Tag Archives: apps

The greatest battle on Planet Earth: Android vs. iPhone

January 20, 2012

Coke or Pepsi; Nokia or Cannon; Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts; Jolie or Aniston; Nike or Adidas; Madonna or Gaga, ANROID or iPhone? Yes, it seems that the latest and most heated debate is between iPhone and Android users. As a Blackberry user I feel that I can discuss this matter in a non-objective way and stay completely neutral. Knowing that people feel very passionate about this topic, I will be sensitive in addressing the question: which one is better?!

The iPhone first stole our hearts in the summer of 2007 with its chic touch screen design and life-changing apps. That was until the Linux-based operating system better known as the Android popped up on the market in the fall of 2008. Since then, there has been a non-stop competition of “mine’s better than yours.”

So what is the difference? The iPhone runs on Apple’s IOS operating system and it’s available on only three carriers: AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. The iPhone is compatible with iTunes and Apple products; its key features being an 8-mexapixel camera and the Siri voice assistant. Androids run on Google’s mobile operating system and are available on all carriers. However, unlike the iPhone, not all Androids are created equal… capabilities range from budget to super premium. Androids are most compatible with Google services and offer features such as free voice navigations and very customizable voice actions. Most apps are available on both iPhones and Androids, which is convenient because one thing Android and IPhone users can agree on is that it’s all about the apps when they are deciding which smart phone to purchase.

Who’s in first place? According to the most recent study done by Nielson, Apple and Android accounted for 80% of all smart phone purchases in the 2nd quarter of 2011. It seems Android is currently winning the competition, as it accounted for more than half of that 80%. When we break it down by gender, Android has won over the ladies with 51% preferring Android; while 51% of men prefer the iPhone. Just this month at CES 2012, the largest consumer technology tradeshow, Android seem to dominate with their newest version, Android 4.0, which is going to be available on phones, TVs and even cameras. However, the competition stays strong as Apple is expected to release the iPhone 5 this summer, so stay tuned.

Maybe someday Android and iPhone will be able to live together in harmony, but until then, it’s every phone for itself.

- Katherine Cohen, Creative Services Coordinator

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Helico

Finding Foursquare Love

November 14, 2011

“If a check in occurs and nobody acknowledges it or comments on it, did a check in occur at all?”

For years now (two to be exact… because it was started in 2009), I have been on the fence about using Foursquare for personal check-ins. Foursquare has so many useful applications for our clients, but I just couldn’t decide where it fit into my life. One day I decided to just start checking in to see where it took me. I checked in here and there and I noticed other people doing the same, but there was nothing beyond the check in… no fireworks, no contests, no payday. I wondered if my check-ins were even relevant to the few people who followed me. I also worried about wasting bandwidth on my mobile data plan, because I’m the kind of guy who worries about every little detail.

Then one day I decided to do something about my lackluster interest in Foursquare and create something useful. I teamed up with the Pocketstop developer, Adam, to learn more about the API so that we could build an app that would display Foursquare check-ins on a screen. My vision was a “red carpet” type experience for live events.  A couple of late nights later, Adam and I had built a live check-in engine. We debuted it at the Jingle Mingle last week.

Now my relationship with Foursquare is a full on love affair. The ways the API allow us to combine creativity and technology is amazing. Even better are the possibilities of what we can build by integrating our Social CRM platform. I’ll keep blogging about Foursquare over the next year or so as we dive deeper into the API and integrate more and more with our platform.

- Brian Teague, Chief Technology Director