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iPhone Apps I'd Totally Buy
Merlin Mann | Jul 17 2008
But it got me thinking about the stuff I want — the itches I want to scratch. So, iPhone developer friends. Please make these three apps. Prime ThisElevator pitch: Scan barcode to instantly order an item via Amazon Out and about and see something you want to buy? Maybe a book, CD, or DVD that you want, but don’t want to buy/carry/pack right now? No problem. Take a photo of the item’s barcode, hit one button, and the item is instantly ordered through Amazon 1-Click using your default credit card and shipping preferences. Done. Yeah, I know; I know. You want price comparisons, and wish lists, and an API for tagging and “mashups.” Well, suck it up; you’re not who this is for. This is for hardcore, mainlining Amazon Prime power users. That’s why it has exactly one button: “Prime This.” Suggested price: Free (developer will make a killing on affiliate money) iParkedElevator pitch: Location-aware parking reminder Open the app, hit a button, and your location is noted and added to a map. Optionally add an alarm (for the parking meter or street cleaning), notes and photos (“3rd level; Area G”), and other pertinent data (“Closes at 1am; after hours number is….”). When you’re ready to go to your car, the app reminds you where you parked (with a walking map), and off you go. Suggested price: $5 That Reminds MeElevator pitch: Lightweight, location-aware alarm app Tell TRM the really mushy kinds of things that fall somewhere between a todo and a wish and a curiosity.
Using functionality similar to OmniFocus’s flexible, location-aware contexts, add new items to your list with optional alarms and start/end dates. Then forget about it. Next time you’re geographically near where you need to be, you get a reminder and a map to get you there. Suggested price: $5 The Question to YouWhat’s the iPhone app you crave? What would take great advantage of Location Services, the camera, SDK features, or what have you? What itch do you want to have scratched? 52 Comments
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 App I craveSubmitted by cowboybill on July 17, 2008 - 9:03am.
Since the Nike+ doesn’t work for the iPhone, how about an app that you click start and it starts a timer and uses the gps to track your distance. At the end you click on stop and it tells you how long you ran, how far, and shows your trail on google maps. You can save this info to your computer to have a running log. I’d pay for that! »
Don't think that "Prime This" will work with iPhone opticsSubmitted by rob_durst on July 17, 2008 - 9:04am.
Merlin: I don’t believe that the current iPhone optics will read standard UPC/EAN product codes since the camera has to be: (a) close enough to get enough pixels on the code to capture the linear barcode detail (b) in focus so that the image is not blurred; and (c) far enough away to capture the entire barcode at once (unless you have some image stitching capability on board). This usually requires the device to have: (a) a swappable macro focus lens; or (b) macro autofocus capability; or (c) other macro focus optics. Optics should work fine for “2D mobile codes”, like QR, since: (a) they have larger elements and (b) they include error correction that allows you to calculate botched elements that you capture using the good ones that you capture (assuming that you have enough good ones). Will check. BTW, if this does work a great application would be to scan a UPC/EAN and then check for availability on eBay. They already have a WAP front end up that you can submit a UPC/EAN to ( m.ebay.com ) »
Re: Don't think that "Prime This" will work with iPhone opticsSubmitted by tashtego on July 17, 2008 - 10:32am.
If you do check, please post a follow-up. One thought I’ve had is that even if the barcode graphic isn’t readable, the ISBN (I’m thinking of writing an app that scans a book’s ISBN and adds it to your request queue at your library) might be. Likewise, the lines might be blurry, but the numbers in the UPC might be readable. There’s already a library for Cocoa that can scan a barcode from a photo, so if no one has done it yet that would lead one to believe that it’s the camera’s fault. »
 Re:Don't think that "prime this" will work with iphone opticsSubmitted by pseudorandom on July 17, 2008 - 11:10am.
I am pretty sure that it the iphone camera is powerful enough. The isight camera built into other macs do a fine job of scanning bar codes as apps like delicious library has shown. »
Re:Don't think that "prime this" will work with iphone opticsSubmitted by pseudorandom on July 17, 2008 - 11:10am.
I am pretty sure that it the iphone camera is powerful enough. The isight camera built into other macs do a fine job of scanning bar codes as apps like delicious library has shown. »
Gmail/Gcal + Exchange + iPhone = BrilliantSubmitted by drschultz on July 17, 2008 - 9:05am.
Ok i know lifehacker did an article on this using mail2web but i think there must be a better way: What i would like to see, is a web app where you create an account, give it your gmail username/pw and it then creates a sort of “Exchange proxy” between gmail/gcal & your iphone. All automated and without any annoying filters & rules in gmail. »
Gmail/Gcal + iPhone = DoneSubmitted by Montgomery on July 18, 2008 - 10:04am.
I’m using http://www.nuevasync.com/ and it’s awesome. Syncs my Google calendar and contacts directly to the iPhone’s native calendar and contacts. »
Re: iPhone Apps I'd Totally BuySubmitted by Marktron on July 17, 2008 - 9:06am.
iParked sounds really similar to G-Park (iTunes link), which is in the app store and I have not tried. »
Re: Re: iPhone Apps I'd Totally BuySubmitted by dsacgt on July 18, 2008 - 7:14pm.
You can acheive the main function of iParked (locating your parked car) by using a drop pin in maps. »
About Merlin Mann Bio Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life. Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written recently is a short essay called, “Better.” |
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