The hottest Apps Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

OpenAI is an App Company Now

Big Technology • 13260 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Software Apps Innovation Data
  1. OpenAI is focusing more on building apps rather than just creating AI models. This shift reflects a need to stay competitive and profitable in the changing AI landscape.
  2. The market for AI applications is growing, and OpenAI's ChatGPT is performing well, far ahead of its competitors in earnings. This positions OpenAI favorably as it continues to innovate its products.
  3. While OpenAI aims to develop artificial general intelligence, it faces challenges as competition increases and cost structures change in the AI industry. Staying ahead will require continuous product improvements.

Make your social apps pop with LinkPresentation

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 874 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Apps Development User Experience Design
  1. You can easily improve your social apps by adding better link previews. This makes sharing more visually appealing and user-friendly.
  2. Building support for hyperlink features in your app can be quick and simple. Many times, you can get it done during a lunch break.
  3. If you're in a fast-paced environment, it's often easier to create a proof of concept and refine it later. Don't be afraid to just jump in and start making changes.

How Super Apps & Platforms Are Turning AI On Its Head

High ROI Data Science • 79 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🕹 Technology AI Platforms Apps Business Models Consumer behavior
  1. Super apps in Asia grow by offering many services to a smaller customer base, unlike Big Tech that focuses on single services for many users. This helps them cater better to local needs.
  2. The advantages of super apps include faster product development, lower costs for data collection, and a unique competitive edge through exclusive data. They can quickly adapt to market changes too.
  3. Wrtn, a South Korean startup, shows how a super app can combine multiple AI services into one platform. This model offers better value to users and keeps them engaged with ads instead of multiple expensive subscriptions.

BabyTime: A Video Calling App for Babies

offscript • 104 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Apps Family Development Communication User Experience
  1. The app is designed for babies to call family members using photos, making it easy for them to connect without needing to read.
  2. A friend's three-year-old enjoys using the app so much that he started prank calling family, showing how kids can adapt to tech.
  3. Building the app was a fun project that took just one day, and it encourages others to create simple apps for their own families.
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The RedNote honeymoon won't last

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4986 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Social media Apps User Behavior Data Privacy Regulation
  1. RedNote, a new app, is gaining popularity as users look for alternatives to TikTok. It focuses on social shopping and creating content about products.
  2. Despite its rapid rise, RedNote might struggle long-term because it has a language barrier and isn't as globally popular as TikTok.
  3. As users enjoy RedNote now, conflicts may arise as happens on most social media platforms. This could change users' perceptions of the app over time.

Why Platformer is leaving Substack

Platformer • 12755 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Apps Innovation Social media Software Engineering
  1. Platformer has decided to move off of Substack and migrate to a new website powered by Ghost
  2. The decision was influenced by concerns over how Substack moderates content and promotes publications
  3. Substack faced controversies over hosting extremist content, leading to Platformer's decision to leave for a platform with more robust content moderation policies

One feed to rule them all

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3045 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Social media Apps Digital Trends User Experience Content curation
  1. Tapestry is a new app that combines multiple social media feeds into a single view, making it easier to keep track of updates. Users like that it is chronological and ad-free, offering a smooth browsing experience.
  2. There are other timeline apps besides Tapestry, like Reeder and Unread, which aim to help users organize their online content better. These apps reflect a shift from traditional RSS readers to modern feed solutions.
  3. The challenge with timeline apps is making them user-friendly for a variety of content types, such as videos and podcasts, while also allowing interaction like liking or commenting on posts.

A review of Brick, a little box that shuts down your phone

Startup Strategies • 71 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Gadgets Apps Media Product Reviews
  1. The Brick is a device that helps you stop using apps on your phone by locking them down until you tap it again. This makes it harder to scroll through social media mindlessly.
  2. Although it works well to keep you off distracting apps, it's not the cheapest option available. There are free apps like Screen Time that can do something similar.
  3. Some people might prefer making their own version of the Brick with cheap parts instead of buying one. It’s a fun project, but the Brick does its job of reducing screen time effectively.

The Substack app is now the most powerful growth machine for creators

Substack • 1455 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Apps Growth Media Social Content
  1. The Substack app is growing quickly and is now the top way for creators to gain subscribers. This means more people are discovering and enjoying their work.
  2. The app combines features from social media with long-form content, making it easier for readers to connect with creators. Users can interact, share, and explore new voices all in one place.
  3. Creators have full ownership of their content and subscriber lists, which gives them more control. Unlike other platforms, the app focuses on meaningful connections between creators and their audience.

Introducing a new way to publish from the Substack app

Substack • 1669 implied HN points • 25 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Apps Publishing Software Mobile Digital Tools
  1. The Substack app now has a new mobile editor that lets you write and publish posts directly from your phone. This makes it easier to reach your audience anytime and anywhere.
  2. You can create simple text and image posts, which is perfect for quick updates or sharing casual moments. The app saves your drafts automatically too.
  3. Currently, there are still some limitations, like not being able to edit published posts in the app. More features, like video posts and scheduling, are planned for the future.

Meta unspools Threads

Platformer • 3518 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media Apps Decentralization Content Moderation Data Privacy
  1. Meta released Threads, a new app challenging Twitter, with a focus on content moderation and decentralization.
  2. Threads is a text-based messaging app similar to Twitter, allowing easy following of Instagram users with limited features.
  3. The success of Threads will depend on cultivating a vibrant community and continuous improvements to user experience.

