Quipsphere app review

Today, I am going to review a  Filipino-made entertainment and social media app called Quipsphere (version 1.0.9). It is free on Google play.

Google play: Quipsphere

There are fewer users as compared to Facebook and Twitter (it is fairly new), but it has potential to garner more users in the future due to its non-traditional approach in connecting people. The concept of this social media app is quite novel, because it focuses on users’ own voice messages or recording as the main communication platform, as opposed to text and images (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc). I do not know any other social media app that operates on the same level.

Basically, after signing up, you will be taken to the main interface with buttons at the bottom. The five buttons are: Campfire, Home/Newsfeed, Record, Chats and Spheres. If you press Campfire, three tabs will appear: Topics, Quippers and Spheres. Topics, of course, presents you with different topics that you can “quip” about (quip – recording and posting an audio/voice message). You can join that Topic and you can quip about it by pressing the Record button.

Quippers gives a you a list of active, prominent, and avid users of Quipshere. You are to build your reputation and thus be featured here. You can follow other users by pressing the “footprint” button next to their name (kinda works like twitter where you can follow people and let other people follow you). The last one is Spheres (not to be confused with the other Spheres button, next to Chat) gives you spheres (similar to threads in Topics) wherein you can follow. However, if you are only a follower of the sphere you are interested in, you are not allowed to join the thread (meaning you are only a spectator).

The other Spheres tab (next to the chat button), allows you to create your own sphere (by inviting friends) and lists down the spheres you are currently following. The Home button or the Newsfeed shows the posts of your friends and people you followed. You can reply to their quips with another audio message. You can also “requip” their posts, meaning you can share their posts on your profile wall. The Chat shows your chat history and last is the Spheres tab (which I have already explained before).

I forgot to mention that you can also attach a photo (and GIFs!) along with your quip. I think this is a good idea because users will always be drawn to visually appealing posts.

The app mainly functions to connect people, same with other social media apps, but it uses a different method which is voice messaging. I have mentioned before that this app truly has potential to get more users, it all just boils down to users’ preference. I think the app would be a great tool for artists and musicians to showcase their music. However, recording is only 12 seconds max, so this might be a problem as well (is that considered a snippet?). On a personal level, I think users dig the idea of being able to speak out their thoughts with clarity and emotion.

I repeat, using this app is a matter of preference. If you liked it, then good for you and the developer (support them!). My problem is I won’t really be able to maximize the function of this app because I am too shy to make quips haha. I am not a social butterfly, you see, I only have Facebook and Linkedin for online connections (I don’t even post statuses!). But if you are my opposite, you might like this.

To summarize my thoughts (and suggestions) on this app:

• unique and intriguing – mainly due to voice messaging as communication. Although I do have a suggestion: allow users to upload audio. We can also capture live events by recording them using our phone’s voice recorder and uploading it later to Quipsphere.
• A suggestion I’ve read on the app’s Google play profile (posted by a user) is reasonable: to add a Help or FAQ section (if not possible in the app itself, why not add the section to the app website?).
• not everyone’s cup of tea – others may like the app’s concept, but not all. Well, who knows? It might turn into a new trend.
• voice messages/posts must always be accompanied with images to make it more interesting and eye-catching
• minor problem: I cannot use my phone’s “Back” button when using the app (I own a Samsung smartphone – it is located on the bottom right, next to the home key). I can only use it on one occasion: after recording. Most of the time, I use the app’s back button (top left). It takes some getting used to. Or maybe my phone is at fault haha.
• Correct me if I’m wrong: no option to edit profile
• Kudos to the developer for giving out important updates (the app is definitely improving)

Try it!