Product Hunt App Review: The best dApps in December ⛓️
These days, data leak headlines are less about tech companies losing your data to hackers (although those still exist) and more about tech companies giving your data to other tech companies.
The light at the end of the shady data marketplace tunnel is that decentralized applications (or dApps) exist. And they’ll let you secure your personal data in your preferred encryption storage place (on your laptop or in the Cloud).
Instead of asking users to build a new identity for every dApp (you typically need to download a browser extension, create a wallet, buy cryptocurrency, etc.), some dApps have launched with Blockstack to manage user profiles.
Users can sign up once and “Sign in with Blockstack” just like they would Facebook. Except then Facebook can’t sell your data. You manage it yourself, secured and protected on Blockstack.👏
We joined Blockstack several months back as an official App Reviewer.
How it works: $100,000 is up for grabs every month. dApp developers can sign up for App Mining to earn for their traction. Blockstack will then divvy up $100k across (or ‘to’) registered Blockstack dApps based on their overall ranking each month.
Here were five of this month’s apps that we think you should check out:
1. Recall is an open-source alternative to Google Photos. 📸
What sets it apart from other photo vaults is that it lets you select your preferred storage provider, and there are no restrictions on file sizes.
From the Product Hunt community:
“This is awesome, photos are people’s most private asset and they should have 100% control over their memories.”
2. Keep in Touch is like a personal CRM. It gives you friendly reminders to grow your network, as well as reminders to say hi to old friends. 👋
The key (pun intended): There is no central point of failure as every user effectively owns their own data and has a unique key to encrypt and decrypt it. 🔑
From the Product Hunt community:
“This might be my favorite blockchain app.”
3. Gladys is a home assistant powered by Rasberry Pi 🗣
Gladys is cool because she integrates seamlessly into your life, literally. The open-source program communicates across everything in your home (from your lights to your coffee machine) and your devices while checking your calendar.
From the Product Hunt community:
“Really exciting to see someone make a smart home assistant as accessible and affordable as simply having to buy a Raspberry Pi”
4. Blockstack Breakout is a decentralized Brick Breaker game 🎮
This is exactly what it sounds like. And it’s great.
From the Product Hunt community:
“As frivolous as this is: it’s simple, well designed — from palette to function to sound design.”
5. XPO.Network basically lets you build a school on the blockchain. 👀
It works by giving you a toolset to foster a community through interactive guides and rewards. XPO.Network also highlights contributors to existing networks by rewarding non-fungible tokens.
From the Product Hunt community:
“Being able to reward users is the way of the future!”
Check out the full list of Top dApps from December. Decentralized alternatives to Google Drive, Whatsapp, and LinkedIn competitors took the top three spots. 🏆
Want to get paid for your dApp? Register here for App Mining by January 4th to be eligible for next month’s payouts. 👏
