On January 12, 2023, Twitter revoked third-party access to their API without warning. As a developer, this is one of the most repulsive actions I've seen a social media company take in recent memory, and that's saying something. Deprecating an API is a process typically measured in months or years, giving developers time to create alternative solutions and shift their business model. Instead, these independent development shops found their apps (and primary sources of revenue) destroyed overnight. This situation is particularly egregious considering how integral a role these third-party apps have played in the improvement of the platform. Features we now take for granted, such as pull to refresh, were created by these developers—they were integral to improving the user experience (UX) of the platform. For many users, these apps were the face of Twitter.
Luckily, Tapbots, the small two-person developer team responsible for the iconic Twitter app named Tweetbot, had been working on a Mastodon app called Ivory. The unexpected destruction of Tweetbot accelerated the development of Ivory, and Tapbots decided to release an early access version of the app.
The rise of a Phoenix an Elephant from the Ashes
The pricing model of Ivory has proven to be divisive. Many prospective customers feel it is inappropriate to charge for what is essentially an incomplete app. Others find the $1.99 per month/$14.99 per year subscription fee excessive. While I typically feel annoyed at the prospect of paying for an unfinished product, I'm more than willing to give Tapbots a pass, given the circumstances. Software subscriptions are a reality of the current market. Customers are unwilling to pay large sums of money for software, and most app developers incur an ongoing cost per customer due to cloud sync features and data storage. It is economically unsustainable for a company to provide a lifetime of updates and support for no additional cost.
If I had to distill the interface of Ivory down to one word, it would be sophisticated. The minimalist interface possesses wonderful clarity, and the iconography lends a unique flair to the app. It follows the Apple Human Interface Guidelines while still feeling unique. With Ivory, simple doesn't mean primitive, and less doesn't feel sparse. The app displays remarkable attention to detail. The trumpet icon is movable, and flicking it toward a corner causes it to bounce into place. Tapping buttons activate subtle animations that make the app feel alive. A separate dark theme explicitly designed to take advantage of the pure blacks offered by OLED screens provides eye-popping contrast. Ivory performs as well as it looks. It has some of the smoothest scrolling animations I've seen on a third-party app and remains responsive when quickly navigating through the interface.
Ivory’s beautiful iconography
As good as Ivory is, it could be better. There are several features I missed over the course of using the app. The ability to edit my posts and quote those of others would greatly augment the app's utility. Ivory's ability to sync your place in the timeline over iCloud is welcome, but the ability to sync other customizations, such as filters, would be welcome. Luckily, most of the features I want are on the official roadmap. Given that the developers at Tapbots have a long history of delivering flawlessly executed features, I have no doubt Ivory has a very bright future ahead.