Coolest use of Android yet

File this under Gadget envy, cross indexed with "too much time"... Either way, it's cool.

Vote ShopSavvy!

I reviewed ShopSavvy in an earlier post.

ShopSavvy has been nominated for a 2008 Crunchie award from the good folks at techcrunch.com. So head over and give them your vote. Alas, you can only vote once in a 24 hour period... Maybe we can ACORN in on a consultation basis

And while you're at it, there are several other categories in which you can vote... after you vote for ShopSavvy.

ShopSavvy Review

Take away: If you have an android phone, you should have this app.


One of my favorite apps on my Android G1 is called ShopSavvy. It uses the camera on the G1 to scan the UPC bar code, then it does a server trip to check prices and availability. It's not infallible, but damn...

I was in a big box electronics retailer a couple of weeks ago. The first item I scanned was a GPS/Cell phone holder with weighted friction pad for 'mounting' on a dashboard. One of these thingies:



This particular retailer had it for $39.99. ShopSavvy returned two retailers in the area selling it for less. ShopSavvy then offered the me the opportunity to call the store or draw a map to the store. ShopSavvy also returned hits from the web and then gave me the choice of going to the website or e-mailing the link. Bottom line: I didn't pay $39.99.

In addition to searching for products, users can maintain wishlists organized by groups, set price alerts for items and keep a history of scanned items. Once an item is scanned ShopSavvy also presents the user with user reviews of the item.

The history function is more handy than I had first thought. You see I still haven't bought or ordered the friction mat thingy. But just the other day I retrieved my scan from history, and ShopSavvy re-executed the server trip and returned updated information... more stores locally and even cheaper.

I scanned an item that returned an incorrect graphic and description, but had the right prices. I fired off an e-mail to the developer, Big in Japan. I received a prompt and courteous reply that told me how the error happened, which was more than I needed to know but very much appreciated.

ShopSavvy has also saved me money the old fashioned way... by not giving in to an impulse to buy. Scanning and comparing is almost as good as buying. Like that 46" Sharp Aquous 1080p LCD TV with 4 HDMI inputs I saw at BJ's for $1,200... a price that ShopSavvy couldn't beat.

I wonder if I can scan some diamonds for my wife...

Similar apps: Compare Everywhere, Barcode Reader.

Android...

I ordered my G1 Android powered phone from T-Mobile on Monday morning, and it arrived Tuesday evening. First impression:WOW.

It's not the sea change that the iPhone was when it first came out. It is, however, a game changer. The iPhone represented a spectacular user interface change. Beautiful design and great engineering. But it didn't change the business. In fact, it reinforced Apple's control freak reputation. But the smart phone business was the same. You got your handset and all of the apps from one source. Android changes the landscape just a bit. Anyone can publish apps for the Android framework. This does mean there will be a lot of crap out there. But it also means there are a lot of choices. In less than 24 hours I've larded my phone with not one, but two bar-code reading shopping/price comparison apps (ShopSavvy and CompareEverywhere), a gas shopping/location app called GasBot (very good), a handful of games, a second media player (tunewiki), a settings manger that uses the phone's current location as a basis for changing settings (Locale), a picture editing/markup thingy called PicSay, and a unique, sort of weird but very cool navigation thingy called Breadcrumz. Breadcrumz allows you to use or create point of view 'directions'... One of the stock files shows the user how to get a great view of Jerusalem... by taking a few back alleys in the Old City.

androidapps.com review of Parallel Kingdom

Now I'm seriously jonesing for a G1...

Take a look at: AppVee Android Apps - Daily Android app video reviews! - Parallel Kingdom Review

Maybe I should order a G1 now... then port my number later...

Android v. Apple

I'm nearing the end of my contract with my cell provider. I have been fighting the itch for a smart phone for quite some time... But now that itch must be scratched.

The three contenders:

Stay with Big Red and go with the BlackBerry Storm

AT&T and the iPhone.

T-Mobile and the first Android phone, the G1.

I don't have all of the info for pricing on the BB Storm yet, but it appears that VZW's data plan will be very expensive. Verizon has a separate tier for BlackBerry devices... But the deal breaker for the Storm - no Wi-Fi. Stupid decision by Verizon. I can't imagine a smart phone without it. I'll go look at one on launch day, but unless it is orgasmic, it's out of the running.

I don't think there is anything more I can add about the iPhone that hasn't already been blogged by others. But... the system is closed tighter than North Korea. Sure some defectors make it out of the hermit kingdom, but most of the peasants are doomed. Why, oh why, is the battery locked down?

That leaves the Android powered G1. Right now T-Mo's network in my area lacks 3G... but on the other hand Android is open and the data plans appear less expensive than Verizon or AT&T.

I'm spending waaaay tooooo much time thinking/obsessing about this.

UPDATE: I just downloaded the Android SDK... I actually started this update using the SDK phone emulator.

One word: hooked.