Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IF YOU HAVE a successful idea, it’s likely that it will be copied sooner or later. Usually in the case of apps, this involves numerous other developers copying the idea in the hope that they can capitalise upon its success.
In the case of Snapchat, quite a number of major rivals have released their own versions in recent weeks. Since it has such a hold on younger audiences, it’s no surprise that many want to get in on the action too. Here are some of the most noticeable examples out there.
Facebook
Its attempt: Slingshot
Probably the most high-profile example – especially since its previous attempt Poke failed pretty badly – Slingshot separated itself from similar attempts by only allowing you to view a photo by sending one back.
The idea was this would encourage users to send more photos and become a popular service but for now, it’s difficult to tell how successful it’s been so far.
Instagram
Its attempt: Bolt
Granted, Instagram is owned by Facebook, but since it operates as a separate entity, its inclusion here is warranted. Late last month, it launched its own private messaging service called Bolt which lets you send one-tap photos and videos.
It’s only been released in a few countries so far and like Slingshot, it’s far too early to tell whether it will be a success or a dud.
Microsoft
Its attempt: WindUp
Launching it today in the US, WindUp is Microsoft’s attempt to let users share photos and videos as well as audio snippets and text. You can set a time limit for your friends to view the message before it expires forever, or stick to a traditional view limit.
To be fair, Windows Phone is the only place where Snapchat doesn’t have an app released – 6snap is the closest thing users have to one – so Microsoft is really serving an audience that may be reluctant to trust third-party apps.
Although the company was said to be in talks with Snapchat recently about bringing a version to Windows Phone so who knows what role Windup will play if it happens.
Yo
Its attempt: MIRAGE
The makers of the app that is famous for only saying Yo created its own photo-sharing app recently. Mirage takes a split screen approach, the top for photos and the bottom for contacts, the interface is designed to be simple and unobtrusive, much like its cousin Yo.
Line
Its attempt: Line
The only example here that didn’t release a standalone app, the instant messaging app, which is most popular in Asia, quietly updated its iOS and Android app to allow self-destructing photos and messages.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Everyone is getting poorer so let’s ram up the price of everything. Makes loads of sense
Will these fare increases be in punts or euros?
Chinese yuan I’d say
dublin bus and dart just put up there prices every year no matter what.
in 2002 the price of the bus into town was €1.60 from most areas and next year it will be roughly €2.40.
Imagine if everything had that much inflation over the last 10 years?
I wouldnt mind but dart punctuality is down according to the posters, half the time buses dont show up on certain routes, the real time displays at the bus stops are ficticious and theres never been less security on the dart/and none on the bus.
great country this though
Inflation was that much over the last 10yrs!!!
They have cut the services so they should be cutting the fares instead of increasing them.
Did I read the other day that Dublin bus were buying a s**t load of new busses to upgrade their fleet? Question no 2 is why do I always see junkies getting on the bus with a free travel pass? I pay a fare only to have to endure listening them scutter out of them on their free ride. Sickening.
I think that was Bus Eireann!
Hey don’t red thumb me, it’s true, it was an order by Bus Eireann! Lol
So much for encouraging people to use public transport price increase is not the way to
If the leap card prices are as cheap to use as the Oyster card in London then fair enough but if not then its back to the car for me…..not that I can really afford that either!
German marks!
We be all goin back to the pony and cart days if this keeps up!
Someone told Dublin Bus the recession is over and passenger numbers are set to climb.Normal reaction of a state company in times like this.
It is fundamentally wrong for a monopoly provider to be sticking to public transport users at the same time as cutting benefits and increasing charges in general.
It is time we got real and privatised transport, energy supply, Coilte, Bord Mona the DAA and all the other State owned monopolies.
We here talk of not selling the family jewels but for whose benefit do these agencies exist, certainly not the consumer, citizen or tax payer.
Energy and Airports are not monopoly industries in this country. Plenty of private competitors in both of those areas.
Great idea Peter.
Introduce competition and raise money for exchequer.
Pretty sure the market is open on transport, but private companies want it because there’s no profit to be made.
Meant “private companies don’t want…”
Companies intending to provide a publically accessible bus service must invest large sums in premises and commisioning reports for various state bodies.Then can have their license application vetoed by their state funded competitor.
Would you stump up money for this?
Who exactly competes with the DAA?
Heathrow!!
please let me apologise in advance for my language but………..F**k you bus eireann!!!
I read the other day the Dublin bus are buying a load of new busses to upgrade their fleet. Looks like were gonna pay for that now. Can someone please tell me why the junkies that get on the bus all have a free travel pass? As if it’s not bad enough having to listen to them, now we’re being asked to pay more for the privilege. Truly sickening in these times.
I thought that was a sick joke when I read the headline. Services on all of the mentioned services, except Luas, are plummetting in terms of efficiency and frequency, so they want us to pay more for the privilege of having to wait longer! Scumbags
Try and get public transport home at 23:45 on a Sunday to Thursday. You can’t. Gotta love Irish Public transport.
We need a private competitors in both of those areas to do to CIE what Ryanair did for Aer Lingus.. it used to cost 300 punts to go to London not anymore…
Yes maybe the answer is to Privatise the transport system. Then we will see a better service and all that. Take it out of te hands of the Government.
Damn this phone, I was told my first comment didn’t go through. Sorry for similar comment being there twice.
Motor tax gone up, VAT gone up, petrol and diesel gone up, one would expect public transport to stay same or go down…where’s the balance? This formula is persistently shifting to the left!
