Clubhouse is no longer invite-only

The redesigned Clubhouse site

Clubhouse drops its exclusive status as it ditches its invite-only policy and waitlist system. The social audio app is out of beta and now open to anyone who wants to join. The app also gets a new logo and website design. Clubhouse launched in March 2020 with an invite system to allow the company to add users in waves without crashing its system. And when it launched, it was first available on iOS, which added to its exclusivity.

But now, the app is already on Android, which is a move it needed to make given tech giants like Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter all have social audio offerings. The Next Web noted that Clubhouse is struggling to maintain the early momentum it's built. Opening its app to everyone might help trigger another bump in downloads. As for long-term growth, that's something we'd have to observe as time goes by.

Clubhouse comes to Android in beta, starts first in the US

Photo by William Krause on Unsplash

For Android users who have been waiting for Clubhouse, it's finally arriving. Well, the company began rollout in the US first, and it's invite-only for now, too. The release comes at a time when app downloads are reportedly dipping on iOS. According to the company, Clubhouse plans to gradually roll out the app to other English-speaking markets and then to the rest of the world. For those outside the US, you can pre-register on Clubhouse's Google Play Store page to be alerted when it's available in your area.

"Our plan over the next few weeks is to collect feedback from the community, fix any issues we see and work to add a few final features like payments and club creation before rolling it out more broadly," the company said. Clubhouse also intends to welcome in the millions of iOS users stuck on the iOS waitlist as it works on improving the app's infrastructure.

Source: Gizmodo

Clubhouse starts external testing of Android app

Clubhouse might no longer be an iOS exclusive soon (Erin Kwon on Unsplash)

As its competition catches up with the app, Clubhouse knows it has to bring its Android app to the market. During its weekly Townhall event, the company announced that it has begun beta-testing the Android version with a "handful of non-employees." The voice chat app referred to this test as a "rough beta version" being rolled out to "friendly testers." So, that means the general public doesn't get access to the app just yet. The plan is to release it in the "coming weeks."

Clubhouse also announced it would introduce a bell icon for events, so users can get notified about events they've RSVP'd to. It's one step for the company to re-engage users who haven't been using the app as much as they were in the past. And creators on the platform can also advertise their events this way.

Source: TechCrunch

Instagram Live goes after Clubhouse with options to mute, turn off video

Instagram

We know Facebook is adamant about taking on audio-only chat app Clubhouse, and it looks like the company found a way through its popular app, Instagram. Instagram Live is getting a new feature that will let users mute their microphones or turn off their video while they're on Live. According to Instagram, these features are meant to give hosts "more flexibility" during their live stream while taking off the pressure of having to look or sound some way while broadcasting live. But as TechCrunch observed, it's just one more way for Facebook to use Clubhouse's playbook for its platform.

Right now, hosts can't turn on or off for their guests or mute them as well. But Instagram said it is working on "offering more of these types of capabilities" to broadcasters. And these features are reportedly coming out soon. Instagram tested these new features during a recent Instagram Live between Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram Head Adam Mosseri.