Neptune is one of the latest short-form video apps on the block seeking to take on major players like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.The app, presently in beta, has actually attracted attention from numerous countless users, with 970 testers participating and 400,000 people on the waitlist, per the company.Neptune announced Monday that its preparing to introduce the app on the App Store next week, with strategies to roll out on the Google Play Store in about 6 months.
The start-up was established by Ashley Darling, who has a background as a skill director at the OPTYX firm, where she dealt with underestimated influencers.
She set out to establish a platform that highlights creativity instead of the variety of fans a developer has.I invested years working with independent developers, both as an influencer myself and later helping brands, Darling shared with A Technology NewsRoom.
I kept hearing the very same thing from developers and users, I miss when social media was fun.
When it was about creativity, not competition.
Instead of waiting for a platform to listen, I developed one.With TikToks future still unsure, Neptune hopes to draw in developers looking for an alternative method to make income while fostering an environment that prioritizes the quality of videos and connections instead of fan counts.
The app prepares to use different profits streams, consisting of ideas, livestreams, and subscriptions.Like its competitors, Neptune includes a discovery tool and a vertical feed for users to swipe through short videos and engage through comments.
In addition, users can add a cover picture to their profiles, mimicing what X and other networking apps offer.Image Credits: Neptune (Image has been modified)A crucial differentiating feature of Neptune is that it lets creators hide their overall fans and likes.
This ghost metrics feature is optional, however, and is designed to assist users prevent the pressures connected with follower count, yet still deals with developers who may wish to showcase their metrics.According to the company, Neptunes algorithm stresses user interests and content quality instead of creator appeal.
Usually, social networks algorithms focus on material with the greatest engagement, often leaving lesser-known creators, or micro-influencers, at a disadvantage.We put the power back in the hands of [the creators] who really built the internet.
Not the corporations, not the algorithms.
Neptune is for connection, not influence, chief marketing officer Timur Tugberk said.Another significant feature is Hop Back, which allows users to resume enjoying a video right where they left off, avoiding them from losing their location when the app refreshes.Neptune is in beta and does not provide all of its desired functions.
Its currently on the simple side, supplying only a video feed and a search function.
When evaluating the app, we also saw it does not have in-app modifying tools and direct messaging.The business states its working on including a livestream capability, the capability to produce playlists, and music combinations.