Backpack Preview #3: Web 1.0 calling Web 2.0 - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals)

Backpack Preview #3: Web 1.0 calling Web 2.0 25 Apr 2005

90 comments Latest by fds

With all this talk of Web 2.0 (seems like it’s still in Beta though — last year’s conference was Web 2.0 too), it’s become easy to forget Web 1.0. And what was the star of Web 1.0? Email.

Backpack takes a fresh look at email. However, instead of just sending email to someone else’s email address, Backpack will receive an email and turn it into something useful on the web. This isn’t just about posting flat content to the web via email, it’s about turning flat emails into functional web pages.

Need to send yourself a to-do item from your cell phone or Blackberry? Email it to Backpack and it will be converted into a to-do item with a checkbox. Need to send yourself a text note plus some images and even a file? No problem — send it all in a single email and Backpack will post the note, thumbnail the image(s), and attach the file(s). Clean, quick, effortless — and familiar. There’s barely an easier way to get content online.

For example:

Backpack

…becomes…

Backpack

Backpack also revisits the command line. For example, to set a Backpack email/mobile phone reminder to “Pick up the dry cleaning” at 7:45pm tonight you can select from a series of pulldowns:

Backpack reminders

Or you can just enter the time in the text entry box. If you don’t use the pulldowns to pick a date in the future, Backpack assumes you mean today so it sets the date for you automatically. Don’t Make Me Think.

Backpack reminders

And for those who prefer the 24-hour format, that works too:

Backpack reminders

All of the above examples will result in this:

Backpack reminders

There’s a lot of little useful bits like this in Backpack. It’s why one hard-to-impress person said “Backpack is perfectly conceived and the most elegantly executed web app I’ve seen. Period. I’m excited again about keeping things organized at work and at home. I plan to be Backpack-ing a lot every day.”

Launch is just a few days away. Get on the announcement list and you’ll be the first to know.

90 comments so far (Jump to latest)

Courtenay 25 Apr 05

You better have an SMS gateway… :D

Caleb Buxton 25 Apr 05

Looks good. I look forward to it.

I assume it will have public/private zones per user — or public/private per user.

Is it free?

Sounds more like interface upgrades for Basecamp and Tada list though�

Would I have a Tada list and a Backpack? Would Backpack update my Tada list? What about my Basecamp project(s)?

Casey Gollan 25 Apr 05

Drooooolie ——> :-F

Merlin 25 Apr 05

Looks neato. Can’t wait to see.

Good luck!

Ben 25 Apr 05

Why not upgrade from Web 0.1 to Web 0.2 and use date parsing that UNIX has had for years? “next tuesday at 2pm”, “10 am tomorrow”, “19:45 4/28” can all be parsed as the user intended. GNU date formats can be parsed on any platform in languages like PHP, and I’d assume Ruby can do the same (or could easily be extended to do so). “Don’t make me think.”

JF 25 Apr 05

Why not upgrade from Web 0.1 to Web 0.2 and use date parsing that UNIX has had for years? �next tuesday at 2pm�, �10 am tomorrow�, �19:45 4/28� can all be parsed as the user intended.

We just might.

Geoff 25 Apr 05

This is obviously a plot by 37signals to steal Apple’s thunder from the Tiger release on Friday.

My bet is that Backpack will be released to the public on Friday, resulting in mad mayhem as people are torn between picking up a copy of Tiger and getting the coveted [email protected] address.

Aaron 25 Apr 05

I think its very cool - I’ve been wishing for something that manages to-do lists and appointments without me having to open up a program to do it - it’s annoying to want to note that I have an appointment, and have to wait for outlook to open, click over to my calendar, add a new event, put in the information, and then close outlook, but keep it running in the background (I have too much running in the background) so it notifies me.

Wayne 25 Apr 05

Wonder how I can work this into my GTD system. But very cool. I was hoping for something different though. I really hoped that Backpack would be just that, a backpack. All my files, all my lists, all my notes, my calendar, my planner, my project manager.

