Google Gives Up on 'Tablescape' Food Porn App
Does the world really need more explicit eclairs
Earlier this year a rumor concerning a new Google app in development dubbed “Tablescape” hit the web. Suspicions were confirmed when the Goog’s food photography service entered beta testing in February, operating in conjunction with a Google+ group called The Plate.
As one might expect of an app centered around immortalizing sustenance, “Tablescape “ allowed users to snap shots of their loganberry-infused kombucha compote pork chops at the latest foodie spot, throw in a clever title (“This is my JAM!”) and receive crowdsourced plaudits. With the tagline “Your community to make, share and discover amazing foodographs” “TableScape” seemed too middle-of-the-road to fail.
The brief e-mail sent to test subjects doesn’t offer a reason for the service’s cancellation, but we can hazard a guess as to why “Tablescape” was axed. Someone finally remembered that Instagram exists. Ultimately, the app proved too Google+ dependent and too niche. Specialization is a good thing for apps, but the photo app space is now so dominated by generalist products that people don’t know what to do with differentiated options. Wash them down with a Friday drink, we suppose.
