Latest news with #Flashes
NDTV
04-07-2025
- NDTV
Flashes, A Bluesky-Based Instagram Alternative, Now Available On App Store. All You Need To Know
If you're getting tired of Instagram, a Bluesky-based alternative known as Flashes is now available on the App Store. According to TechCrunch, the app offers a decentralised, algorithm-free experience for users who want more control over their visual content. It uses the same basic technical framework as Bluesky, the AT protocol. However, though closely integrated, it is developed by a third-party Berlin-based developer, Sebastian Vogelsang, rather than Bluesky's core team. Flashes is currently a free download from the App Store and requires iOS 17 or higher to run. There is no confirmed date for an Android version yet. Flashes' features and functionality Flashes has the same requirements around posting images and videos as you'd find on Bluesky directly. Originally, that meant support for posting up to four images and videos of one minute in length, but as the Bluesky version 1.99 was updated and released earlier this year, users have been able to upload videos up to three minutes in length, the outlet reported. Unlike traditional social media apps, posts made on Flashes will also appear on Buesky, with comments and interactions flowing between both platforms seamlessly. How Flashes is different from Instagram Flashes is somewhat similar to Instagram, as it offers a scrollable feed of photos and videos, user profiles, and even photo filters to enhance your images when posting, per TechCrunch. But instead of having to start your network from scratch, Flashes' users are immediately tapped into the wider Bluesky community. Even if not all of Bluesky's users are on Flashes, their images and videos will be displayed in the app. And when you post on Flashes, it will create a post that will appear on Bluesky. Moreover, the app will let you browse your own Bluesky feeds and choose from Bluesky's over 50,000 custom feeds. In Flahses, you can like, repost and reply to posts, just like Bluesky. Those interactions will also appear in Bluesky's app, while Bluesky users' interactions will show up in Flashes. On Flashes, you can customise your user profile by opting to show or hide likes, lists and feeds, or using other media filtering options. For content creators, the app also has a feature called "Portfolio", which will let you curate which images should appear on your Flashes user profile. How to get started To use Flahses, you'll need to have a Bluesky account. If you already have one, you can directly sign in with those credentials. If not, you will have to sign up for a Bluesky account within the Flashes app. To create an account, you'll need to provide an email address, password, and date of birth, then accept the terms of use. Once signed in, you can immediately start browsing the images and videos shared on your Bluesky timeline or any other Bluesky feed, or post your own media.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Everything you need to know about Flashes, the Bluesky-based Instagram alternative
Flashes this year launched an Instagram alternative built on top of the Bluesky social network. Now available on the App Store, the app offers a different way to browse the visual posts on Bluesky. Instead of viewing them in a timeline-like feed, similar to X, the app draws inspiration from photo-based social networks, like Instagram. The app, built by Berlin-based developer Sebastian Vogelsang, runs on the same underlying protocol that powers Bluesky, the AT Protocol (or atproto for short). That means it will have the same requirements around posting images and videos as you'd find on Bluesky directly. Originally, that meant support for posting up to four images and videos of one minute in length, but as of the Bluesky version 1.99 update released on March 10, users have been able to upload videos up to 3 minutes in length. Flashes is somewhat similar to Instagram, as it offers a scrollable feed of photos and videos, user profiles, and even photo filters to enhance your images when posting. Instead of having to start your network from scratch, Flashes' users are immediately tapped into the wider Bluesky community, which now has over 37 million users. Even if not all of Bluesky's users are on Flashes, their images and videos will be displayed in the app, as it essentially filters the Bluesky feed for visual content. When you post on Flashes, it creates a post that appears on Bluesky as well. (For that reason, you may want to make a secondary Bluesky account if you want to keep the two networks separate.) In addition, the app lets you browse your own Bluesky feeds and choose from Bluesky's over 50,000 custom feeds, including those that focus on particular topics — like art, birds, gardening, or cat pics, for example — or those dedicated to specific formats, like Bluesky's video feed. As you browse through the posts in Flashes, you can like, repost, and reply to them, just as you could on Bluesky itself. Those interactions will also appear in Bluesky's app, while Bluesky users' interactions will show up in Flashes. Photographers looking for a place to showcase their work will appreciate Flashes' 'Portfolio' feature. To toggle this setting on, you'll head to the 'Advanced' tab on your user profile, then tap on 'Flashes profile.' Here, there will be an option to enable Portfolio, which lets you curate which images should appear on your Flashes user profile. You can also customize your user profile further by opting to show or hide likes, lists, and feeds, or using other media filtering options. To use Flashes, you'll first need a Bluesky account. If you already have one, you can sign in with those credentials. If not, you can choose to sign up for a Bluesky account from within the Flashes app. The app defaults to setting up your account on the main Bluesky server, but more technical users can opt to set up a custom hosting provider instead. To create your account, you'll need to provide an email address, password, and date of birth, then accept the terms of use, which means you agree to Bluesky's Community Guidelines and Terms. Once signed in, you can immediately start browsing the images and videos shared on your Bluesky timeline or any other Bluesky feed, or post