Chillin

Seeing the people you’re close to usually means picking a time, getting on a call, and hanging up. I wanted something closer to being in the same house: you’re around, and people can come by.

In Chillin you start a hangout and pick how long you’re around. Your friends see it when they open the app and can jump in. Anyone else can join from a link you send, without an account or a download. When the time runs out, the room closes.

Everyone shows up as a circle in a color they choose, with their initials, a face they draw or paint, or a photo. Calls start with the camera off. When cameras are on, one to three friends show as big pictures and larger groups sit around a table. There’s a bell anyone in the room can ring.

Earlier versions used cartoon creatures to stand in for people. Those are gone, and the app now shows the people themselves.

It’s invite-only and meant for family and close friends. It started from the call code in Carbide Spaces and now runs as its own app.