Show HN: DoubleMemory – more efficient local-first read-it-later app
My motivation was not to create a read-it-later app, yet it evolved into this unique yet cohesive form of a read-it-later + bookmarking organizer + clipboard manager + card based note-taking app over the last 6 months. It also launches from the menu bar with a shortcut and navigates with keyboard shortcuts. My favorite part is instead of rendering a list of article titles, everything is rendered as pretty preview cards in a translucent Pinterest-like mood board. It also has a nifty iOS app, that will allow you to swipe with your thumbs between articles just like on iOS Safari...
Now that Pocket is closing, this is after Instapaper going back to indie and Omnivore and UpNext and numerous others closing over the years. All of these are cloud-hosted services, which got me reflecting: maybe this local-first architecture would be well positioned to build in this space.
Here is my not-so-scientific comparison:
## Domain
$10 vs $1M = 100,000x difference.
## Server running cost
No servers other than what's running by iCloud vs $1M per year = 1mX difference
## Platforms
Apple only (mac + iphone + ipad) vs Multi platforms (windows, linux, android also supported) = 20X maintenance cost difference
## Capturing
No browser extensions required v.s. maintain all extensions for various browsers and extension stores = 5x difference
## Architecture
App receives the link, Apple generates the rich preview cards for thousands of different types of links, app caches these preview cards. vs. Someone write some custom code for each link type or with Open Graph, one designer created one generic card that works for all links. = 100x cost difference.
I know, Apple is coming for clipboards with more restrictions, which is basically a shared global state on Mac systems, DoubleMemory does also support other ways to capture: drag-n-drop to app/menubar icon/app icon, right click->Services menu, or Share sheet. We will add more auto-importers.
Also vibe coded some importers for Pocket, Omnivore and ReadWise here: https://doublememory.com/posts/tools
Everything in the app is free with no limits. Capturing is really step 0. You giving us a chance to save your content, doesn't mean you are getting any values out of it (ain't that the typical story of read-it-later apps? save-it and never-read-it). the eventual goal is to easily retrieve these content, and eventually consuming them. I hope to eventually launch paid features that aligns with these value generating workflows.
App Store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doublememory/id6737529034
Let me know what you think...
I would work on trying to simplifying the landing page copy, though. The "Stress-Free Bookmarking, Read-it-later, and Clipboard..." text is super long and most people aren't going to read the entire thing. I would try to emphasize what the benefit is to the user somehow. Something like "Save everything easily". That's terrible copy, too, but you get the idea. The "Super Memory Activated" and "doublememory.com" made me think at first that this is improving my computer's memory usage.
After skimming the page, I kind of got the idea about what the product does, but I think you can make it even simpler to grok right away what it does with a few tweaks. Best of luck!
Edit: one thing I noticed is I can do shift-cmd-spacebar to bring it up, but the search text field doesn't automatically get focus. That's a little bit of friction. If I do cmd-F to search, it toggles the filter UI, which was unexpected. I wanted to cmd-F to move the focus into the search to start typing.
* "⌘ + C + C", to me, means "press cmd-C, then press C". It look me a minute to release it means "press cmd-C twice".
* Thank you for using iCloud sync!
* Your privacy policy says "The developer does not collect any data from this app.". Thank you!
* The pricing feels high to me. I'm mentally comparing it to PastePal (clipboard manager, one-time $15 payment) plus GoodLinks (bookmarks manager, $5 per year to buy upgrades, but you can use it forever for free). I know it's not an exact comparison, but as someone who might really like your app, that's how I personally think of it.
About the pricing, I just realized my introduction pricing has expired last night. I just created one again for $9.99 for the first year. However, I'm definitely exploring pricing, but as I mentioned right now the sub is simply a way for me to gather signal for interests, no features are behind paywalls, you only benefit of subbing right now is lock-in the early price and remove the sub button. I'll be working on real value generating features in the future.
Long term, I'm hoping to implement fair and incremental upgrades, it just takes more setup.... My current pricing is kinda anchored with ReadWise & Paste, which are 200% more than what I charge. I'm also guessing many people are looking for a lifetime purchase, I'll definitely work on that at some point, people who've subscribed will be able to redeem it directly with me once that's available.
I’d definitely prefer a lifetime purchase, or even an option to pay to unlock new features for the next year and then keep those features forever, like GoodLinks does. I’m a huge fan of that pricing model.
One big comment I want to give on that front is, if you decide to try any generative AI features, please please please make them *completely opt-in* and integrate with *local models* (either completely or as an alternative to cloud models like GPT / Claude / etc). If I can use your software happily without being bombarded with ads for AI features and can use those AI features how I want to instead of how would best make you money, I would appreciate that so much.
Yes the magic command is copy twice within 5 seconds. It can be cmd + C via keyboard or context menu copy, anything updates your clipboard twice with identical content will be triggering it. You can always disable it conflicts with other workflows or apps.