I’m concerned for app.net

As the first real post of this blog I’ll point out that I seem to write much better when I’m tired. “writing better” can be defined as “I get good ideas” I think, so essentially I’m saying I get good ideas when I’m tired. Consequently, the day after I will probably rewrite my entire post because I’ve thought through it clearly… Maybe that is what will happen today. I don’t know but I think it’s all a charade.

App.net

App.net is a smallish website that is growing rapidly in the tech world community. It’s set out to be an alternative to twitter and Facebook as a microblogging service. Membership currently costs money ($50 dollars to be exact for a normal account) rather than have advertisements. The idea of paying money for a webservice has never appealed to me because I’ve never put money into one. There are very few nonstatic things that I couldn’t hold that I’ve payed real money for (one of those being Minecraft). Now, there’s nothing wrong with paying real money for something virtual, don’t get me wrong. But a website that charges you to be able to talk to your friends just won’t work. People won’t buy it. Maybe this is the reason app.net has chosen the 50 dollar price to compensate for the few members but come on. Can’t there be a better way? Unobtrusive ads possibly? Or maybe even a free/donation based service similar to Wikipedia (unlikely but possible).

App.net is a terrible name for a social service. Absolutely terrible. It sounds like a site to go and find and possibly use great apps, the name implies nothing to do with social communication. For this reason alone app.net will lose many many prospects of becoming a huge deal to “normal people”. Sorry, but it’s the truth.

Still, I thank you app.net, you’re calling for a needed change.

UPDATE (2017): app.net is dead