Briefing: Super Google Sheets, Netflix’s app snub, Finding Nimo

Department of Product • 1238 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Apps AI Mobile Software Tech Companies
  1. Notion integrates Indie calendar Cron into a new standalone Calendar app for sharing with stakeholders.
  2. Numerous plugin enhances Google Sheets with generative AI for tasks like creating formulas and translating text.
  3. Netflix's decision not to build a dedicated app for visionOS is a setback for Apple, while Nimo gains popularity as a lighter AR alternative.

What really makes the dating app monopoly dysfunctional

Offline: dating that works • 219 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Dating Apps Monopoly Algorithm User Interaction
  1. Dating apps lack an optimal balance between exploration and exploitation, crucial for decision-making in relationships.
  2. The current dating app market is monopolized by a dysfunctional swiping protocol that hinders successful exploration and relationships.
  3. Dating apps prioritize superficial attraction and short-term connections over meaningful, committed relationships, shaping user behavior and limiting relationship potential.

I Wrote a Guest Post for Emerge Tools!

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 656 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Apps Tools iOS Engineering Startups
  1. The blog post compares the Twitter and X iOS app binaries, revealing insights like extra app icons and heavy use of dynamic libraries.
  2. Emerge Tools offers valuable solutions for mobile engineers to monitor their app's size and performance.
  3. The author recommends subscribing to Jacob's Tech Tavern for more insightful posts and to show support for the work.

The Monday Media Diet with Sophia Smith Galer

Why is this interesting? • 542 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media Books Journalism Language Apps
  1. Sophia curates her news from social media like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, finding content that aligns with her interests.
  2. She enjoys leisurely reading the weekend papers and is a fan of Private Eye, read in a unique way as a family tradition.
  3. Sophia recommends reading Megha Mohan's journalism and mentions Reverso Context as a great language app.

Introducing a new front page for Substack

Substack Blog • 724 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Apps User Experience Innovation Content Feedback
  1. The new Home experience on the Substack app aims to boost growth for writers and offer readers a universe of great writing.
  2. The reading queue in the app helps readers keep up with their favorite subscriptions and never miss new content.
  3. The explore feed and inbox features are designed to enhance discoverability and customization for users within the Substack ecosystem.

The Monday Media Diet with Ahmed Al Omran

Why is this interesting? • 301 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Media Books Apps Travel Web Development
  1. Ahmed Al Omran shares his diverse media diet, including newspapers, RSS feeds, newsletters, podcasts, and social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
  2. Al Omran recommends 'Endel,' an AI-generated personalized soundscapes app, and expresses a preference for trains over planes due to the unpleasant aspects of flying.
  3. Japan is highlighted as a must-visit destination known for its attention to craftsmanship across various aspects of culture, providing unique experiences.

The Rise of Offline Apps

In Bed With Social • 336 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Apps Tech Trends Digital Experiences Online Platforms Entrepreneurship
  1. The mobile app landscape is shifting with a decrease in app downloads and counts on platforms like the App Store and Play Store.
  2. Apps like Breeze and Soon are introducing 'offline dating' experiences that prioritize face-to-face interactions over virtual connections.
  3. There is a rising trend towards digital consolidation and possibly a shift towards a 'super app' revolution to balance tangible experiences with digital connectivity.

January 2024

Product Composition • 117 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Apps AI Social media Startups Tech news
  1. Alex Vilinskyy is looking for specific roles to fill in his ventures like Payment Integrationist, Email Expert, and Head of Design.
  2. He's also seeking partners interested in addressing issues in the Future of Work, Communication, Computing, Entrepreneurship, and Media.
  3. The post shares info about the authenticity of Instagram, upcoming plans for new products, and recommends cool apps like PhotoStudio and Factorio.

Concept design in three easy steps

Subconscious • 711 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Design Software Apps Concepts Engineering
  1. View software design as shaping functionality, understand what it should do first before how it does it or how it looks.
  2. Break down app functionalities into modular concepts, each with its own behavior and actions, combine existing concepts creatively.
  3. Design concepts to function independently, sync actions to ensure smooth interaction, focus on how concepts fit together to improve usability.

The Open Road

Podcasting 2.0 • 98 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Podcasting Apps Android Features
  1. Podcasting is experiencing a winter phase, with struggles in monetization and platform acquisitions.
  2. Apple's embrace of RSS-based podcasting with features like episode transcripts signals a commitment to open collaboration.
  3. Podcasting 2.0 focuses on enhancing RSS feeds with new features in an open and community-driven manner.

Does the GPT Store launch compare with the Apple App Store launch?

The Discourse • 78 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Apps Marketplaces Innovation
  1. The GPT Store has been launched with customized GPTs for ChatGPT Plus users.
  2. The GPT Store is aiming to convert free users to paid users, unlike the Apple App Store launch which had a larger user base.
  3. The future of GPTs could include standalone apps, open to all 180M ChatGPT users, revenue sharing with OpenAI, and fun, innovative creations.

Making some Headway

My Home Office Hacks • 2 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Apps Productivity AI Tools Self-help Remote work
  1. The Headway app offers useful book summaries that help you learn key points quickly. It’s a great way to stay informed without having to read full books.
  2. Using tools like TinyWow's FAQ Generator can simplify content creation for websites. It helps you answer common questions easily, even if you're not a professional writer.
  3. Listening to book summaries can be a good alternative to traditional media. It can fill the time you would spend on the news and provide valuable insights instead.

How much would you pay not to use Twitter? Or vice-versa?

Social Warming by Charles Arthur • 78 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🕹 Technology Social media AI Apps Subscription Models Data Privacy
  1. Consider how much you would pay or what special features you would require to access social networks like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat.
  2. Offering the right features for paid subscriptions is crucial for social networks to succeed, as seen in the example of Twitter Blue.
  3. Understanding what users are willing to pay for on social networks is important, especially as the industry shifts towards freemium models.