Topics
modish
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:The Iconfactory
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:The Iconfactory
Cloud Computing
DoC
Crypto
Image Credits:The Iconfactory
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
fund raise
gadget
Gaming
Government & Policy
ironware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
security department
Social
blank space
startup
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
result
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
video
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
The Iconfactory , the maker of a democratic third - party Twitter client , Twitterrific , that was among those down off by Twitter under Elon Musk ’s management , is hop to retrieve from its losses with a new app that combines your social medium , news feeds and alerts into one experience . The app , dubbed“Project Tapestry ” as it launches on Kickstarter , will support Twitter / X alternative like Bluesky , Mastodon and Tumblr , and perhaps Instagram Threads when its developer API becomes uncommitted . However , it wo n’t support X itself due to thecompany ’s ban on third - party apps .
A put to work image of Project Tapestry has already been developed and if The Iconfactory is able to upgrade $ 100,000 in financial support through Kickstarter it will further produce the app to be found to the populace .
As described , Project Tapestry is meant to organize today ’s fragmented on-line media into one interface , by leave users to follow a variety of sources in one place . For instance , you could track your favorite blogs , news sites , societal networks and webcomics , as well as critical updates that used to get via Twitter , like conditions qui vive or temblor warnings .
This would imply run with any situation that offers an RSS provender , which most blogs and news sites ( without a paywall ) already do . It would also incorporate with the startups that are offering Twitter alternatives , like Bluesky , power by the unexampled AT Protocol , and Mastodon , which will be powered by another emerging web standard , ActivityPub . ( The troupe is n’t planning on Threads sustenance at launch , but would consider tot up it , as well , if an API was made uncommitted , we ’re secern . )
Other plotted source admit Tumblr , Micro.blog , USGS Earthquakes , NOAA Satellite and GO Comics . Facebook and Instagram will not be available , though .
After frame-up , Tapestry would organize all your updates into one feed , exhibit in chronological order . Plus , the app could remove duplicates to cut down on the clutter — like when someone station a link to multiple social web at once . In the new app , those mentions could be combined , so you only see the post one time .
The team envisions hit Project Tapestry ’s timeline something that anyone could integrate with by writing plug - ins using JavaScript that will understand between the vane and the native iOS app . For representative , developers tinker around with Raspberry Pi could send usance alerts to their timeline via this user interface .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Other celebrated features let in the power to mark items as read , remember your reading side in the timeline , financial support for light and dour themes , and a couple more copied over from the company ’s Twitterrific day — like damp and “ muffling . ” The latterwas a popular alternative for those who wanted to know what was being saidby understate the tweet , and ply a unretentive description of what was hidden instead .
If the company ’s stretchability goal of $ 150,000 is reached on Kickstarter , the squad will also work on a more advance search lineament that would appropriate you to look for across the sources and social networking posts you already follow instead of the wide web . That aspect sounds particularly promising at a sentence when Google Search ’s quality isdiminishing due to SEO spamandAI - drop a line pages .
This is n’t the first meter Iconfactory has turn to Kickstarter . It also used the site to fund the growing of Twitterrific for Mac in 2017 , which was funded in 20 days .
Though Iconfactory today make several apps for creative thinking , entertainment and gaming , the shutdown of Twitterrific had been difficult for the company and its team .
Laments The Iconfactory ’s Principal / DesignerGedeon Maheux , the new projection add up about because the team “ had invested so much time and energy into Twitter , ” but then Twitter “ wall[ed ] up their garden and people like us were hale to leave , ” he says . “ Now you have friends that are on dissimilar services , different places , and it ’s hard to keep track of them . ”
The need for crowdsourced funds was also necessary because of the personnel casualty of Twitterrific .
“ The dying of Twitterrific really wound … Killing third - company Twitter apps really put a dent in [ our taxation ] because Twitterrific was one of our lettuce - and - butter apps . It really fueled development and allowed us to do these things that we enjoy , ” notes Maheux . Since Twitterrific ’s shutdown , he says , the comapny has not yet been capable to “ fold the gap . ”
“ Hopefully , Tapestry will help with that , ” he adds .
Twitterrific may not be a house name like Twitter once was , but the app had asizable influence on Twitter culture .
The Twitter client was one of the early on the market place and beganusing a razz logo , which other clients then adopted , too . Later , Twitter begin using a shuttlecock as its prescribed logo in 2010 . The Iconfactory also contributed the word “ tweet ” to the mental lexicon around using Twitter , and create aworkaround for Twitter ’s want of an “ Edit ” push button in 2014by creating a feature that would delete and repost a tweet , reach the appearance of edits .
With its understanding of how to tapdance into the market of societal apps , Tapestry has the potency to now solve Modern pain points for drug user who are leave Twitter / X — a direction to chase the intelligence , people and information that count to them , no matter where they go .
The$100,000 Kickstarter goalwill tolerate The Iconfactory to get the initial app done and made public via the App Store . Since establish the crowdsourced backing plea this morning , they ’ve raised over $ 46,000 .
The company has historically been averse to the idea of direct speculation capital letter , as it wants to remain independent , but if Tapestry bring off after going public , Maheux admits it ’s “ never say never ” when it comes to bring up outside funds . In the meantime , however , if you want to use an app like Tapestry , you ’ll have todonatetoward its creation .
