Grindr
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| Developer(s) | Nearby Buddy Finder, LLC. |
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| Initial release | March 25, 2009 |
| Stable release | 1.7.4 / February 3, 2012 |
| Operating system | Apple iOS, Android and Blackberry OS |
| Type | Geosocial Networking |
| Website | Grindr.com |
Grindr is a geosocial networking application for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Blackberry OS and Android devices. Available for download from the Apple App Store and the Android Market, Grindr comes in both free and subscription-based versions (Grindr Xtra). The app makes use of the device geolocation, which allows users to access other gay men within close proximity. This is accomplished through a user interface that displays a grid of representative pictures of men, arranged from nearest to farthest away. Tapping on a picture will display a brief profile for that user, as well as the option to chat, send pictures, and share one's location.
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[edit] History
Grindr was launched on March 25, 2009 by Nearby Buddy Finder, LLC.[1] Initially, cautious but positive remarks circulated through the gay blogosphere on sites such as Queerty[2] and Joe My God.[3]
Though based in the United States, the app quickly gained worldwide popularity through word of mouth and various media outlets. On November 3, 2011 Grindr announced that it had officially hit 3 million users in 192 countries across the globe with some 52,000 users online at any given second.[4] Joel Simkhai, founder of Grindr, has reported activity in countries as far as Iran, Iraq, Israel and Kazakhstan.[5] As of September 2010, the United States hosted the highest number of Grindr users with nearly 500,000, while London topped the list of cities with 62,000 users.[6] British users increased by 30,000 alone after the app was mentioned by Stephen Fry on the popular TV show Top Gear.
In January 2011, Grindr won the award for "Best Mobile Dating Site" at the iDate Awards 2011.[7] Grindr announced in March 2011 that a straight version of the application was under development temporarily titled Project Amicus.[8][9]
On September 8, 2011, Grindr launched Blendr, a similar app for people of all sexual orientations, with additional features intended to facilitate non-sexual friendships.[10]
In January 2012 Grindr, the premier all male geo-social network app, announced it was named the winner of TechCrunch’s 2011 Crunchies Award for Best Location Application introduced at the Fifth Annual Crunchies Awards Ceremony in San Francisco at The Davies Symphony Hall.
Separately, Grindr was crowned the winner of the 2012 iDate Awards in two of the 12 categories for Best Mobile Dating App and Best New Technology at the ninth annual Dating Industry & Internet Dating Conference in Miami. The iDate Awards highlight the best and most innovative aspects of the online dating and matchmaking industry. Grindr previously received an iDate Award in 2011 for Best Mobile Dating App.
[edit] Grindr Xtra
Grindr Xtra is the advertisement-free, subscription version of Grindr, which makes use of the Apple Push Notification Service. Additionally, Grindr Xtra contains features such as loading up to 200 users at once and quickly swiping between profiles.[11] Users have the option to renew their subscription via iTunes in one, three, six, and twelve month purchases.
[edit] Devices
Currently, Grindr is available on the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android and the following Blackberry models: Curve 8300, Curve 8310, Curve 8320, Curve 8330, Curve 8330m, Curve 8350i, Curve 8520, Curve 8530, Curve 8900, Bold 9000, Tour 9630, Bold 9650, Bold 9700, Torch 9800.
[edit] Controversy and criticism
Grindr has received criticism from both a programming and a sociological viewpoint. In January 2012 the program was hacked and hundreds of thousands of users' personal information became vulnerable to exploitation. [12] Users of the app have complained of its unreliability, claiming that messages often disappear or do not get sent, and that the program has a history of crashing, despite the regular release of patches intended to correct the issues. [13]
There is criticism that many users of the app use offensive racist and/or homophobic language, such as "No Asians", "No blacks" or "No femmes".[14]
[edit] References
- ^ Jason Kincaid, [1], TechCrunch, Mar 25, 2009
- ^ "Cruise Local Guys On Your iPhone / Queerty". Queerty.com. http://www.queerty.com/cruise-local-guys-via-gps-20090326/. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ "Joe. My. God.: Q: Location? A: Right Behind You, Dude". Joemygod.blogspot.com. 2009-03-26. http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/03/q-location-right-behind-you-dude.html. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ Carmody, Sarah. "Grindr’s Global Dominance Hits 2m". bent News. bent. http://mag.bent.com/news/grindrs-global-dominance-hits-2m/. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/08/17/app-watch-grindr-says-its-more-than-a-hook-up-service/], Wall Street Journal,AUGUST 17, 2009
- ^ "Where in the World Is Grindr?". Grindr.com. http://www.grindr.com/index.php/blog/entry/where_in_the_world_is_grindr. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ "Grindr Named ‘Best Mobile Dating Site’ at 2011 iDate Awards | Grindr Blog". Blog.grindr.com. 2011-01-24. http://blog.grindr.com/2011/01/grindr-named-%E2%80%98best-mobile-dating-site%E2%80%99-at-2011-idate-awards/. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ Dominic Rushe New York (2011-02-06). "Grindr app goes straight – but there are different rules for women | Technology | The Observer". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/06/grindr-gay-straight-dating. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ Kapp, Matt. "Grindr: Welcome to the World’s Biggest, Scariest Gay Bar". Vanity Fair. Conde Nast. http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/05/grindr-201105. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
- ^ Vara, Vauhini (2011-09-08). "App Watch: IPhone-Assisted Dates Go Straight - Digits - WSJ". The Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/09/08/app-watch-iphone-assisted-dates-go-straight/. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ "App Store - Grindr Xtra". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-09-27. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grindr-x-tra/id319881193?mt=8. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ Yin, Sara. "Grindr Hack Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Exposed". PC Magazine. http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/security/293112-grindr-hack-leaves-hundreds-of-thousands-exposed.
- ^ http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1824161
- ^ Rowlson, Alex (2011-12-10), Not just a preference, Fab magazine, http://www.fabmagazine.com/story/not-just-a-preference
