Never let or not it’s stated that an impending nationwide app ban and swarming billionaire vultures ever stopped TikTok from plowing forward. But if a recent leak is true, TikTok could need to rethink the emblem for its new app.
The developer AssembleDebug, who has been proper up to now, just lately noticed code indicating that TikTok was working on a new photo-sharing app referred to as “TikTok Photos.” The code included language that TikTok Photos could be launched quickly and implied that creators would be capable to sync the images they add on TikTok to the brand new app robotically.
“TikTok Photos will be launched soon, we hope to help you gain new audiences in the new app,” the textual content discovered by AssembleDebug learn. “If the switch is on, we’ll sync your public photos to the new app, whether you close the pop-up or not.”
Gizmodo reached out to TikTok for remark on the purported new app on Tuesday morning however didn’t instantly hear again.
TikTok already lets customers share images to its app, which seem as movies in its feed. They may even submit a number of images, which customers can scroll by just like the carousel on Instagram.
AssembleDebug additionally noticed the icon for the TikTok Photos app within the code, which can appear unusually acquainted. The icon options the letter “P,” a clear reference to “photos,” in a outstanding place and consists of TikTok’s normal pink, blue, and white colours. On paper, this app id is smart. But in actuality, TikTok has ended up with an icon that appears a lot like PayPal.
The resemblance is problematic, primarily as a result of the apps have drastically totally different use circumstances. TikTok theoretically desires you to make use of its new app to submit images, whereas PayPal is used to ship cash and purchase issues on-line. You may argue that younger individuals who use TikTok are on the newer apps, resembling Venmo (owned by PayPal) and Cash App, so it doesn’t matter. And that’s a good level, however there’s one other situation: The icon is ugly.
It seems to be like a multicolored blob or the start of a Tetris recreation. It additionally doesn’t actually convey “photo app” at first look—in contrast to Instagram’s digicam icon. When I take a look at it, I don’t actually know what it desires me to do. Furthermore, the thought of getting yet one more black icon on my telephone—suppose X, TikTok, and Threads—goes to require some shuffling to verify I don’t click on on the improper one.
It’s fully doable that this new app won’t ever see the sunshine of day. Companies brainstorm new concepts for his or her merchandise on a regular basis. Some get rolled out to the general public, whereas others die in growth. But creating a new photo-sharing app when your app already helps images doesn’t make that a lot sense.
In addition, let’s not neglect that TikTok has already tried to launch a photo-sharing app within the U.S. The firm debuted Lemon8, a mashup of Instagram and Pinterest, final 12 months, which has thus far failed to realize traction.
If TikTok does determine to carry the TikTok Photos app into the world, I hope that it at the very least rethinks the icon.