According to this article from VB Mobile, "Circle is a location-based social network where you can view activity feeds of local activity. Members can post specific questions, ask for help, or use Circle to distribute information." This applies to people who you may or may not actually know.
In this blog post, user "stancollins," reviews the app. He states in the review posted on View On News on Dec. 6, "My first impression was that it seemed to be a mixture of Facebook and Twitter. I somehow already had 70 something followers and a couple of people in my “Circle.” I assume they took people from my Facebook friends list and automatically added them. As I scrolled through Circle’s equivalent of a newsfeed, I noticed that I saw posts from everyone that was in the area and not just people I followed or had in my circle. This is a cool concept because the focus is on what’s around you as opposed to what your regular group of friends is up to."
As the articles discuss, Circle is useful if you find yourself in a bind as well. With this app you can put out alerts for help, warnings, and live updates. Got a flat tire? Send out a message for help and a local will help you if they're in the area! It's quite an interesting concept because rather than focusing on who you are, the app focuses on where you are and who else is there, too.
Although I haven't actually used the app myself, I already have a complaint (funny how that works, huh?)...I think they're trying too hard to get people to join. Texting me? I don't like that. It's also VERY easily mistaken for spam. "stancollins" agrees, stating, "The biggest problem with this app, in my opinion, is that they try so hard to get more people on that it...I understand that they want a lot of people to use the app but it’s never pleasant receiving messages that look like spam."
What do you think of Circle? Have you been invited to join? Will you? The app is still very new and there isn't very much information on it, but I guess, when you think about it, the best way to get to know an app is to download it for yourself. Take a look at Circle - The Local Network...
Ugh, I have been getting these notifications all week! I had no idea what this "Local Network," was. I thought it was just spam, and a way for people to get money out of you. Now that i know more information about it, i might have to check it out! It is hard to find a good app that interests you, so maybe this one will interest me. I will check it out, and good job on getting information on this topic.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was just spam too because of how many notifications I have been getting all week on Facebook, and all of them had a different "friends" name on it, so I thought it was a little suspicious. I saw a lot of posts on Facebook asking what is this "local network circle" and many other posts said to stop sending it to them to join. Well guess I was wrong about it being spam after reading this. Now that I know what it is i think maybe i will look into this app, and also help answer people's questions as to what this app is too.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you explained what Circle is really about. After I received a few texts, I followed the link and it took me to the google play store. I looked at the app and was interested but not enough to download it. They are really pushing this app hard and I wonder why they decided to use this approach. It is a very bold one. I find that people are taking this in a bad way until they know if it is real or not. I like how this app focuses on you and your surroundings. Even if you are not connected to a person, they will still appear in your circle, just because they are close to you. I am wondering if this will work well here, in Wyoming. Since I do not have much around me and not that many people, if it would even be worth it. I think I might stick to the main social media sites.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about the circle. I believe, like you, that I have actually been invited to join it as well. However, I am reluctant to join. I know I’m old fashioned a bit, but I tend to not be the avid social media user. I don’t have Twitter, but do have Facebook and I RARELY post to it, only add pictures for family and friends to see. The Circle sounds very interesting for those who are into the whole social media craze and I’m sure many love it like so many others out there. I do however find it interesting that the application could be helpful if you were in an emergency and needed help. Sending out a message to anyone in the circle around you may just be a life saver. I heard on the radio that a woman used Reddit for this reason to find her missing dog in real time. Strangers were reading the posts and on the lookout. They found her dog for her! Apps all seem to have good and bad so as always, enjoy but use with caution maybe?
ReplyDeleteI have only received one invitation--via text--for the Circle. I heard about it from a co-worker before the invites began to spill in, though. He told me to check it out because it was the "new thing" that was going around. A few days later I heard everybody saying how annoyed they were about the invites they were getting to join the Circle. After reading about what it actually is, I think the concept is great, but I do think that they're pushing too hard to get users. People become annoyed very quickly by notifications of things they don't care about, so users aren't going to use the app if they're irritated with the constant invites they receive. Maybe they could figure out a less "pushy" way to invite people to get their app.
ReplyDelete