PhotoSwap

Michael (Admin) | Aug 27, 2008 Social Networking

User rating: (14 votes, average: 3.07 out of 5)
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Using PhotoSwap is incredibly simple: take a picture with your iPhone which is then whisked off and shown to some random person, and in return you get a picture from that same stranger.

Each photo sent through Photoswap is sent only to one person, so you should never see the same picture twice, and you can send photo replies back and forth to each other. Also, as a bonus for the stalker in all of us, you get to map the sender’s location! It doesn’t give pinpoint accuracy (a good thing, imo), but if this creeps you out just go into Settings and select Hide Location: On.

Photoswap employs a very interesting concept, but unfortunately the results are mind-numbingly boring. I confess to sending around some pretty boring photos myself in hopes of getting something back that’s worth looking at, but I’ve been sorely disappointed every single time. Maybe that’s the problem here? Everyone is snapping crappy, boring photos on the off-chance they might get to see something funny or at least some boobs or something.

Padadaz is obviously aware of this problem since they recently started greeting PhotoSwap users (every time the app is opened) with a desperate plea for non-garbage photos. Something tells me nothing will change as long as PhotoSwap insists on making you take a new photo in order to get one back.

I understand why the app wants a new photo… it’s all about immediacy and sharing a photo that’s fresh right NOW. This would be great if we were all living like rockstars, but the reality is that most of don’t have anything terribly interesting to share right this minute. We could share something interesting from last weekend, but right now we’re just sitting on our asses playing with an iPhone.

The other problem is that any photo you take with PhotoSwap is gone forever, sent off to that anonymous stranger. You don’t get to save it first and it doesn’t get saved to your Camera Roll. If it’s a really cool photo, do you really want to give it up immediately? I don’t.

Kudos to PhotoSwap for trying to do something new, but right now it’s not doing enough to be anywhere near interesting.

An app called PornSwap would be so much more fun
An app called PornSwap would be so much more fun
Don't send crappy photos! PLEASE!!!!
Don't send crappy photos! PLEASE!!!!
Yay for the Chicago Bears, otherwise this pic is lame if you're not a Bears fan
Yay for the Chicago Bears, otherwise this pic is lame if you're not a Bears fan

Thank you, PhotoSwap, for NOT showing pinpoint locations on the map
Thank you, PhotoSwap, for NOT showing pinpoint locations on the map
People can report the filthy & distasteful? Awwww buzzkill
People can report the filthy & distasteful? Awwww buzzkill
LAME
LAME

Somewhat nice, but still LAME
Somewhat nice, but still LAME
SUPER LAME
SUPER LAME
LAME
LAME

LAME
LAME
LAME. YOU'RE KILLING ME HERE
LAME. YOU'RE KILLING ME HERE
LAME
LAME

LAME
LAME
OMG LAME
OMG LAME
LAME LAME LAME
LAME LAME LAME

Now THIS guy's got the right idea!
Now THIS guy's got the right idea!
iphone_photoswap_price


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  • RedChunk

    My wife and I find it wildly entertaining. I spent 3 hours walking around the house last night playing games with folks by following themes and writing down messages to send back and forth. I got a couple of clevage shots and got some dudes junk this morning, but most of it was very creative. I don’t get why people keep taking pictures of their freakin’ legs though. It’s the first impulse everyone seems to have with this app.

  • RandomVisuals

    I sent you the lame Chicago Bears photo. This was the first night messing with the app and I was trying to figure out why it was cropping landscape photos.

    I apologize for sending a lame photo but, we all learned a valuable lesson. When turning your iPhone into landscape (sideways) to compose a photo, Photoswap returns with a cropped version for review. Then, when sent it sends the photo you composed in the first place not the cropped version.

    I love the app personally. What one may find as “lame” otheres may find interesting. I try to take compelling and interesting photos but as you mentioned sometimes there is not much around you that is visually appealing.

    I do find i get images from the same people on occasion. But overall this is a fun app and they way I see it if you don’t send a a black screen you rae playing along.

  • http://swapphotos.tumblr.com John

    Check out http://swapphotos.tumblr.com/ for PhotoSwap adventures

  • Cranky App User

    I realize this article was written some time ago, however today seems to mark a significant day in the Photoswap saga. As of now, it appears Photoswap is dead. As is the developer’s website. It comes as no surprise, however, whereas the application was never supported by its creator. Over the nearly two years of the Photoswap lifespan, Padadaz (developers of Photoswap) rarely responded to support questions. On the rare occassion in which a response was issued, users were consistantly given empty promises of upgrades “in the very near future”.

    Well…. the future is here and Photoswap no longer is.

  • Michael (Admin)

    Apps seem to come and go as Apple’s mysterious Black Hole sucks them up from time to time, only to spit them out again!

    Photoswap is apparently back:

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photoswap/id288177708?mt=8