Cyberdust is DOPE

Ericka Beavers Guest Post

Marc Cuban, Owner of Dallas Mavericks and television personality on Shark Tank, founded this company because of an issue he has few years ago with the SEC. Hackers found Cuban’s old Snaps and brought them to light. This resulted in legal trouble for Marc, and this prompted him to launch his own encrypted messaging application.

The idea of this application is that you can chat with your friends and send all the pictures you want, knowing that nothing will be saved to a storage device of any kind. This is what differs Cyber Dust from similar apps like Snapchat. Every Snap you send is saved to a storage device, so in the event you get hacked, the messages you thought were “confidential” could resurface. This is exactly what happened to billionaire Shark on the ABC show, Shark Tank, and is what motivated Marc to start this company in the first place.

Unfortunately, screenshots are all-too-common this day in age. As Cyber Dust gained more ground, a common criticism and MAJOR setback for this app was that there’s no way to ensure screenshots cannot be taken. A statement under the FAQ section in the app reads as follows,

“Currently, Cyber Dust does not completely prevent screenshots from being taken because taking a screenshot is a built-in feature of your device. We hide the username of the friend you are chatting with the separate chat content from the username. We are working on a solution to completely prevent screenshots on the future.”

All being said, Cyber Dust remains the safer encrypted messaging app, because as Cuban stated, nothing ever touches a storage device. This ensures safety and confidentiality for the senders, and there is beauty in that we can all appreciate.

The link to her blog is placed below! Check it out! She has helpful hints, videos, and tips on the awesome ways you can use Cyberdust.

https://blogaboutcyberdust.home.blog/

Hypepost 4 HouseParty :P

HouseParty had its first technology trigger in 2016 when it first launched its app. It got over 1 million users within the first year, and has remained steady with its user interface. The app experienced this increase so quickly because they were easy to use, the accessibility with other apps to enable amazing communication, and the ability connect so many people at once. We all know how many friends we had back in middle and in high school and imagine being able to talk to them all at once without being together! The app reached to the point of trough disillusionment not too long after its launch due to its like of being on the Apple device platform and because other social media apps released ways in which to connect to more than one user at once. For example the new iPhone group chat feature.

I believe this app is in the slope of enlightenment phase of its company, based on the Gartner hype cycle. I would say this because of it popularity and inclusiveness of other globally trending apps (Snapchat, Bitmojii). The app also has incredible reviews on places like GooglePlay and the Apple store, with ones that include ways to further diversify and make the app better. And seeing that HouseParty has updates at least once a month, does it encourage users that it will get better.

The below photo identifies the different stages new technology experiences over time, and this was used to identify where HouseParty is on the cycle.

UI UX IA HouseParty?

User Interface Design?

The friendly looking app opens up with a redhand that asks you if you have an account or to register for one. It asks for an email, first and last name, password, and a phone number to attatch your account with. After cell confirmation code it asks you to synch your contacts and your Facebook contacts if you would like. After downloading the app myself I did not realize how many friends I had that were using it. The app is simple once you can access your account. The bottom screen has 5 options. One being the lock that keeps people from being able to access you, an option that allows you to flip the camera screen, a Facemail feature that sends video messages like snapchat, a microphone off and on, and finally an X used to get out of chats. The top left corner is used to add people to your friend group and the top right is your existing friend group. It synchs to your snapchat!

Below Ive provided an awesome video showing you all the features and accessibility of the app itself. The user also reviews it providing great feedback.

Information architecture?

The app uses information architecture in a creative way, that allows all user to easily use it. The main screen is the camera itself and each corner has an icon used to connect you to a user, or adjust the screen itself. Theres only 6 different icons on the screen, portraying what each one does. It does not include additional links like snapchat or skype does and is creative with its design.

User Experience design?

The user experience is dope. The app allows you to synch contacts from different platforms like your personal contacts, Facebook, snap chat, etc. It also synchs to your bitmoji, which is adorable. There are not many options on the screen itself so the accessibility is easy, feels like the person I want to speak to is a touch away. One of the most pleasurable features on the app is the quote included if you leave the camera screen blank. One of them includes, “there are 19 types of smiles.” These encourages the user to video chat and stay on the app.

