I have to give a quick shout out to Apple. This past weekend saw the release of the iPhone 3G. That I could care less about. (Okay, so I really, really want one, but I'm NOT paying almost $100/month to have unlimited internet and phone service. I'm not MADE of money.) But the real news (for me) was that it also saw the release of software 2.0 for the iPod touch, a product that I proudly own. Well, 2.0 cost $10 and, like a schlub, I instantly bought it. I thought I might soon end up regretting my impulsive purchase, but I couldn't have been more wrong: it was worth every penny...and then some.
The new apps that run on 2.0 are plentiful and pleasing. Yes, some of them (most?) cost something, but it's up to the developers to set the price point, not Apple (although Apple does take a 30% cut of all sales). As a result, there are tons of great free apps that fun and functional.
For instance, Pandora, a great online radio source that allows users to tailor the tracks to their own personal tastes, has a free app offered on the App Store. It's a great way to find new artists that fit your unique musical preferences. There's also another fun app called Urbanspoon that turns your iPod into a restaurant-seeking slot machine. Just shake the iPod and it spins three options: neighborhood (in your city), food type, and price. Never again will I have to worry about finding a new place to eat. And for a food lover such as myself, this could be bad news for my waistline...
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4 comments:
Those are some pretty cool apps. Kudos to Apple.
I won't deny that Apple is brilliant at industrial design. They are good at what they do. Exceptionally good, I might add.
But I hate their business plan, and, I might add, the Messiah attitude people take to Steve Jobs. I'm sure it annoys me just as much as it annoyed Hillary Clinton fans about Obama followers. ;)
But those do sound like cool applications. Well, some of them sounded dumb. A faux GPS-like app that helps you find where you parked? I'm sorry, but that's just lazy. Your brain age will probably drop significantly if you have to rely on apps to remember simple things like that. But I love finding new restaurants just as much as you. My only worries would be if they only have restaurants like chain restaurants and so forth, not the hole in the wall restaurants Dantzel and I usually go out of our way to find.
Let me know how it goes.
Plus. I heart Pandora.
Actually, the programs (with the exception of a few) were not designed by Apple at all. So no need to congratulate them on any accomplishment other than having the good sense to open up their SDK so that developers could make some cool apps for the iPhone (and iPod touch). I simply thought that any mention of an Apple product would make your skin crawl, regardless of its content. But yes, I enjoy many of the apps being developed, and as you said, there are plenty of dumb ones, but that's what is great. The truly dumb ones won't make it in the market. However, I suspect you underestimate the world's stupidity, and thus its inherent need for programs to help people find their cars :P
Oh, and Urbanspoon has the ever elusive "hole-in-the-wall." I checked. (I had the same question, so I tested it to see if it had some of my favorite local eateries, and lo and behold, it did!) So it's fun AND practical.
Well, blow me over! That's pretty nice of them to do that.
I can't stand chain restaurants anymore. The only ones I really frequent with any sense of, er, frequency is Denny's because it is open 24/7. Other than that, hole in the wall restaurants are where it's at.
If you ever visit, I've got a list of amazing restaurants for you.
Oh, and Apple is starting to loosen its iron grip? :D
Also, I understand my outburst left a sour taste in your mouth. I apologize for that. You must have caught me in a particularly bad mood about Apple.
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