your own media. Vogelsang hopes that Flashes will help pull in more users to the Bluesky community, including those who aren't as interested in a Twitter/X-like experience. Instead, the app appeals more to people looking for open alternatives to Meta's Instagram. It's not the only app building in this space, however. Another app working on similar experiences is Pinksky. Meanwhile, users of Mastodon's social network may prefer Pixelfed, which uses the fediverse's ActivityPub protocol under the hood instead of Bluesky's atproto. Over time, Vogelsang wants to add more features to Flashes, like push notifications, support for multiple accounts, bookmarks, and more editing options. Plans to add subscriptions with premium features are in the works, which would help fund Android and web development. These paid tiers could also provide premium access to Vogelsang's third-party Bluesky app, Skeets, and his video-focused app, Bluescreen. Other planned features include iPad layout improvements, support for longer videos, posts that are only visible for a limited time (like Stories), albums, and batched image transfer from other platforms. Eventually, the developer would like to evolve Flashes to be its own AT Protocol-based platform, while still being compatible with Bluesky's network. The app is a free download from the App Store and requires iOS 17 or higher to run. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
03-07-2025
- TechCrunch
Everything you need to know about Flashes, the Bluesky-based Instagram alternative
Flashes this year launched an Instagram alternative built on top of the Bluesky social network. Now available on the App Store, the app offers a different way to browse the visual posts on Bluesky. Instead of viewing them in a timeline-like feed, similar to X, the app draws inspiration from photo-based social networks, like Instagram. What you can post The app, built by Berlin-based developer Sebastian Vogelsang, runs on the same underlying protocol that powers Bluesky, the AT Protocol (or atproto for short). That means it will have the same requirements around posting images and videos as you'd find on Bluesky directly. Originally, that meant support for posting up to four images and videos of one minute in length, but as of the Bluesky version 1.99 update released on March 10, users have been able to upload videos up to 3 minutes in length. Image Credits:Flashes How Flashes is like Instagram — and how it's different Flashes is somewhat similar to Instagram, as it offers a scrollable feed of photos and videos, user profiles, and even photo filters to enhance your images when posting. Instead of having to start your network from scratch, Flashes' users are immediately tapped into the wider Bluesky community, which now has over 37 million users. Even if not all of Bluesky's users are on Flashes, their images and videos will be displayed in the app, as it essentially filters the Bluesky feed for visual content. When you post on Flashes, it creates a post that appears on Bluesky as well. (For that reason, you may want to make a secondary Bluesky account if you want to keep the two networks separate.) Image Credits:Flashes In addition, the app lets you browse your own Bluesky feeds and choose from Bluesky's over 50,000 custom feeds, including those that focus on particular topics — like art, birds, gardening, or cat pics, for example — or those dedicated to specific formats, like Bluesky's video feed. As you browse through the posts in Flashes, you can like, repost, and reply to them, just as you could on Bluesky itself. Those interactions will also appear in Bluesky's app, while Bluesky users' interactions will show up in Flashes. Photographers looking for a place to showcase their work will appreciate Flashes' 'Portfolio' feature. To toggle this setting on, you'll head to the 'Advanced' tab on your user profile, then tap on 'Flashes profile.' Here, there will be an option to enable Portfolio, which lets you curate which images should appear on your Flashes user profile. You can also customize your user profile further by opting to show or hide likes, lists, and feeds, or using other media filtering options. How to get started To use Flashes, you'll first need a Bluesky account. If you already have one, you can sign in with those credentials. If not, you can choose to sign up for a Bluesky account from within the Flashes app. The app defaults to setting up your account on the main Bluesky server, but more technical users can opt to set up a custom hosting provider instead. To create your account, you'll need to provide an email address, password, and date of birth, then accept the terms of use, which means you agree to Bluesky's Community Guidelines and Terms. Once signed in, you can immediately start browsing the images and videos shared on your Bluesky timeline or any other Bluesky feed, or post your own media. A subscription may be coming Vogelsang hopes that Flashes will help pull in more users to the Bluesky community, including those who aren't as interested in a Twitter/X-like experience. Instead, the app appeals more to people looking for open alternatives to Meta's Instagram. It's not the only app building in this space, however. Another app working on similar experiences is Pinksky. Meanwhile, users of Mastodon's social network may prefer Pixelfed, which uses the fediverse's ActivityPub protocol under the hood instead of Bluesky's atproto. Image Credits:Flashes Over time, Vogelsang wants to add more features to Flashes, like push notifications, support for multiple accounts, bookmarks, and more editing options. Plans to add subscriptions with premium features are in the works, which would help fund Android and web development. These paid tiers could also provide premium access to Vogelsang's third-party Bluesky app, Skeets, and his video-focused app, Bluescreen. Other planned features include iPad layout improvements, support for longer videos, posts that are only visible for a limited time (like Stories), albums, and batched image transfer from other platforms. Eventually, the developer would like to evolve Flashes to be its own AT Protocol-based platform, while still being compatible with Bluesky's network. The app is a free download from the App Store and requires iOS 17 or higher to run.
