New Media M.A. Research Blog | Media Studies, University of Amsterdam

App review: Appie, groceries 2.0

Some do it on a daily basis, some do it on a weekly basis: grocery shopping. The best known and one of the oldest supermarkets in the Netherlands is Albert Heijn. In november 2009 the company introduced Appie (pun...

By Bree Tahapary on 10/16/11 1

App review; Pixlr

I am a photographer. I have an app for that. Pixlr is a Flash-based image editing application from Autodesk. Autodesk is well known for its industry standard architectural and entertainment software such as AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max. Autodesk...

By Martijn Dorresteijn on 10/13/11 Comments Off

App review: Sleep as an droid. Or as a cyborg?

I love to sleep. So much that waking up early on Monday for morning classes is a hard and laborious task. I always set my alarm clock about half an hour early to compensate for the time spent snoozing...

By Renoud Netjes on 10/12/11 1

Infinity on a mobile device: Astronomy apps

Have you always wanted to know the constellations? Are you interested in where you can find Mars but can you only find the sun and the moon in the sky? Do you never want to miss out on a...

By Stijnie Thuijs on 10/11/11 Comments Off

UberSocial App Review – Mobile Tweeting

Twitter’s official app for Android is notorious for its limited features and overall lack of functionality. Let’s face it – if people had a choice between the official app and using a computer, they’d choose the latter. Or maybe...

By Christopher Mead on 10/11/11 Comments Off

App Review: Avoidr & Anti-Social Networking.

Avoidr is a plugin powered by Foursquare which allows users to see check-ins of those they want to avoid. It seems perfect for dodging that awkward moment when you bump into an ex, evading conversations with that annoying or...

By Liam Voice on 10/10/11 Comments Off

Prey – an open source anti theft solution for Mac, PCs & Phones [Review]

Prey is a program that should help you feel more relaxed when using your brand new macbook pro in public. It lets you keep track of your phone or laptop if it is lost or stolen. For the...

By Clément Adam on 10/10/11 1

Blendr. It Won’t Work – How About “Straight” Grindr?

Blendr is a geosocial networking application allowing users to connect with nearby people based on common interests. Created by the same developers as the "hook-up" app Grindr, the focus Blendr has on meeting people through common interests and platonic...

By Autumn Hand on 10/10/11 Comments Off

Phone fun — Phone art

With the help of Internet and what follows it, with the help of social media and mobile phones development, today many people percieve themselves as artists. What we can easily observe is that the form of artistic creativity which...

By Urszula Jurgiel on 10/10/11 2

Crowdflow: pretty pictures with our iPhone localisation data

Smartphones have changed the way we think about pretty much all aspects of communication. We’re used to having internet access in our pockets, GPS, barcode readers – you name it. There are thousands of applications to make our lives...

By Ave Tampere on 10/10/11 1

App Review: AroundMe

Where is the next cinema? Are there any pubs and restaurants near by? Where can I find the nearest points of interest? With the help of an iPhone you can answer such questions yourself within seconds. GPS and permanent...

By Jesse Oyegbesan on 10/09/11 Comments Off

App Review: Stiktu (Beta)

…is a new (not yet released) augmented reality app for Android and iPhone by the makers of Layar. It enables users to attach (‘stick’) texts and images to ‘real-life’ objects, whether it is a book, a pack of cigarettes,...

By Daniel de Zeeuw on 10/08/11 Comments Off

How an app can save a life

Mobile applications are no longer just for fun and (financial) benefits. They can even help in saving a life. Think of Amber Alert, a Dutch warning system for missing children, Slown Down , an app that slows down your...

By Annet Bos on 10/07/11 3

Adding emotional value to apps: Buurtwinkels

We all use apps for practical reasons; checking e-mail, messaging, checking train departure times and much more. These apps are down-to-earth practical; they don’t bring tears to my eyes or amaze me with flashy images or unbelievable content. But...

By Leonie Nijenmanting on 10/06/11 Comments Off