Emojli: The Emoji-Only Messenger is an Emoji App Fail

In my last blog post, I talked about a great emoji app called Guess the Emoji. Today I'm going to talk about another emoji app that, in my opinion, misses the mark.

I downloaded Emojli: the emoji-only messenger because it was a recommended app in the Apple app store, and it has almost a full five-star rating. However, to my surprise, I found it to be un-useable and essentially worthless.

Emojli claims to be an "emoji-only messenger" that uses no words, only emojis to let users communicate. It seemed like a fun and natural extension of the emoji craze, since so many people had already begun sending messages through SMS or Facebook messenger using just these emoticons to communicate.

When I first downloaded and opened the app, I was asked to create a username using only emojis, which I thought was a fun feature but seemed like it could easily get confusing when you are trying to remember emoji sequences to represent each of your friends.

Once I signed up, the first thing I wanted to do was find out which of my friends were already using the app so that I could connect with them and begin sending them emoji messages. I was led to a prompt to add some friends, but was disappointed to find that when I tried to add friends, the only way to do that was to search a specific friend's username (which would be almost impossible unless you asked your friends, because if you recall, the usernames are made from emoji sequences).

So sadly, I was not even able to use the app for its intended purpose because I was not able to add any friends, and there are no suggested community users or any default content that you can interact with without first finding friends. The app developers should seriously consider adding contact and social media account integration to allow users to quickly and easily find friends based on their phone's contact list and their connections on social networks. 

I am surprised by the amount of positive reviews the app has, but have to assume that with friends added, it may be a bit more fun. Though I was extremely disappointed by the app, especially because of its high reviews and the fact that it was a suggested app, but I do think it has potential and could be vastly improved with tweaks to the basic functionality. I will be keeping an eye on this app to see how it develops further in the coming months. 

Love Emoji? You'll Love the Guess The Emoji App

Emojis have exploded in popularity in recent years. People all over the world are using these little cartoons to add to their messages and social media posts. Since the emoji keyboard became available to iPhone users in 2011, more and more emoji-themed apps have appeared in the app store (some much better than others). One in particular struck me as a genius extension of the emoji craze. It's called Guess The Emoji, and it's a free puzzle game app where you try to guess a word or phrase the is represented by a series of emojis.

The game is structured so that you progress through each puzzle as a "level," meaning you can only go to the next puzzle once you solve the previous one, making it both challenging and very addictive to play. If you really get stuck on a puzzle, three clue options offer three clue options to help you along:

• Expose a Letter to reveal and random letter from the puzzle
• Remove the Letters to remove letters from the board that are not used in the puzzle
• Solve It (your last resort), which completely solves the puzzle. 

Using these clues costs coins (15 each for the first two, 30 to solve the puzzle), so they should be used wisely because you only get one coin each time you solve a puzzle. You can also buy more coins through in-app purchases with your Apple account.

In addition to the clues, there is an "Ask Facebook" button that allows you to share the puzzle quickly to your news feed to get help from friends. If you Google "Guess The Emoji," you'll also see that 90% of the results are sites that provide answers and cheats, too. But what fun is that?

The app is set up to integrate with Facebook, though you can also play as a guest with more limited features. If you choose to connect with Facebook, you receive 10 coins (in addition to the 25 you get by default when you download the app). You can invite your Facebook friends to play with you.

An intuitive hamburger menu reveals all of your options once you're in the app.

Overall, Guess The Emoji is an entertaining game based on an already popular concept (emojis) and it's all presented in a well-designed and easy-to-use interface. As of July, 2014 it was one of the most popular apps in the Apple app store. Bottom line, if you're into emojis, I highly recommend this addictive app!

TO DO: Check Out These Task Management Apps

To-do apps are abundant in the Apple App Store because pretty much everyone needs a way to manage their tasks, and what better way to always have your to-do list with you than to have it right in your phone? Many of these apps also allow you to sync your list between devices and set reminders among other features. Some of the apps take a “keep it simple” approach so as not to overwhelm users who simply want a replacement for a physical notebook, and some of the apps come with lots of bells and whistles. 

The good news is, since there are so many and such a variety of to-do apps, you can choose the kind of app that’s best for you. Following are a few worth noting:

Wunderlist (Free in Apple App Store)

Wunderlist is a functional and easy-to-use app that includes support for various platforms including web, Mac, PC, and iOS/Android phones and tablets. It includes lots of features without feeling cluttered or overwhelming to the user. The interface makes it easy to add regular or recurring tasks as well as task details like notes, subtasks and due dates. You can also set reminders for tasks and sort them by priority. Wunderlist also includes some sharing features, like the ability to publish lists to the internet for public viewing, and collaboration features like comments within the interface.

