"A feature called 'thumbkissing' shows your partners thumbprints whenever they’re touching the screen, and both phones will vibrate if your thumbs are on the same place."
This is clearly the best YC startup ever. Hurry up on the Android app for those of us in mixed relationships!
We're working furiously fast to have Android ready ASAP. It's only a few weeks behind and is almost done. This is right now our #1 request, cross-platform relationships are in these days!
The point is to send a "unit of thinking about you" that's simple but unique enough that it's not mechanical (like a "poke" would be). Pair seems like it could bring this little habit to more relationships, or at least displace text and email for those who do this.
How about a service that you could enter all these things in the morning and it would send them throughout the day? Like a Buffer for "unit of thinking of you".
Call me old school but I'd rather find someone who lives in the same city than try to maintain a relationship through an app. If you absolutely need to stay in touch with someone every minute of everyday it's probably better to just move.
The solution to working too much to be in touch with the partner you really care about is not an app, it's telling your boss to shove the job up his ass. That said, I doubt there will be any shortage of suckers who prefer to spend time at the office than with their partner.
> "Call me old school but I'd rather find someone who lives in the same city"
When my wife and I first met and started dating online (in 1998, before it was common) we worried that her grandparents wouldn't approve. It turns out, grandma and grandpa thought it was a cute reminder of their own youth; they had courted through letters. "Old school" indeed...
Sometimes, despite all your plans and desires, you fall in love with someone who circumstances don't permit you to spend as much time with as you'd like. Maybe you're finishing college, deployed to a combat zone, or tending to an ailing/dying relative. Or maybe you're just busy because you're either caring for your 4 kids, or making sure they have food on the plate.
Life is like that, and has been since long before you were born. Making it easier to connect to your loved ones is a good thing.
Well, sometimes a two-sigma smarter/hotter/funner partner is an hour or two away. It's usually worth it, if it works out, you end up moving in together somewhere in the middle. If they're farther, then someone does a job hunt. If you're in software, you've got a decently liquid market for that.
I'm currently living in California. My girlfriend lives in Ontario. Sometimes "just moving" isn't really an option.
Besides, I don't think this is /exclusively/ for long distance relationships. I'm sure there are some couples not in a long distance situation that would enjoy this.
I've currently spent 3 months away from my partner, and have one month to go. This is not the first time we've spent more than a month away from each other, and due to circumstances beyond our control, it likely won't be the last. Being half way across the globe from each other, sometimes we can only talk for 5 minutes in a day, when one of us wakes us and the other is staving off sleep. Technology is exactly what has helped us bridge that gap, those quick WhatsApp "Thinking of You"s and the like.
There are times when short term sacrifices are needed. Technology helps make that sacrifice a little easier.
>The solution to working too much to be in touch with the partner you really care about is not an app, it's telling your boss to shove the job up his ass.
Agreed, but then there are those of us who formed solid, committed relationships before we had to or have to move and want to keep them alive. Even being on the other side of the same state from your fiancee is painful, man!
Tl;dr: the sexting app. I met one of the cofounders at the Stripe CTF meetup. They're a Waterloo U. Team, seemed like a sharp group. Pair was their pivot. Initially they had a 3D mouse based on the iPhone accelerometers.
Add a security feature with optional passcode and store the images in a way that hides them from prying eyes, and you're guaranteed a million billion horny college students as users.
Ben the Bodyguard[1] meets SMS/MMS for relationships.
Maybe we'll see fewer celebrity photos leak after this[2].
The biggest problem I find with long distance relationships, especially across time zones, is the real time nature of it. It's blocking. Especially for two busy people.
I would rather record a small video (rather than video chat), write an actual email (rather than IM back and forth), draw a silly picture (than send smiley faces back and forth). If you could change it from feeling like a status report to a message in a bottle, it really does change the dynamics of a long distance relationship.
Funny enough I recently stopped dating someone because of the distance factor. Maybe Pair could have solved that "problem".
Are they planning to introduce a pro version of the application? Some multitenant upgrade? It could apply advanced machine learning techniques to identify which of your girlfriends/spouses is using the phone and hide all the other communication. Not that I would need it, but it could significantly lower the divorce rates :)
My wife and I just tried it out and loved it. We were giggling like little kids playing around with the app's features.
On a more serious note, the shared todo list is great! No doubt a lot of other apps have this but with chat, photo sharing, Facetime, and thumbkisses, this makes Pair an awesome app. I would've easily bought this for $2-4/user.
Speaking of shared todo-lists, I'd love to see an app for roommates that handle all the todos of a household and break them down by common tasks:
(1) Food in the pantry - what do we have and what's finished
(2) Bill paying (link into a service like WePay)
(3) Major/large household purchases
(4) Group chat for the household (allow linking of chat to the todo-lists and vice versa)
Bonus points if the app allows you to "connect" to neighbors you know well to know what things you are willing to share with one another like tools.
I'm not sure how well an app would work outside dense urban areas, but in any place where unrelated people live with one another and coordinate with one another, such an app would be useful.
