[T*]

What is Ello?
A new advert-free social network is aiming to recruit disgruntled Facebook users, and early indications are that it's working: people are clamouring for elusive invites. But what is Ello, and can it really become the Next Big Thing in social networking?



What is Ello?

In the words of the site itself, Ello is a “simple, beautiful, and ad-free social network”.

It was originally created as a private website, so the story goes, but it had such a positive response that it was eventually opened to the public.
At the moment it feels a bit like Twitter: users can post short chunks of text or images, but it lacks the more advanced features of Facebook such as tagging users in images or private messaging.

Who created it?

The Ello website says the network was created by seven “well-known artists and programmers”, among them Paul Budnitz, who is a very busy man with many fingers in many pies: bike design, 'art toys', writing books, photography
and film making.

So, how do I join?

At the moment Ello is invite-only, meaning that unless you know someone who already has an account (each new user is allowed to invite five friends) you’re out of luck.
You can “register your interest” by visiting the site, but reports suggest the wait for an account will be long. Budnitz told Betabeat last night that “it seems like we’ve got a big portion of the US and much of Europe all trying to get on Ello at the same time” and that they’d have to “turn off the spigot for a while”.

Will it replace Facebook?

Well, that’s up to you. Facebook’s dominance in the market is solely down to the number of users it has: you, me, everyone. Each user that jumps ship to Ello will take a tiny chunk of Facebook’s earning potential with them.

What is the "real names" controversy?
Facebook requires its users to create accounts using their real names. Partly this is because it makes any information collected on them more valuable to advertisers.
Not everyone is happy about this, especially those who – for whatever reason – would prefer to use a pseudonym online. Ello is doing very well out of this frustration because it allows people to use whatever name they wish to, real or made-up. Therefore lots of people are apparently jumping ship.
That does not mean, however, that it will tolerate any funny business: it has a “zero-tolerance policy for hate, stalking, trolls, and other negative behaviour”.

How much does it cost?
Nothing. Yet.

Without advertising, which is Facebook’s major source of revenue, the network will need to find other ways to turn a profit.
It seems that Ello will be introducing new “special features” – yet to be explained – which people will be able to access permanently by paying a small, one-off fee. However, the “vast majority” of features will be free.

Is there a smartphone app?
Not yet. Although an Android and iOS app is on the to-do list for Ello's developers.

Source

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

no

[Samm]

It will flop

[LukeB]

No it would flop like bebo

[Ryan57]

Not with it being invite only at the moment.

[JoshBB]

As of now, no. However I would love to see Facebook crushed to the ground.

[Cal.]

Invite-only?

[Marc]

I have no friends?

[MB.]

Oh Ellno

[T*]

It's in a beta version currently, but it is predicted to out do facebook.

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Tom!

It's in a beta version currently, but it is predicted to out do facebook.

It will never out do facebook because it looks ****

[T*]

Originally Posted by LukeB

It will never out do facebook because it looks ****

It's not finished yet.

[T*]

I can sorta see this being like the Urban Outfitters of the social networks, seems kinda hipsterish.

[T*]

ello.co
if you're interested

[Z]

No but something will eventually. Facebook's still supreme.

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Tom!

It's not finished yet.

still looks cheap and tacky

[T*]

Originally Posted by LukeB

still looks cheap and tacky

If anything Facebook is more tacky, this looks minimalistic.

[T*]

Features:

Simple Commenting
@mention pre-population on user profiles
Improved error handling
Enhanced user Discovery
Fluid grid Noise view
Views per post
Drag users between Friends & Noise (still buggy)
Email notifications (Following/Invite Accepted/Mentions)
Invitation system & ability to invite Friends
Network-wide in-stream announcement system
Javascript refactor = One Page Application (OPA)
In-Stream notifications (Following/Invite Accepted)
In-line Emoji integration
View Followers & Following lists
Welcome post & brief tutorial
Re-order fields within Omnibar
WTF section (Help, About & Policies)
Post #, Follower # & Following #
@mentions (update: autocompleter now works!)
Arrow keys hide and reveal drawer & access full-screen publishing mode
Ability to make profile visible on Ello network only (on/off)
Image compression
Follow (Friends/Noise)
Unfollow (Friends/Noise)
Omnibar post text (basic)
Omnibar post text advanced (bold, italic, urls)
Omnibar post images
Omnibar post animated GIFs
Omnibar post Emoji
Omnibar delete posts
Omnibar edit posts
Time stamp displays post detail/permalink
Option to toggle Google Analytics on/off
Respect DNT browsers settings

[T*]

Apparently Requests to join it have increased from 4,000 to 30,000 in just one week.

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Tom!

If anything Facebook is more tacky, this looks minimalistic.

facebook looks better than ello,
ello looks like a kid made it

[Jamesy]

Well if it's invite only and you can only have 5 friends... no.

I don't think anything will replace Facebook just yet. Give it another 5-10 years I say. By then I can definitely see Facebook being the modern equivalent to Bebo and My Space. A once popular social networking site that is beaten by better and higher quality sites.

Facebook is slowly digging a grave so it will be a while longer until it dies.

[T*]

Originally Posted by LukeB

facebook looks better than ello,
ello looks like a kid made it

Does it though? It's probably not aimed at you.

Originally Posted by Jamesy

Well if it's invite only and you can only have 5 friends... no.

I don't think anything will replace Facebook just yet. Give it another 5-10 years I say. By then I can definitely see Facebook being the modern equivalent to Bebo and My Space. A once popular social networking site that is beaten by better and higher quality sites.

Facebook is slowly digging a grave so it will be a while longer until it dies.

It's beta mode, it'll be open to everyone soon.

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Tom!

Does it though? It's probably not aimed at you.



It's beta mode, it'll be open to everyone soon.

who is it aimed at then?

[JerseyWins]

It won't, but then again I also never thought facebook would overtake myspace so who knows.

[Loukas]

Your social network is owned by advertisers.

Every post you share, every friend you make, and every link you follow is tracked, recorded, and converted into data. Advertisers buy your data so they can show you more ads. You are the product that’s bought and sold.

We believe there is a better way. We believe in audacity. We believe in beauty, simplicity, and transparency. We believe that the people who make things and the people who use them should be in partnership.

We believe a social network can be a tool for empowerment. Not a tool to deceive, coerce, and manipulate — but a place to connect, create, and celebrate life.

You are not a product.

This made me kind of interested, however I have Ad Blocker so I don't get Facebook ads. I think it's a nice idea, I've sent a request to try it out, I looked at some profiles on my phone and I like the set up!