Show HN: A photo sharing app that isn't trying to be a TikTok clone
The app is made just for photo sharing. No videos, no NFTs, just pictures, comments, and chats. Each post is ranked like on reddit - a combination of the user upvote/downvotes and the amount of time passed since the post's creation.
We're also trying to stay away from ads, and instead adopt a freemium model. The main reason for this is because people are a lot more concerned with privacy these days, and if we aren't serving ads, then the user knows that we don't have an incentive to steal their data.
There's already a small community of about 1500 on the app, with a lot of them being professional photographers. So the photos going up look really nice (at least in my opinion). But we don't just want to be a community of people who consider themselves photographers - that's a mistake that other platforms like Flickr and VSCO make. To become widespread, you need to make your platform simple to use for the casual person; only catering to professionals will necessarily keep your community smaller than it otherwise would be.
Users have been asking for a desktop client, and while we don't have one yet, we do plan to add it - and it won't take us as long as IG to do it, and neither will it be an afterthought where the UX is intentionally made poor so that you're pushed to use the app instead. But we want to polish the mobile app first before we get there, and there's still a lot of work to do since it's super early days.
If you want to try it out, here's the link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.pidgeon.pidgeon
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pidgeon-simple-photo-sharing/id1605784768
And please do provide any feedback you have on the app! It really does help us make it better.
26 comments
[ 6.4 ms ] story [ 87.8 ms ] threadIsn't IG's algorithm "determined by the people"? The more engagement (views/likes/comments, etc.) the more the content is shown to other users. Plus its even smarter by customizing the recommendations to your personal preferences (e.g. if you heart a fitness pic, the algorithm will recommend more fitness pics).
Its frustrating to me seeing people being angry at {social media}'s content recommendation engine. The reason why all these companies have this algorithms is cuz they work... At worst, you're re-inventing a less efficient wheel and at best, you do what Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, etc. all realized is a better user experience (the one you're trying to replace).
In the future I imagine that computer generated renderings will be impossible to distinguish from photographs.
Sometimes I wonder if next generation algorithms will not only show you what it thinks you like but also create the visual content it thinks you like as well.
2. Your statements are conflicting. Currently, {social media / search} gives user the content they are most interested in quickly and as much of it as they want. The alternative is what? Showing them less of the content they want? Showing them content they don't want (so they leave)?
In the ideal world, {social media}'s algorithm perfectly aligns with human interests, delivering exactly the content the human wants and as much of this content as the human wants.
So they built an app that people want to use?
Diving down mental health rabbit hole, what is bad for your mental health? Seeing people that are prettier or more successful than you? If so, how does this app discourage recommending content of pretty/successful people? Would you want an app that only has ugly people?
Also gotta say I love the simple and straightforward UI, the dice-rolling thing add a unique touch too.
However, I can see that the app still need a lot of performance tweak, the UX for exiting out of a horizontal image scroll is weird as well, I would prefer to be able to swipe up to exit the view here. Otherwise, cool app thus far!
Second, we don't plan to add video. This is a platform just for photos, and for someone who wants something like that it's a good thing.
We also run on iPad, and when we get desktop going it won't be an intentionally broken experience to force you to use the app.
And we actually listen to our users. There's a chat room on the app "Pidgeon Nest" where people have asked for certain features and we've gone and added them. We've also done the same when users have reached out over email.
Why would it be, TikTok isn't for photo sharing.. Looks exactly like IG though.
* users of photo sites are justifiably worried about how this business is sustainable (or will everything just get deleted). What's your plan?
* Add Creative Commons licenses
* how do I edit or add a title to a picture after uploading?
* Is there a web version? This is a big deal if not.
Tap on the image within the comments view, and use the three dots icon to the lower right of the overlay that appears.
Web version is coming. So many people have requested this - we're definitely aware that it's a big deal.