Brief Post Introduction
Before you read any further, know that all opinions are my own and they are just that, MY opinions. You are required to neither agree or disagree, I'm just putting it out there for people. This will cover applications that I feel are useful, not tools like steemauto or mirror apps like busy. Those fall into a different class of developments. Also, I have an opinion on a few other things and will highlight some of my favorite organizations here on Steemit. Ready?
For those unfamiliar with the red camera icon, this is Steepshot. Steepshot literally is Instagram of the STEEM blockchain. It has an app for Google Play, a website, and most recent updates say it will be listed on the iOS store. I haven't tried to upload a gif yet since their last update, but they said that feature is now available. You are allowed a paragraph to describe your picture or gif and can use up to 20 tags. Yes, 20. I use it mostly for pictures. To my knowledge, they still have yet to swipe any rewards from people. Good on ya guys. Much respect.
This micro-blogging app has been 9 months in the making and I'm really starting to like what I see. I very very rarely use it personally, but here's why. They started with crowd funding and went full 'steem' ahead with building the application. It's basically the STEEM blockhain's version of Twitter. Initially, they said they were going to take 15-25% of people's rewards until they were able to pay off their investors. Not a huge fan of that concept, which is the biggest reason I don't use it. I searched for a post to declare that they have been paid, but could not find one, so I am going to assume they are still taking a cut. Once this debt is undeniably cleared, I'm sure thousands more will flock to the platform. Which for me, begs the question as to why they set up a witness?
This app is going to be something. Live streaming? I've seen a few here and there and it seems to work pretty well. It's going to be huge as more of the business world starts to migrate to our beloved blockchain. But do you want to know the best part? They take ZERO rewards from the people posting with DLive. Just like you were to initiate a post on Steemit itself. For this, they have mad respect, good on ya guys. That's how you do it.
I really don't understand this one. I can see the need for it, and agree with the idea of the app. What I do not agree with is the 25% rape of someone's rewards. And for an app that is the same exact thing as Soundcloud - minus the membership and sponsors. I can't justify using it unless they're going to upvote my post $10 when I make a post on there so they can have their just desserts. From what I've heard, it doesn't work as well as Soundcloud either. But, feel free to try it out. It's there. They drop the retarded overhead fee and speed up the file retrieval, I'd be all over it.
A meme site? Really? This one here just boggles my mind. Apparently, it is designed to take the place of 9gag, which, I never even used or visited that site until I read about Dmania. So I gave it a test run. For some reason, I was under the impression I could actually create a meme on there. No such luck. You have to actually create it first, and then upload whatever you created. I can do that on Steemit. I really have no idea why this app exists. Add that to taking 15% and again, not a fan. I can see the need for a meme specific niche to be filled, just as Steepshot takes over Instagram and Zappl trumps Twitter. But, for me, no - not yet guys.
I was real excited for this one to come out. A video platform to rival YouTube. But it didn't. I went back and forth with 
trying to get this thing to work and never could. So I gave up on it. After 6 months, people still have to wait in line to upload videos and the videos themselves, often take ages just to load. Add that to STILL taking 25% of people's rewards after having over 2 million - yes TWO MILLION - SP delegated to them, and I really have to question the motivation behind this. Far as I can tell, it's all hype and another one of those designed more for the creator to rape people of their rewards. You can't even embed videos from here. I find it is, in its current form, useless. But that's me. You might like it.
trying to get this thing to work and never could. So I gave up on it. After 6 months, people still have to wait in line to upload videos and the videos themselves, often take ages just to load. Add that to STILL taking 25% of people's rewards after having over 2 million - yes TWO MILLION - SP delegated to them, and I really have to question the motivation behind this. Far as I can tell, it's all hype and another one of those designed more for the creator to rape people of their rewards. You can't even embed videos from here. I find it is, in its current form, useless. But that's me. You might like it.App Conclusion
When it comes right down to it, you have to try them all for yourself and see if they suit you. I love the ones that aren't trying to scrape even more for their effort off of people. I look at those that do almost as a private racket designed specifically to capitalize on people's naive desire to have more expansion from the Steem blockchain. Some crappy built app that has no real value. But then again, who am I or what do I really know? Very good question my peoples.
