JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Ask HN: How do you stay productive after work?
JAVagueArgument's comments
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Ask HN: How do you stay productive after work?
I have never asked if I can, but every job I have always read articles I have found. Some companies I have openly told my boss that is what I do and sometimes those articles have not been directly related to my job, yet still this has been thought of as ok.
So my advice is, do it at work, your employer should be pleased that you want to broaden your skill set, it can only benefit them in the end. Just don't do it to a capacity that has a negative impact on your deliverables.
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Show HN: FitIt - multiplayer puzzle game
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Show HN: TheVideosDB, a personal IMDB/TheTVDB for your home videos. Thoughts?
Gratz, I will start using it when I get home :)
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Ask HN: Webapps you can't live without?
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Ask HN: Early employee salaries for startups in The Netherlands / Europe?
With the lack of security in a start up I might also ask for something in my contract which meant if the product/company were successful I would get recognition (financial or otherwise) in relation to my contribution.
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Xmas at Google (for those that search for it)
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Microsoft's Answer to Dropbox Comes to the iPhone
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Mint.com turns 404 ad page into date ad for developer
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Ask HN: How did Spotify get there first?
So now they have a proven platform, architecture and refined client and importantly a tested price model (like I said it has changed frequently to find the right form). So they felt ready to move to the US where there is a much larger audience. I believe they also secured a big investment to help too.
Add into that, the EU and UK do not have software patents, so it is much easier to make software over here than in the US. So of course as soon as Spotify go to the US they are under litigation from the software patent trolls.
As for unlimited music streaming, it used to be Naptsters legal business model a few years ago, but the internet just wasn't fast enough back then and they were blocked as there was only iPod and it had no apps.
Oh and what separates it from Grooveshark, Pandora or We7 you ask? It is their software client, it caches music, for fast access and less streaming, it can be used offline, and they have mobile versions for the $10 subs. HTH
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Detroit in Ruins
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Detroit in Ruins
Sad as it is that this is the state of such a city, but it could be turned on it's head for profit.
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Ask HN: Does anyone find jobs on job websites?
JAVagueArgument | 14 years ago | on: Ask HN: How did Spotify get there first?
I was one of the early beta users of Spotify and I recall at the time their collection was sparse for modern popular music, but they constantly added more labels and built up their collection slow but steady.
Finally, they added a tie in with Facebook so it had a social side right away, and most importantly, originally it was unlimited and free which brought in masses of users, and big advertisers like Burger King.
Then eventually they cycled back to a free limited free and added another subscription level which was half the full €10 a month.
Having had it free for over a year, instead of complaining I signed up and am now a full subscriber.
HTH.
It is slightly cliché but this was recently posted on our internal "social network"... CFO asks "what if we spend our money training our staff and they leave?", CTO replies "what if we don't and they stay?".
So many jobs, especially technical, require constant education, an employer who wants the best employees know and encourage that.