1ramp vs Partiko (Clash of Steem dApps)

There is an increasing number of Steem dApps, with their functions exceeding routine activities - blogging, interacting and upvoting. In addition, there are games, bots, explorers, wiki platforms, e-commerce platforms, streaming platforms and much more. A healthy competition amongst Steem dApps is good for the blockchain.

Today, we'll be discussing two mobile applications that is used to access the Steem blockchain - 1ramp and Partiko. I'll be considering their strengths and flaws.

Repository

https://github.com/hapramp/1Rramp-Android

What is the purpose of both apps?

Although both apps are used to access the Steem blockchain, they bring certain features that interests their users.

1ramp (previously HapRamp) is a social media platform where creatives come together, join different communities and share their various works. While Partiko is a social media platform where content creators get rewarded for their activities.

They are both smart phone applications. Currently, 1ramp is available on Google Play Store (for Android users) only, whereas Partiko is available on both Apple Store (for iOS users) and on Google Play Store. For the purpose of this comparison, the latest versions of both Apps as found on Google play store will be used - 1ramp app v0.0.19, while Partiko app v1.1.0.1.

_{• Screenshot of 1ramp on Google play store}

As notified by Google Play Store, 1ramp is still Unreleased - in a testing phase. Partiko android app was in its testing phase about 6 months ago. 1ramp is an open source project, while Partiko isn't.

Let's go further with some more comparisons. Both platforms have a few idiosyncracies. I guess we'll have to start with that.

_{• Screenshots showing 1ramp's Communities and Partiko's point system}

Unique Features

1ramp has a community and post rating features, which are exclusive to 1ramp. 1ramp's communities consists of 8 communities (Art, Dance, Travel, Literature, Film, Photography, Fashion and Design).

The post rating on 1ramp is based on a 5-star rating. Where the least rating (1-star rating) is equivalent to a 20% upvote on Partiko and the max rating (5-star rating) is equivalent to a 100% upvote. I wrote extensively on these features here - Reviewing 1ramp's Unique Features.

Partiko's exclusive feature is the point system. The points are attained by posting, commenting, upvoting and signing in daily. There are certain points assigned to each action. Posting - 30 points, Checking in - 10 points, Comment - 10 points and upvote - 5 points.

These mesmerising features make me recommend both to friends.

_{• Screenshots of my profile on 1ramp and on Partiko}

User Profile

User profiles on both platforms do not display a complete Steem profile. Clicking on the "following" button on 1ramp opens "followers", probably a navigation bug. The navigation works well on Partiko, but user profiles are less complete when compared to 1ramp. Partiko's profile does not display bio (which is referred to as About on Steemit).

A bio shows how a person can describe himself (or herself) in few characters. It also creates the opportunity for users to show their creativity. I once read a person's bio on Twitter and I didn't have an option but to click the follow button. I felt enchanted by the person's bio.

A profile cannot be edited on Partiko, there's no edit button. That's a challenge. A profile contains a picture, banner, name, about, location and website. All these cannot be edited on Partiko. And Partiko only displays profile picture and name.

Whereas on 1ramp, it is possible to edit my profile. Clicking the edit button gives me the opportunity to edit my profile picture, banner, name, about, location and website. But 1ramp only displays profile picture, banner, name and about, doesn't display location and website. It feels strange being able to edit what actually doesn't display on 1ramp.

_{• Screenshots showing Resource Credits on 1ramp and Partiko}

Voting Power/Resource Credits

1ramp has a tab on a user's profile that displays a person's voting power and resource credits (available for comments, votes and transfers). That tab doesn't work well for me yet, perhaps still in development.

While Partiko displays resource credits (total bandwidth, available bandwidth, time required to recover, number of comment left, number of votes left) wherever you click on a user's profile photo. It doesn't display a person's voting power.

Voting power or mana is as important as resource credits. Both apps really need to work on showing a person's voting mana and resource credit.

Comments

You can make comments on both platform, but there is no where to access all your comments. It would be nice to have a place for all of one's comments for easier navigation. Preferably in a user's profile. Currently, the only way to see a comment on both apps is on the notification history. That is if it is either upvoted or replied. If it isn't upvoted or replied, you have to search for the post. That is tad difficult.

_{• Screenshots showing my wallet on 1ramp}

Wallet

1ramp has well organised wallet showing Steem, Steem dollar, Steem power, Savings and Estimated account value. The wallet also includes addons. You can even delegate steem power right from the wallet tab. It also has widgets showing the current price, 24 hours volume and market cap of Steem and Steem dollars.

Partiko has no wallet (only has a tab under notifications that shows transactions). Although it shows the amount of Steem and Steem dollars an account has, transfers cannot be carried out.

Notifications

This is a feature I am really interested in when it involves Steem dApps, since Steemit doesn't send mobile notifications. Both platforms have a notification feature, they also have a tab for notification history.

