Review: Strands

Overview Another iPhone app with a full-featured website makes its entry into the world of social networking and lifestreaming. Strands is trying to position itself to occupy the world recently vacated by Pownce and stumbling Jaiku. Their website is still in beta, and so more features are sure to come, but here's what we know so far:

Functionality Strands seeks to become a one-stop source that broadcasts all your social networking services. Simply go to the website and set up your account and then add all your services. You cannot do this on the app - which is a little disappointing at first. Strands allows you to connect your Twitter account to its service, so that whatever you update in Strands will also be updated with Twitter, and nicely enough, vice versa. Once you have all your services set up, you're ready to use the iPhone app. The main screen shows friends' and your lifestream imported from your services. Clicking on one of the updates brings you to an interactive screen which allows you to vote that particular update up or down, comment on it, and other interaction.

Strands also has a very attractive desktop app which streams recent updates. It's a stand alone app that's comparable to twhirl and feedalizr (although Strands is not an Adobe Air app). This nifty desktop app has a lot of promise for those on the computer throughout the day. It actually recommends content for you based on what you're listening to, who you're following, etc. You'll get popup notices occasionally about new content.

Review

It's pretty obvious that Strands is still under development. As you get involved in the community, you learn that the developers are still working on what text codes to use for different functions. They are very responsive to ideas, and they're a friendly bunch. I got a free t-shirt just for signing up for Strands - and this was before I ever revealed I was a reviewer.

However, the app is, well, boring... and confusing. With all kids of icons and no explanations what they do, I just had to start tapping to figure things out. I couldn't even find instructions/explanations for the app on their website. At present, Strands both on the web and on your iPhone only shows you friends' activity that you have made on Strands. In other words, it won't pull information from your friends' Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed, etc. That's a real pain to think you have to start a whole new community of folks and then talk your existing friends into joining strands. The market is so oversaturated with these social networking apps that I doubt any of my friends would take time to start with Strands when they're already familiar with other services.

Back to the icons... on the main lifestream, you have an innocuous, generic icon shown to the right. It would be much better if this were the logo of whatever service it was importing. As it is, you can't tell where it comes from - Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm, etc.

I do like the interactiveness of being able to comment or vote up or down on each post. That was something I liked with Pownce (which has announced it's closing shop). In addition, Pownce allowed you to share files, pictures, etc. which Twitter does not. That was an added benefit of its service. Strands also allows you do that - although the iPhone app cannot do anything but status updates. That in itself is another detriment.

The desktop app is a thing of beauty. It's very well-designed, and I would use it exclusively if I could post to other services through it - like feedalizr. AND if it imported my friends updates from these other services. It's no good to me as it is, however, because I'm not going to get my friends into Strands unless some of these features are added. Strands does not need to seek to be an exclusive community when it comes to importing other services.

I found myself constantly wondering why I would use Strands as an app on my phone. It only updates itself and Twitter - no others. In addition, there were some import anomalies. Last.fm was not importing when I tested the website and app.

Summary Strands has soooo much potential. But I can't tell where they're going from their website. At present, I'd advise a "wait and see" attitude. The iPhone app has nothing to offer anyone right now, unless you can talk your 400+ Facebook friends and the 85 folks you pay attention to on Twitter to also join it. (Not going to happen.) I'm going to keep watching it. The thoughtfulness and attractiveness of the desktop app is teasing me. I have high hopes for how Strands will develop into a full-featured lifestreaming service.

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