Iconfactory, the team behind the popular third-party Twitter client Twitterific, is nearing completion of its latest project, Tapestry, an app designed to unify social media, news, and RSS in one place. After unveiling the app at the beginning of the year, the company has announced that it plans to officially launch Tapestry to the public in early 2025.

Tapestry aims to address the growing issue of online media fragmentation, allowing users to track their favorite blogs, news sites, and social networks from a single app. Instead of relying on outside investors, Iconfactory has opted for crowdfunding, with over 3,360 backers pledging more than $177,800 to bring the app to life.

The app's appeal lies in its ability to consolidate multiple online sources, eliminating the need for users to constantly switch between browser tabs and apps. This comes at a time when users are increasingly frustrated with the proliferation of Twitter clones, following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X. As a result, there has been a surge in interest in new Twitter-like services, including apps like Mastodon and Bluesky, built on open protocols.

This shift towards a more open social web has created opportunities for developers to design new user experiences that can browse these different services. In response, several apps have emerged, each offering a unique take on how to organize online media. Flipboard's Surf app, for instance, allows users to track RSS, Bluesky, and Mastodon content in a single app. Other indie apps, such as Reeder, Feeeed, and Openvibe, have also expanded their capabilities to include support for various social services.

Tapestry stands out from its competitors by attempting to straddle both the worlds of RSS readers and social media experiences. The app supports a range of sources, including Mastodon, Bluesky, webcomics, social apps like Reddit and Tumblr, as well as weather and earthquake alerts. Users can create custom feeds, or "timelines," where they can select which sources to include, and utilize tools like "mute" and "muffle" to configure their feed.

While the current beta version of Tapestry has some areas for improvement, such as separating sources into "feeds" and "connectors," the app's potential to revolutionize how users consume online media is undeniable. Iconfactory plans to generate revenue through monthly and annual subscriptions, although an exact launch date has not been shared.

As the online media landscape continues to evolve, Tapestry's launch in early 2025 is poised to make a significant impact. With its unique approach to unifying social media, news, and RSS, the app has the potential to become a go-to destination for users seeking a more streamlined and organized online experience.