Review: Graffitio

Overview

Graffitio is another LBS app (location base services) that quickly pinpoints where you are and then seeks to connect you with other Graffitio users from your area, state and country. By allowing you to write on "walls" - which are simply message boards, you can leave your mark on that particular town or area of the country. I was surprised to see how many folks had already "graffitio'ed" on Arkansas even.

Functionality

When you first fire up your Graffitio app, it isn't quite the same as shaking up your spray paint can in the dead of night, anxiously looking over your shoulder. You can't even draw, for Pete's sake. What you can do, however, is let others know that you've been here before. The way it does that is simple, clear, and you'll find that you're wanting to leave your mark everywhere... And without fear of defacing public property violations. Graffitio will ask you to let it locate you, and then it immediately pulls up your town, state, and country in a list. Out beside each "wall," you'll see when the latest update was. Since "Monticello" didn't have any activity yet, I shook up my virtual spray paint can and left a little note. It's interesting to see what users are saying and what they are doing locally and regionally. There is also the "Infinite Wall" which combines all updates into one long list. You can check out the Graffitio forums and the Graffitio blog to get a better handle on other obsessive location markers. You can also create a new wall of your very own for others to stop in and update their status, make a comment or whatever.

Review

Graffitio is a nice concept app, but it quickly becomes boring. There, I said it. It lacks the flavor and fun of Twitter and other social networking apps because you can't filter folks out. When you log in and check your area, you're going to see whatever has been written there. Sometimes that's not so cool. The app has taken the concept of a regional message board or bulletin board and given it a nice, clean interface, but I just couldn't help thinking... this is 80s internet with a wrapper on it. While it is nice in a smaller town to see who has stopped in and essentially signed that location's guest book with a comment, observation or insane remark, I doubt you'll be coming back to Graffitio very often.

Summary

I suspect that Graffitio will be popular with OC (obsessive-compulsive) LBSers but not with ordinary folks after the first glance. Then again, if you find yourself using Graffitio all the time, chances are you either don't have friends, or your friends that are using Graffitio aren't aware of Twitter or Jaiku.

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