Holy weekend, Peerdrum! Sunday, we added even more layers of security to our systems as well as a complete redesign of Peerdrum's landing pages!
Peerdrum displays your team's screens as they're working via automated screenshots, tracks time, and allows administrators to create and manage an unlimited number of projects. Users can pause the screen monitoring at any time which also pauses their time trackers.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
New App Updates, Enhanced Security, Random Captures & MORE!
There's a term in software development known as "feature creep". Developers twitch at a mere mention of the phrase. It's just too easy to continuously think of more things the app could do. It's a lot like the guest list for a wedding - "If we invite Mike and Katie, then we HAVE to invite Susan, Frank, Bobby, Raul, Janet, Vincenzo...".
With Peerdrum, we try to avoid this slippery slope and focus on improving its core features. One of which is the Peerdrum Client, (the thing that tracks your time and uploads your screenshots). Following multiple requests, the new Peerdrum Client version 0.2.4 has been given the following new muscles to flex:
With Peerdrum, we try to avoid this slippery slope and focus on improving its core features. One of which is the Peerdrum Client, (the thing that tracks your time and uploads your screenshots). Following multiple requests, the new Peerdrum Client version 0.2.4 has been given the following new muscles to flex:
- Random Screenshots: Previous versions delivered timed screenshots every ten minutes, now screenshots are taken randomly, (6 per hour)
- Session View: Previously, the Peerdrum Client Time Display featured total time-only. Version 0.2.4 features a new Session View option to allow the user to toggle between total time and current session time, (time since their last check-in).
- Enhanced Security: Massive security reinforcements have been implemented
- Automated Application Updates: Once version 0.2.4 is installed, the end user no longer will need to manually download updated versions of the client
If you haven't yet updated, you can do so by downloading the app via your Peerdrum profile page.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Spies, Thieves, and Treehugger
Following a recent Treehugger article, I felt I should explain the purpose of Peerdrum more clearly...
I spent 5 years teleworking for one company. I spent the next 5 years managing teleworkers for my own company. I have an intimate understanding of the intricate pros and cons of both sides of the fence. I designed Peerdrum to fill in the holes that I found in each component to encourage teleworking. It takes balance to work or manage remotely. After all, no one wants to be taken advantage of and no one wants to be spied on.
Manager:
Results are what matter, but most teleworkers charge hourly. When I'd ask a worker to get me their designs, it would result in a lengthy review session of me telling them what they need to go back and fix. Then more waiting, more hours, more wondering how it was going, more money. Rinse. Repeat. I've also been charged 30 hours for things that looked like they received about 10 minutes of attention. Try arguing with a remote worker about how much time they spent on something. Seriously, go ahead... I don’t care whatever else they were doing or the time they spent doing it. I just didn’t want to be charged for it.
Teleworker:
You know what I love best about teleworking? I love that I can step into the other room whenever I want and play with my kids, hug my wife, or take a stroll outside. It’s not less time spent working - it’s time freedom. Being able to choose when these moments occur is what matters.
Professional teleworkers are serious about focus & time management. When it’s game time, we turn off the phone, the email, the updates, and avoid distractions online. We’re ready to show off our awesomeness. "Watch this..."
Summary - Manager:
If you want to be able to scrutinize your team’s every move, we’re not for you. There are plenty of other apps out there for that. However, if you’d like something to help minimize remote worker concerns, welcome to Margaritaville.
Summary - Teleworker:
If you’re in the habit of billing clients for time you’re not working, then we’re not for you. If you can benefit from sharing your progress while you work, or if you work the hours you bill and are proud to prove it, we love you long time.
I spent 5 years teleworking for one company. I spent the next 5 years managing teleworkers for my own company. I have an intimate understanding of the intricate pros and cons of both sides of the fence. I designed Peerdrum to fill in the holes that I found in each component to encourage teleworking. It takes balance to work or manage remotely. After all, no one wants to be taken advantage of and no one wants to be spied on.
