Pownce! (+ some invites)
Grabbed an invite to Pownce (thanks Rubin!), a new website which is apparently like an instant messenger service only better. Mashable and other sources around the interwebz are claiming this will rival Twitter, a similar though more limited service that has had a lot of downtime and issues lately.
From playing around with it for a few minutes it does look pretty interesting – the ability to group friends/stalkers and restrict who you’re sending messages to on a per-message basis is handy, as is the ability to make links more obvious and also send out files up to 10mb and event information. The main issue is getting to that critical mass of users I suppose, but with Digg’s Kevin Rose behind it all, the hype it’s been getting and the recent problems with Twitter that might not be too difficult for them to achieve. The design is cute and very ‘web 2.0’ – definitely cleaner than Twitter’s. For your own page you have a choice of 4 designs; I was a bit disappointed that you couldn’t design your own because I’m a bit of a sucker for that kind of thing, even if it does mean I have to put up with everyone else’s unreadable designs. I like the informal language used throughout the site (seems to be the fashion these days) and that the options for ‘gender’ are guy, girl, dude, chicky-poo, bloke, bird, lady, gentleman, male, female, transgender or none-of-the-above.
Anyhoo, you can find me on Pownce at http://pownce.com/Chisa although I haven’t really done much yet – I don’t have anyone to say anything to :( I have 6 invites now and no one to give them too, so if you’re looking for one just comment here with your email address. If you do so please pay it forward by offering up your invites on your blog (a link back here would be nice too!).
Invite me?! :D Actually, I’d more than anything just love to play with it.
Hello Chisa!
Wow! Links and event information sound good but being able to send files up to 10MB sounds even greater! I didn’t try Pownce yet, or let’s say that I didn’t find an invite yet. If you still have some invites, you got my email! And I will definitely link back to your blog!
Andrea
Hi Chisa,
As you know, I’m a big fan of Twitter and now use Pownce as well (not to mention Facebook). Not sure I’m going to be able to keep up with both but I’ll try. I agree that it would be good to be able to customise your Pownce profile. I think they have done a wise thing in using the invite-only system to start with. Maybe this has helped the network to be able to handle the traffic and not have too many problems so far.
It’s fun to have all these social media toys to play with – see you there, here and everywhere ;)
I’d really like an invitation too, if you have any left. Thanks in advance.
Invites sent, 3 left :D All the local web peoples have joined up too so I’m feeling less lonely now, yay!
@Andrea: It will be interesting to see what kind of file sharing goes on, I think.
@jj: I know, I’m seeing familiar faces on all these new playthings! Gonna have to actually start using Facebook and add some people on there too. The invite only thing is great for slow growth so they can fix things as they come a bit easier, and it seems to be good for creating buzz too. If you google ‘Pownce + invites’ it comes up with a ton of blog posts and Twitter and Jaiku entries about it.
Is it just me or does Pownce have a completely different feeling to Twitter though, despite having fairly similar functionality? So far I’m finding that I’m less inclined to post random thoughts and more inclined to read and participate in mini conversations.
Hi Chisa!
Yes it will be interesting…actually Pownce sounds everyday more interesting.
Do you know how long it will take to receive the inivte you sent? Because I didn’t received it yet. Just in case I give you also my gmail address with this comment.
Anyway, today I had a look to your creations…nice portfolio!
Andrea
That’s really weird… I sent it to the email address on your first comment, it should’ve gone through automatically. Have you tried checking your spambox? Apparently they’ve been having issues with invites being marked as spam lately.
If you have any left, I will take one :)
Oh, and thanks for the birthday wishes!
Thank you for the invite! I love new toys.
No probs! 2 left :)
Hello Chisa!
I couldn’t find it in my spambox, I really don’t know. There might have been some other problems, but anyway thank you very much was kind of you!
Andrea
Pownce seems to be down at the moment, but when it comes back up I’ll send another invite to your gmail account, Andrea :)
Hi Teresa!
I finally joined Pownce! You can find me there at http://www.pownce.com/andreavascellari/ . Thank you again!
Andrea
O: Invite me? xD
Sounds like a fun place :3
That’s okay Andrea, sorry it didn’t end up working.
Invite sent to James as well, just one left.
Hello, I came here from your Gaia topic. =o You were right!
Anyway, I saw this post and I’d like to snatch your last invite. =3 I signed up for their list for the next sign up thing on their site, but no confirmation yet from them. If you can send an invite to I’d be really happy!