NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout

    India
    Business
    World
    Politics
    Sports
    Technology
    Entertainment
    Auto
    Lifestyle
    Inspirational
    Career
    Bengaluru
    Delhi
    Mumbai

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    Home / News / Technology News / Bluesky is getting a photo-sharing app 'Flashes'
    Summarize
    Next Article
    Bluesky is getting a photo-sharing app 'Flashes'
    Flashes will be based on the same technology that powers Bluesky

    Bluesky is getting a photo-sharing app 'Flashes'

    By Mudit Dube
    Jan 16, 2025
    09:37 am

    What's the story

    Bluesky, the decentralized social network, is gearing up to expand its offerings with a new photo-sharing app called Flashes.

    The app is being developed by Sebastian Vogelsang, an independent developer from Berlin who previously worked on Skeets, another Bluesky client.

    Flashes will be based on the same technology that powers Bluesky, the AT Protocol.

    Market shift

    Flashes: A response to rising demand for open-source apps

    The development of Flashes comes amid a growing consumer trend toward open-source and decentralized apps like Mastodon and Bluesky.

    This shift is partly driven by users' desire for alternatives to the dominant social media platforms controlled by tech giants.

    The recent launch of Pixelfed mobile apps, based on Mastodon's ActivityPub protocol, further underscores this trend.

    App development

    Flashes: An evolution of Skeets

    Flashes is an evolution of Vogelsang's earlier app, Skeets, which was specifically designed for iPad users and came with customized accessibility features for visually impaired users.

    The decision to develop Flashes was influenced by the realization that there was potential to create apps catering to Bluesky users with a preference for visual content such as photos and videos.

    User experience

    Flashes: A unique approach to social media

    Sharing his vision for Flashes with TechCrunch, Vogelsang said, "I thought about the idea of having one base social graph and then having just different apps pick from that graph whatever they want to display."

    He thinks this could draw new potential Bluesky users who may not have considered themselves a "Twitter person" before, giving them an entry point into the network.

    Unique features

    Flashes: Not an Instagram clone

    Vogelsang stressed that Flashes isn't meant to be an Instagram clone and won't provide all the same capabilities.

    At launch, Flashes will support photo posts with up to four images and videos of up to a minute long, just like Bluesky.

    Posts created on Flashes will also show up on Bluesky, with comments feeding back into the app as if it were another Bluesky client.

    App integration

    Flashes: A seamless integration with Bluesky

    Flashes will also support Bluesky's DMs and filter Bluesky's current timeline for photo and video posts.

    Vogelsang plans to add metadata to Flashes' posts in the future, so Bluesky users can avoid their feeds being flooded with photo posts if they want.

    The development of Flashes was fast-tracked by reusing Skeets's existing code. The app is expected to launch for users in the coming weeks.

    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Latest
    Berlin
    Instagram

    Latest

    Cannes 2025 to screen Satyajit Ray's classic 'Aranyer Din Ratri'  Cannes Film Festival
    Sonakshi calls out Indian news channels for sensationalizing India-Pakistan conflict  Social Media
    New pope seemingly reshared posts critical of Trump, Vance Pope Francis
    Who is the Indian-American judge overseeing Diddy's trafficking case? Hollywood

    Berlin

    WhatsApp's encryption veils terrorists? WhatsApp
    India at Cannes: Despite media attention, have we succeeded? India
    PM Modi meets German Chancellor Merkel; discusses bilateral, global issues Narendra Modi
    World's first Snapdragon 850-powered laptop with 25 hours back-up unveiled Qualcomm

    Instagram

    How to invite people to join your Instagram Live broadcast  Technology
    How to limit sensitive content on Instagram Technology
    Forgot your Instagram password? Here's how you can reset it Technology
    When to use Instagram's block, mute, restrict, and report features Technology
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2025