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| Facebook launches new image messaging app Slingshot | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Facebook has launched a photo-messaging app one week after accidentally releasing it on Apple's app store. | Facebook has launched a photo-messaging app one week after accidentally releasing it on Apple's app store. |
| Known as Slingshot, the app's features include sharing photos and videos with friends and sending "reaction shots". | Known as Slingshot, the app's features include sharing photos and videos with friends and sending "reaction shots". |
| It uses an unlocking mechanism, whereby photos received from friends must be unlocked by "slinging" a different photo back to the original sender. | |
| Like Snapchat, all images are deleted once sent and users can scribble or type over their photos. | Like Snapchat, all images are deleted once sent and users can scribble or type over their photos. |
| On the social media page for the app, the creators said: "With Slingshot, we wanted to build something where everybody is a creator and nobody is just a spectator. | On the social media page for the app, the creators said: "With Slingshot, we wanted to build something where everybody is a creator and nobody is just a spectator. |
| "When everyone participates, there's less pressure, more creativity and even the little things in life can turn into awesome shared experiences." | "When everyone participates, there's less pressure, more creativity and even the little things in life can turn into awesome shared experiences." |
| The app is developed by Facebook's Creative Labs division, which has been tasked with creating new and innovative products. | The app is developed by Facebook's Creative Labs division, which has been tasked with creating new and innovative products. |
| Slingshot users do not need to have a Facebook account to sign up for the photo-messaging app. They can access the app with their mobile phone number and connect with friends in their phone's contact list, or they can connect via their Facebook friends' list. | Slingshot users do not need to have a Facebook account to sign up for the photo-messaging app. They can access the app with their mobile phone number and connect with friends in their phone's contact list, or they can connect via their Facebook friends' list. |
| Snapchat competitor? | Snapchat competitor? |
| The Slingshot launch comes as Facebook is trying to fight off threats from other social networking agents, which also contain messaging and photo-sharing tools. | The Slingshot launch comes as Facebook is trying to fight off threats from other social networking agents, which also contain messaging and photo-sharing tools. |
| In addition to developing its own apps, Facebook has also been on an acquisition spree. | In addition to developing its own apps, Facebook has also been on an acquisition spree. |
| In 2012 Facebook bought photo-sharing network Instagram for $1bn (£589m). | |
| A year later, it was reported that Snapchat rejected a $3bn bid from Facebook, revealing the social media giant's apparent continued and serious interest in photo-messaging services. | A year later, it was reported that Snapchat rejected a $3bn bid from Facebook, revealing the social media giant's apparent continued and serious interest in photo-messaging services. |
| Previously Facebook attempted and failed to create a successful image-messaging app called Poke, which was recently abandoned and had been described by some as a "blatant copycat app." | Previously Facebook attempted and failed to create a successful image-messaging app called Poke, which was recently abandoned and had been described by some as a "blatant copycat app." |
| However, unlike Poke, Slingshot has a number of unique features not found in rivals such as Snapchat, which could help it distinguish itself. | |
| In addition to the unlock requirement, Slingshot features a "select all" function, which allows people to send a picture to all their contacts at the same time. | |
| As the Verge news site notes, Snapchat has deliberately avoided offering such a facility to avoid its users becoming overwhelmed with alerts. | |
| Another similar app and potential rival is Taptalk, which is reportedly admired among some Facebook engineers. | Another similar app and potential rival is Taptalk, which is reportedly admired among some Facebook engineers. |
| Taptalk provides a comparatively minimalist and simplified approach to image messaging, allowing users to send personal pictures or videos by tapping or holding their friend's profile picture. | Taptalk provides a comparatively minimalist and simplified approach to image messaging, allowing users to send personal pictures or videos by tapping or holding their friend's profile picture. |
| It has also been noted that Slingshot's icon is strikingly similar to Taptalk's. | It has also been noted that Slingshot's icon is strikingly similar to Taptalk's. |