Clubhouse is back

Happy Friday, Makers. What’s better than new tech? Nostalgic tech. Check out this USB hub inspired by a retro Macintosh. It even has a usable screen.

Take a quick trip with us back to 2020 (ugh, we know). The pandemic was raging, countries were on lockdown, and the banana bread was starting to pile up. In the midst of all that chaos, Clubhouse launched. 

The audio-based social app gained near overnight success for hosting podcast-style conversations revolving around topics like networking, career development, startups, and more. 

The hype didn’t last forever, though, and founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth made the decision to reduce their team by around 50% in order to set out on a new direction.

"To find its role in the world, the product needs to evolve. This requires a period of change."

Well, it seems the team have arrived at their destination. The New Clubhouse is more like a messaging app. The flagship feature, “Chats,” brings a level of intimacy to Clubhouse it didn’t have before, with audio-first rooms built for users and their friends. 

Live shows, the function that brought Clubhouse its audience, are set to remain, but it looks as if the team and the algorithm will prioritize friend groups over communities in the long run. 

Announcing the update, the team insists the new app is "designed to let you talk with your favorite people more easily every time you open the app.”

Can Clubhouse recapture the magic it once had, or was it a fleeting moment driven in part by global circumstances? That remains to be seen. 

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