But as basecamp has improved my productivity, I’m sure that this will to. Just need to get it to fit my system.

Beau Hartshorne 25 Apr 05

Ben’s right. Check out Simon’s very slick date parsing JavaScript, for example:

http://simon.incutio.com/code/js/date-parser/

�Pick up the dry cleaning� could be the subject, and “7:45pm tonight” could be the body. That sure beats seven dropdowns.

I really hoped that Backpack would be just that, a backpack. All my files, all my lists, all my notes, my calendar, my planner, my project manager.

Who said it wasn’t? Stay tuned. We’ve only previewed a few small things.

stephen 25 Apr 05

And what was the star of Web 1.0? Email.

Well, no. Email was the star of Internet 1.0. The, er, World Wide Web was the star of Web 1.0.

Bill Bradford 25 Apr 05

Surely I can’t be the only person who has signed up for the announcement list with multiple email addresses, just to make sure I don’t miss anything. :)

Anonymous Coward 25 Apr 05

Out comes the “I take everything to literally” people. You get it, ok?

Mark 26 Apr 05

Ever tried Trumba? Do you see them as a competitor for backpack?
http://www.trumba.com/

Simon Wheatley 26 Apr 05

Any plans for Palm integration?

Chris 26 Apr 05

I presume there will be other subject lines for things like.. send me a list of my todos, and, stop others giving me todos anonymously?

When you’re stuck somewhere with a low bandwidth or unreliable internet connection, e-mail is the only way to go.

Yum.

Chris McGrath 26 Apr 05

Heh, I’ve wanted to do this exact thing for a while now. Can’t wait for the site launch.

Emily 26 Apr 05

Genius! I can hardly wait!

Elle 26 Apr 05

Please-please-pretty-please have Windows Mobile integration!

Bryan 26 Apr 05

Wow, thats friggin cool. Sounds real useful.

Now, I am curious, is this only work well for email systems like Entourage or Exchange/Outlook? Or will it work just fine from less known email systems like SquirrelMail. What about Yahoo Mail?

Just wondering.

JF 26 Apr 05

It’s email. You can use whatever email program you want to send stuff to Backpack. Desktop based, web-based, your phone, your Blackberry, whatever. The type of email app doesn’t matter.

Dan Boland 26 Apr 05

I got to see Backpack firsthand at the Building for Basecamp workshop last Friday. There’s a lot of cool stuff packed into this little app. Definitely not a half-ass product.

Foofy 26 Apr 05

~Falls to his knees sobbing with joy.~ Oh jeeze, I’m getting as bad as those Apple fanboys. :)

Gil 26 Apr 05

Jason,

If you haven’t already read this book, you should really check out “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.” It discusses how to make to-do lists more effective by defining not only the task, but the outcome and next step required. It really is an interesting book, and I suspect it may give you some ideas on how to enhance Ta-da and Backpack.

Travholt 26 Apr 05

As one who sends himself files, URLs or whatever in emails from work to home or vice versa, I can tell right away that this is something I’m going to love. Also, from the second preview, I love the reminder stuff. It’s always felt a little uncomfortable/unnatural to use Palm’s ToDo list or Calendar for reminders, and I always forget to check it anyway.

John Spitzer 26 Apr 05

Email -> web publishing. Brilliant.

8500 26 Apr 05

I can dig it - sort of like dripmail for the masses:
http://trenchant.org/dripmail/

Rob 26 Apr 05

Will it sync with my smartphone?

Dan Brendstrup 26 Apr 05

Snazzy!
Now that I finally found a Gmail bookmarklet to quickly pop up a new compose window, updating Backpack lists will be a snap!
Only downside about this is that I had just resolved to “go commando” and ditch my old Handspring Visor and instead use a Hipster PDA to implement GTD. And then you guys go and ruin it by creating a sparkling new high-tech toy! :)

Duff 26 Apr 05

Will it actually pick up my dry cleaning as well?