Chiming In
There are a few issues out here in the Steemit waters that affect some, if not all of us. I would like to touch on those publicly so people know exactly where I stand. I'll try not to get too long-winded and bore you.
'Flag Burning'
This is taken from 
As it stands, currently if a user is abusing the system and draining the reward pool, there is very little incentive for a large SP holder to step in to flag/downvote the posts. The reason for this is because it is FAR more profitable for the whales to just ignore it and self vote themselves.
However, this logic eventually falls when STEEM can not support the increased selling pressure for network abusers. If the flagged rewards were burned to null instead, every single user would benefit as the available STEEM supply would not be increased. Due to the nature of supply and demand, this would lead to a much high STEEM price over the long term.
Now when I first read this, I don't think I understood it completely and was against it. But the more I reread it, the more I think I agree. The only problem I can see stemming from it is people perhaps getting 'trigger happy' and destroying people's posts out of spite using the 'no harm no foul' attitude applied to the STEEM creation and redistribution itself, or, lack thereof if this was instituted.
SBD Pegging
This comment is from 
Having the SBD price high is a huge benefit for authors, a huge opportunity for visibility on exchanges, and consistently puts buying pressure on Steem which is very good for all of us. We might be unwise to try and force the price down because "we think it should be lower" while most of our community is very excited to be where it is. After reading this post I am going to ask both witnesses biasing feeds to remove the bias.
I don't often agree with , but I'm actually starting to like the way he thinks. Here is what I think. If they wanted it (SBD) to really be worth only a United States dollar's worth of STEEM, they should have kept it as an internal exchange token and never released it to be publicly traded. It is the STEEM Backed Dollar, and people believe in it. The Canadian dollar isn't worth one U.S. dollar. The Australian dollar isn't worth the same as an American dollar. Euro, Yen, you name it. We have our own ecosystem here people, and trying to pin it to the U.S. failing economy seems like an insult to the the entire community. If it was called The US Backed Steem Dollar, then maybe, but it's not. By 'pegging' SBD to the U.S. dollar, I feel it would also devalue STEEM itself.
, but I'm actually starting to like the way he thinks. Here is what I think. If they wanted it (SBD) to really be worth only a United States dollar's worth of STEEM, they should have kept it as an internal exchange token and never released it to be publicly traded. It is the STEEM Backed Dollar, and people believe in it. The Canadian dollar isn't worth one U.S. dollar. The Australian dollar isn't worth the same as an American dollar. Euro, Yen, you name it. We have our own ecosystem here people, and trying to pin it to the U.S. failing economy seems like an insult to the the entire community. If it was called The US Backed Steem Dollar, then maybe, but it's not. By 'pegging' SBD to the U.S. dollar, I feel it would also devalue STEEM itself.Supported Initiatives
In this part of my 'update' I would like to go over and mention the groups and initiatives I feel strongly about and personally support fully the best I can. There are people out here doing some amazing things with the STEEM blockchain and helping to give it a real good name. I feel all the ones I've listed, be they simply groups or full-blown foundations, are pivotal players in the retention rate of Steempeeps out here.
One of #thealliance witnesses, 
, has employed Steemit and the STEEM blockchain in a most commendable way. It's with a community he heads up called 
. You Are H.O.P.E. (Help-Opportunity-Purpose-Empowerment) is a charitable organization using the speed and scalability of what this platform can become. They are very transparent in their actions. They have aided the disaster area of Puerto Rico with the help of fellow ally, 
. Down in Venezuela, 
& 
has been feeding and providing medicine to those less fortunate including hospital residents and orphanages. is doing work in Nigeria as well, with food, clothing, shoes, and just spreading the good Steemit word with the help of great Steempeeps like 
and 
. And, himself, just took flight this evening on a multi-national tour to promote the cause and meet with Steempeeps across the world.