Sounds like exactly the same thing as the South Korean produced 'Between' app, which is already cross platform. Not to say that they couldn't execute better, but it's not a novel idea.
This is disgustingly cute, but that's the point. I could definitely imagine people using this (it would eliminate a lot of one-word "hi" type SMSes...)
I wonder how they're going to handle migration between relationships.
while I am busy doing another startup, here is I can offer from my personal experience of using such platforms:
- first up, you need to give users assurance that they own the data. Allow them to export data anytime and that too in a beautiful way. I would hate to loose such memoirs shared with my loved one, just because you failed to raise another round of funding. (Data persistency can well be the primary reason, why people still uses emails; It will always be there.)
- how about a personlize gifts on their anniversaries from the service ? you have good amount of data to personalize the gifts. seriously, surprize me here!
- I have been using tumblr for last year on same usecase. following stats will help you:
march - we get separated by distance.
april - 111 posts,
may - 74 posts,
june - 39 posts,
july - 36 posts,
august - 11 posts,
september - 33 posts,
october - 60 posts,
november - 23 posts,
december - 1 post.
Post distribution: [70% pictures - 10% links - 15% text - 10% videos/music].
where pictures, are of one other, old memories, places we visit, things we spot.
where links, are interesting find of the day.
where text, are short letters, quotes. but no chatters.
- Now, I would need an information overview of my content pretty much like tumblr or more, with posting abilities of Path or more.
- Tumblr isn't built for game dynamics here. She is posting 80% of content and i 'heart' 50% of her content as a feedback to her. A game dynamics which involves more participation from not-so active member of relationship? we are NOT talking about games or chatters(messaging or whatsapp), but subtle or even funny push notifications if she has posted and i have not yet viewed to begin with.
- an instapaper functionality, so that we can share things from anywhere on Internet, by just sending an email to the account.
- avoid becoming a messaging app, for love sake ;)
A suggestion: Make a better (cuter) icon. I scrolled right past it in the app store search results because it looked like a spam app. Now that it's installed it looks like a server remote control control app or something.
One interesting aspect to this service is because it only allows you to actively pair with one person at a time, it doesn't support people with multiple partners (those in the beginning stages of dating, the polyamorous, and cheaters).
If this app became popular enough, I could see a partner requiring the use of this app to make infidelity more awkward, although it could still be worked around by having multiple phones with an app on each one.
(I'm actually being serious here. I could see this working, but probably not in the US where the concept of the nuclear family is much weaker. In Latin America or some European markets this could work quite well. There's probably an Asian equivalent to Path for extended families as well)
The shared TODO list is great, a shared calendar would be good. An option to sync with 3rd party online calendar is even better.
I never managed to get my wife to regularly check our shared Google calendar, too much apps to check for her. A simple app which handles all the couple tasks in one place is a great solution.
[+] [-] kalvin|14 years ago|reply
"A feature called 'thumbkissing' shows your partners thumbprints whenever they’re touching the screen, and both phones will vibrate if your thumbs are on the same place."
This is clearly the best YC startup ever. Hurry up on the Android app for those of us in mixed relationships!
[+] [-] mpetrov|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bitterfounder0|14 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] apike|14 years ago|reply
- Text her a random emoji
- Email her an image I've found (usually using our app Prism http://www.steamclocksw.com/prism/)
- Send her a Draw Something drawing
The point is to send a "unit of thinking about you" that's simple but unique enough that it's not mechanical (like a "poke" would be). Pair seems like it could bring this little habit to more relationships, or at least displace text and email for those who do this.
[+] [-] papercruncher|14 years ago|reply
I'm only half joking
[+] [-] fleitz|14 years ago|reply
The solution to working too much to be in touch with the partner you really care about is not an app, it's telling your boss to shove the job up his ass. That said, I doubt there will be any shortage of suckers who prefer to spend time at the office than with their partner.
[+] [-] lotharbot|14 years ago|reply
When my wife and I first met and started dating online (in 1998, before it was common) we worried that her grandparents wouldn't approve. It turns out, grandma and grandpa thought it was a cute reminder of their own youth; they had courted through letters. "Old school" indeed...
Sometimes, despite all your plans and desires, you fall in love with someone who circumstances don't permit you to spend as much time with as you'd like. Maybe you're finishing college, deployed to a combat zone, or tending to an ailing/dying relative. Or maybe you're just busy because you're either caring for your 4 kids, or making sure they have food on the plate.
Life is like that, and has been since long before you were born. Making it easier to connect to your loved ones is a good thing.
[+] [-] waterlesscloud|14 years ago|reply
This app, or one like it, will be huge.
[+] [-] lallysingh|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pook1e|14 years ago|reply
Besides, I don't think this is /exclusively/ for long distance relationships. I'm sure there are some couples not in a long distance situation that would enjoy this.
[+] [-] ebiester|14 years ago|reply
There are times when short term sacrifices are needed. Technology helps make that sacrifice a little easier.