Manager:
Results are what matter, but most teleworkers charge hourly. When I'd ask a worker to get me their designs, it would result in a lengthy review session of me telling them what they need to go back and fix. Then more waiting, more hours, more wondering how it was going, more money. Rinse. Repeat. I've also been charged 30 hours for things that looked like they received about 10 minutes of attention. Try arguing with a remote worker about how much time they spent on something. Seriously, go ahead... I don’t care whatever else they were doing or the time they spent doing it. I just didn’t want to be charged for it.
Teleworker:
You know what I love best about teleworking? I love that I can step into the other room whenever I want and play with my kids, hug my wife, or take a stroll outside. It’s not less time spent working - it’s time freedom. Being able to choose when these moments occur is what matters.
Professional teleworkers are serious about focus & time management. When it’s game time, we turn off the phone, the email, the updates, and avoid distractions online. We’re ready to show off our awesomeness. "Watch this..."
Summary - Manager:
If you want to be able to scrutinize your team’s every move, we’re not for you. There are plenty of other apps out there for that. However, if you’d like something to help minimize remote worker concerns, welcome to Margaritaville.
Summary - Teleworker:
If you’re in the habit of billing clients for time you’re not working, then we’re not for you. If you can benefit from sharing your progress while you work, or if you work the hours you bill and are proud to prove it, we love you long time.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Stats to the Max
Hey everyone. We have a highly-requested update coming. The first update you'll notice is that we are now showing a small activity graph next to each user that displays how active they've been over the past 30 days, 52 weeks, and 12 months. This won't have a lot of data yet as we've only just started taking in the activity data over the past few days. But as time progresses, these activity monitors will hopefully motivate you and your team to stay active on the projects and help you balance your time in between multiple assignments.
This is the first major step we're taking towards making it easier to pay employees based on the actual hours they work, which is really the whole point of Peerdrum anyways, right? A lightweight way to track and accurately evaluate and pay your remote employees. Please continue to suggest ideas you have to us (via support@peerdrum.com or on Twitter at @peerdrum)
The next step to this is to give actual numbers behind the graphs which is coming soon. Hold tight and we should have that up within the next few days or so! In the meantime, here's a quick shot of what you'll be seeing the next time you log into the project management console.
This is the first major step we're taking towards making it easier to pay employees based on the actual hours they work, which is really the whole point of Peerdrum anyways, right? A lightweight way to track and accurately evaluate and pay your remote employees. Please continue to suggest ideas you have to us (via support@peerdrum.com or on Twitter at @peerdrum)
The next step to this is to give actual numbers behind the graphs which is coming soon. Hold tight and we should have that up within the next few days or so! In the meantime, here's a quick shot of what you'll be seeing the next time you log into the project management console.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
You asked for it!!! Dual Monitor Captures and Idle Checkout now LIVE!
DUAL MONITOR DISPLAY CAPTURES
It's a safe bet that if you've been working with computers for more than a couple of hours, you've learned to appreciate the profound benefits of a dual-monitor display system. Peerdrum initially captured a user's primary display-only, leaving the secondary display wide-open for anything non-work related. Although many people are skilled enough to manage to work diligently while watching YouTube monkey butt-scratching videos, we feel there's no denying that it's at best, a distraction. The long awaited release of the Peerdrum Client v1.4 for MAC and Windows now captures both monitors for display in Peerview, (login and download the updated client from your Dashboard page at http://www.peerdrum.com).
AUTOMATIC CHECKOUT FOR IDLE TIME
Upon checking a user's progress via Peerview, many of us wondered why there were so many identical consecutive screenshots in the records. We debated logging idle time, but decided that being idle is a user's right. Go ahead and sleep. Just don't expect to be paid for it.
The Peerdrum Client v1.4 for MAC and Windows now automatically "checks-out" a user who is idle for more than 5 minutes. The app is brought into focus so the user knows to check back in to get back on the clock.
More thrilling updates coming soon! Stay with us on twitter and facebook for the latest & greatest. Fonzie does.
Monday, September 27, 2010
KABOOM!
Major updates are being implemented this week. As with any updates, there will be a few random bugs scampering about, mucking things up a bit. Thank you for your patience as we stomp out these little pests to bring you a bigger, faster, stronger version of Peerdrum.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
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