Slingshot

Eight 'Slingshot' stories May 2014 - December 2015

Facebook removes Slingshot, Rooms, and Riff apps from App Store, closes Creative Labs

Mike Beasley Dec 7 2015 - 10:32 am PT

Shortly after Dropbox announced it had shut down its popular Mailbox and Carousel apps, Facebook has made a similar move by removing a handful of its apps from the iOS App Store and shutting down the division that created them.

Facebook’s Creative Labs project was intended to promote the creation of apps like Snapchat competitor Slingshot, and has launched several apps with some success. However, the social site has apparently decided that the time has come to shutter that initiative and the apps it has produced.

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Facebook releases ‘Rooms’ for iPhone, a chat room app that lets you go anonymous

Jordan Kahn Oct 23 2014 - 10:52 am PT

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Facebook is today unveiling the latest app being released under the company’s Creative Labs project that recently released the new Paper, Slingshot, and Mentions apps. The new app, called Rooms, is described by Facebook as a meeting place inspired by early Internet chatrooms and web communities: Rooms lets you create places for the things you’re into, and invite others who are into them too.
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Facebook’s photo messaging app Slingshot updated w/ easier reactions, My People tab, more

Zac Hall Jul 31 2014 - 1:21 pm PT

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After first launching earlier this month, Facebook has today released a feature update to its new photo messaging app Slingshot.

The new version allows users to reply with a reaction to photos without having to first reply with another photo. The launch version structure was a bit more convoluted as it required you to respond with a new photo as well. The new version allows you to respond with a photo, video, or just text.

The update also allows you to connect with your contacts and Facebook friends with inviting more people to use the app, and a new My People section shows you other Slingshot users. The update also features the following under-the-hood improvements:

• Shoot crisp, clear videos even faster than before
• Improved reliability for sign-up confirmation codes
• Plus, a bunch of bug fixes and other tweaks to keep things running smoothly

In addition to launching Slingshot earlier this month, Facebook-owned Instagram released a quick-photo messaging app called Bolt in a select few countries earlier this week.

The latest version of Slingshot is rolling out now in the App Store.

Facebook launches new Slingshot app to compete with Snapchat

Chance Miller Jun 17 2014 - 10:00 am PT

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As we reported last night, Facebook’s new Slingshot app is now available for iPhone. The app briefly appeared on the App Store last week but was quickly removed. Slingshot is Facebook’s attempt at competing with the popular Snapchat messaging service.

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Facebook’s Slingshot app said to launch tomorrow after last week’s botched debut (update: It’s out)

Mark Gurman Jun 16 2014 - 5:38 pm PT

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Update: Like clockwork, it’s out.

Facebook plans to launch its long-awaited Snapchat competitor called Slingshot tomorrow, according to a source. The application briefly became available in some international App Stores last week, and then it (appropriately) swiftly disappeared. The new standalone iPhone application allows users to send a photo or video with text or drawings to another person, but the recipient cannot view it unless they acknowledge that they want to view the message…

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Facebook’s Snapchat competitor arrives on the App Store, then appropriately disappears

Mike Beasley Jun 9 2014 - 5:13 pm PT

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Screenshots via Engadget

As we noted a few weeks ago, Facebook is currently in the process of developing a new Snapchat-like chat service separate from its main Messenger/Facebook inbox offering, even though it just recently removed its Poke app from the App Store.

Today Facebook “accidentally” published an early version of the upcoming software, called Slingshot, to the iOS App Store in a few countries. The app allows users to share a photo (or video) with friends, but those friends are unable to view the photo until they respond with a photo of their own. A “react” button allows recipients to quickly snap their reaction to an incoming message and send it back as a response.

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Facebook may try to take on Snapchat again with upcoming ‘Slingshot’ app

Mike Beasley May 18 2014 - 6:33 pm PT

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If at first you don’t succeed…

Facebook may have recently pulled its Snapchat-like Poke app from the iOS App Store, but the social network is gearing up to take another swipe at the messaging giant later this month, according to a new claim by the Financial Times. Facebook’s new app, currently dubbed “Slingshot” interally, will enable users to send short video messages to one another.

In 2012, Facebook launched its own Snapchat rip-off called Poke, which borrowed its name from an entirely separate feature that had been available on Facebook’s website for years. When Poke failed to attract a significant number of users, Facebook forgot about it and let it sit idle for nearly three years before removing it from the App Store.

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Slingshot app lets you share your iOS screen with others on any platform

Jordan Kahn May 1 2014 - 8:06 am PT

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Slingshot-iOS-app-01

I’ve written about apps from Squirrels in the past. It makes the AirParrot and Reflection apps that let you mirror your Mac or PC screen to an Apple TV or your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch screen to a Mac or PC. Today it’s launching a new product that utilizes technology from both of those previous apps called ‘Slingshot.’ The cross-platform apps let you share your iOS screen with others on iOS, Mac OS X, Windows, or Android, and provides some slick collaboration tools in the process:
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