Weekly Written Analysis 3
David Wilson
HUMN341-E1WW (WI11)
Jessica Price
01/22/2011
THERE IS AN APP FOR EVERYTHING
We can say that there is truly an app for everything. For those that do not have the latest cell phone, I-pad, or the latest gadget that will help you read or be part of the social networking group, an app is short for application. An app is something that you add to your phone to increase the enjoyment out of it. Now there are over 300,000 apps available to a numerous type of gadgets. Such as the I-phone, android, blackberry, and the I-pad. There are systems that offer just apps, such as Apple and Windows by Microsoft. While most apps are for fun and games, there are more and more apps being written to start filling our needs. Such as navigational apps, weather alert apps, and a new one, for that thrifty shopper an app where you can actually scan a item you are shopping for and it will compare prices for you and let you know what the price is at all the competitive stores in your area. Yes, a person can be at wal-mart and if they have down loaded the latest app for price comparison, they can just scan the item. The wal-mart manager might not like that but it is the new era of shopping. When more people realize how much the new shopping apps can save — and I’m not talking about a buck or two — using a smart phone will be as important as using a shopping cart.
``Apps such as RedLaser (on iPhone), TheFind (on iPhone and Android) and Google (on iPhone) and Google Shopper (on Android), will be indispensable. On the iPhone, TheFind, which is new, was slightly better than its competitors, while on Android, Google Shopper was best.``
They are all worth downloading, and since they are all free, it makes sense to download them all, just in case one does not scan an item perfectly.
They work in roughly the same way. While you are in the store, open the app and a camera like screen appears, with a highlighted frame. Scan a product bar code within that frame and, if the lighting is good and you can get an Internet connection inside the store, the app typically recognizes it. Purchases that are more expensive are in this technology’s sweet spot, since a two-minute smart phone airtime cost could save you $20, if not $200...
Keep in mind: If can expect to find tons of information about an item online — like electronics, books, or appliances — you can expect good results from the apps.
Just a few months ago, a game called crazy bird was the number one free app that was being downloaded, but just like all technology, someone is always looking to be the next number one. An eighth grader in Utah wrote the next great thing. Bubble ball, a puzzle game. A person tries to maneuver a bubble though a maze without busting it. This boy is already working on his next app. We will probably hear about him again, the next social network or the next computer software.
We no longer have to check our TV stations, travel from shop to shop or even look at a map, all that information is know just a smart phone away.
References
BOB TEDESCHI, An app for everything; now it’s bar code scanning, the specs.com (Dec. 2010) retrieved at:
http://www.thespec.com/living/familyparenting/article/305432--an-app-for-everything-now-it- s-bar-code-scanning
Eugene Huo, Bubble Ball, PC Mag, (Jan. 2011) retrieved at:
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