Elliott 26 Apr 05

i love the software you guys make………

but does anyone feel 37 signals stuff (excluding basecamp) is a little mundane?

Making a list?
adding a reminder?

it seems a little simple.

what�s the point of a program with very limited functionality, even if that functionality is executed un-commonly well.

1. We’ve only shown a few pieces of Backpack.
2. The point of simple tools is that you’ll use them. More features don’t mean a thing if they’re a hassle to use. Simple, usable, focused tools get things done. Hammers. Nails. Pens. Paper. Paperclips. Too simple or just right?

Darrel 26 Apr 05

I think you answered the question yourself.

jake 26 Apr 05

This sounds like a great extension to what I do with my emails. Everyday I send an email to myself with a handful of pertinent links for the day and put them in a folder at home. It allows searching and organization. I started doing it a couple years ago, before all the web apps. Too bad I never just built something myself.

Keep up the good work guys.

Stu Schaff 26 Apr 05

Can we have it, please? It has gotten to the point where I just can’t wait for the next 37 signals release.

Mike 26 Apr 05

Jeepers, the Jones-in’ for Backpack and Tiger is killin’ me! Looks very promising, can’t wait. Hey, if you need a late beta tester I’m guaranteed to find stuff that just doesn’t happen to anybody else!

On the point of limited functionality - Studies have shown that 30-some% of features in large (i.e. feature rich) software are never used, and the number is over 50% when you consider never or seldom used. Better to build good basic stuff, let folks try it, provide feedback, and then go from there as opposed to trying to divine the ultimate product and then burn through cash building stuff that may or may not prove useful.

Karl 26 Apr 05

This feature sounds a lot like something I saw in Lotus Agenda… a DOS program from 1988! I guess good ideas get recycled over time.

Now with Mitch Kapor (author of Agenda) and crew writing Chandler over at OSAF, it will be interesting to see if they add this feature in (my guess is ‘yes’)

sloan 26 Apr 05

This is all based on the idea of an internet computer. Programs stored on the net with access from anywhere. Email would be just one interface, but really, you could have a page in basecamp with two fields 1) function 2) content and maybe a third optional one 3) context. That is essentially what the email is doing and leveraging widely used and available applications to act as your interface. Nice.

It sounds like the email is the way to get content INTO the web app and that from within the app is where you would do the actual organization. With these little apps you are developing it looks like you are creating a virtual workspace.

Iggy Noramus 26 Apr 05

The list thing. How does it know if I’ve typed a list? And then, if I have a list that doesn’t consist of items that necessarily need to be checked off, will the list still have check marks?

Vaughn 26 Apr 05

37crew,
I found the link to the beta signup from data in your screenshots. If you go here (http://my.backpackit.com/signup), I am able to see the signup form, although I don’t have a beta code. I’m assuming this is how the beta testers signed up?

Just wanted to let you know.

Vaughn

francisco 26 Apr 05

Vaughn, that would be it I’m guessing, tho you’ll need a betatesting code

seth 26 Apr 05

I hope to god you repurpose this stuff for Basecamp…if not I’m going to be a very *unhappy camper*. :)

Melanie 26 Apr 05

I want it, I want it, I want it!

Nathan 26 Apr 05

What email client is that?

Backpack looks great!

Brad Lauster 26 Apr 05

Sounds high on the utility scale…and your products are always high on the usability scale.

What about integration? My hope is that Backpack with import my Ta-da lists.

Best of luck with the launch!

Bill Bradford 26 Apr 05

“42” doesn’t work as a beta code. Drat! :)

Hartvig 27 Apr 05

> Please-please-pretty-please have Windows Mobile integration!

Oh my, didn’t you know that 37signals products are optimized for apple products. I don’t think that any windows/ms products will be supported specifically, even though it would be nice if they just thought a bit on the 95% of pc users who hasn’t shifted :o)

Gordon 27 Apr 05

LOL Hartvig.

