Mobile Apps Round-Up 11/13/09: Texting Plus Shoe Shopping and Eye Training for the iPhone
Texting is one of those things that has also gone up in price for users
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PrintMobile communication for business or pleasure isn't just about phone calls, and clearly texting isn't just for the under 20 generation anymore. The problem remains that texting can unfortunately add up, especially if your carrier charges for it. Interestingly, texting is one of those things that has also gone up in price for users, as carriers try to up-sell unlimited plans.
There are options around this, and one newly updated app will let iPhone users text away without increasing their bill in the process. This week, GOGII launched an updated version of its textPlus app, which provides iPhone users with free, unlimited app-to-app texting. The new 2.0 version gives users the ability to create a new "text address," which can be accessed from any text-enabled phone without the need to provide a phone number.
Additionally, when users have access to WiFi networks in the U.K. users can engage in username-to-username text messaging with other users virtually anywhere in the world. The textPlus 2.0 app is free to download, and even offers group text messaging for iPhone and iPod Touch users, with the ability to replay to an entire group. When using the app, standard text message rates will apply only when using certain optional SMS notifications, but otherwise for anyone who does a lot of international traveling and wants a cheap and effective way to stay in touch with colleagues, this is texting plus a lot more. The textPlus app is available now from the Apple App Store.
The Shoe App Fits
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a shoe shopper. I know what I like and once I find a comfortable pair of shoes I usually just keep replacing them, at least until the company stops making them. The problem for me is sometimes finding a retailer that carries my specific footwear.
So if you're like me, you'll be interested in the Shoebuy.com app, as well as those who aspire to be like the fictional Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City fame. In other words, shoe gurus will like this app too, which is now available for free download to the iPhone and the iPod Touch. This app gives access to more than 900 brands and hundreds of thousands of styles of shoes (frankly I didn't know that many, but I'm your basic black shoes kind of guy). Users can search, browse and shop, plus read reviews and even (and more importantly) make purchases straight from the handset, with no sales tax (except for New York State). Of course, shoe gurus don't have to stop there and can share their purchases with friends via Facebook, Twitter or e-mail.
What is really unique about this app is what it means for the future of shopping. Developed by Klick Mobile, a mobile commerce application company, the Shoebuy.com uses filters to help users find similar products by category, gender, style, brand, size, color and most importantly price. This could shape future mobile e-commerce apps. As shopping has already moved from brick and mortar stores to online over the past decade, it isn't hard to imagine how it could move to mobile, and we see this as a type of app that fits like a glove... or would that be old pair of shoes.
Eye Training Via iPhone
While the Eye Training Visual Edition app from Bulkypix and IP4U is essentially a game, it is one worth looking at, as it can help users increase their hand-eye coordination. This upcoming app for the iPhone and iPod Touch offers 20 mini games that are hosted by a personal coach, with an emphasis on visual analysis, visual memory, visual coordination and the field of visual. So even if games aren't really your thing, these might be ones worth playing just so you can hone your eagle eyes.
After Hours Apps of the Week:
That's it for this week's Mobile App Round-up. Be sure to check back every Friday for the latest app happenings.
There are options around this, and one newly updated app will let iPhone users text away without increasing their bill in the process. This week, GOGII launched an updated version of its textPlus app, which provides iPhone users with free, unlimited app-to-app texting. The new 2.0 version gives users the ability to create a new "text address," which can be accessed from any text-enabled phone without the need to provide a phone number.
Additionally, when users have access to WiFi networks in the U.K. users can engage in username-to-username text messaging with other users virtually anywhere in the world. The textPlus 2.0 app is free to download, and even offers group text messaging for iPhone and iPod Touch users, with the ability to replay to an entire group. When using the app, standard text message rates will apply only when using certain optional SMS notifications, but otherwise for anyone who does a lot of international traveling and wants a cheap and effective way to stay in touch with colleagues, this is texting plus a lot more. The textPlus app is available now from the Apple App Store.
The Shoe App Fits
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a shoe shopper. I know what I like and once I find a comfortable pair of shoes I usually just keep replacing them, at least until the company stops making them. The problem for me is sometimes finding a retailer that carries my specific footwear.
So if you're like me, you'll be interested in the Shoebuy.com app, as well as those who aspire to be like the fictional Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City fame. In other words, shoe gurus will like this app too, which is now available for free download to the iPhone and the iPod Touch. This app gives access to more than 900 brands and hundreds of thousands of styles of shoes (frankly I didn't know that many, but I'm your basic black shoes kind of guy). Users can search, browse and shop, plus read reviews and even (and more importantly) make purchases straight from the handset, with no sales tax (except for New York State). Of course, shoe gurus don't have to stop there and can share their purchases with friends via Facebook, Twitter or e-mail.
What is really unique about this app is what it means for the future of shopping. Developed by Klick Mobile, a mobile commerce application company, the Shoebuy.com uses filters to help users find similar products by category, gender, style, brand, size, color and most importantly price. This could shape future mobile e-commerce apps. As shopping has already moved from brick and mortar stores to online over the past decade, it isn't hard to imagine how it could move to mobile, and we see this as a type of app that fits like a glove... or would that be old pair of shoes.
Eye Training Via iPhone
While the Eye Training Visual Edition app from Bulkypix and IP4U is essentially a game, it is one worth looking at, as it can help users increase their hand-eye coordination. This upcoming app for the iPhone and iPod Touch offers 20 mini games that are hosted by a personal coach, with an emphasis on visual analysis, visual memory, visual coordination and the field of visual. So even if games aren't really your thing, these might be ones worth playing just so you can hone your eagle eyes.
After Hours Apps of the Week:
WW2 Beachhead - This is a fitting release for Veterans Day, which was this past Wednesday. And now it is time to defend the beaches in this fast-action arcade game reminiscent on the classic computer game Beachhead. Players have to defend their position against wave after wave of invading troops that hope to overwhelm your defenses. You'll face off against hordes of soldiers, tanks and fast moving fighter planes. You'll have three types of weapons to hold off the enemy including machine guns, artillery and grenades. In the end you're going to lose, but holding out against all odds can be addictively fun. The app from Sunstorm Interactive is available now for an introductory price of $0.99 from the Apple App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Ghosts 'N Goblins: Gold Knights - Halloween might be long past by now, but there are plenty of ghosts and goblins yet to fight in this side-scrolling arcade game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The game, which is available now for $2.99 from the Apple App Store will let you play as either King Arthur or Sir Lancelot and you must defeat these monsters through six stages of adventure where you'll have a variety of weapons including sword, lance, axe or bows and arrows. So, who's afraid of those ghosts and goblins?
That's it for this week's Mobile App Round-up. Be sure to check back every Friday for the latest app happenings.
