Among numerous projects unveiling their video-centric apps on the open-source social network, Bluesky, in comes an exciting standout: Reelo. Unlike most other apps, Reelo utilizes the powerful AT Protocol upon which Bluesky is built, thus offering a more dynamic and broader set of features. Expect longer videos, filters, exciting effects, a music library and eventually the inclusion of livestreams.
Existing Bluesky apps, including Bluescreen, Videos for Bluesky, and Skylight, are limited by the built-in constraints of Bluesky. Unlike TikTok, Bluesky was originally formulated to compete with X (formerly known as Twitter), leaving room for apps like Reelo, powered by the AT Protocol to extend beyond the confines of Bluesky.
João Davi Souza Nascimento, the brain behind Reelo, explains how Reelo differentiates itself from other apps as they are a layer on Bluesky’s platform and inherently lack essential features like creator tools and monetization to rival TikTok.
Having experienced the hurdles in building a video app for Bluesky himself, Davi recognized that engaging users requires more than merely uploading a video. The essence of success hinges on the variety of capabilities and devising videos that grab attention.
To make this possible, Davi built Reelo on the AT Protocol, like Bluesky, but he incorporated a unique back end, code base, and terminology. The liberty of this choice enables Reelo to support videos up to three minutes long, which surpasses the limitations of Bluesky and other video apps built on Bluesky’s platform.
Despite being a single developer, Davi hopes to launch Reelo to the public by March, depending on investor interest.
Reelo will feature a user interface offering familiar interaction buttons and a personal data server (PDS) to store user data. Additionally, the app will interoperate with Bluesky enabling users to locate their friends.
As part of monetization strategies, Davi contemplates a combination of ads and subscriptions with revenue shared between the app and content creators. Premium plans could potentially offer features like livestreams and high-quality videos.
Reelo, the game-changer in the era of video-centric apps, is set to begin beta testing early this year.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
