Ask HN: Please help and review my weekend project. Geosay.com | Better HN

44 comments

34 comments · 12 top-level

javery15y ago· 7 in thread

I clicked on it, after approving the use of my location, I see a totally empty map of the approximate area that I live in... am I missing something? I tried search and it said it couldn't find the location, not sure what I was supposed to put in the search bar (an address? search term?)

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

One thing we weren't sure of was whether to automatically populate the map when you arrive. So by default it will just try to locate you (on the desktop edition) then you need to actually search. Do you think it would be better to auto load your local data?

shaddi15y ago

Yes. Or say (on the main page) that you should search for (whatever it is you call search results). If you autopopulate the map, I'd consider renaming that field "filter".

I also don't know what to search for. I typed "test" and it moved me to some result in New Mexico (several states west of where I am right now). I'd strongly recommend including some example searches that will consistently bring up good results.

dansingerman15y ago

There is also a link in the bottom left to "search here" (admittedly, maybe not the best UI)

javery15y ago

Once I clicked search here it made sense, I would automatically search based on the location even on the desktop.. then I can always change the location if its not right.

dansingerman15y ago

It should just be a location. What browser are you using? What was your search term(s)?

javery15y ago

I didn't know what to search for so I searched for "bars" assuming I was searching for bars around me... didn't realize it should be a location.

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

If you try it on your iphone or android it will automatically get the local data.

DEADBEEF15y ago· 5 in thread

How is the geo-IP lookup performed?

It put's my location in rural Algeria (I'm in Nottingham, UK). It does this even if I check the 'share my location with geosay.com' type warning that Firefox provides.

With Chrome & Opera it again puts my location in rural Algeria, however clicking on 'Share location' narrows it down to a map of the whole of the UK (better, but still not too useful).

Saying that, I don't think it's a problem with your site, as clicking on the 'show my location' button (above the streetview guy) in Google maps can't find me either and I'm guessing you're using the same google maps API to do your lookups.

srjk15y ago

On that note, would you mind talking about what you use to store the data, efficiently query it etc?

I am in the nascent phases of developing a location based app, but have gotten stuck in trying to figure out a good way to store the data. Currently cassandra is the top contender.

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

Check out this code for searching locally with mongo. It doesn't get simpler. Straight from geosay.com

class GeosayController < ApplicationController

  def api

    expires_in 1.minutes, :public => true

    results = Tweet.near(params[:lat].to_f,params[:lon].to_f)

    render :json => results
  end

end

....

class Tweet

  include MongoMapper::Document

  def self.near(lat, lon)

    self.all( :latlong  => {'$near'  => [lat, lon]}, :limit => 30) 

  end

end

dansingerman15y ago

We use mongodb as the backend datastore. It has built in location searching which so far has worked really well.

dansingerman15y ago

There are 2 lookups. If you say "yes" to share my location in firefox then it uses the browser's navigator.geolocation functionality. If you say no, it uses MaxMind's geoIP service (see http://www.maxmind.com/)

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

We try and get a real geo lookup from your browser basically using HTML 5 JS if your browser supports. If you have gears it will fall back to that, if I remember correctly that is!, then it will go to maxmind.com javascript service to try and find you.

vinhboy15y ago· 2 in thread

Pretty nice app. Reminds me of Buzz

1) When I drag the map, it didn't follow me with chatter 2) You should link your logo (what's with the "done" button?) 3) On google maps, when you click on a marker, it highlights the sidebar, maybe you should do that? 4) Might as well add a get directions button? 5) How about the little yellow guy?

Cool stuff.

dansingerman15y ago

Thanks for the suggestions.

1) Agreed - we should make it do that (there are reasons that it is a little tricky - but not insurmountable)

2) Agreed

3) Agreed

4) The mobile version has that. As desktop locations seem a lot less accurate, I wonder what the true utility of that in the desktop versi0n would be.

5) "Little yellow guy" - erm - what little yellow guy (am I missing something?)

srveit15y ago

I think the "Little yellow guy" is the Street View icon.

c1sc015y ago· 2 in thread

What this mostly did for me was drive home the point that non-geeks don't really use Foursquare all that much. Kinda embarassing to notice that I know almost half of the people behind checkins in my little 80000 ppl town. Thanks for putting the foursquare hype in perspective for me.

dansingerman15y ago

I think that is true to a large extent. I think it also shows that many people don't turn on location in twitter (as it is off by default this is no surprise)

We do think there is room for a location based service for sharing information that isn't about check-ins, and gaming mechanisms. That's what we're trying to do anyway...

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

Anytime! We think that foursquare is great but there is simply more scope for local information than just showing information about venues.

och15y ago· 2 in thread

I just found out about a new cafe near me. Funny!

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

Yes. You should be able to find all sorts of stuff. Whilst right now it mainly collects from foursquare tips and geolocated tweets it can also permanently store tweets marked #geosay on geosay.com There is also an iphone/android mobile version that kicks in if you browse using one of those devices.

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

I should have also said that you need to tweet from a client that posts your geo lat/lon

nudge15y ago· 1 in thread

I discovered a café near me that apparently does really good "smoked salmon and cream chess bagels". I would love that to be true.

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

Fish takes Bishop?

jimbobimbo15y ago· 1 in thread

I clicked the link and got a prompt to install Chrome. I understand that you might be using some Chrome-specific (HTML5-specific, whatever) features, but throwing out potential user without even showing what he's missing is not cool. Why not to show some demo/screenshots page in case of not supported browser and only then prompt to upgrade?

dansingerman15y ago

Actually it's a prompt to install Google Chrome Frame (http://code.google.com/chrome/chromeframe/) in Internet Explorer. I agree that the experience for IE users could be better. (We support Firefox, Safari and Chrome on the desktop right now)

nandemo15y ago· 1 in thread

I've just found out that there's a supposedly very good bakery nearby. But I don't know how geosay works, and if I should thank geosay or foursquare.

dansingerman15y ago

Thank us both. If the comment originated at Foursquare, of course that is down to them, but there is much less friction to finding the data on geosay (IMO)

joubert15y ago· 1 in thread

It is pretty interesting to read what people have to say about their apartment buildings (mine, and those around me) - I live in Manhattan.

stewsnoozeOP15y ago

I think it is super interesting because I doubt those buildings would end up on foursquare. We want this to become a place for local information that doesn't have to be bar or restaurant focussed.

imsky15y ago

I really like it, but there are a couple of things:

Populate the map when you get my location, otherwise I think the app is broken.

A search for Bloomington, IN (verbatim) got me a tweet for Bloomington, IL. You don't want the same problem for cities like Brown or Jackson.

Maybe get rid of the left sidebar altogether? It's just redundant.

RossM15y ago

Initially it didn't bring anything up for my hometown (quite small but there are some foursquare users) but after going to my uni city and back again it actually brought up a surprising amount of stuff. There's a business networking group and a hidden cafe nearby!

dansingerman15y ago

Oh btw, please try in in your phone (if you are an iphone or android user) as well as your desktop browser.

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