centralized place to find web-based solutions and reduce the friction of signing up for them
So this is a lead-generating and advertising business model? I agree with the other posters that the value proposition based on your website is still a little vague.
All that said, changing the BROWSER of a user causes a whole bunch of other problems that you will run into.
First, you want to reduce friction of web-service adoption, but require that users change their browsers first? This creates friction where there was none before. A vast majority of internet users still use IE because they think its the internet - not because they made a conscious decision. Its clear you will miss these users (not just because its Mac only).
Other segments could be blocked by IT departments, internal web-app support (I only assume you mask webkit somehow?), or the choice of browsers already installed by other users (kiosk, family computer). Most of the consumer market is covered web-service wise with GMail, Dropbox, and Facebook. Most of this market uses the services their friends use, not something an esoteric browser will suggest to them.
There are other businesses out there that help you 'discover and sign up' for web-based services, including but not limited to getapp.com, appdirect.com, and more integrated solutions with identity management and SSO for organizations.
Now that you have your beta - don't be too inclined to start building complex discovery features that no one will see. Adoption of your browser as the top of the funnel is your primary goal. You first have to overcome reasons to use Safari, Chrome, or Firefox with a unique value proposition they could only get through your browser. Right now a user can use Chrome and go to one of those sites I mentioned and they never had to download and install your product to do it.
I understand the 'lets flip it on its head and get them at the browser level' but thats a war usually fought for different reasons, requires a level of investment probably not worth what you are trying to do with it, and all during an era where desktop browsing is declining in favor of mobile-web and native app experiences are taking over.
Still, I could have completely missed the reason for Raven and what it is trying to accomplish and my response is only based on my experience so YMMV.
Comments
centralized place to find web-based solutions and reduce the friction of signing up for them
So this is a lead-generating and advertising business model? I agree with the other posters that the value proposition based on your website is still a little vague.
All that said, changing the BROWSER of a user causes a whole bunch of other problems that you will run into.
First, you want to reduce friction of web-service adoption, but require that users change their browsers first? This creates friction where there was none before. A vast majority of internet users still use IE because they think its the internet - not because they made a conscious decision. Its clear you will miss these users (not just because its Mac only).
Other segments could be blocked by IT departments, internal web-app support (I only assume you mask webkit somehow?), or the choice of browsers already installed by other users (kiosk, family computer). Most of the consumer market is covered web-service wise with GMail, Dropbox, and Facebook. Most of this market uses the services their friends use, not something an esoteric browser will suggest to them.
There are other businesses out there that help you 'discover and sign up' for web-based services, including but not limited to getapp.com, appdirect.com, and more integrated solutions with identity management and SSO for organizations.
Now that you have your beta - don't be too inclined to start building complex discovery features that no one will see. Adoption of your browser as the top of the funnel is your primary goal. You first have to overcome reasons to use Safari, Chrome, or Firefox with a unique value proposition they could only get through your browser. Right now a user can use Chrome and go to one of those sites I mentioned and they never had to download and install your product to do it.
I understand the 'lets flip it on its head and get them at the browser level' but thats a war usually fought for different reasons, requires a level of investment probably not worth what you are trying to do with it, and all during an era where desktop browsing is declining in favor of mobile-web and native app experiences are taking over.
Still, I could have completely missed the reason for Raven and what it is trying to accomplish and my response is only based on my experience so YMMV.
> A vast majority of internet users still use IE
IE may be the most popular browser, but it's not used by the vast majority.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers