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All My Junk — In One Place

The official Gowalla app finally came out for the Android operating system yesterday and I’ve been waiting to write a Gowalla vs Foursquare post for a while now.  However, after using the Gowalla app for a day, I’ve decided I can’t REALLY write anything on it because it sucks so horribly bad.  I hate that too.  I’ve been rooting for the Gowalla app team for a while now and every now and then, I’ll even use the mobile site, m.gowalla.com.  Their design is a lot cleaner than Foursquare and I like the way it shows local venues.

But… The Gowalla app has COMPLETELY locked up my Droid 3 times now.  The whole thing just shuts down and I have to do a battery removal.  Also, Auto Wi-Fi use.  Why can’t it just use the GPS system like EVERY OTHER APP ON THE MARKET?  For some reason, it turns on my Wi-Fi connection in an attempt to better find my location.  This was probably my biggest irk for the Gowalla app.  I won’t write an official VS post until a newer app comes out…it’s just not a fair fight.

In the mean time…here are some Gowalla Mobile vs Foursquare pics.

Everyone keeps speculating what Cupertino’s problem with adding Adobe Flash to their iPhone and the upcoming iPad is.  Most side with Apple with the thought that Flash is just too great a resource hog to run on the phone. Of course, I don’t know if this is true or not, but I do know that my Motorola Droid runs on a processor that’s 50mHz slower and it multitasks and transitions with no hick-ups.  I really don’t think that a bogged down processor is the problem

The fact is that if Flash was allowed on the phone, Apple’s closed source, closed market would falter because at least 80% of the apps are available for free in Flash format.

Why would someone pay for Apple’s top selling apps  Bejeweled 2($2.99)  or even Tetris ($4.99!) when you can surf over to Goriya or OnlineFlashGames?  There are plenty of apps that Flash can replace for free.

….seriously? $4.99 for Tetris?…

Top iPhone app downloads via The Apple Blog

Used a lot of dill on the fish. Yum.

Snapped some pics this morning while drinkin coffee outside the lab.

So I’ve been playing around with Google’s new social app, “Buzz.”   I’ve had no qualms in the past talking about my Google fan-boy-ism, so when I say I’m a bit let down by it, you know I mean business.

The lack of quid-pro-quo twitter tie in is horrid.  I like that I can add my twitter posts to buzz, but why can’t I have it the other way around?  I know they’re trying to kill off Twitter with this, but it’s a step.

Also, my Twitter address is twitter.com/benwoodall... my Buzz address is google.com/profiles/benwoody.  I don’t see why google.com/benwoody wouldn’t link to my profile.  It’s a mouthful.

And the main point of this rant? The mobile web client.  I hear it’s different for Android and iPhone users.  The android version of the mobile site is HORRID!  I can’t update.  I can’t follow/unfollow friends from it.  And the timeline is so screwed up, I can’t tell what comes first.

BUT I HAVE A WORK AROUND!

Screw pointing your browers to buzz.google.com.  On the Droid, I find that it’s easier to see what locals and your friends are saying by using the Foursquare app. Once you’ve loaded the app, find your location and click on the “Map” tab.  Then click the geolocation button in the upper right of the map.  It brings you right to the address you want on Android Maps if you have the Buzz layer added.  You can see who’s around and then add what you want to the place you’re at.

Hope we get a Buzz app soon,

~Ben

Edit 1:
I see that it’s a bit confusing as to why you wouldn’t just use the android maps app to use Buzz. I like to use Foursquare because it finds the business or exact address you’re at before you update buzz. It seems to me that when you use buzz to find your where-abouts…it’s not as exact. Because Foursquare uses user info to find places, I think it’s more accurate.

Wardrobe via Goodwill. Sweat stains via PAM Cooking Oil. Pretty much the only person who dressed up. But I got a free ticket.