Timeline apps arrive: Tapestry, Reeder, and a new way to read feeds.
Finally, a better place to move around.
Iconfactory has recently launched a new app called Tapestry, which combines elements of a social network and a news reader. This app allows users to add various content sources, such as Bluesky posts, YouTube creator videos, new blog entries, and podcast episodes. Once these sources are added, Tapestry organizes them in chronological order, presenting only the content the user has selected, without recommendations or algorithms, which Iconfactory calls a “unified and personal timeline.”
Tapestry also offers several clever options for filtering content. For example, users can choose keywords to "diminish," which reduces their size in the timeline, or even mute them completely. Additionally, it allows searching across all sources at once and creating sub-timelines within the main one. This enables users to, for example, set up a timeline dedicated to podcasts, turning Tapestry into a functional audio player. The app syncs both content and position in the timeline across different devices, providing a high level of control over its appearance.
Although I've been using Tapestry in its beta version and find the app quite enjoyable, it is still somewhat basic. Many of the more interesting customization features are available only through a $2 monthly subscription or $20 annually. However, Iconfactory's signature colorful style is reflected in the app, and there is a notable influence from Twitterrific in its design.
What impresses me the most, however, is Tapestry's underlying idea. There are other similar apps that I’ve started to categorize as "timeline apps." These include Reeder, Unread, and Feeeed, each with different interfaces and features, but sharing the same basic premise: almost everything on the internet can be considered a feed. The need for a better space to read these feeds is evident.
These timeline apps can be seen as spiritual successors to RSS readers like Google Reader and Feedly. In the past, RSS readers helped organize blogs and websites, but with the rise of social media and video platforms, that task has become much more complex. Users now follow creators across multiple platforms, and finding a place that efficiently aggregates all these feeds is challenging. While Bluesky posts can be viewed, these types of apps still do not allow interaction in the same way as the original platforms.
Despite some limitations, I continue to appreciate timeline apps for their speed. It’s much more efficient to open Tapestry to find the latest MKBHD video than to navigate through YouTube. The main challenge for these apps is that they need to provide an exceptional reading experience, in addition to smoothly supporting podcasts and videos. Among the apps I’ve tried, Reeder excels in this aspect, but all have a long way to go.
Moreover, these apps require an adaptation period. If coming from an RSS reader, the chaotic arrangement of information can be confusing. On the other hand, social media users may find curated timelines to be slower and less exciting. However, I believe that timeline apps are exactly what we need in the current digital landscape. At least for now, it’s powerful to concentrate all favorite content in one place, creating a timeline that can be filled each day. In the end, you can close the app with the satisfaction of having seen only what truly matters.
