Imgur Debuts Android App

Imgur, known to most people as a simple but popular photo-sharing website favored mostly by Reddit users, officially launched its first mobile application today. Fitting with its off-kilter ways, the app is, as of yet, Android only. Its Beta app was tested in the wild, which is why its rating is so poor in the Google Play store – many users had issues with the beta builds. The official, public app allows viewers to view and upload pictures, but it also supports sharing, commenting, and engaging within the broader Imgur community. There will also be updates in the coming months that guide content creation and personalization. Whether this becomes a major player in the photo-app landscape remains to be seen, but for now it remains an important addition, and a profoundly new way to interact with one of the most popular photo-sharing websites on the web.

Upfront Launches Celebrity Social Network

Celebrity social networks had seemed to be a thing of the past, but Upfront is looking to change that with its new app. The new platform looks to grant fans access to exclusive video, text messages, emails, and other perks from artists that they love. Upfront is looking to sign deals with many types of artists, from musicians to authors to chefs to even some brands. Users pay anywhere from $0.99 to $5.99 per month for different levels of access. The lowest access point includes thoughts, communications, and photos, while $3.99 adds exclusive audio and video content. The top level, $5.99 per month per creator, would include perks such as live webcasts and in-person events. Musicians and actors seem like the most obvious fit for Upfront, but the company says that anybody looking to intimately move fans of any brand or product could conceivably be a candidate for the network. The paid aspect is designed to remove spam and provide the services to provide the higher quality video streaming content. Ultimately, the network will live or die by how many ‘influencers’ and fans it has; currently there are just a few but interest appears to be spreading.