Health & Fitness
New App Launches to Change Mobile Reading Experience
Snippet, a new app has launched that harnesses the power of social media, giving authors and readers new functionality to engage with the content, other readers and the author.
For centuries, authors and readers have been separated. One wrote in private, while the other, often months or years later, read in private. Now, a new app, designed by Roseville's Bamboo Creative, has launched that harnesses the power of social media, giving authors and readers new functionality to engage with the content, other readers and the author. The Snippet app for iOS devices pays homage to another aspect of social media by adding a length constraint similar to Twitter.
The new platform allows authors to publish as many 1,000 word or less chapters to their Snippet, and utilize iOS multimedia tools for adding audio, video, photo slideshows and more. This shorter format makes Snippets both quick to read and quick to publish. The entire reading and publishing experience becomes social and connects the writer to the reader like never before, all within the mobile device.
“Snippet re-imagines the reading experience,” said CJ Alvarado, CEO of Bamboo Creative, the company behind Snippet. “We see a shift happening in the digital content space and developed Snippet to be a key part of the shift. Our format allows readers to get through chapters quickly, while providing them with a complete multimedia experience that can include audio, video and photos. Readers are then given the ability to engage with the writer, share thoughts on chapters, give feedback and share what they’ve read on their own social networks.”
How it Works for Writers:
The short format of Snippet (1,000 words max per chapter—unlimited chapters) allows writers to get ideas to market faster, share their expertise, test new book ideas, create companion pieces or tell entirely new stories in less time.
The writers can add "discoverable" media to enrich their content, from photos to videos and audio. Additionally, for the first time in traditional or digital books, writers can include a social media discoverable to engage with the reader right inside the reading content.
The company has received some rave reviews from writers on the platform:
“I've always wanted to write a book, but never knew where to start,” commented Bee Bosnak, yoga instructor and columnist for Women’s Health, and author of the recently released Heal Yourself. “With Snippet, the concept is very easy.”
“I was blown away [when I saw Snippet],” said Pat Flynn, blog income expert (SmartPassiveIncome.com) and author of Let Go on Snippet. “This is so cool, so new and so innovative. It just looked really amazing and it turned the reading experience into this multimedia, interactive piece...It was like artwork combined with text and videography.”
Writers price their Snippets between $0.99 and $4.99, and receive 50 percent of all sales. To ensure that only the best content makes it into the Snippet marketplace, writers are charged $99 per Snippet publication; this contributes to stunning design and formatting.
How it Works for Readers:
Reading will never be ugly or boring again. Snippets are beautifully designed, packed with rich media and built for reading on a mobile device.
Snippet believes reading should be inexpensive, and with prices from $0.99 to $4.99, Snippet readers get the best content at a fraction of the price of a regular book. Plus, since they are short, no more endless reading or finishing only half of an expensive book.
“Snippet will change the way people consume content,” said Alejandro Reyes, author of Get Internet Famous on Snippet. “It's not only a beautiful reading experience (rich media), but also makes me feel more connected to my favorite authors and their ideas. I love Snippet.”
The Snippet app is free in the App Store and is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd, 4th and 5th generation) and iPad. The app is optimized for iPhone 5. Requires iOS 6.0 or later. Learn more at TheSnippetApp.com or in the App Store at AppStore.com/SnippetApp.
About Bamboo Creative:
Bamboo Creative is a Roseville, CA-based creative company that is known for its passion, creativity and ideation. Its team—built up of thinkers, creatives, tinkerers, and builders—loves working with brands to innovate their digital and mobile technology efforts. For more information visit BambooCreative.com.
