The Twitter Rebellion: App.net Builds a Hacker's Alternative

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the-twitter-rebellion-appnet-offers-a-hackers-alternative.php

by tdgrnwld • 14 years ago

27 25 14 years ago

> On Thursday, Instagram released an update in which the "find friends from Twitter" feature is broken. Instagram shows a warning message: “Twitter no longer allows its users to access this information in Instagram via the Twitter API.”

This passed QA? Users don't need to be aware of an implementation detail like this.

milesokeefe• 14 years ago

It might help them lobby to get it back. Or maybe they want to show that Twitter is responsible, not themselves.

MatthewPhillips2• 14 years ago

You shouldn't pull your users into business/political battles like that. These are billion dollar companies fighting.

mikegreenspan2• 14 years ago

Users should be aware of a detail like this if a feature they love is suddenly missing in an update.

milliams• 14 years ago

How is this different from Status.net or Identi.ca?

http://status.net/product http://identi.ca/

18pfsmt• 14 years ago

Um, it's closed source with an API, and you get to pay for it to the tune of $50/yr assuring it's continued development...or something like that.

jonmwords3• 14 years ago

The whole spec is there on GitHub for your perusal and criticism, though. https://github.com/appdotnet/api-spec

pwpwp2• 14 years ago

Can somebody tell me why building a centralized service that stores messages is a good idea?

sp3322• 14 years ago

So I can read them from anywhere?

pwpwp2• 14 years ago

I can read web pages from everywhere, too. And emails, and XMPP messages, and RSS feeds.

msie• 14 years ago

Because a distributed service would take longer to build and probably not get built?

icebraining2• 14 years ago

Except it already exists in the form of StatusNet. You can already download the program, install it on your server and follow people from other servers (and vice-versa).

Apocryphon• 14 years ago

It may be good for developers, but what about it will convince users to switch from Twitter to using it?

lleims• 14 years ago

Easy answer: the majority of users won't switch. This reminds me a bit of the Diaspora hype a few months ago.

jonmwords3• 14 years ago

That doesn't have to happen. Even though the conversation has barely begun, most of the people who are behind this are already concentrating on federation with Twitter. That's how the reach problem will be solved.

roqetman• 14 years ago

How will it get future funding for upkeep etc?

mikegreenspan2• 14 years ago

App.net is a subscription-based service. i.e. Users and developers pay a yearly fee.

pgrote• 14 years ago

I know nothing about Twitter's patents. Wouldn't something like this infringe upon them?

almost• 14 years ago

Why would it? Do you think twitter has a patent on the idea of status updates?

Hey, maybe they do, the patent system is pretty messed up after all, but I would guess not!

munimkazia• 14 years ago

Yeah. As inspiring as it sounds right now, it is not going to work. Your common user is not going to shell out cash for a service like this. It doesn't matter if he won't get ads or if his information won't be sold. This thing will build up a lot of hype, may probably get funded, but eventually will die out after hackers and tech blogs lose interest. Much like diaspora.

jonmwords3• 14 years ago

It's not for common users. It's for people who want to pay for this service. Developers will build federation out to Twitter to reach those who don't want to participate.

shampoo• 14 years ago

I don't understand why we all don't just install a copy of identi.ca and run with it..

The Twitter Rebellion: App.net Builds a Hacker's Alternative

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