Todoist (Free in App Store)

Todoist is similar to Wunderlist in many ways. It includes support for desktop, web and mobile versions and offers the ability to share and collaborate. With Todoist, you also can search tasks, attach notes and files, and get location-based reminders. The app features a nice, but adding tasks isn’t quite as simple and intuitive, and many advanced features are only available with a Premium plan for $29/year.

Clear ($5 in App Store)

Clear is unique because it lets users use only gestures to interact with the interface, which results in a simple and effective to-do list tool. Adding tasks, marking them complete, and even accessing different areas of the app like Settings, are all controlled using gestures. To prioritize tasks, you simply rearrange them so important ones are at the top. To keep the interface clean, color gradients (instead of symbols like stars) are used to identify priority tasks. 

CARROT ($3 in App Store) 

Carrot is very different than other to-do list apps and is known as the “to-do list with a personality.’ Adding tasks is simple enough in this app, and if you don’t complete them, the app will send you snarky messages to nudge you to do so. As you complete tasks though, you get positive feedback and unlock additional features. In a way it gamifies the to-do list process, which can be fun and motivating for some, but for others may prove to be annoying or stressful.

That's just the tip of the iceberg! There are tons of to-do apps in the App Store to try, and more appearing all the time. What to-do or task management apps have you tried? What did you like or not like about them? Post your thoughts in the comments!

Battle of the Live Stream Apps: Periscope vs Meerkat

Two new live-streaming apps were the talk of SXSW this year -- Meerkat and Periscope. Both offer users the ability to share live video content to Twitter in real time. So, which should you use? 

I put them both to test in a "fight of the features" to find out which takes the title of best live stream app. Here's how they stacked up: 

How They're Alike 

Both apps give users the ability to stream live video content in real time. Both are integrated with Twitter, so when you begin broadcasting a stream, a link to it is instantly tweeted to your followers through your Twitter account. You can also save streams locally to your phone. 

Within both apps, users can watch streams and simultaneously chat, identified by their Twitter handles, with each other and with the broadcaster.  They can also follow other users and get notifications when they begin streaming. 

What Makes Periscope Different

Periscope's interface is clean and intuitive. I found it to be much more user-friendly than the Meerkat interface, which feels somewhat cluttered and confusing.  Periscope features a simple navigation bar at the bottom of the screen to divide up its core functions - streaming, followers/connections, and the feed. 

The app also provides a helpful tutorial when you first open the app, which you can skip if desired, with a few key points about the its functionality. After the tutorial, the app guides you to a page of recommended users to follow (unlike Meerkat, you're pretty much on your own to find connections).

Unlike Meerkat where everything is live and there are no reruns, Periscope allows users to replay recent streams in a "Recent" section of the stream feed. 

Downsides of Periscope:

As of now, you cannot schedule future streams, however, I expect they will probably add this soon. The stream feed is also less visual, and there are no gamification features (which you could consider bonuses or downsides, depending on your preference). 

What Makes Meerkat Different

The biggest added bonus with Meerkat, in my opinion, is the ability to schedule future streams. Users can upload a photo and some text along with a scheduled time, and their followers will then get a push notification when the stream goes live. Also, if you schedule a stream and forget to go back in and start it, Meerkat will send a push notification reminding you that you're viewers are waiting for the scheduled stream. 

I also appreciated the more visual feed of current live streams, with large images or stills from the stream video that give an idea of content. Stream previews in Meerkat also show a lot of information about the stream's current following, including number of current viewers, how many likes it has, and how many comments have been made in live Twitter chat taking place within the stream.

Finally, Meerkat includes some gamification features including a score that is always listed in the top left corner of the home screen, and a leaderboard. However, it is unclear to me how these points are accrued and how this works, and I was unable to find clarification within the app. 

Downsides of Meerkat:

The main weakness of Meerkat is its interface. I believe it is not as user-friendly as it could be, and I imagine many first time users become frustrated or confused when they first open the app. The home screen feels cluttered, making it difficult for users to know where to go. On top of that, there is little to no guidance within the app that explains how it works or how to get started. 

Have you used Meerkat or Periscope? Comment and tell me what you think of these new live-streaming apps! 

Make Music Videos (Starring You!) with the VidRhythm iPhone App

Have you heard of the VidRhythm iPhone app? I hadn't until last week when a friend showed me a funny and slightly crazy video that some of her other friends had created using the app. It was like a kaleidoscopic techno-music selfie. That's about the only way I know to say it. It wasn't necessarily a good video, and the music part was definitely not anything I'd put on iTunes, but I still felt the need to immediately download the app and create one myself. It took a few tries to get one worth sharing, but I assure you that now I have several.




The VidRhythm app was created by Harmonix, who also created the popular video game Rock Band. To use the VidRhythm app, you first choose a song and the style of video you want to create.

Then, you choose a style for your video.

