Saturday, August 16, 2014

Mashable- What's Wrong with Snapchat

Social Media

9 Things We'd Change About Snapchat

Snapchat, the popular messaging app, could use a few new features and upgrades.

Image: Mashable Composite, Snapchat, Getty Creative kathykonkle

Snapchat, one of the hottest messaging apps at the moment, has changed mobile storytelling and pushed the limits of how we communicate.
From geolocation filters to live video chatting, the app's latest rollout of bonus features is impressive, but the platform could still use a few tweaks. With upgrades and new features, the user experience of the app can be improved to benefit the Snapchat community.

Here are nine things we would change about Snapchat to make the app work even better.

1. Contact list groups

Rather than scrolling through your Snapchat friends in alphabetical order or looking at your "Recents" and "Best Friends" categories in the "Send To" screen, there should be a feature that allows you to create groups and add certain friends to them.
For example, if you want to send a snap to your coworkers, you can simply tap your "Coworkers" group. This way, your work of art can be sent to everyone you want it to be sent to, all in one tap.

2. Improve quality of snaps

The quality of photos and videos taken with the app seem to be low compared to those captured on the phone's camera. Snapchat's photo quality is better than video (especially on Android devices), but both could use improvement so snaps can be seen more clearly.

3. Add filter intensity sliders

Adjust the filter intensity — An intensity slider for filters is missing from Snapchat.

The latest version of Snapchat added fun filters and effects to spice up our snap masterpieces. But unlike most photo editing apps, an intensity slider for filters is missing. For those of us who are filter-obsessed, being able to adjust the strength of photo filters would be helpful.

4. Different pen sizes for drawing

Snapchat's playful drawing feature is one of the app's most popular and favorite tools. Adding some bells and whistles to the drawing pen can only better the doodling experience.
As of now, there is only one default size pen available for drawing. For those Snapchatters who want to draw thinner or thicker lines to perfect their snaps, there should be different pen sizes to choose from.

5. Eraser tool

Sometimes the undo button just doesn't cut it. What if we want to keep part of the mark we drew without getting rid of the entire doodle we worked hard on? An eraser tool would help remove stray or accidental doodle marks, and speed up the overall drawing process.

6. Eyedropper tool

If you've used other photo editors, you're probably familiar with the eyedropper tool that is used to pick up a color of your choice from the canvas.
Snapchat offers a wide selection of colors from its palette, but unfortunately there is no way to identify the specific color you previously used. Trying to match the exact shade you're looking for becomes a frustrating guessing game as you drag your finger up and down the rainbow slider.
The eyedropper tool is a practical solution because it would facilitate color selection and, again, speed up the overall drawing process.

7. A more extensive in-app help center

For those with Snapchat questions, there is a support page where you can find answers and browse through information about the app. But within the app, we noticed there aren't a lot of explanations or walkthroughs on how to use certain functions.
Adding a more extensive in-app help center can solve confusion among Snapchatters, especially new ones.

8. Option to hide your 'best friends'

Best friends feature on Snapchat — Currently, there is no option to hide your 'best friends' on Snapchat.

Snapchat's 'best friend' feature automatically displays the friends you snap with the most on your "My Friends" list. The default number of 'best friends' displayed is three, but the latest update allows you to show five and seven friends.
For those who don't want others to view their list of Snapchat 'best friends,' there should be an option to hide or remove this feature.

9. Fix buggy features

Snapchat has its bad days, too. For example, the speed filter was created to capture the speed at which you're moving when you take the snap. This filter idea is creative, but it's a bummer when it decides to act up and not work. Repairs to issues like this will smooth out the user's Snapchat experience.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies

Translation from English