The Internet abounds with would-be writers and bloggers looking to make their mark. But no-one has created the next YouTube, a place where an undiscovered talent can go viral. Opuss, a new iOS app, aims to fill that void. While there are technical hiccups in this early release, it’s worth checking out if you can bear with it. Think of it as a reddit client that allows for content creation, not just browsing and commenting.
Opuss is at once a community of readers and writers, however nascent, and a light-reading app. It has social media components and an inviting interface that inspires creativity. It’s easy to surf content by topic, which includes traditional blogs as well as jokes, recipes and just about anything short and made of words.
Creating content with Opuss is wonderfully simply. Pick a title, a category that functions as a tag, and you’re set. Once completed, the tap of a button posts to the community inviting comments, likes, and if the menu is an indicator, contests to come in the future.
However, Opuss’ shortcomings are not hard to overlook, despite the fantastic concept and appealing design. The developers posted a warning that due to demand, they are having server-side problems. Content often fails to load.
Also limiting Opuss’ usefulness is the lack of entries, despite claims of popularity. An iPad-native version seems like a no-brainer too, since many bloggers prefer the larger screen and keyboard.
With a little polish, a little more content,and a serious server overhaul Opuss has the potential to fill a void between content creation apps and content sharing apps. I look forward to watching it evolve. As one user commented, “this looks like the app for smart people.”
