Tumblr Supports Tapestry: Revolutionizing the Open Social Web with an Innovative Timeline App
In recent news, the popular blogging platform Tumblr, owned by Automattic, has made a significant investment in Tapestry, a new app aimed at streamlining and organizing feeds from various sources across the open web. This includes popular platforms such as RSS, Mastodon, and Bluesky.
Tapestry: A New Era in Feed Organization
Originally launched as a Kickstarter project in January 2024, Tapestry successfully raised over $177,000 in crowdfunding. The app was made available to the public earlier this month, marking its debut on the App Store.
Tumblr’s Financial Backing
On Tuesday, Tapestry’s developers announced that Tumblr provided financial support through a grant. This funding is earmarked for the development of a native macOS version of the app. In the meantime, users can run the iPad version on their Macs.
Integration with the Fediverse
Tumblr’s investment aligns with its broader strategy following its acquisition by Automattic in 2019. The company is migrating Tumblr’s backend to WordPress to enhance operational efficiency. This transition will connect Tumblr to the fediverse, which is the open social web powered by ActivityPub, the protocol behind platforms like Mastodon and Threads.
Features of Tapestry
Designed by The Iconfactory, renowned for its work on Twitterific, Tapestry empowers users to curate content from various sources, including:
- RSS feeds
- YouTube
- Podcasts
- Bluesky
- Mastodon
- Tumblr
- Micro.blog
- GO Comics
The primary goal of Tapestry is to give users enhanced control over their news and information consumption. With the rise of the open social web, individuals can now tailor their online experiences, moving away from reliance on algorithms set by tech giants.
Community-Centric Sponsorship
Thanks to Tumblr’s financial backing, which is reportedly in the six-figure range, Iconfactory has introduced a unique sponsorship program within Tapestry. This initiative allows advertisers to promote their offerings directly to the app’s community. Instead of traditional advertising, the focus is on supporting small, independent creators.
As stated in an Iconfactory blog post, “Our hope is that the community around Tapestry will want to know about exciting indie apps, blogs fueled by passion, and informative podcasts or YouTube channels.”
Competing Apps in the Space
Tapestry is part of a growing trend of apps that offer customizable feed aggregation focused on the broader web, built on open protocols rather than on a single social network. Other notable competitors include:
Both Tumblr and Iconfactory were approached for comments regarding the grant, with Tumblr confirming that the funding was directly from them, not Automattic, to promote the open social web.
For more updates on Tapestry and its developments, stay tuned to their official channels!
