A new app named Tapestry is on the verge of completion, aiming to bring together social media, news, and RSS in one place. Developed by Iconfactory, the same team behind the third-party Twitter client Twitterific, Tapestry was initially unveiled this year as a tool to better organize the fragmented online media. It enables users to track their preferred blogs, news sites, and social networks from a single app. This week, the company announced an update on Tapestry's progress, stating that it plans to officially launch the app to the public in "early 2025."

Progress and Funding

The update on the project's Patreon page noted that while they hope for an early launch, there is still important work to be done and bugs to be fixed. Instead of seeking funds from outside investors, Iconfactory has been crowdfunding Tapestry's development. To date, over 3360 backers have pledged more than $177,800 to bring this app to life. This shows the strong support and interest in the project.

App's Appeal

The app will attract those who are tired of constantly opening new browser tabs and switching apps to keep up with multiple sites, blogs, and social media services. It also capitalizes on users' frustration with the proliferation of Twitter clones. After Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter and its renaming to X, there has been a surge in interest in new Twitter-like services. Apps like Mastodon, Bluesky, and Meta's Threads have emerged, built on open protocols. Flipboard has also launched Surf, an app that allows users to track RSS, Bluesky, and Mastodon content in one place. Iconfactory isn't the only one thinking about this. The popular Mac and iOS newsreader Reeder's developer, Silvio Rizzi, has reinvented his app to include support for other social services. Another indie app, Feeeed, has expanded this year to allow users to track various sources. An app called Openvibe also enables users to browse Mastodon, Bluesky, and Threads in one place.

Different User Interfaces

Although these apps have similar premises, each offers a distinct user interface and experience. While Reeder still resembles an RSS reader, others seem more like unique social experiences. Tapestry is interesting as it attempts to bridge both worlds. It allows users to track their favorite websites and blogs, or even import RSS feeds in bulk via an OPML file. It also connects to a variety of social sources. Today, the beta version of the app supports Mastodon and Bluesky, as well as webcomics, social apps like Reddit, Tumblr, and YouTube, and sources for weather and earthquake alerts. These are events that X is often used to track.

Customization Tools

There are several other customization tools that will appeal to power users. One point of confusion in the current build is that Tapestry separates sources into two sections called "feeds" and "connectors." The "feeds" section is used to fill the timeline with content, while the "connectors" section is for creating other feeds. Some services like Mastodon and Bluesky can appear in both sections if added. However, we would prefer a combined section simply called "sources." Despite this, it's clear how Tapestry can be used to keep up with multiple social services along with breaking news and new posts from favorite sources, serving as an alternative to browsing X.Iconfactory has not yet shared an exact launch date for Tapestry, but the app will generate revenue through monthly and annual subscriptions.