A new iPhone app, Opinionaided, allows you to quickly ask questions and gather opinions from a community of passionate users. It is not like the myriad of questions and answers apps and websites that have popped in the last year requiring you to carefully craft content out of fear of being rejected or ridiculed (*cough* Quora *cough*). It’s simple, and I love simple.
Let’s face some facts. Sometimes I need a break from the opinions of my core group of peers and co-workers, and this app lets me tap into the opinions and feedback from an unused group. Asking questions to the world through Twitter usually results in a few responses from inconsistent acquaintances. Facebook Questions? Don’t get me started. My experience on Quora has been mostly negative. Questions are flagged as violating TOS with no explanation or chance to fix the problem, questions are redirected to the wrong existing questions, and answers have been marked not helpful. It’s time for something new.
Questions on Opinionaided are short and direct. Answers include thumbs up, thumbs down, or neutral. Some dedicated users leave comments or follow-up questions which lead to conversations. Of course, there are problems like any startup’s app, but more on that later.
Here’s a walkthrough of how Opinionaided works.
1. Launch Opinionaided
2. Sign up with Facebook or the old-fashioned way
I’m surprised apps are still providing the option to use an email and password.
3. Land on the home screen
4. Ask a question
This is where Opinionaided gets interesting. Enter your question, take a picture, select a category like Humor, Gaming, or SXSW (currently a trending topic), share on Facebook or Twitter, and you’re done. The frustrating part is the picture requirement. You have to either take a picture or choose one from your library. I hope this step becomes optional in a future version of the app.
5. Check out your results
For this demonstration I asked, “Should I attend SXSW this year?” (Answer: I am definitely attending, along with several other members of the IntoMobile crew.) You can see that people are leaning towards No, unfortunately. On this screen I can see votes, comments left by other users, and I can respond to those comments. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or through email are also options.
6. Stop asking and start voting
“Who’s ready for the new iPad?” Really? I wish I could vote twice. On the voting screen you can choose which categories you’re interested in to ensure you see relevant questions.
7. See how others voted
Someone asked if we like his digital art. Seems like the community does so far.
8. Use the website
Right now Opinionaided is only supported on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. An Android version is coming soon according to the website. However, you aren’t limited by these apps. If a question is shared on Facebook, Twitter, or through email, people who click on those links are taken to a website where they can answer and maybe sign up.
That’s it. Simple, right? Opinionaided this week announced a new round of funding bringing the total amount raised to $1.2 million. Clearly the VCs think there is a problem here that needs solving.
Go ahead and download Opinionaided from the App Store if you have iOS. Join the addictive community that has already asked hundreds of thousands of questions and contributed millions of answers.