BenWoodall(dot)Com

All My Junk — In One Place

Edit: New Version 2.0 with vibraty things and live action voices!

I don’t even remember signing up for the beta, but I got my Google AppInventor invitation this morning and figured I’d play around with it.

It’s pretty basic: it’s just an app that opens this blog, my twitter feed, and my photo gallery. I think there could be a lot of fun with this. There are still a few bugs for Google to work out with it.

Here’s the barcode link to install it on your Android phone.

Click here to add me as a connection
 
After months of deliberation, my work recruiter finally talked me into getting an account.

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.

To be honest, I’ve only just recently been playing with geolocation apps.  Applications like Foursquare and mobile sites like Gowalla (who will soon have an Android app) are two of the big ones that I have been using.  Personally, I prefer the UI and graphics of the mobile Gowalla site to the app that Foursquare has put out, but I have been using Foursquare much more simply because it’s easier to run an app than it is to visit a site and log in.  When Gowalla releases their Android app, I’m almost sure I’ll make the switch.

However, I don’t see the holding power of these services.  Other sites credit them as geosocial games, but really…who cares if I’m the mayor of some place or if I’ve finished completing a user created “trip”.  Their not very game-y.

What I’d like to see?  Tron.  Hell yeah.  I’d like to check in at a series of locations and pit myself against a friend.  You would check in and and an imaginary line would extend from your last check in spot.  The object, of course, would be to make your friend hit the wall you’ve created.

Tell me that wouldn’t be bad ass.