Mobile Ecologies

In this research space, I will be reflecting and profiling trends in mobile computing. This will be focused on trends and specific apps. It will not be a formal set of criticism, but a working notebook on this highly fluid and emergent media space.

Instagram
Definitive photo-sharing application. Launched in Fall of 2010. Profiled in depth by my 2011 dissertation On Instagram. Noted for use of filters, simple social networking, and inspired community growth. Hailed as App of the Year in 2011 by Apple

Path
Originally a small, intimate photosharing application, Path relaunched in December 2011 as a mobile facebook competitor with less emphasis on the niche friend model but still theoretically limited.

Path 2.0's design has proved so slick that many believe it has completely raised the bar of expectation for mobile applications.

It feature's several unique/gamechanging elements:


 * 1) Integrated Content - Music mentions become playable samples with links to iTunes purchase
 * 2) Incredible Design - Sharing buttons are hidden with a single (+) cleaning up interface. Consumption happens with a single scrolling window. Timeline path details (such as changing analog clock) add narrative dimension to the consumption experience.
 * 3) Social Media Assimilation - Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare sharing. All because this app wants to replace them as a single social media dissemination dashboard.

Stamped
Reviewing application designed to make networks like Yelp social. Armed with dead-simple design that gets out of your way while still offering some personality (through customized "stamp" aesthetics), Stamped could beat other review spaces by leveraging the trust inherent to pre-existing social networks.

Among it's advantages are open ability to review anything imaginable (though emphasis seems to be on restaurants, books, movies, and music) and systems of "crediting" people who showed you a product/service. This reward comes out as additional stamps to give. The default amount of stamps is 100 - which seems to be too many.

Very friendly app. Made in New York. Close to Union Square. Backed partly by $ from Kevin Systrom of Instagram.