Introducing Poke for Mobile

by friggerion 12/21/12, 8:11 PMwith 41 comments
by greenwallson 12/21/12, 8:57 PM

"Each message expires after a specific time you've set, either 1, 3, 5 or 10 seconds. When time runs out, the message disappears from the app."

Sure it disappears from the app, but the message probably stays on Facebook's servers for the rest of your life. Then someday in the future Facebook will probably change their privacy settings suddenly (on purpose or accidentally) and all your messages will appear on your timeline for everyone to see.

by obilgicon 12/21/12, 8:45 PM

Apparently this app has been built in 12 days[1].

[1] https://www.facebook.com/blake/posts/448334501889024

by Fjslfjon 12/21/12, 9:45 PM

The last time Blake Ross cloned an app for Zuck was when Facebook Answers came out to compete with Quora. I guess Zuck feels like Snapchat is a threat? I wonder if he tried to buy them.

Blake Ross Clones usually scare people, but they never work out. I don't think Snapchat has much to fear.

by stephengillieon 12/21/12, 8:48 PM

Oh, so message expiry is the new hot trend? Quickly, pivot!

by untogon 12/21/12, 8:29 PM

The level to which this is a clone of Snapchat is kind of astounding. Did FB ever try to buy them, or are they trying to destroy competition before they have to pay big bucks like they did for Instagram?

It's all business, so I suppose all's fair, but it hardly paints Facebook as a hub of innovation.

by JGuoon 12/21/12, 9:14 PM

This post is relevant: http://dcurt.is/photos-for-communication

by 54mfon 12/22/12, 2:13 AM

Is there any use-case besides sexting that necessitates:

1. Sending photos that automatically disappear in seconds; 2. Requires user input to view; 3. Prevent screenshots, strong efforts to prevent saving photos?

by zaidfon 12/22/12, 2:06 AM

When is that site which is a collection of Poke mesaage screenshots going to show up? Can't be that long. I can also see this user reaction: "what! I thought there was no way to save a poke message. facebook you lied to me."

Typically these complaints wouldn't matter as much but because of the sensitive nature of communication this app is designed to facilitate, it could matter much more.

by 3825on 12/21/12, 8:15 PM

Is this different from FaceBook Messenger? Looks like some duplication of functionality. Are you going to pull Messenger from the market?

by peregrineon 12/21/12, 9:09 PM

These are not real facebook pokes https://www.facebook.com/pokes they are phony.

by mjcohenwon 12/22/12, 4:23 AM

Just take a picture of the screen with another camera. Nothing can stop this.

by utsavagarwalon 12/22/12, 5:59 PM

I wonder how Snapchat's founder reacted to this news..

by zxcvvcxzon 12/22/12, 4:06 AM

Revolutionary.