Please can you debate the pros and cons of 'stealth mode'. Is it always best to be open? Is a question of timing - do UGC sites need some decent content first? Is it a cultural thing - are Europeans start-ups more closed? Does the type of site impact the decision?
The reason i come to your blog - to read the great stuff you write - is almost all 'below the fold' (digital parlance for needing to scroll to see it). So I would consider reducing the image height to around 120. The good news is you've chosen a skyline which lends itself naturally to a horizontal format...
PS: I would consider putting the sunglasses back on ;-)
Looking forward to seeing how Alan's point plays out.
Nic, you say you're "not sure how this fits with OpenSocial". I am very eager to hear more on this topic as you learn more. Some have oversimplified this by saying OpenSocial allows apps to move from site to site whereas Dataportability allows data to move from site to site.