Confide IconWith the image-based Snapchat reaching huge levels of popularity with its ephemeral image and video messaging, new app Confide looks to offer the same type of secure, self-destructing messaging for text.

The app allows users to send messages to anyone with an email address -- prompting those users to download the app -- and conceals the contents of messages until they swipe to select it. It also alerts senders when screenshots are attempted and sends read receipt messages so senders know when their message is read.

The company is pitching Confide as an app for business executives and others to send messages to each other that they would prefer HR or legal departments not find out about.

Gigaom writes:

Brod added that Confide is different from Snapchat and other disappear apps in that it connects potential users through their email addresses, not by searching their phone contacts. This means that if someone sends a message to a person who doesn’t have the app, they will receive an email that informs them there is a message from the first person waiting for them in the app.

To address the issue of screenshots, which can provide a way to preserve disappearing messages, Confide uses a “wand” feature that requires recipients to pass their fingers over the message to reveal additional words. The app also includes a notice feature, common among other disappear apps, that alerts the sender if the recipient took a screenshot of the message.

Textmessaging
Confide for iPhone is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

m0dest Avatar
148 months ago
[LIST=1]
* Confide releases an app with ephemeral text messages
* Confide gains mild popularity
* Snapchat adds support for ephemeral text messages
* Confide goes away


I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE

Never start a company oriented around trying to fill a minor gap in a competing product. It doesn't work out.

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arn Avatar
148 months ago
Protecting against screenshots is something that cannot be done. There is video, etc. This shows that their philosophy and vision is lacking in the sense that they somehow assumed the receipt to be an adversary which is a very bad assumption. This is what I am talking about.

But it doesn't matter. Putting some protection against screenshots is just an added casual deterrent. It's silly to argue the "if it can't be done 100%, it shouldn't be done". It's like saying why put a lock on a house if it has windows -- since you can easily break the window and get in. It still serves a purpose.

arn
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
148 months ago
Record the secret message with another iPhone's video camera. :D
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ck2875 Avatar
148 months ago
So they basically put orange lipstick on Snapchat and called it business-class?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwhittington Avatar
148 months ago
So if you find this on your spouse's phone ...

... they are planning a surprise party for your birthday.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nunyabinez Avatar
148 months ago
It's not really about trust. Some things you might not want logged.

Here's the use cases listed on the site:
Here's some use cases that we were probably all thinking about, but that wouldn't be prudent to market.

You don't want your wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend seeing the texts from your girlfriend/boyfriend

Or maybe you don't want the police coming to find you when your drug dealer gets pinched.

:eek:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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