4 ms·

One thing all these "all in one apps" get wrong is this: while I do want to consume multiple services in one app, I definitely do not want to consume them in a

by troupo 2y ago

One thing all these "all in one apps" get wrong is this: while I do want to consume multiple services in one app, I definitely do not want to consume them in a single unified timeline. Mail clients have run into the same issue several years ago and still doggedly try to make "unified inbox" happen.

TeMPOraL 2y ago
Are there any "all in one apps" like this? That's the first one I ever saw. I've been wondering for years now, why ain't anyone trying it. The unified timeline is the whole point. However, for me, this app gets two things wrong: 1) I'd also want IM feeds on the same timeline. Like, Messenger, Teams, WhatsApp, etc. I know it's probably impossible due to how obstructionist and anti-user the chat vendors are, but I keep dreaming about it. Most chat conversations are, in my mind, in the same general category as HN links or incoming e-mail: "thing that I need to pay a minute of attention up front, and then possibly 15+ minutes dealing with". 2) It's iOS only.
- 94b45eb4 2y ago
  Does the new Reeder app count?
- milen 2y ago
  We created the most popular (at the time) “all in one” app for macOS back in 2008 called EventBox [1]. It aggregated RSS, Twitter, Digg, Facebook, Flickr, Reddit. So it’s a very old idea that’s just coming back - like a lot of things, it goes in cycles. We ended up selling the software to another company. My personal advice - never build your business on top of other companies data/APIs, they can cut you off at any point. [1] https://milen.me/software/eventbox-walkthrough/ https://milen.me/software/eventbox-walkthrough/
- troupo 2y ago
  > I'd also want IM feeds on the same timeline. Like, Messenger, Teams, WhatsApp, etc. Chats: yes. Because each separate chat is a separate room, and ultimately, for a personal use, there are not that many of them. Feeds from social media though? A hard pass. Especially now, when so many people cross-post the same content to multiple networks.
  - doix 2y ago
    > Feeds from social media though? A hard pass. Especially now, when so many people cross-post the same content to multiple networks. Feels like a solvable problem. Do a string comparison and then just put multiple icons next to the post.
    - troupo 2y ago
      Posts are of different lengths on different social media. And why bother when you can... just split the timelines by service ;)
      - doix 2y ago
        Because then as you change timelines you will still see the same thing posted multiple times. Still feels like a solvable problem that improves the experience in my book.
- mattl 2y ago
  Iconfactory is a Mac/iOS company so I’m not surprised to not see anything else.
pavlov 2y ago
Windows Phone 7 had a genuinely unique twist on the unified inbox. The operating system deprioritized apps with their own feeds, and instead provided a number of "hubs" that were like topical inboxes that collected data from multiple APIs. There was a People hub that showed your contacts aggregated across phone contact book, Windows Live, Facebook, Gmail, Twitter... Notifications about people you know would show up in this screen regardless of the service. And there was a Photos hub that similarly showed photos from everywhere: local, Facebook, etc. It was a truly original idea for a social media oriented phone. But companies like Facebook and Twitter were not too happy about the idea of being API pipes with little or no control over the user interface on the user's phone. Of course they had some good reasons not to trust Microsoft on this, given Microsoft's past behavior. I think FB shut down the necessary APIs completely a few years later and replaced them with more limited options.
tuananh 2y ago
exactly. having an unified inbox makes me feel like losing context. i dont want to keep checking which message is this, where is this coming from, how should i reply, etc....
esafak 2y ago
The source could simply be another attribute to filter and organize by.
Valodim 2y ago
I mean... the unified timeline is literally the number one feature this app advertises. If you find that doesn't work for you, their product vision just doesn't align with your preferences. What's the point of even engaging if you know they don't build what you want on such a fundamental level?

by troupo 2y ago

TeMPOraL 2y ago

Are there any "all in one apps" like this? That's the first one I ever saw. I've been wondering for years now, why ain't anyone trying it. The unified timeline is the whole point. However, for me, this app gets two things wrong: 1) I'd also want IM feeds on the same timeline. Like, Messenger, Teams, WhatsApp, etc. I know it's probably impossible due to how obstructionist and anti-user the chat vendors are, but I keep dreaming about it. Most chat conversations are, in my mind, in the same general category as HN links or incoming e-mail: "thing that I need to pay a minute of attention up front, and then possibly 15+ minutes dealing with". 2) It's iOS only.

94b45eb4 2y ago
Does the new Reeder app count?
milen 2y ago
We created the most popular (at the time) “all in one” app for macOS back in 2008 called EventBox [1]. It aggregated RSS, Twitter, Digg, Facebook, Flickr, Reddit. So it’s a very old idea that’s just coming back - like a lot of things, it goes in cycles. We ended up selling the software to another company. My personal advice - never build your business on top of other companies data/APIs, they can cut you off at any point. [1] https://milen.me/software/eventbox-walkthrough/ https://milen.me/software/eventbox-walkthrough/
troupo 2y ago
> I'd also want IM feeds on the same timeline. Like, Messenger, Teams, WhatsApp, etc. Chats: yes. Because each separate chat is a separate room, and ultimately, for a personal use, there are not that many of them. Feeds from social media though? A hard pass. Especially now, when so many people cross-post the same content to multiple networks.
- doix 2y ago
  > Feeds from social media though? A hard pass. Especially now, when so many people cross-post the same content to multiple networks. Feels like a solvable problem. Do a string comparison and then just put multiple icons next to the post.
  - troupo 2y ago
    Posts are of different lengths on different social media. And why bother when you can... just split the timelines by service ;)
    - doix 2y ago
      Because then as you change timelines you will still see the same thing posted multiple times. Still feels like a solvable problem that improves the experience in my book.
mattl 2y ago
Iconfactory is a Mac/iOS company so I’m not surprised to not see anything else.

pavlov 2y ago

Windows Phone 7 had a genuinely unique twist on the unified inbox. The operating system deprioritized apps with their own feeds, and instead provided a number of "hubs" that were like topical inboxes that collected data from multiple APIs. There was a People hub that showed your contacts aggregated across phone contact book, Windows Live, Facebook, Gmail, Twitter... Notifications about people you know would show up in this screen regardless of the service. And there was a Photos hub that similarly showed photos from everywhere: local, Facebook, etc. It was a truly original idea for a social media oriented phone. But companies like Facebook and Twitter were not too happy about the idea of being API pipes with little or no control over the user interface on the user's phone. Of course they had some good reasons not to trust Microsoft on this, given Microsoft's past behavior. I think FB shut down the necessary APIs completely a few years later and replaced them with more limited options.

tuananh 2y ago

exactly. having an unified inbox makes me feel like losing context. i dont want to keep checking which message is this, where is this coming from, how should i reply, etc....

esafak 2y ago

The source could simply be another attribute to filter and organize by.

Valodim 2y ago

I mean... the unified timeline is literally the number one feature this app advertises. If you find that doesn't work for you, their product vision just doesn't align with your preferences. What's the point of even engaging if you know they don't build what you want on such a fundamental level?