There are two kinds of apps that are buzzing throughout the tech world right now and those are simplistic, one action apps (Tinder, swipe left or right), and those that self-destruct, leaving no trace you were there (SnapChat). Wiper, the new app from Manlio Carrelli combines both of those things into an easy to use messaging service. Does the world really need another messaging app, probably not, but at least Wiper is doing some innovative things, and has a solid messaging app to back it up.
The Basics
On the surface, Wiper looks like your typical messaging app; send and receive messages, use voice calls, and send media files, but look a little bit closer and you'll see a little button on the top right of your screen that says "Wipe." With the push of a button (you'll get a warning/prompt the first time you use it) entire conversations are completely erased from your phone. Which is nice, but the real advantage comes in when you realize it also erases the conversation from the recipient's phone, as well. All messages are stored on the app's servers so when you wipe the message, it removes it from all devices. As an added step of deletion, Wiper will also purge the messages from their own servers, meaning that there is no trace left of your private conversations.
Similar to the Snapchat app, Wiper will also alert you when another user takes a screenshot of your conversation. In addition, during testing, I was unable to take a screenshot using the traditional method on my Samsung Note 3, and kept receiving the message "Unable to capture screen. DRM protected image." The iPhone 6, however, could still take screenshots.
Continued Support and Improvements
Wiper is continuing to improve their service for users, with one of the most recent updates being the ability for users to search, and share, Youtube videos with other users. You can even create playlists and share them with your friends who are on the app. A first I thought this was kind of gimmicky, honestly, but the more I used it with my music-loving friends, the more I really started to enjoy it. It was something I didn't realize I needed in my life, but was happy to find out I did.
They have also worked on improving their HD voice chat, apparently this was not something that was focused on initially at launch, but they have continued to improve their voice services and voice calls come through crystal clear. iOS8 users running the iPhone 5s and up also have the extra benefit of being able to lock the Wiper app via thumbprint scan. An Android passcode system is currently in the works.
Overall, I was really surprised with how much I liked Wiper. It's obvious that an app like this could be used for some questionable activities, but I could also see a use for it in the business world. The app itself is very snappy, and messaging is a breeze. Voice calls are a nice addition, and as mentioned earlier, the Youtube sharing feature which embeds videos into your chat log is just great. Wiper is available now for both Android and iOS.
If you have any experience with the Wiper messaging app or wanna try it out, be sure to come back and leave a comment!
