What's the value of holding a phone to your chest while it records short movie clips (probably in a very weird angle) and sharing them for random people to watch?

Well, maybe I'm getting to old for this shit.

Although I have a lot of respect to Casey and his other work, I have a hard time seeing this gaining much momentum beyond it's launch. The problem I see is that the vast majority of peoples' lives are ultimately boring. Even more so when they are unable to edit, curate, or describe what they are sharing. It's going to end up with people holding down their finger to view something with zero context and more often than not it will be a boring 8 seconds of someone looking at their feet. After the 15th time of that, I think people will get over it and move on. There is nothing less interesting than seeing "authenticity" at its dullest.

On top of that, there is something unsettling to not being able to see what you actually just recorded (even after you upload). Did it actually work? Was I covering the lens with my finger? Was it cropped correctly? Did I have my microphone off? Did it pick up on the racial slur my friend just shouted out because he knew I was recording? You have no idea, and will users be comfortable with that?

I still will give it a few sessions and see what becomes of it, but after first impressions, I see it staying small.

I love everything about this.

Kudos for exploring something new. The interaction is fantastic, and the quick-post-without-being-able-to-edit-it is a great idea.

Yet as a product, it's a nice-to-have feature. It's something that could be added to any other camera app, and doesn't provide any more authenticity than you think. It's similar in 'need' to Tiiny (http://www.tiiny.com/) - something 'cool' that doesn't really solve any problem. Please note, I understand the mission, I just don't think it has longevity as a business (or even a large community).

Taking a quick video/photo of an area/item in front of you (that you may/may not have created) is not really authentic. If I travel to expensive places and take videos of all the amazing things, I can still be dirt poor and showing a lifestyle that I don't really have. Authenticity is as hard to capture as 'perfect' or 'happiness' - it's all perception. And as someone else mentioned, the authenticity that we know of, is rather slow/boring.

I'm not here to s*** on the idea - I like the idea as a fun thing, but as a business I don't see it going far. Will it have a huge growth period? Possibly. Will it be big? Possibly. Will it fade away as quickly as it was created? My guess is yes. Just sharing my honest reactions (this is not fact by any means!).

EDIT: If I'm proven wrong then I'll own it. :)

I absolutely don't see the point in this app beyond it contributing to digital landfill. At least when people are taking a minute to compose something and whack a filter on it, it's slightly considered.

The selling point of this seems to be that it's not considered and is a meaningless random 4 seconds of potentially poorly recorded media added to the digital landscape.

I'm sure it'll do well, the hype seems there but I suspect I'm like a few others when I don't get it because I'm probably too old for this shit too :D

I love the new idea of interaction. Finally something new!

Love the concept. I find the use of the iPhone proximity sensor a rather unique solution to the problem that this app solves.

Wow, reading all the comments was actually the biggest waste of time, minus a few well thought out commentaries. Making people use a code to get access to something is, in my opinion, ridiculous.

Every second post...

Has anyone got a code?

Send me a message if you have a code for me!

Ugh, it's turning this once awesome forum into a waste of time.

Authenticity.

Flimsy business thesis based on a bad cliche.

A lack of filters, etc., does not make the content or subject "more authentic".

It's more aesthetic.

The mere knowledge and presence of a camera, the expressed intention of recording oneself, changes the behavior of the subject to less "authentic" behavior.

Cameras influence people's behavior.

This is a real CODE, enjoy!

http://beme.codes/3UIEX-XB8OW-4JOF6-B4O6S

Anyone feel like inviting me?

EDIT: Got in, let me know if you need a code. Much easier to just do it through twitter's DM. I have my DM set to "Anyone can message me" so no need to follow just to ask for one :)

EDIT EDIT: Sorry, i got slammed, and they cut you off apparently. But if you search twitter, people are posting unlock codes about every 20 secs.

I'm all-in on making fine-tuned edits (especially with photos in VSCO), but the one-off authentic output from this is interesting. Plus, I agree, using the proximity sensor so you're literally not looking through the screen is really unique. It'll be interesting to see if this has legs.

Anyone have a code?

For those interested, there is a topic studied by social psychologists and HCI folks called impression management that covers a lot of the concepts behind this app.

Anyone got a spare code?

Interesting interaction of using the proximity sensor as shutter button, but as he shows in the video you can just have your finger on the sensor and use it that way; no need to put it on your chest or against the wall. Doesn't that defeat it's purpose? You could just have a shutter button and no preview. It could get interesting if you actually needed the heartbeat to make a recording and have the heartbeat indicate the level of excitement about whatever it is you're recording. He also mentions that they wanted to take the posing out of selfies, but then the app does give you a preview in the 'comment mode'.

I agree with the majority of the comments here. I personally think they need to explore beyond the functionality and sensors of a mobile phone to create the digital authenticity they are aiming at. Also a bit disappointing is that they only support IOS 8.0+. Good start though!

Anyone has a code for me? This would be wonderful. DM me @phe.

I'm getting really frustrated as I keep reading reports of the beme app yet have not gained access myself to test it out. I understand the idea of authenticity, great. Be nice to test it out

If anyone manages to grab the access code please message me.

This looks intriguing. Hopefully it catches on. Don't want to see this end up like periscope.

Anyone have a spare code perchance?

Very cool. I personally don't like filming myself or even sharing selfies on social media but this app will be huge. Neistat's app is going to be studied by everyone in marketing for years if Beme hits it big with the tween market.

Love the idea, but all invites posted are gone. Where should I keep an eye out for one?

anyone have an invite code handy? would love to share some chestsnaps...

Would really love to see this replace Snapchat.