It’s comments like that that.. ohh never mind.

Yours a happy contented apple loving Windows users.

I am NOT a crackpot.

Oh, just in case. I like the 37signals products, it’s just that I think it’s a bit a shame that their design and feature often are apple focused, when they could look and feel great on the “lame, borring, un-ambitious-and-talented-developers-choice os (hint, david…)” with a small effort. It seems either arrogant or unthoughtfull if you ask me…

Hans 27 Apr 05

Well, this looks cool. And I like the way, you are devoted to simple tools.

>2. The point of simple tools is that you�ll use them. More >features don�t mean a thing if they�re a hassle to use. >Simple, usable, focused tools get things done. Hammers. >Nails. Pens. Paper. Paperclips. Too simple or just right?

Just make sure, that some things get over to basecamp.

I have asked you for an email-in feature half a year ago.

Can’t wait to see more.

p8 27 Apr 05

How does the security work?
If you know someone’s Backpack email can you spam him with todo lists?

Judine 27 Apr 05

That’s a good question p8—I’m sure many of us would love to spam our partners with “honey do” lists!

Dan Boland 27 Apr 05

p8: I don’t know if you can do this now or you’ll be able to do it later, but I can foresee the ability to create an “accepted e-mail address” list to prevent that problem. After seeing the demo, I actually had a different concern regarding security, but I don’t think the feature it involves has been divulged to the masses on this blog, so I’m keeping a tight lip about it until the release.

Tom 27 Apr 05

The question…will it publish to iCal so the rest of us can see your dairies?

JF 27 Apr 05

The question�will it publish to iCal so the rest of us can see your dairies?

You will be able to subscribe to your Backpack reminders with iCal (or Mozilla Calendar), yes.

Gil 27 Apr 05

After letting the concept of Backpack sink in for a little while, I do have one gripe (and it has to do with Basecamp).

Although I use Basecamp to manage all of my client projects, I usually find that my clients prefer to email me directly vs logging in to the software, etc. Basecamp has become a tool that only I update, with my customers using it as an occasional reference point. I often find myself copying the text of an email from a client and creating a new message for it in Basecamp.

This problem would be solved if Basecamp had similar email functionality to Backpack. 37s, once Backpack is released please consider updating your existing products before creating any more new ones. That’s what I call getting real.

37s, once Backpack is released please consider updating your existing products before creating any more new ones. That�s what I call getting real.

We’re updating all our products all the time. We just added some new RSS, dashboard, and overview features to Basecamp just the other day. Web-apps are always ongoing projects. You never “finish” one so you can move on to the next. You’re always working on all of them.

Basecamp is a much more complicated product than Backpack so some of this stuff isn’t as easy as just plugging it in. But we learned some stuff during the development of of Backpack that we’ll be moving into Basecamp in time.

Basecamp is a much more complicated product than Backpack so some of this stuff isn�t as easy as just plugging it in. But we learned some stuff during the development of of Backpack that we�ll be moving into Basecamp in time.

I agree, updating Basecamp with some of Backpack’s features is a big task. All I meant was that it’s important to think about what new features are the most important, and to prioritize accordingly. I’m not the only one who’s asked about emailing into Basecamp, and since the main goal of Basecamp is to assist in communication it seems that that feature should be higher priority than making visual updates to the Dashboard (although I can see how making RSS faster would be important). I don’t mean to rant, just making a suggestion.

The beauty of web-based software is that you can utilize one of nature’s most powerful forces, the concept of evolution—getting something out there quick and making changes as necessary over a period of time. The ability to accept feedback and respond almost instantly makes traditional shrink-wrapped software obsolete. Clearly you’ve jumped on the bandwagon ahead of the pack, and I don’t doubt for a second that we will see Basecamp improve more and more in the near future.

A lot of what we’re doing in Basckpack is only possible because we’ve said no to IE 5. We’re transitioning Basecamp away from IE 5 as well so once that is complete then let the fun begin.

