App Inventor for Android

App Inventor for Android makes it easier for people to access the capabilities of their Android phones and create apps for their personal use. Until now, it was only available to a group of people who requested and received invitations. Last week, Google announced that App Inventor (beta) is now available to anyone with a Google account. Visit the App Inventor homepage to get set up and start building your own Android app—and be sure to share your App Inventor story on the Google App Inventor user forum!

iphone blackberry android shopping apps

Barcode readers

    RedLaser (free for iPhone): Think "red laser" as in the laser in the scanner at the cash register. By tapping the lightning bolt on the screen and steadying the phone's camera over a barcode, you can get details in a flash. If the camera isn't picking up the barcode, you can tap in the digits in the code. You can create wish lists of your scans and e-mail your list.

It's a great tool for comparison shopping online -- and offline. There's a "local" feature that looks for your products at nearby locations using the location services of your phone.  On many food items, RedLaser calls up nutritional information. Of course, it doesn't always find what you're looking for, but we've had more hits than misses.

Google Shopper (free for Android): This Google app lets you do a voice search and image or barcode search. Same concept, tap and zap. You can share results through many avenues including Bluetooth, e-mail and Twitter. Like RedLaser, this app lets you do comparison shopping online and offline. It also provides reviews when available.

You can also use your Android phone to snap the cover of a book, DVD or video game to get details (available in SnapTell for iPhone).

The voice-searching works fine, too. But it can be a little less specific. For instance, if you just say "The Lucky Ones," you're likely to get a bunch of results to weed through until you find the one you're really looking for. 

ShopSavvy (free for Android, iPhone, Nokia and $1.99 for iPhone 2G): It also offers barcode scanning and wish lists like the other two. ShopSavvy also recognizes QR codes, those codes you may see popping up in stores and magazines that look like some kind of inkblot or obscurist black and white box art. 

Another helpful feature is the price alert for items you're interested in. It lists prices for stores built on clicks and bricks.

Lists

Shopper (free for Android, BlackBerry, 99 cents for iPhone or the free "Lite" version): This is one of the apps that includes RedLaser barcode scanning. There's also a Web interface you can access from your computer of choice. The lists you create are sharable via e-mail or through the app. Shared lists will update with any changes. You can customize your stores lists with those you frequent and get a list of weekly deals. 

You can also use the app to track your grocery budget and spending. It'll calculate what's on your list versus what's in your cart, add in tax and the discount for any coupons you have.

Remember we mentioned scanning? Well, for those of us who are more impulse buyers than planners, you can scan items into your shopping list. And if it's something you plan to buy again, you can make it a favorite to save the information you've already entered.

It'll also send "carts," so you can let your other half know what's already been bought.

Evernote (free for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm Pre/Pixi, Windows Mobile): This app is one of those gems that you probably have sitting on your phone and never use. But make a note to yourself to use it. Not only is it accessible on multiple smartphone platforms, you can use it on your Mac or PC, making it quite the MVP. You can create text lists, photo and audio notes. We recently used it for both a honey-do list and for mattress shopping, complete with geolocated photos.

Source:On This latimes Page

Amazing Android Apps

The Android Market, you will soon discover has hundreds of apps (applications), games and widgets, both free and paid, to make your phone a more useful, multipurpose and entertaining device. Here is a list of applications you could do well to download:

Advanced task killer:

In order to save on battery drain due to multiple applications running simultaneously, it is advisable to download the Advanced Task Killer, or ATK. The application gathers a list of all the applications on your mobile and runs on three levels – safe, aggressive and crazy. Or you manually choose the apps you wish to kill, and ignore the ones you want left alone.

ColorNote:

This is a simple note-taking app. It allows you to create different notes and checklists, and give them a specific title and color. You can lock your notes with a password. You can sort your notes alphabetically, by time created or by color. You can also do a search for quick access. The app also allows you to backup and import your notes from SD card, and add “stickies” to your home screen. The downside is that you cannot share, SMS or email your notes.

Document scanner/ Portable scanner:

This app scans documents using your phone camera, and converts them into PDF files. You can then email the files, save them to your SD card, or upload to Google docs. On the downside, this Beta app will soon go paid.

Flashlight:

Great for when you want to find your way around in the theater! This app has options such as a color flashlight, strobe light, blink, spiral, candle and more.

Handcent/ ChompSMS:

The default SMS applications typically leave a lot to be desired. With these applications, you can take customization to a whole new level. This includes changing fonts, font sizes, background colors and images, speak your SMS, blacklist, search, add signature and display messages in iPhone like bubble style.

Folder Organizer lite:

Once you have a whole bunch of apps downloaded, your next problem will be quick and easy access. Simply having them on your home screen will be messy. Folder Organizer Lite creates a list of all your apps, games, contacts and bookmarks, and lets you display these on your home screen in widgets, of which you have three sizes to choose from. It also gives you choices in icons, fonts display etc, and the fully paid version offers you more conveniences.

Tripit:

This is a great travel organizer. You simply forward your travel confirmation emails to TripIt and it automatically creates master travel itineraries. After that, you just need to click to check flight status on any airline, view confirmation numbers from rental car suppliers, or get directions to hotels. The paid version gives additional features like flight alerts and alternate flight options.

So visit the Android Market and add more capabilities to your already souped up droid today!