Piictu

Popular streams are Piictu’s daily Academy Awards. They elevate a set of photos to the highest pantheon of praise, making them champion examples of photo interactivity. 

But with hundreds of streams started everyday, how do you make a stream that stands out? In an effort to de-mystify Piictu popular, we’ve reached out to some of our more successful users and learned some pointers on creating stunning Piictu streams. 

» Jumping from sh0e_wh0re

Piictu all-star sh0e_wh0re has had several popular streams on Piictu including “jumping” and “how are u spending ur day.” She tells us “the best streams are the simple ones. The ones anyone can relate to and that it’s not gonna take us out of our way to contribute too as we all lead fairly busy lives.”

» half your face from TylerDiane

TylerDiane is another popular stream fiend whose “Half your face” and “stalker that I <3” streams were some of Piictu’s users favorites. She suggests that users” try to do something creative and not used yet.” “You need to know what the community likes” she continues, adding that streams where “you can take a picture with your friends, self, boyfriend/girlfriend, mom etc” are easy to engage and can spawn many piics from the same user. 

» something sweet from justnaelin

The only advice Piictu HQ would add is to make sure you put more than one image in a stream. Posting three or four really gives people an idea of what you’re hoping to see. Then remember to revisit the stream and like others’ additions. Everyone likes a little love, and with some luck, your lovely stream will be Popular before you know it. 

How well do you know your lyrics? Could you recognize a tune by the words alone? More importantly, could you continue the song?

Let’s try an experiment: I write the opening words of a well-known punk song but do not name it. I give two lines and ask for handwritten responses only because handwriting contains such personality. Let’s say I start a Piictu stream just after lunch. What are the chances that someone out there will know the words? What are the chances they’ll write back?

Very High. In just a few hours, 19 other Piictu users scribbled lines of the All-American Rejects song on post-it notes and boxes and notebook pages. Each was in perfect sequence continuing the poetry of Rejects’ singer Tyson Ritter. It was music to our ears! You might not have heard the music, but you could see all the words.  

from Hunneybunney

from ileanaa 

from Atrawick 

What songs do you know all the words to? What tunes do you sing in the shower? Start up a lyrics streams and challenge Piictu. You might be surprised by how many users can help carry the tune. 

After a busy summer, Piictu is finally out of beta! To celebrate the occasion, we’re thrilled to announce the release of a big app update. We’ve been listening to user feedback, testing out some new ideas, and integrating keys functions that will make Piictu more fun and easy to use. 
 
So, What’s New?

• Search for users, streams, and piics

• Five tab navigation bar

• New following tab, showing the piics of people you follow

• Share piics & streams instantly to facebook and twitter

• Optimized friend finder gets you connected to people you know

• Fast notifications let you know right when things happen (you can choose which notifications to receive by logging in)

 Download the update from the App Store now

Enjoy fellow Piictuers! :)
let us know what you think. 

When you’re hungry, it’s best to avoid the delicious images of cakes, sushi, burgers, cookies and hot pizzas that fill Piictu streams like “Food Pornography” and “always room for dessert.” They’ll get your mouth watering and then leave you unsatisfied. Especially as much of the most amazing looking Piictu food is home-made from secret recipes that are never shared along with the scrumptious piics. 

Until now.
 
Last week, I saw these apricot and raspberry cookies from Team Piictu member katiedreed and knew I had to get the recipe. So I reached out with “hello!” “how you doing?” and “how do you make these beautiful cookies?” Katie generously responded with no but two delicious recipes. Go preheat the oven, it’s time to bake magic.   

Thanks Katie … I’ll pass along the recipe to my nutritionist over our next stern conversation. 

Homemade apricot and raspberry thumbprint cookies from katiedreed 

Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients for the cookies:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam (I did half raspberry and half apricot)

Ingredients for the glaze:

• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.
3. Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. 
4. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.

Homemade oreos from katiedreed

Homemade Oreos

Ingredients for the chocolate cookies:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 1/4 cups sugar 
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter 
• 1 large egg

Ingredients for the filling:

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter 
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening 
• 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F. 
2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.
4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.
5. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in milk. 

P.S. The Piictu staff is not responsible for rapid and uncontrolled cookie consumption. Take it up with this guy. 

Flatiron NYC from VictoriaBarry

A Photo from jbeatty28

Last weekend, while Hurricane Irene pounded the East Coast of the United States, inventive housebound Piictu users shared their storm experiences in real-time through a Piictu “Hurricane Irene” stream.

The conversation began with images of preparations. Businesses prepared their properties for the elements. Liquor vendors pitched wine as emergency supplies. Supermarket shelves were cleared out. Owners warned that they would not be open over the weekend.

Hurricane Panic from Colleen_Brogan

Then the first drops fell. If you were following the stream in real-time, you could use Piictu alone to track the progress of the storm. As users sent well-wishes to all those under the clouds, photos came in of intense lightning strikes, beach erosion, and downed trees.

Some of the Hurricane damage was beyond belief.

Might be awhile for power… from frankma4

In just over 2 days, 100 Piictu users shared 139 images of the way Irene affected their lives. It was awesome to follow. People were pretty adventurous, stepping out into the carnage to share wild images. But of course, it was just one stream among many. The Silly Dogs stream, for instance, offered a welcome escape from grim flooding and blown-out power lines.