Brad 27 Apr 05

I bet this is true for a lot of people: it’s certainly been my exact experience with Basecamp and with similar products (Lotus QuickPlace). People almost invariably go back to e-mail, probably out of force of habit than anything else, and also because they like having everything in one place; it’s easier to monitor. If I’ve got half of my communication archived in my e-mail program and the other half archived on Basecamp, it means I have to check both places.

From the little that’s been revealed of Backpack thus far, it could overcome this issue…we’ll just have to see!

Lance 27 Apr 05

I bet spammers are getting excited too

Man, you people are cynical. Relax. See how we’ve handled it. Just a few days more.

Nathan 27 Apr 05

I do think that email integration into Basecamp would make me use it and it alone…

I too find that clients really like to send email…

Email is the Interweb…

Thought from my journey home on the train.

How many of the 37 Signals guys have read “Getting Things Done”? and what was it’s influence when it came to Backpack?

(and if not, read it! you’ll get some great product ideas if nothing else…)

andy mcbeal 27 Apr 05

I once sent an email to the wrong Karen in my address book. Boy, was I embarrassed.

Ken B. 27 Apr 05

Just a curiosity brought up by the discussion of Basecamp updates, is how well the 37signals homepage fits in with the current direction of the business. I’m just interested on whether the decision to keep the homepage focused on consulting services is intentional while SvN provides an excellent vehicle to launch new iniatives.

Intuitively, I think the Basecamp web site provides a much more focused introduction to the tool than if it were integrated into the 37signals homepage however I wonder about the challenges of maintaining a brand as the number of tools increases.

I apologize if this is getting too far off topic from this discussion, it was just one of those trains of thought.

Good questions Ken. We’ll be launching a new 37signals site shortly. The focus will be on products with a link to the “old” site for consulting services. The new 37s will be 1-3 pages max and will link off to the individual product sites. Probably.

Kris 28 Apr 05

Jason, will Backpack be free ? If so, is it free like the basic Basecamp subscription (limited) or like Ta-da lists (full) ?

JF 28 Apr 05

There will be a free version and a pay version, just like Basecamp.

Don 29 Apr 05

“Although I use Basecamp to manage all of my client projects, I usually find that my clients prefer to email me directly vs logging in to the software, etc. Basecamp has become a tool that only I update, with my customers using it as an occasional reference point. I often find myself copying the text of an email from a client and creating a new message for it in Basecamp.”

In Basecamp, it would be stellar to be able to post a comment by just replying to the “[email protected]”. Yes?

JF 29 Apr 05

In Basecamp, it would be stellar to be able to post a comment by just replying to the �[email protected]�. Yes?

Yes and you will be able to. Eventually.

bob 02 May 05

basecamp?? backpack?? damn you guys must be totally uncreative to have to steal common words for your programs. it’s pathetic. you guys are even trying to own the verb. so now when someone says they are going “backpacking” wtf am i supposed to assume? your mucking up the english language. make up your own name. it’s called a brand. think about it.

Richard Bird 02 May 05

I must assume then, *bob* , that others, such as:
* WORD
* EXPLORER
* YAHOO
* VIRGIN
* BEETLE
* APPLE

(need I continue?)

are similarly doomed to mediocrity?

Alec 02 May 05

A lovely way to complicate your to-do lists.

For those on a Mac, Circus Ponies Notebook will get you much further.

Hog Bay Notebook too.

And you only pay the fee once. Unlike with all the 37signals stuff where you get nailed once a month at an arbitrarily changing price point.

Anybody else get hit with the obligatory upgrade in April (25-50% price increase across the board) for basecamp?

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.

Kevin Ballard 05 May 05

Alec - sure, use a desktop app if you want, but then you’re tied to that specific computer. The beauty of a web app is you can get at it from anywhere (well, anywhere with an internet connection and a web browser).

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