Kyle's review on the new Color app

“Color Labs in California recently released a Smartphone app that will work with both iPhone and Android phones. With the goal to change the face of social networking, Color has a lot on its plate however it has also had an incredible amount of investments put towards it. With a reported $41 million start up cost and the extra measure of covering all the windows, Color has already established that it means business. So what exactly will this breakthrough app do for consumers and businesses?

Color uses the phones built in GPS to share pictures and videos you take with anyone within 150 feet of you who has the color app as well. According to color labs, the idea behind the app is that it is public and everything will be shared which has many consumers including myself hesitant. Additionally there are few (if any) security features allowing room for potential blackmail, increase in sexting rates, theft, and many other complications. Color also declared that when a picture is added to color’s network it will not leave and becomes the property of color labs. This alone has deterred many users as it has not yet been disclosed why color would need to own the pictures.

Besides Color’s issues it will have an incredible impact on news and historical records. Most likely the reason the photos are saved by Color Labs is to have the pictures for historical information as each photo taken will record the location and time the photo was taken. With thousands if not millions of people use the app everyday as “Color” has predicted, we will also see a rise in citizen based news reporting.

The app also gives businesses the opportunity to display photos of products or sales in order to catch the attention of a nearby shopper. The 150 foot radius allows for the business to attract people who are close to their store which will be a compelling form of advertising. Facebook and other social media websites have allowed for mobile devices to receive advertisements previously but never so accurately and to a target precise audience. 

As a final note about “Color”, founder of Color Labs, Bill Nguyen claims “[he] wants people to begin the debate, do [you] want to live in an open world? Color makes life more like a small town where you share things with your neighbours.” ”

-Kyle, BrandHealth high school intern

My two cents...

Great review Kyle! And, thank you for bringing this app to my attention. The lack of privacy and control for the user is a little creepy and every review I have read completely trashes this app!! Needless to say I had to check it out. I downloaded Color. I signed up as my cat Kurt and took a picture of my cat to share... Sadly, no one else was available to share photos. So, much for being social. Hmmm, this could be a problem.

I looked into the technology of this app and it’s pretty amazing. Where all the social media tools are using GPS location to determine where you are in comparison to others. This app goes even further using your phone’s microphone to match the sounds around you with the sounds around other people. It is also able to analyze objects and lighting within the photos you upload to determine who is located near you. This is stuff from a sci-fi movie... Or CSI. You’ve gotta admit that’s pretty cool technology.

Color may also be the first social app that never requires you to name your friends, list your contacts or follow someone. Instead, it watches your interactions and builds your so-called elastic network of friends based on your real relationships. The result: no more fake digital friendships.

So, let’s give this app a break and fast forward to 5 years from now. To a visual person like myself who likes to post visual diaries on Facebook, I think this app has huge ‘ruling the social media world’ potential. The question is... How do you get everyone to use it??  
Double tap, kill application... Ummm, maybe not quite yet.