'Explode' Lets You Send Disappearing iMessages

Explode: The Ephemeral Photo App Taking the iPhone by Storm

Explode, a new messaging app, is rapidly climbing the iPhone App Store charts. Its unique selling point? Disappearing photos, or "exploding" images, sent via iMessage that vanish after a few seconds. Mirroring the simplicity of BeReal and Snapchat, Explode prioritizes quick, one-on-one sharing without unnecessary complexity.

A key advantage is that recipients don't need the app installed to view the photos; iMessage is all that's required (Android users are unfortunately excluded).

Using Explode is intuitive: After providing your name and phone number and adding it to iMessage, simply take a photo (or select one from your library), set a timer (1-10 seconds), and send. Text and doodles can be added, or you can opt for a text-only image on a blank background.

Upon opening, the recipient's image self-destructs after the timer expires—a visually engaging effect. A premium subscription ($7.99/month or $39.99/year) unlocks additional features like screenshot blocking and photo replays.

Explode's minimalist design shines through its limited settings. A history page shows pixelated versions of sent images and viewing status, but that's the extent of its functionality beyond image sending.

However, the app's aggressive use of iPhone Live Activities is noteworthy. Sending three photos within an hour of installation triggers a persistent Live Activity promoting the premium subscription. While Live Activities access can be disabled in Settings, this default behavior feels somewhat intrusive.

Developed by Nikita Bier (creator of the now-defunct Gas and TBH apps), Explode enters a crowded market of disappearing photo apps. Yet, its simplicity and lack of friend-app-download requirements are undeniably appealing. However, continued success might lead to future feature additions.

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