Billed as the, “privacy aware, personally controlled, do-it-all, open source social network,” Diaspora aims to offer a Facebook-like experience, but without the lurking spectre of privacy concerns and general dodginess.
Here’s how they describe some of the stand-out features:
- Share status messages and photos privately and in near real time with your friends through “aspects”.
- Friend people across the Internet no matter where Diaspora seed is located.
- Manage friends using “aspects”
- Upload of photos and albums
- All traffic is signed and encrypted (except photos, for now).
The project is still in beta testing – and there’s plans for Facebook integration too – but you can see some early screengrabs here: http://www.joindiaspora.com/project.html
We’ll definitely be giving it a go, but it’s going to need Android/iPhone apps to get any kind of traction, even amongst those keen to find a Facebook alternative.
Oh, and the name is really crap.
the name does not lend itself to be used as a verb…”SO great to see you again after all these years! diasporate me when you get home”
I like the name!
I think I could be part of the Diaspora I quite like the name, though agree with Piers about its use in everyday language. But look at Twitter who’d have thought that name would catch on, it still gives me the creeps.