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InstaPlace - Create Location-Based Postcards

6/13/2013

6 Comments

 
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The relatively new iOS and Android app InstaPlace has been making a lot of appearances in the Daily Round Up, so I wanted to do it justice and write a full review.  It's a pretty basic app, but I think that's a good thing.  It's easy to use and has some fun educational possibilities.  So...let's check it out!

The basic idea of InstaPlace is that you would use the app to create location-based postcards to send from wherever you are.  They have an ever-expanding variety of "skins" (which are basically captions) that you can overlay over your pictures, and then you can share your shots via all the traditional methods (Facebook, email, etc.)

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Sample Skins/Captions

And essentially, that's it!  You take pictures, you add a place and/or time caption, and you send it off!  It's incredibly easy to use and can be a fun and simple addition to a picture.  The app comes in a paid version ($1.99) and a free version (with ads and less skins).  

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Skin Selection & Settings

As for educational uses, blogger Jamie Forshey at EduTech for Teachers has been writing about her ideas for a while, and her blog is great for resources.  Personally, I think it'd be an awesome tool for sending older students on a virtual scavenger hunt.  Imagine sending kids to all the historic locations or landmarks in a city, they could easily use this app to take a picture and prove they actually went there!  Plus they'd have a fun keepsake from the adventure.

As for suggestions, the only thing that might make the app more enjoyable and/or useful would be the option to allow users to create custom skins.  Then, teachers or students could create a caption with a question or fact to send out to the class via facebook or twitter and other students could respond.  Otherwise, the app does what it set out to do!


In conclusion, InstaPlace is great for what it is: a simple app to add location-based captions to a picture.  Will it revolutionize the way you teach?  No.  But with a little bit of creativity it can be an enjoyable tool in the classroom.

                                                               Final Rating:

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6 Comments
Karl Fredriksson
2/15/2015 01:09:42 am

Wherever I am it says 0 miles from home. How do I make it give me a correct distance?

Reply
Mike Karlin
2/15/2015 01:52:25 am

Hi Karl -

It might depend on your setup for your mobile device, like if you have given permission to the app for geo-locating. You might also check the in-app settings and see what those look like. That would be my best guess! And thanks for reading!

Mike

Reply
Karl Fredriksson
2/15/2015 06:29:17 am

Thanks Mike but I have already tried that. Can find anything in the app settings that can fix my problem. The app finds my present location but it needs to know where "home" is. 😕

Reply
Mike Karlin
2/15/2015 11:09:34 pm

Hi Karl, hmmmm, I'm currently out of ideas, but I'll keep thinking on it. In the mean time, I'd suggest shooting the team a message on Twitter, they're usually pretty fast in responding:

https://twitter.com/instaplaceapp

Let me know if it gets worked out!

Mike

Karl Fredriksson
2/17/2015 02:43:48 am

Hi again Mike. I was told to tap on the "0km" to get a window where I chose a home place. It works! 😊

Reply
Mike Karlin
2/17/2015 02:45:16 am

Awesome! Thanks for reporting back as well, I appreciate it! Glad things are a go!

Mike

Reply



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