Nothing surprises me about Irish rail. They manage to cut 30 minutes of journey times to Gslway in 60 years and they still take 3 hours when you can drive in 2 1/2 hours. The CEO is on the top 10 paid in the country and he should be sacked for poor proformance yet he will get a performance related bonus every year since he started. Go figure! I know we paid more for our new trains than the Chinese paid for their fast trains which can travel the same distance in 35 minutes. Yes 35 minutes to Galway and cheaper engines. Stinks to high heaven – when you think of the salary paid to the head of China rail and what he achieved and our lot. The taxpayer and the travellers deserve better. The PR guy for Irish rail is great. He thinks cutting journey times to Waterford by 15 minutes deserves an oscar. It really deserves a P45.
Yeah goes up every January by 5 to 10 cent without fail on Dublin Bus and Luas, which would be the two I’d be most familiar with… Disgrace!
They are so off the mark. The cost of state sponsored travel versus other counties is in most cases way off the mark. I presume VAT increase will apply also. Recently in barcelona, 8.15 for a 10 trip pass got me to and from airport and 8 metro trips. Similar cost in dublin (I know there isn’t a metro in dublin) would be about 25 or more. And we want to be a tourist venue!
I remember those Barcelona passes were €6 just a few years ago…
Fare enough
No surprise here.I can’t remember the start of a year where fares didn’t increase.
Even when insurance, fuel, tax, and car servicing aretaken into account it still works out cheaper to car commute 70km/day. Wheres the logic in increasing fares??????????
Once again the fee paying passengers are being hit. They say the transport is in Deficit and that is why they are increasing fares. I think that they should look at how the bus pass is being used. For example is it fair that one with bus pass can travel all over the country. I do not think so. I would only allow them to travel in their own locality . It is unsustainable in these times to allow people travel the length and breath of the country. I am not against the bus pass being used in moderation. It is very expensive for the fee paying Passenger. Trains are crowded and buses are full of people on the pass a the fares are to expensive. SO GOVERNMENT SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT ON THE PASS AND REFORM IT TO A SUSTAINABLE LEVIL
So you think that Senior citizens or people on invalidity/disability living on a basic pension/welfare who may need to travel the length and breath of Ireland for everything from medical treatment to visit family or even to get basic supplies. Not everyone lives in a town or city. Also bus passes tend to require an income limit so that the people who receive them cannot generally other wise afford such transport. I can’t speak for the junkies but I can speak for my disabled father who occasionally travels from Dublin to Meath to visit his mothers grave. Or who travels to the other side of the city for treatment. To do this he needs to be accompanied by my mother. He receives very little else next to the travel pass dispite decades of tax paying before falling ill and being forced due to his invalidity to give up work. It is for men in my fathers position as well as elderly people that the travel pass exist. Should they look into reforming who gets the pass, yes. Should they limit the travel area? No, because we should be doing our best for the vulnerable in our society. I am a fee paying passenger, as was my father before his illness. Having paid your taxes yourself Mr. Stokes, if you should fall on the most desperate of times medically or become infirm due to age, would you not like to receive what is an invaluable resource for thousands in Ireland? How much more isolated would the elderly in Ireland be if they could not afford the addition €5 return fare to visit there friends/family or even went shopping. It’s easy to criticise it when you honestly aren’t RELIANT on it.
I’m researching a piece on how these price hikes will impact upon commuters. As a regular bus taker I’m quite worried myself!
I seriously hope they don’t pushup the price of the monthly ticket.
If you’re be interested in helping me out you can drop me a like at doransarahk@gmail.com
Cop yourselves on. Someone has to pay for their annual increments and sustaining progress pay rises!
we just need competition in the sector. we’ve seen how it has forced the old esb, bord gais, eircom to drop their prices. as for dart fare increase. what a joke. the service now only runs every 15 min which means standing room only from Bray in morning rush hour. and there is no way the journey from Bray to pearse should take 45 min. speed the Feckin thing up 15% and I would be happier paying the extra fare!
Sometimes you wonder is it worth making a comment.
I am in favour of people having the bus pass. I know that they need it to go to Hospital if it is a long way from where they live. OF COURSE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY HAVE TO HAVE THIS FACILITY When the late Charlie Haughy introduced the pass Ireland was a different place then. I know that there are people living in the country who depend on public transport to get them fro AtoB. Also that it is not everyone that has the luxury of their own transport. So Yes they need the pass.MY POINT IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THE PASS AND DENYING THE PEOPLE WHO DO NEED IT. WE ALL KNOW THAT RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT . So in that situation I am saying the Government needs to reform who get the pass.
It’s probably best that you stay off the internet Francis
I thought it was a free Ireland. Everyone is entitled to express an opinion.I do not like to see people who need the care of the state undermined. They worked hard all their lives. I am referring to those who are abusing the system.
I think that is cruel. I am not against people getting the bus pass I am only making an observation I would never say to anyone that they should stay of internet. .
another hike whats next?
?
One has to ask the Question why the state transport system is in deficit.
so a ?1.85 bus fare becomes ?2.12, they are not going to charge ?2.12, they are most certainly chafe ?2.10, so again it goes up and becomes ?2.15. 30c more to sit on the 27 with all the smack heads when it arrives every 40min instead of the advertised 10min
I can’t believe you want the dart to speed up. During the last floods I got a bus to Blackrock and then a dart to Bray. At Blackrock I noticed the sign on the platform saying next Dart 39 mins so I go for coffee up the town and come back after 20 mins to notice the sign say next Dart 48 mins – I asked the ticket master who told me to ignore the signs as they were all wrong. He also told me to get the Dart from platform1. this is the opposite side to meal and as I was waiting the lady on the other side said she was going to Greystones and it was leaving from that side. I went back to the ticket master and he told me that both sides were being used and going in the same direction for Bray and Graystones – I waits and got my Dart but expected it to crash as it was on the opposite side and I thought of the ticket masters final words to me” he said the system is fucxxx and the lads at the stations are using their mobiles to organise each Dart”. I prayed a little. God help tourists.
have your say