Just read about this new app that’s out for iOS devices and for Android devices called Color. Color, aims to totally change the way society interacts with each other at social gatherings. Before I talk more about the app I would like to give all of you a caveat - I haven’t tried the app yet and from what I have read about the app you really have to see it in action to fully understand it. Basically the app functions by using all different aspects of your phone to figure out where you are and based on that bring you photos from the people around you (within 100 feet) and share them with you. As well, it shares your photos with those same people. You can make friends with people and have them within your social circle as well making their pictures more of a priority for the app to show you.

What did I mean by the app “using all different aspects of your phone to figure out where you are”? Well, not only does it use GPS to figure out if you are in the same place as your friends but it also uses the phone’s microphone to detect ambient noise and measure it against other people using the app’s ambient noise. It also will access the camera on your phone and check lighting conditions. If the ambient noise and the lighting conditions are the same on both your phones but you both don’t have a GPS lock - or even cell signal! - the app will still assume you’re in the same place and add your pictures to the other’s stream and add you to a group together.

Now, here’s where I see the app being both awesome and having massive issues with it. Awesome first - if I’m at a concert or sporting event or at an event where I want to see what is going on from different vantage points and I hop onto the app I can see a picture someone took of the band on stage or the batter behind the plate from the front row even if I’m in the “nosebleed section” and that is awesome. It is essentially the same thing as going on Twitter and knowing there is a hashtag for an event and searching the hashtag and finding pictures or comments about the event only this sounds easier from a media browsing perspective.

Now let’s get to the massive issues (that I see), day-to-day use of the app - if I am at a pub or restaurant why do I want to see pictures from people at the next table over? OK, fine I’m a guy and there’s a bunch of really cute girls sitting at the next table over so I will grant you there are plenty of guys who would love to creep the group of hotties at the next table’s pictures but why would the cute girls want some random guy creeping their pics? Not only that but let’s say I am at home and my best friend - who I am connected to on Color - is 100 feet away from those cute girls. He can send me a text message telling me to go onto color and check out his profile and see pictures near him. Now I can creep pictures of some random girls 100 miles away from me but 100 feet away from my friend…creepy right? Another issue I see with it is if I am siting at the same table as my friend why do I need to be able to see their pictures on my phone? Why can’t I just ask them to show me the picture they just took on their phone? Am I not going to notice my friend holding up her phone and taking a picture of me? MAYBE it could happen if its a bright, sunny day and we have a radio blaring so there’s no flash and I don’t hear the “shutter noise” but even still, she’s holding up her phone and taking a picture! It’s hard to miss!

Like Jason Kincaid said in the TechCrunch article - we REALLY need to see this app used in the wild before we pass judgement on it. Only time will tell if this is the next game changer for social interaction or if it isn’t.

Android users will require Android 2.2 and up, it’s a free app and is a 2.8MB download. iOS users the app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad requiring iOS 4.0 or later, it’s a free app and is a 5 MB download.

Have you tried this app yet? What do you think? Links to download it for both iOS & Android are below.

For More Info:

Color’s home page here

Color in the Android Market here

Color on Color on the iTunes App Store here

TechCrunch article about Color here