Frenzy closed social network debuts with unrestricted beta
updated 07:00 pm EDT, Mon March 14, 2011
Uses Dropbox to host chat-style messaging
Aimed at close-knit circles of friends or workmates who need to be able to reliably chat, share links and files, Aptonic's Frenzy is a miniature social network app that uses a hidden folder on the popular Dropbox cloud-storage service to host a simple chat service. It features a Twitter-like stream of feed items, a easy-access menubar item and works with popular Mac browsers to make it quick to share a link or file along with an optional message, and then return to the application users were working in.
Aptonic, which also makes DropZone, has released a non-expiring, unrestricted beta of Frenzy for users to try. The final (paid) release will have additional features, such as the ability to look at older feed items (presently the program keeps all feed items but only displays the 25 newest). Because all data is kept in a user's own Dropbox folder, it stays completely private. The program uses JSON feeds and does not limit (beyond the storage capacity of a user's Dropbox) the size of files being transferred. The program can even work offline, syncing feed items when the user is again connected to the internet.
The program comes with plug-ins or extensions for many Mac browsers (notably, Chrome is not yet supported). Due to its reliance on Dropbox, the application will probably not be available on the Mac App Store, but if public reaction is strong the company has expressed interest in creating iOS and Android versions.
Frenzy requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher running on an Intel Mac and a Dropbox account. All participants in feeds must also be running Frenzy.