Who are HouseParty’s Competitors?

Video chatting has been out for at least a decade with the infamous Skype being a leader in it since 2010. The idea hasn’t been new on humans trying to chat with others virtually, but the lack of inclusivity in the app has existed for years. “Skype is no longer the leader in video chatting because of new apps like What Sapp emerging, and emerging with a fat vengeance. What Sapp allows users to video chat with up to four members at once, message each other, and send pictures for free”. Viber and oovoo are a couple others that are along similar competing levels, and with similar user use.

House Party reminds me of AIM messenger from back in the day. Once you sign in on it alerts others that you are online, “in the house” and it allows you know who else is in the house. The same goes for opening the app on your phone! Since the launch of the app back in 2016 it has stayed in the star ratings of at least three, and four stars on Google play. The app is constantly updated on most platforms with the latest one being the month of February 2019. The app manages to set itself apart from competitors because of the 8 user feature allowed. This creates an advantage for them. House Party has created a niche audience of its own, and by accessing some of the reviews on Google Play you can identify the mass comments being by a younger person.

Back in Middle School I was big on video chatting with my friends but I had the awful Skype issues like microphone, video, and buffering problems. It’s amazing to see how far technology has impacted the way we communicate. House Party’s only critique based on the articles and reviews I’ve read is the security, due to the live video chat access. Can children access inappropriate content more easily? Will a stranger stream them? Their questions however can be applied to any app that is used for communication’s purposes, and so far the app has not reported any negative affects like this.

Below Ive included a link that helps users identify the differences between video platforms and why HouseParty is better.

https://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-skype-alternatives

Who is HouseParty’s Target Audience?

House Party is a relatively new App. With its launching in 2016, less then three years later the app has proved that it has the capability of continuing to expand and become as large as Google Video Chat or Facebook and Instagram Live. With over 1 million daily users HouseParty manages to stay relevant in our digital world. In the app stores, like GooglePlay or AppleStore it is marketed to an audience of 9+. “The app store rating of 9+ is way too low. It’s meant for more mature audiences (15+). Parents will want to cover:” lack of parental controls exist, but if desired other apps can be used to enable parental features; so not it can be controlled, just requires an extra step.

The app is secure in most cases but it does have ways that it could counteract security levels. The app is designed to add up to 8 mutual users in any given chat. All users must agree to the chat providing the extra layer of consensual support to keep users protected. However these specific checks must be applied in the settings of the app. This is why the app is recommended to an older audience instead of the one listed, because you must understand how to add the features to your phone. Facebook and Instagram live set themselves behind from this app because of the limited capabilities of seeing or having access to your Audience. Spectators like Teenagers, students, and family benefit to the high user amounts being added and featured in the chats. Awesome chat features are included, so when you do have a large video chat you can message individually and the app deletes the messages automatically to avoid extra storage and keeping your privacy safe. The app released in June of 2018 the Apple version, which can be accessed on Mac books to become more inclusive and expand their technology. The app has a party theme to it again suggesting an older audience, but with its clean user interface everyone to learn to use it.

Below Ive included a link on how parents can make sure their children are being safe and as protected as they can be on the App:

https://protectyoungeyes.com/content/houseparty-app-review/

Bigger than SnapChat or Instagram? What is HouseParty?

The CEO Ben Ruben who previously created another successful communicating App called Meerkat created HouseParty. HouseParty is a face-to-face social network that helps us spend time with the people we care about. Where being together is as easy as showing up. HouseParty is an app that can be used beyond just our phones, where it connects us to friends and family and allows up to 8 people to simultaneously view each other. It shows users who is online, and allows us to send video messages to get people online.

The app was created to help connect more people at once while providing maximum security and privacy during live viewings. The app has protected security measures within it to help ensure safe viewing. Since the app is push toward teenagers it uses fun quotes and party terms to keep it fun and trendy. It has a super easy user interface that keeps all your friends only one click away.

houseparty.com