Next, you record yourself making sounds and visuals for the video based on prompts from the app. I found this part to be a little quirky and confusing. Sometimes the clips would get cut off (each clip is only one second!), and for the singing clips, you have to follow a "Note Guide." I didn't realize at first, but when it says to follow the note guide, you have to tap the singing man icon, who they call "Chirpy the Guide Note" (next to the "Record" button in the picture on the left, below). Chirpy will play a tone to help you sing the right notes.

Though it's a little buried in the "How to Play" area of the app, the app creators do offer a video tutorial on their website.

Overall, I found this to be an entertaining app, but the excitement is short-lived, and the app definitely presents frustrations that may drive away new users. My main complaint is that many of the videos I created didn't seem to sound at all like the preview of the song. The song choices were a bit of a mixed bag. I tested several, and found that only 3 or 4 of the songs I tried actually ended up sounding like something other than rough awful noise in the final product (and seemingly nothing like the previews of the songs). I doubt I'll use the app again, but my friends and I had a lot of fun trying it out.

3 Apps For The Great Outdoors

It's that time of the year when the weather starts taking a warmer turn and it's almost impossible to resist the great outdoors. Here is a roundup of three "outdoorsy" iPhone apps available to help you do just that:

AllTrails (Free)

AllTrails is a perfect app for hikers and bikers. It has over 50,000 trail guides and you can browse trails or search based on your location. For each trail you can view detailed maps and photos and read reviews, and you can add your own reviews and photos from the trail using your phone's GPS tracker.

Yonder (Free)

Yonder makes the outdoor experience social. The creators of this app saw that people were using social apps and websites to find where their friends have been and use recommendations to find places to eat, shop, and so on. They wanted to bring the same kind of social connection to the massive community of outdoor-enthusiasts. Yonder is a social community of outdoorsy folks who love to share their outdoor adventures. 22 different activities represented within the app, and there is a library of more than 20,000 destinations that you can check out. You can browse through the map or by viewing the feed. You can also share the content and save it in a favorites folder.

Planets (Free)

While enjoying the great outdoors, you may find yourself gazing up at the sky. If you want more information about exactly what you're looking at, check out the Planets app. You can use the Sky 2D view to see a planetarium view of the sky with stars, planets, constellations, and more. The screen images reorient based on a compass as you move the phone. The Visibility feature allows you to find out more abut specific objects, like the moon or planets, by tapping them on the screen. The Globe feature allows you to see a 3D rendering of the planets and moon that you can spin by swiping the screen with your finger.

Sadly, Not Very Happy with Happify Happiness App

The mobile app world has seen as recent boom in well-being apps and apps that aim to make people happier. I decided to give one a try, to see if it really could make me feel happier. I chose Happify, one of the newer happiness apps that had a high rating and claimed to be based on science and research.

According to its description in the Apple App Store, Happify can help people be happier and feel better about their lives through different "tracks" of games and activities. It was developed with leading scientists and is based on decades of research into activities and games that help people develop habits for happier, more fulfilling lives. It has been featured in the New York Times and on CNN.com.

After reading the App Store description, I had high hopes for Happify, but unfortunately it fell short. Overall, I found that the app tried to do too much, making the process of building happiness almost stressful and confusing. It felt similar to the stress of having a person or app that checks up on your for fitness training.

The app opens with a screen describing how it will help me be happier. It claims to:

• Increase happiness with fun activities and games
• Teach me life changing habits based on science
• Reduce my stress and help me build skills for a happy, healthy life

Tells me that I will need to pick a "track" that is right for me, and complete the activities in that track as I have time throughout the day. I'm also encouraged to get inspiring content by visiting the "Happify Daily" section of the app, which is basically just a news feed of self-help and fluff news articles.

Just when I think I am finished with the "setup" portion of the app, I am filtered to a "Getting Started" questionnaire where I am asked a series of questions including gender, age, employment status, relationship status, whether I have kids, frequency of interaction with people throughout the day, just to name a few. There are fifteen total questions -- too long. I did, however, appreciate the tracker dots at the bottom of the screen that told me how many questions i had to go.

I was then led to a page of tracks to choose from. Some were labeled as premium and not available to me. Each track had information on how it will benefit me and who created it, along with their credentials.

Most of the exercises involve listing things - there are many that involve listing things, such as things you are grateful for and daily victories. There are also exercises that are more game-like, for example, the Uplift activity where you are supposed to tap positive words and avoid negative words.

There is also a "Happfiy it Now" section, which I thought was different content than the track content, but is really just the same information repackaged. Activities and exercises are grouped by theme rather than track. 

The Happify app includes one last section called "Community," where other users can post results of completed activities and tracks, and share other feel-good content. 

While the intentions of the app are good, and the theories behind the activities are sound, the Happify app fails to add much more utility to the process. The number of choices in terms of tracks, activities, and content to view make it hard to feel like I can jump in and out of the activities on the go. I believe a better structure would be one simple daily activity that is the only thing available to you when you open the app. It may vary according to preference and personality, but for me this app was simply overwhelming.