1ramp refers to both posts and comments as posts, when it sends notifications. Meanwhile, Partiko refers to them differently. The challenge with calling posts comments is that it causes confusion. When I receive a notification that someone had upvoted (or replied) my post, only to find out that it was just a comment that was replied or upvoted. I feel dissatisfied.

Also, 1ramp calls it vote notifications which I feel it shouldn't. Since posts can only be rated, it would be better if notifications were sent like this; "jaff8 rated your post" instead of "jaff8 voted your post".

Profiles on 1ramp's notification history are not clickable, clicking on them leads to the posts or comments. In Partiko, when you click on a profile on the notification history, it opens the user profile. While clicking on any other area opens the post or comment.

It would ease navigation on 1ramp, if I could easily view a person's profile from my notification history.

_{• Screenshot of my feeds from 1ramp and Partiko}

Feeds

My feeds are usually empty on 1ramp, despite I'm following a few 1ramp users. I thought maybe it was because none of my following had 1ramp installed. I followed some 1ramp users, still it's empty.

While on Partiko, you can see the post of everyone you are following in your feeds. Whether they've installed Partiko or not.

If there is a limitation placed on 1ramp's feeds, it is too early. For an app still working on users acquisition, the feeds should be available for everyone.

_{• Screenshots of text editor on 1ramp and Partiko}

Text editor

They both have text editors. 1ramp has two modes on its text editor - blog or short post, while Patiko has a simple text editor. 1ramp's text editor assists with markdown and html codes, with a the codebar at bottom, while Partiko's text editor is simply plain.

Personally, I'll prefer 1ramp's text editor. It is faster for me, since I wouldn't have to input basic html and markdown codes. Who loves stress? :)

Drafts

Exiting the text editor on 1ramp deletes your text. A warning pops up, "Discard? You cannot recover discarded blogs." The situation is different on Partiko. Once you exit the text editor, it saves your writeup as a draft. Whenever you open the text editor another time, you can continue from where you stopped.

A draft feature is important for me. I write as the spirit leads. I could get tired and decide to exit and continue my writeup some other time. It is for this reason, I would prefer Partiko's editor. Since Partiko's editor doesn't have a code bar, I'd rather use one with a code bar.

Search

They both have a search button that crawls through the informations on the blockchain. 1ramp's search is faster and shows username suggestions while still typing... Partiko's search, although not as fast as 1ramp's, displays usernames and top posts containing the usernames.

Post Sharing

Sharing posts to other social media is an excellent way to let users advertise your app. 1ramp allows post sharing. Posts shared on 1ramp displays the title, brief introduction to the article and a link, which leads to alpha.hapramp.com (the web-app which is going to be released soon :D) On Partiko, it is quite different. Posts shared to other social media only displays a link to steemit.com. No title, no description.

It would be better if Partiko had it's own domain, which shared articles are linked to. It's only then a download button may appear to encourage a visitor to download the app and join the network. And that will be a good form of advertisement.

Logo

1ramp's logo really caught my attention. At first glance, it looks like a H (modified M) which I thought is probably gotten from HapRamp, the previous name. But after carefully looking at it, it looks more like two users exchanging pleasantries (shaking hands). With the dots on the logo symbolising the heads. 1ramp's logo drives home it's community feature (unity).

Partiko's logo on the other hand, is a well designed logo of letter P. Partiko is the transformation of the word Particle, it symbolises "Paid by writing article". Paid + ARTICLE = PARTICLE = PARTIKO.

Team

1ramp team is made up of six individuals, the-dragon - full stack engineer, singhpratyush - blockchain engineer, vikonomics - lead strategist, ansarimofid - UI designer, bxute - lead android developer and rajatdangi - brand strategist.

While Partiko team is made up of three individuals, crypto.talk - designer and android developer, aiyuqingshujun - back-end engineer and server architect, and laoda - full stack engineer and blockchain enthusiast.

I like both teams, they seem to have most of the talents they need. It could also be observed that 1ramp's team is twice that of Partiko. That would make division of labour easier.

Suggestions

I would love to see new features on these apps that have the abilities of ginabot. Not everyone likes to receive notifications from a discord bot. It would be nice being able to turn on post notifications for a specific user or specific tag (or community on 1ramp). Once they post, you receive a push notification. And when new posts are on the tag or community, you are also notified.

Also for 1ramp, NSFW filter could be added. It's already available on Partiko. Another feature to consider is Night mode, it would definitely enhance user experience on both apps.

Conclusion

1ramp rewards creativity, on the other hand Partiko rewards activities. It all depends on what you want from a social network. They are both amongst the best mobile apps currently used to access the blockchain. I would really love to see both become really popular amongst Steem enthusiasts.

I'd love to know what you think. Good day.

Official links

• 1ramp on Playstore
• Partiko on Playstore

Other interesting writeups: Interview with Partiko Developer - SteemMaker.com
1Ramp Android Updates - The App Got a New Look, try it out! by @bxute

Series Backlinks

• Reviewing 1ramp's Unique Features

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