...because I have a great idea for a new app. Earlier today I took an old Mega Millions ticket to the grocery store and used the lotto scanner to see if I won anything. I didn't win, of course, but it occurred to me that this would make a great app for the iPhone (or Android or BlackBerry!). I can already refill my mother's Walgreen's prescriptions by scanning the barcode and ordering the refills. I can sell an item on eBay by scanning its barcode and setting a price. I can also do price comparisons by using the RedLaser app (owned by eBay). I can also buy coffee at Starbucks by scanning my account number at the check-out counter. Why can't I check my Mega Millions or Powerball tickets to see if I won anything?? To be fair, there are some apps out there that will check your numbers, but they require that you enter your ticket numbers by hand. The technology should be the same as the scanner I used earlier today at the lotto retailer. Wish I knew an app developer.......
Showing posts with label iPhone apps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPhone apps. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
My Top Ten iPhone apps
I've had my iPhone 3GS for about a year and have loaded a lot of apps into it. Some of the apps I have since discarded, but there are many worthwile apps and I thought I would share my Top Ten iPhone apps. All of these apps work on the 3GS running iOS 4.2.1. These apps are listed in no particular order and were free at the time I downloaded them.
- Facebook - If you are a Facebook user, this is a must-have app. It's fun to update your status while away from your PC. It's also convenient to easily upload pictures or video from your iPhone.
- Twitter for iPhone - If you are a Twitter user, this is the "official" Twitter iPhone app. Other great Twitter iPhone clients include TweetDeck, HootSuite and Seesmic. These apps also let you update your Facebook status.
- IntoNow - This is an interesting app. Asuming you are a Facebook or Twitter user, you can share the TV show you are watching with your friends/followers. Load the app and place the iPhone near the TV speaker, within a few seconds it will recognize the show and list it on the phone. From there, you can share it. I don't know how it knows the show, but it's recognized the show about 98% of the time!
- SoundHound - Have you ever turned on your favorite music station only to miss the name of the song that's playing? With SoundHound, you simply place the iPhone near the radio speaker and it will recognize the song and display it for you. You can even order it from iTunes if you wish. Be careful doing this, however, while driving!!
- GasBuddy - With gas prices soaring, finding the nearest gas station with the lowest prices has become a challenge. With this app, you can find out where the lowest prices are. After sharing your location (via GPS) with GasBuddy, you can find the nearest stations and sort it by the lowest prices or the nearest location. If you register at the GasBuddy website, you can also update the station prices.
- FootFeed - After getting your mobile phone, you may find yourself playing some of the locational games such as Foursquare and Gowalla (among others). These games involve checking in at some location such as a restaurant, store, bar, museum and so forth. If your friends also belong to these services, they will know where you are. You can vy to be the "mayor" of the location by having the m,ost check-ins. Some locations offer discounts or some incentive to check-in. Each of these services have their own mobile app, but if you belong to several services, it becomes a pain checking in to each service. FootFeed solves that by letting you check into multiple services at one time.
- Google Mobile App - This app lets you use your Gmail or do a Google search on your iPhone. There are a host of Google services bundled within the app and can be revied here.
- RedLaser - Ever been to a store and found an item you wanted to buy, but were curious if you could buy it cheaper somewhere else? With RedLaser, simple scan the item's barcode and you will be presented with a list of prices at nearby locations and online stores. RedLaser was recently purchased by eBay and the scanning functionality has been built into the eBay iPhone app. The new eBay app now includes online auctions.
- Posterous - If you have a Posterous blog like me, you can update your blog or upload photos to your blog with their new app. Tumblr has a similar app for their blogs too.
- ESPN ScoreCenter - Do you have to be somewhere, but don't want to miss the score of the big game? With ESPN's app, you can keep track of your favorite teams away from home. You can set up score alerts so each time your team scores, it will sound an alert. (Be careful with this, however, as it can become obnoxious!)
There are other great apps for the iPhone, but I limited this list to my favorite ten apps. I'm curious what your favorite iPhone apps are.
Note: With the new iOS, you can organize your apps into folders for easier access.
via ScribeFire
Friday, December 3, 2010
There really is an app for that!
I am constantly amazed on how much we use our smartphones for tasks other than making telephone calls. I have had my iPhone 3GS since April and have added a number of apps to it. Several months ago, I added the Walgreen's app so I could order prescription refills for my mother. The Walgreen's app simulates the ordering process that can also be accomplished on the Walgreen's website. Nothing particularly special about it, but useful just the same. A few days ago, iTunes notified me to an update to the Walgreen's app. I downloaded and installed it and then quickly forgot about the update.
This morning I needed to refill one of her prescriptions and I turned on the app to go through the normal refill process. The update introduced something new called "Express Refills by Scan." You simply aim the phone's camera on the prescription bottle or box until you have focused in on the bar code. Instead of taking a picture, the app recognizes the proprietary bar code and automatically captures the it. The app automatically converts the scan into the refill number and lets me accept the information before proceeding with the order. I think it took two button clicks to finish the order. I'm really interested on how these apps will continue to change our lives going forward.
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