Social Media

Google makes yet another attempt in social networking with ‘Shoelace’ app

Written by Sajeel Syed ·  1 min read >

The big G is giving this social network thing another go.

Google has just launched an invite-only project that aims to help people find interesting things to do and also find other people who have similar interests. With the help of a new app that will be called Shoelace, users will be able to browse through a set of hand-picked activities or add their own to timeline. Apparently, the app’s name is designed to make you think of tying things together like a shoe lace’s knot.

It is pertinent to note here that Google’s in-house incubator — Area 120, has been working on various features of Shoelace including organizing local events and activities via the app. By listing your interests in the app, you will allow it to suggest a series of “hand-picked” local activities called “Loops.” Hence, you will be able to organize your own events, and there is a map interface to view and RSVP to other people’s Loops.

Notably, Google has revealed its ambitions for social networking app just after a couple of months of killing Google+, which was its most prominent attempt at building a social media platform. However, rather than trying to create a new all-encompassing social network to rival the likes of Facebook, Shoelace seems to have much more modest ambitions that take aim at Facebook’s ubiquitous Events functionality.

See Also: Here’s the list of some dead Google products resting in its graveyard

Meanwhile, Shoelace runs on both Android and iOS, and is currently available only in New York City. It is likely that the app has been removed from the Google Play Store, but if you want to give it a try, it’s available to sideload from APK Mirror. However, you won’t be able to sign up for an invite, so let us wait and see how Google opens this up to the masses.

Written by Sajeel Syed
I am a writer at TechJuice, overseeing IT, Telecom, Cryptocurrency, and other tech-related features here. When I'm not working, I spend some of my time with good old Xbox 360 and the rest in social activism. Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sajeelshamsi Profile