, has employed Steemit and the STEEM blockchain in a most commendable way. It's with a community he heads up called . You Are H.O.P.E. (Help-Opportunity-Purpose-Empowerment) is a charitable organization using the speed and scalability of what this platform can become. They are very transparent in their actions. They have aided the disaster area of Puerto Rico with the help of fellow ally, . Down in Venezuela, & has been feeding and providing medicine to those less fortunate including hospital residents and orphanages. is doing work in Nigeria as well, with food, clothing, shoes, and just spreading the good Steemit word with the help of great Steempeeps like and . And, himself, just took flight this evening on a multi-national tour to promote the cause and meet with Steempeeps across the world.
The Steem Poker League. Pretty sure this is self-explanatory, but this is a group of people that have actually built a website called Lucksacks where people are rewarded in SBD. I really love this site as it is going to bring more people to the Steem blockchain and Steemit itself. They have several various ring games and different styles of tournaments with at least one freeroll going each day. The two biggest are on Wednesdays and Sundays. They also have a huge $100 SBD tournament sponsored by 
and 
coming up to embrace the ladies out here that love poker and a series honoring International Women's Day with training games sponsored by 
. Go over there and get your game on!
and coming up to embrace the ladies out here that love poker and a series honoring International Women's Day with training games sponsored by . Go over there and get your game on!
This is a curative initiative started by 
to focus on the 'Ladies of Steemit'. I feel this is an integral cog for the future of Steemit. Take a look at that introduction post up there and see what they're all about for yourself. If you take a look at the top SP holders and witnesses, it is very predominantly male. I think highlighting the women on the platform and giving them a 'voice', will do wonders for the retention rate and expansion of cryptocurrency and Steemit. I've reached out to several 'voices' here already like 
and 
(The Pirate Queen) who are all about it and ready to help however they can too. As it stands, I can say I am their first witness representative and am hoping 
will endorse them as well. I don't know 
personally, so have not approached her, but maybe she will see this or someone can bring it to her attention.
to focus on the 'Ladies of Steemit'. I feel this is an integral cog for the future of Steemit. Take a look at that introduction post up there and see what they're all about for yourself. If you take a look at the top SP holders and witnesses, it is very predominantly male. I think highlighting the women on the platform and giving them a 'voice', will do wonders for the retention rate and expansion of cryptocurrency and Steemit. I've reached out to several 'voices' here already like and (The Pirate Queen) who are all about it and ready to help however they can too. As it stands, I can say I am their first witness representative and am hoping will endorse them as well. I don't know personally, so have not approached her, but maybe she will see this or someone can bring it to her attention.#steemusa
There are several country specific groups across steemit and since I am an American, I tout the #steemusa tag. I've been considering delegating to the cause to help out and become a witness to represent them. 
is already doing a fine job over there. But I know all the people in there for the most part, namely 
and 
that keep things running pretty smoothly. Anyone out there in these 'free' states of America that want to expand their network, seek them out.
is already doing a fine job over there. But I know all the people in there for the most part, namely and that keep things running pretty smoothly. Anyone out there in these 'free' states of America that want to expand their network, seek them out.#steemsilvergold
Oooh shiny. I'll admit, I caught the 'stackitus' and now am a full-fledged member of this group. I have to say, they have one of the highest levels of participation amongst its members and integrity to boot. If you like shiny things like silver or gold, this is the place for you. I first became aware of them when I bought my first addition to my slowly growing collection, the 2017 Steem Silver Round. I'm pretty excited for the 2018 to come out and getting to know everybody over there.
The Steem Engine - I was cued into this particular curation group by one of our allies,  . Him and his wife,  do a lot of work over here finding good posts for  to push out to the public. CHOO CHOO! | The Writer's Block - For those that are looking to hone their craft in any kind of writing genre, from poetry to novel fiction, this is the place for you. Curator and witness  does a great job over there assisting new and refining established writers. | The Steemit Ramble - I said the Steemit Ramble because it was the first curative effort by our beloved  . Since I've known her, Pimp Your Post Thursdays has come about and evolved into it's own show now featured on  . |
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There You Have It
Agree to disagree, call it how YOU see it. That's what I do. I be me. All I really ask anyone else do is be YOU. Much love to my allied fam out there. STEEM ON!
Check out this badass gif 
made me
made me