Sharjah 24
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Wamdat and Crafts & Professions reinforce Al Wusta TV programmes
In this context, the channel is presenting the heritage programme "Crafts and Professions" and the social and cultural programme "Wamdat' (Flashes). 'Crafts and Professions' "Crafts and Professions" airs every Tuesday at 8:00 PM and is presented by media personality Obaid bin Hamed Al Tunaiji. Through this programme, the channel seeks to preserve the craft heritage and encourage interest in authentic Bedouin crafts and professions by hosting a number of prominent craftsmen and handicrafts for which the Central Region is famous, and sharing their experiences and beginnings in these crafts and industries. 'Wamdat' "Wamdat" programme, presented by media personality Saeed Al Qamzi every Saturday at 6:30 PM, highlights the creativity and successes of the sons and daughters of the Central Region who have excelled in the fields of science, literature, and culture, and have also excelled in their professional lives, making them role models for society. Preserving and documenting Al Wusta heritage Saeed Rashid Al Ketbi, Director of Al Wusta from Al Dhaid TV Channel, said that through "Wamdat" and "Crafts and Professions" programmes, the channel sought to highlight the people of the Central Region and their significant roles in supporting and developing the region, whether through their literary, scientific, cultural, or heritage works. Al Ketbi added that traditional crafts and industries are gaining traction at events and occasions, so the channel decided to dedicate an entire programme to them this year as part of our commitment to preserving and documenting our tangible and intangible heritage and passing it on to new generations.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mark Cuban backs Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on Bluesky's underlying technology
Skylight, a startup taking on TikTok with a more open alternative, is launching its mobile app to the public on Tuesday after just 10 weeks of active development. The app, which is backed by Mark Cuban and others, is now one of many to build on top of the AT Protocol -- the same technology that underpins the social network Bluesky and a growing number of other apps. Developed by co-founders Tori White (CEO) and Reed Hermeyer (CTO), Skylight offers a short-form video app experience with many familiar features, including an in-app video editor; the ability to comment, like, and share videos; set up your own user profile; and follow others. Because it's also built on the AT Protocol (or "ATProto" for short), users will immediately be tapped into Bluesky's network of over 33.8 million users. That means videos posted on Skylight can be seen and engaged with by users on Bluesky and other ATProto-based apps, like the more photo-centric app Flashes, for example. The company is funded by a pre-seed round from Cuban, who said earlier this year that he wanted to fund a TikTok alternative built on the AT Protocol. Leslie Feinzaig's Graham & Walker Venture Fund also invested. White, who used to be a travel influencer and is now a self-taught software developer living in Seattle, says she and co-founder Hermeyer were inspired to create Skylight when they first heard that TikTok was getting banned in the U.S. In preparation for the ban, which is currently on pause, White had backed up her TikTok videos. But she still worried about losing access to her community and comments. She and Hermeyer had already been playing around with ATProto and saw the potential. "The first thing that interested us about ATProto was that Bluesky was not failing," Hermeyer told TechCrunch at the ATmosphere Conference in Seattle in March. "We didn't see the 'fail whale,'" he said, a reference to the graphic that appeared in Twitter's early days when the app was constantly crashing. "That made us feel comfortable about the underlying technology." Hermeyer and White soon realized this was an ideal time to build a new social app on the protocol that could be "ban-proof." Tapping into her influencer background, White began documenting Skylight's development on TikTok, which helped bring exposure to the product and build a following of potentially interested users. "We started with distribution," White explained. "I actually made a video before we ever wrote a line of code for this … [so] everyone can follow our journey as we build," she told TechCrunch at the conference. "We were like, oh my gosh, we are building this thing that we think is so cool, but no one cares yet. So we have to build a way to tell people about it so that they would care, because we know people need it," she said. Today, White's @buildwithtori TikTok profile has nearly 50,000 followers, many of which turned into early testers. Like Bluesky, Skylight supports video uploads of up to three minutes in length, a recent increase from the one-minute-long videos supported previously. But White sees Skylight becoming more than just a decentralized TikTok clone. She hints that Skylight in the future will allow users to customize their feed, including by utilizing new gestures beyond swiping and scrolling. Other features in the works include support for sounds, duets, stitching, bookmarks, and playlists. The app is in beta on the Google Play Store and is now available publicly on Apple's App Store after initial testing. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at
