Gay app on the buzz
A new dating app is hitting the LGBT scene. Arthur Tam checks out Hornet to see how it stands up against the competition
With apps like Grindr and Jack’d already on the market, newcomer Hornet tries to address the shortcomings of its competitors with a user-friendlier platform. Developed in Hong Kong and San Francisco, Hornet operates much like Grindr and Jack’d (create profile -> upload pics -> get browsing) and after its global launch last month, we give Hornet a test run and find some extra features that make it a download-worthy app.
HIV Notification
Setting up a Hornet account requires users to state their HIV status. If you choose ‘negative’, the app requests the date of your last doctor’s visit. Hornet will then send you a reminder when it’s time for your next HIV testing. None of the current gay apps has a ‘KYS’ (Know Your Status) function, so it’s nice to see that Hornet is concerned with the sexual health of its users. However, whether or not the reminder proves useful is another matter in itself.
Swiping
Instead of clicking in and out of profiles like on Grindr or Jack’d, Hornet users can now capitalise on what should have been an obvious function for a gay dating app on a smartphone − swiping! Simply click on the hottie’s profile and swipe up and down to scroll through his pictures. And, if you want, you can request to see his private photos – but beware of what might pop up… literally! If the gent (or his little soldier) isn’t quite to your liking, move on to the next guy by swiping to the left or right.
Global Search
If only we had telekinetic powers like Professor X from X-Men, we could find all the gays in the world with just a thought. Alas, we don’t live in a mutant super-powered world, but Hornet’s global search function serves as a pretty good gay locator. Simply click on the ‘explore’ function and then click on any part of the world to browse their local Hornet users before your travels.
Sharing is Caring
It’s not uncommon for boys to ask their friends’ opinion about potential dates, or to simply make a pastime of critiquing an anonymous guy’s hotness. With Hornet’s new sharing feature, users can conveniently send pictures of other Hornet users to their friends to help decide if the man is worth dating.
Time Out’s Verdict...
There is no question that Hornet is still in its beta phase – it’s slow, it crashes and chats aren’t uploaded properly. But it does have a lot of potential and provides interesting features that rivals lack. Six months down the line, if and when the kinks are worked out, we think Hornet could become the gay app of choice.
www.gethornet.com
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7 Comments Add your comment
I liked the first version even if it was a little slow, you could at least see lots of pictures of people before you talked to them and today I think, or yesterday the upgrade came out in the app store, .935 so it seems fast. Now I just need someone to send me a heart.
i love it more pic more choice.. more important .. i can go every where i need and also i find more friend from here... thanks guy
There's no ads and to me doesn't feel slow. Might be because I don't have many favorites yet but working on it!
There are numerous gay apps popping up. Half of them will be out of business in a year. They're compelling, but Apple's 30% share, business and marketing costs will knock the stuffing out of their $3 a month pricing models. Mark Brooks OnlinePersonalsWatch usa 212-444-1636 / uk 020-8133-1835
There is no 3 dollar a month pricing model Mark.
I have been using it! So far it works quick well. I can see the potiental of it too. Love the design and graphic! Cheers
I can't stand these 'cruising apps'. (And that's what they are folks, don't be fooled by the downplayed marketing spiel). They expose users to racist/ageist douchebags and reduce people to screen-staring zombies....especially in bars. If you people cannot see how whack these apps are, how they are dumbing down society & reducing the city's communication skills, then you need to get a real life. Put down the phone people and join the real world!
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