market is tough to access. They are happy with the DVR from their cable company.
But whatever market you get into you need fat margins on the hardware to have a chance of making it.
Thanks. Its still early days yet (<1mth). I am having a go at building one device that can access digital, terrestrial, satellite, and iPTV from one device, with a simple interface and full recording fetures.
I expect to fail (being such a crowded market with big players with deep pockets) ;) but am interested to see how far I can go. It also has a few other features akin to what picwing is doing but for video. Especially nice is the "virtual living room" function that allows no-fuss video conferencing while sharing a video/home-movie.
The forums/feedback sections will be up on the weekend, so I'd really welcome any thoughts insights you may have.
You know, you are entering a market with your box that is very crowded with similar products. My thesis document is something, that if combined with your product, would change your product from something nice to something that will blow minds. Intruiged? Watch my twitter account and wait for when I post the pictures (it's hardware).
Yes, but building it with "be your own customer and everything" in mind, and have yet to see a single device that can recieve and record multi HD streams inc Sky (which in the UK can only be received with thier Sky box, and does not allow recording of programs) etc. etc. all integrated together.
There are many other features not mentioned on the site (yet), the most interesting being the accelerometer remote control for more natural control (akin to Nintendo Wii control). Plus this box is very quiet (no fans, passively cooled via heatpipe to the side fins).
Anyway, your website is down, twitter account rarely updated, so if you are doing something interesting, feel free to email me :-)
Oh, what I'm doing is something you're not even thinking of ;) I don't want to describe the project till I have a prototype up, but when I do, I'll make a youtube video. All I'll do is drop hints about how explosive this will be :)
Having just started on my first tech startup about a month ago, I am trying to go for the "be open and honest about everything" meets "release early, release often" approach on the basis that if the idea is crap, I would rather hear about it earlier and fail quickly (so I can change direction or reset and move on with the next idea).
I am also going with a hardware-based product and am still building the site (what you will see was put together yesterday afternoon as a quick draft as we work through the "presenting the idea" stage of things and refine and streamline the concept), which is very likely to change over the next month which is also a reason I haven't done a "Ask HN: Is my startup crap?" post.
"we're building this http://www.httbox.com, get ready for the storm^"
^hopefully.