Bluesky Launches Latest App, Flashes, Offers a New Take on Instagram

This week, Instagram alternative Flashes released its Bluesky-based photo-sharing app to the public on the App Store, receiving close to 30,000 downloads in the first day. With the ability to upload up to four images and videos up to one minute long, the app provides a traditional Instagram-like experience.

The AT Protocol, often known as atproto, is the fundamental protocol that enables Bluesky. Sebastian Vogelsang, a developer based in Berlin, created Flashes.

Flashes has access to an established audience because it is based on Bluesky, a social networking business that now has over 32 million subscribers. In other words, every post you create on the Flashes app can be viewed by more people than just those who use the app itself because it is compatible with Bluesky.

Flashes is more customisable than Instagram, yet sharing some characteristics.

People on Flashes can access any of the more than 50,000 custom feeds on Bluesky, which allow users to customize the network’s material however they like, rather than being constrained by an algorithm created by the firm. Additionally, the app has built-in feeds for the most recent and top postings from Bluesky’s network.

Additional features are made to accommodate photographers who want to display their work.

You can curate your profile using a “Portfolio Mode” by selecting the media that visitors will see, for instance. In this manner, when someone visits your profile, your best photos will be displayed first.

Like Instagram, Flashes has built-in photo filters that may be used to alter posts.

Artist-curated feeds are the focus of another new feature.

This next edition from Flashes begins with pictures from the Blacksky community. (Blacksky has been developing its own moderating service, Blacksky feeds, and other technical features for the Black community.)

Vogelsang says he is open to opportunities and has discussed finance with investors. As of Thursday, 40,500 people had downloaded the app, which is one of several new initiatives based on the Bluesky platform.