u/Extra-Act1809

What's up guys,

I've been working on a social widget app for couples (think Locket, but instead of photos, you send live doodles and hand-written whispers to your partner's home screen).

Since it's a 2-player app, it has a built-in viral loop, but getting the initial cold-start traction is tough. I decided to lean into the Gen-Z "I hate texting / texting is toxic" trend for marketing.

I created this 9:16 video starting with high-anxiety tech/texting drama (API rate limits, arguing paragraphs) and transitioning into the wholesome drawing mechanic. The slogan is basically: Texts are for fighting. Claim their home screen instead.

I'm planning to push this on TikTok and Twitter. As people interested in viral mechanics, what do you think of this angle? Is the contrast too harsh, or just right for catching attention?

If you want to check out the actual app flow, here is the link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/embers-love-on-widget/id6763339742?l=en-GB

Would appreciate any brutal roasts on the marketing video or the app itself!

Hey r/sideprojects,

My girlfriend and I are currently doing long distance, and dealing with different time zones hasn’t been easy. We wanted a small way to leave each other little notes to wake up to.

We tried a few apps that already existed, but most felt overloaded with features, filled with ads, or locked basic stuff behind subscriptions.

Since I do some coding, I ended up building a lightweight iOS app for us instead, centered around home screen widgets.

The idea is pretty straightforward:

• draw a quick doodle or write a short message
• it instantly syncs to your partner’s home screen widget
• no push notifications, no pressure, just a small surprise waiting when they unlock their phone

Honestly, it made long distance feel a little softer for us, so I decided to clean it up and share it in case other couples (or even close friends) might enjoy it too.

App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/embers-love-on-widget/id6763339742?l=en-GB

Search:
Embers - love on widget

Would genuinely love any feedback on the UI, experience, or ideas for features. Curious to hear what people think :)

LDR suffers~

Hey guys, long-time lurker here!

The time zone difference was making it hard to feel connected when one of us was asleep. We tried a few apps but they were full of ads or clunky. Since I dabble in coding, I spent the last few weekends making this simple widget for us.

It just lets you draw or write a quick note, and it instantly updates on their home screen. No opening apps, just there when you unlock your phone.

It honestly helped us feel so much closer. Figured I’d share it here in case any other LDR couples might find it useful!

Let me know what you think. ❤️

Hey Reddit, I recently launched an iOS app called Embers, and I’d love to get your feedback.

The idea came from a pretty simple feeling: texting is nice, but sometimes I wanted something smaller, softer, and more personal than another message thread.

So I started building Embers — an app for couples to send little doodles, notes, and photos that show up on each other’s iPhone home screen widgets.

The core loop is simple:

1. Draw something tiny or write a little note

2. Send it to your partner

3. It appears on their home screen widget

It’s meant for small moments, not big announcements. A random doodle during class. A tiny “miss you” note during work. A photo from your week.

Something your partner sees without opening a chat app.

What it does right now:

💌 Doodles: draw something and send it straight to your partner’s home screen

📝 Tiny notes: write little private notes when texting feels like too much

📸 Notes with photos: attach a photo so it feels more personal

🏠 iPhone widgets: your partner can see the latest thing you sent right on their home screen

Who it’s for:

• Couples who like small daily gestures
• Long-distance couples
• People who want something more personal than texting
• iPhone users who actually use home screen widgets

Just to be transparent:

• It’s iOS only for now
• Both people need the app to pair
• It’s still early, so I’m actively looking for feedback
• The public app name is Embers

I’d really appreciate any thoughts on the idea, the App Store page, or what you’d expect from an app like this.

If it sounds interesting, you can try it here:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/embers-love-on-widget/id6763339742?l=en-GB