Rogue iOS developer creates app that simulates messages sent by carrier pigeon; messages only travel at 100mph — LA to NYC correspondence takes 22 hours to deliver; virtual birds can get distracted or even lost
- ID
- 14573
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 16 Aug 2026, 5:30 PM
- Fetched
- 16 Aug 2026, 5:59 PM
- Provider
- Tom's Hardware
- Category
- technology
- Original URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/software/applications/rogue-ios-developer-creates-app-that-simulates-messages-sent-by-carrier-pigeon-messages-only-travel-at-100mph-la-to-nyc-correspondence-takes-22-hours-to-deliver-virtual-birds-can-get-distracted-or-even-lost
- Source URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/feeds/all
Summary
- Score
- 1.5
- Created
- 16 Aug 2026, 6:00 PM
- Tags
- Audience
- vibe_coders
What happened
An iOS developer released an app that simulates carrier pigeon messaging, where virtual messages travel at a capped 100mph speed—meaning an LA-to-NYC message takes roughly 22 hours—and the virtual birds can be distracted or lost en route. The article text itself is almost entirely Tom's Hardware boilerplate with no additional technical detail beyond what the title states.
Why it matters
This is a novelty app with no actionable takeaway for builders; there is no architecture, API, monetization, or platform detail to learn from. Skip it unless you want a brief laugh during the show's lighter segment.
Discussion angle
Brief mention as a fun example of deliberately constraining UX to create a memorable product experience—what happens when you remove instant delivery on purpose.