Moods started as a way to replace little exchanges like “How are you? Where are you?” and “I’m okay. I’m at home.” You could ask a friend how they were feeling with one tap and get a notification when they answered. The app grew into something much bigger, but that simple way to stay in touch remained at its heart.
How the idea grew
As I thought about the different ways people answer “How are you?”, I kept coming back to mood. I wanted recording it to feel quick and natural, so I used a simple scale from low to high. I deliberately left out pictures and characters: a cute penguin with a funny face might make you smile, but that doesn’t mean it describes how you feel. The aim was to make it easy to keep track of your feelings and those of the people close to you.
Mood
I wanted each mood entry to capture a little of what was happening around you: the time of day, where you were, or the music you were listening to. The app could automatically attach the song and artist playing on your phone, along with your location. You could also add a voice note, a photo, a video, or a drawing, all without leaving the app.
Friends
Staying in touch with friends was the original idea, but I also wanted people to feel comfortable being honest. Only people you shared your secret code with could find you and read your entries. And because some feelings are private, even from those closest to us, you could keep individual entries to yourself.
With one tap, you could ask how a friend was doing or send a little encouragement. The app would pick a message based on the time, location, and other details.
Tracking
A graph, a map, and a calendar helped you look back over your moods. You could also explore these views on a friend’s profile to get a better sense of how they had been feeling.
The statistics offered another way to spot patterns: how your mood changed throughout the day or week, where you tended to feel good, and what else might be connected to those changes.
A review
from App Store “When things are bothering me this app lets me express myself quickly which saves me from saying things I shouldn’t say. Any question I send in is answered quickly and personally. There are a few improvements in the making which will make this a 6 star app!”
