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No Comment: Your life in 30-second intervals with Lifelapse

by Michael Rose Jun 28th 2011 at 12:00PM

lifepouch.jpg

Whenever we get publicity info about a new iPhone app, my personal curmudgeon radar goes to high alert if the app in question is accompanied by a precious and fashionable custom accessory. There's something about that mix of software and paraphernalia that sets my teeth on edge a bit.

That's partly why I'm less than enthused about Lifelapse, the new time-lapse photo app/lifelogging tool launching in the App Store today for US$0.99. The app was created by a team of Dutch developers/students, and the concept is pretty simple: the app takes a picture every 30 seconds, and then combines them into time-lapse videos like the one below (only on the 3GS or iPhone 4, the 3G & original iPhone lack the horsepower to create the video).

Along with the app, however, Lifelapse is selling an adorable 'Lifepouch' neck lanyard into which you may tuck your iPhone, making it easy to keep snapping away while you stroll the streets/beaches/ruins/marketplace of Insert Exotic Locale Here.

Never mind the obvious drawbacks of this plan: reduced battery life, hundreds of pictures you don't want, your friends abandoning you because you look like a complete tool. Here's the biggest problem: you are wearing your iPhone around your neck while you are strolling around Insert Exotic Locale Here, where you will rapidly be identified as both a) a tourist and b) the possessor of more money than sense. How many iPhones will be purloined from around unsuspecting necks before this pouch concept gets canned? The app should warn you on launch to make sure Find My iPhone is activated.

I have no doubt that there are certain times and places where a timelapse travelogue would be a fun and interesting thing to create, and obviously a 99-cent app investment is not a major budgetary concern for most iPhone owners. This particular combination of app and accessory, though, strikes me as the perfect mix of self-absorption and poor environmental awareness -- which is why I'm filing it under No Comment.

Lifelapse video of Lisbon below, illustrating that at least the wearer followed local advice to stay hydrated.

Lifelapse recorded in Lisbon, Portugal from Lifelapse.



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They're selling an adorable 'Lifepouch' lanyard into which you may tuck your iPhone, making it easy to keep snapping away while you stroll the streets/ beaches/ ruins/ marketplace of Insert Exotic Locale Here.
 

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14 Comments

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icerabbit

If this article is exemplary of the "no comment" series at TUAW, they should scrap it.

Over half a dozen clearly negative comments / observations / thoughts / views towards the product and its use are, to me, opposite to the "no comment" title & idea. But, maybe I'm misunderstanding it, and no comment means no positive comments and as such the series could be renamed "criticism"?

Sure, there is no conclusion with a yay/nay or rating; but that is after a pretty much entirely negative slant.

I don't think it is quite that bad. I can see some neat occasional use for this app. If you have a certain DIY project, gathering or even something business related; you may be able to setup the iPhone or iPod affixed to a tripod plugged into AC - or have a mascotte roaming with a juice pack - and create a neat time lapse video for $1.

Ideally the interval time would be customizable and I can think of some other options that would be a positive addition.

So thumbs down as a review, a blog post and misnomer series.

BTW This is not a comment. . . . . . . . . . . . ;)

June 29 2011 at 8:08 AM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
Oshawapilot

Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of places in the world where you can safely walk around with an iPhone in plain sight without fear of assault and robbery. Sheesh.

June 28 2011 at 10:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buzz Mega

In a Video Diary sense, it's interesting. In a watchable image sense, it's a disaster.

June 28 2011 at 1:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jackjalves

wow, I wrote a screenplay with something like this two years ago, http://www.scribd.com/doc/20889735/Breaking-News

June 28 2011 at 1:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alansky

Yet another contributor to the deluge of mindless crap that the Mobile Revolution has spawned.

June 28 2011 at 1:01 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
pusta2

I don't think you can put "No Comment" in the title, then write a 6 paragraph opinion on the product....

June 28 2011 at 12:55 PM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to pusta2's comment
Michael

Our 'No Comment' posts actually do include some comment. It's Meant To Be Funny.

http://tuaw.com/tag/nocomment

June 28 2011 at 1:56 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Rusharound

Maybe it would be interesting for the wearer - but for a disinterested third party, it's really boring to watch.
Vanity-ware to the extreme.

June 28 2011 at 12:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Rusharound's comment
Evan Adnams

Great to show friends after the trip, and narrate.

June 28 2011 at 1:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Evan Adnams

I think you over-estimate the amount of theft that tourists are victim to, and even so... around your neck or in your pocket, not much safer.. in fact, aren't there tourist kits/moneybags that go around ones neck as a security thing?

June 28 2011 at 12:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dan Knowles

Maybe 30 second intervals are a little too long, the video seems very disjointed. If you did say every 10-15 seconds you could at least edit out any fat, but have the connective tissue available if needed.

June 28 2011 at 12:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Dan Knowles's comment
Dan Knowles

Hmmm, must be lunch time.

June 28 2011 at 12:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cbrg148

I actually think this is pretty cool, aside from the neck lanyard. I read of a guy at Microsoft that recorded his whole life, kept every e-mail and every photo and attachment. He had an amazing database (LifeBase) after a year or so. He also wore a camera all the time.

I think after some time you could have a very cool LifeBase. But that neck thing...I'm not sure what an alternative is though.

June 28 2011 at 12:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to cbrg148's comment
Alex

You can have it surgically planted in your chest like Tony Stark

June 28 2011 at 2:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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