[+] [-] drx|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dfc|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] eli_gottlieb|14 years ago|reply
Agreed, but then there are those of us who formed solid, committed relationships before we had to or have to move and want to keep them alive. Even being on the other side of the same state from your fiancee is painful, man!
[+] [-] achille|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] phamilton|14 years ago|reply
Someone should compile a list of initial ideas vs pivots. It would be interesting to see how many groups had pivots this drastic.
[+] [-] kmfrk|14 years ago|reply
Ben the Bodyguard[1] meets SMS/MMS for relationships.
Maybe we'll see fewer celebrity photos leak after this[2].
[1]: http://benthebodyguard.com
[2]: This is a good thing.
[+] [-] k3fernan|14 years ago|reply
I would rather record a small video (rather than video chat), write an actual email (rather than IM back and forth), draw a silly picture (than send smiley faces back and forth). If you could change it from feeling like a status report to a message in a bottle, it really does change the dynamics of a long distance relationship.
Funny enough I recently stopped dating someone because of the distance factor. Maybe Pair could have solved that "problem".
[+] [-] dshankar|14 years ago|reply
But my cofounder Sri and I downloaded it and started playing together. Few minutes in we were giggling like children and I now see the value in Pair.
It's perfect for those serious couples with useful features like task lists, built-in Facetime, ability to show "where you are" etc.
Good job!
[+] [-] peterjs|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stfu|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chime|14 years ago|reply
On a more serious note, the shared todo list is great! No doubt a lot of other apps have this but with chat, photo sharing, Facetime, and thumbkisses, this makes Pair an awesome app. I would've easily bought this for $2-4/user.
[+] [-] malandrew|14 years ago|reply
(1) Food in the pantry - what do we have and what's finished (2) Bill paying (link into a service like WePay) (3) Major/large household purchases (4) Group chat for the household (allow linking of chat to the todo-lists and vice versa)
Bonus points if the app allows you to "connect" to neighbors you know well to know what things you are willing to share with one another like tools.
I'm not sure how well an app would work outside dense urban areas, but in any place where unrelated people live with one another and coordinate with one another, such an app would be useful.
[+] [-] Tossrock|14 years ago|reply
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.vcnc.and...
http://itunes.apple.com/app/id458035189?mt=8
[+] [-] kmfrk|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kirillzubovsky|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rdl|14 years ago|reply
I wonder how they're going to handle migration between relationships.
[+] [-] tanish2khn|14 years ago|reply
- first up, you need to give users assurance that they own the data. Allow them to export data anytime and that too in a beautiful way. I would hate to loose such memoirs shared with my loved one, just because you failed to raise another round of funding. (Data persistency can well be the primary reason, why people still uses emails; It will always be there.)
- how about a personlize gifts on their anniversaries from the service ? you have good amount of data to personalize the gifts. seriously, surprize me here!
- I have been using tumblr for last year on same usecase. following stats will help you: march - we get separated by distance. april - 111 posts, may - 74 posts, june - 39 posts, july - 36 posts, august - 11 posts, september - 33 posts, october - 60 posts, november - 23 posts, december - 1 post.
Post distribution: [70% pictures - 10% links - 15% text - 10% videos/music].
where pictures, are of one other, old memories, places we visit, things we spot. where links, are interesting find of the day. where text, are short letters, quotes. but no chatters.
- Now, I would need an information overview of my content pretty much like tumblr or more, with posting abilities of Path or more.
- Tumblr isn't built for game dynamics here. She is posting 80% of content and i 'heart' 50% of her content as a feedback to her. A game dynamics which involves more participation from not-so active member of relationship? we are NOT talking about games or chatters(messaging or whatsapp), but subtle or even funny push notifications if she has posted and i have not yet viewed to begin with.
- an instapaper functionality, so that we can share things from anywhere on Internet, by just sending an email to the account.
- avoid becoming a messaging app, for love sake ;)
all the best!
[+] [-] kalleboo|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jwpeddle|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jaredsohn|14 years ago|reply
One interesting aspect to this service is because it only allows you to actively pair with one person at a time, it doesn't support people with multiple partners (those in the beginning stages of dating, the polyamorous, and cheaters).
If this app became popular enough, I could see a partner requiring the use of this app to make infidelity more awkward, although it could still be worked around by having multiple phones with an app on each one.
[+] [-] lotharbot|14 years ago|reply
Or with multiple loved ones who don't qualify as "partners".
Like, for example, a deployed soldier who wants to keep in touch with his wife and his kid. Being able to "pair" with each one might be really nice.
[+] [-] d2ncal|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] malandrew|14 years ago|reply
(I'm actually being serious here. I could see this working, but probably not in the US where the concept of the nuclear family is much weaker. In Latin America or some European markets this could work quite well. There's probably an Asian equivalent to Path for extended families as well)
[+] [-] ajaymehta|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] peterdelahunty|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|14 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] skbohra123|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] BlackShirt|14 years ago|reply
I never managed to get my wife to regularly check our shared Google calendar, too much apps to check for her. A simple app which handles all the couple tasks in one place is a great solution.