10 ms·

The public alpha of the Blockstack Browser

11 points by chadyj 9y ago

EGreg 9y ago
Can someone please respond to this comment with, what are the MAIN UX stories for this browser? What does the user actually DO in the real world that they couldn't do otherwise on the Web? I accessed this on a mobile phone. There's no mobile version? OK. First of all Web site asks me to choose a secure root password. That seems like a big oxymoron. I have to trust Blockstack! They might be saving my password. I understand the same could be said of a random app but that's what I feel whenever I enter a password on a website - I know I am about to post it to a server somewhere, I need the internet to do that. Secondly, what do I need a password for, if I am generating private keys? My guess is, it is used to generate those private keys from the password and some random data, and giving me that long phrase to save in a safe place. But then why not JUST have random data as a seed? Anyway. So now I signed up and I have to choose storage. I suppose they will store info on the server of my choice, encrypted. Is this like the Solid project from Tim Berners-Lee? Apps that run in the browser, but save stuff on the server you choose? And they use your private key to sign your changes? Then I finally got to the Blockstack app page. Most of the "apps in progress" don't actually do anything. The TODO app took me to a page that doesn't size for mobile, where I clicked the central button and it said Safari doesn't recognize this request. So what do I do now, if I am on mobile?
- bearbearbear 9y ago
  > what are the MAIN UX stories for this browser? Hello mister design middle manager.
  - sctb 9y ago
    Could you please post civilly and substantively, like the guidelines ask, or not at all? https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
45h34jh53k4j 9y ago
What is this? it wants an email address without saying what it is. Have we forgotten that people actually want to know what things are these days? Oh just hand over your data suckers, it doesnt matter what its for, we just want your essence. Go away!
- stevekemp 9y ago
  Came here to say this, first of all a modal prompt about whether I want to view the website or download a mobile client. Then a series of jerky animations before a dead-end when I refuse to give an email address.
- chmike 9y ago
  That's the purpose apparently. Block users to discover what it is. Sad mistake.
EvanKnowles 9y ago
I just clicked continue about 10 000 times and I still have no idea what this is.

11 points by chadyj 9y ago

Can someone please respond to this comment with, what are the MAIN UX stories for this browser? What does the user actually DO in the real world that they couldn't do otherwise on the Web? I accessed this on a mobile phone. There's no mobile version? OK. First of all Web site asks me to choose a secure root password. That seems like a big oxymoron. I have to trust Blockstack! They might be saving my password. I understand the same could be said of a random app but that's what I feel whenever I enter a password on a website - I know I am about to post it to a server somewhere, I need the internet to do that. Secondly, what do I need a password for, if I am generating private keys? My guess is, it is used to generate those private keys from the password and some random data, and giving me that long phrase to save in a safe place. But then why not JUST have random data as a seed? Anyway. So now I signed up and I have to choose storage. I suppose they will store info on the server of my choice, encrypted. Is this like the Solid project from Tim Berners-Lee? Apps that run in the browser, but save stuff on the server you choose? And they use your private key to sign your changes? Then I finally got to the Blockstack app page. Most of the "apps in progress" don't actually do anything. The TODO app took me to a page that doesn't size for mobile, where I clicked the central button and it said Safari doesn't recognize this request. So what do I do now, if I am on mobile?

bearbearbear 9y ago
> what are the MAIN UX stories for this browser? Hello mister design middle manager.
- sctb 9y ago
  Could you please post civilly and substantively, like the guidelines ask, or not at all? https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

45h34jh53k4j 9y ago

What is this? it wants an email address without saying what it is. Have we forgotten that people actually want to know what things are these days? Oh just hand over your data suckers, it doesnt matter what its for, we just want your essence. Go away!

stevekemp 9y ago
Came here to say this, first of all a modal prompt about whether I want to view the website or download a mobile client. Then a series of jerky animations before a dead-end when I refuse to give an email address.
chmike 9y ago
That's the purpose apparently. Block users to discover what it is. Sad mistake.

EvanKnowles 9y ago

I just clicked continue about 10 000 times and I still have no idea what this is.