Moonshine! Is an app that is new on the market that aims to make planning a night out easy by alerting its users of when nearby bars and restaurants open and close. The Moonshine! App works by allowing the user to enter their location using a phone’s GPS system, from here, the app provides three main points of information including: which bars are open in the users vicinity; how far away the bars are from the users current location in both distance and in walking time; and of course, how long the selected bars are open, whilst featuring closing and opening times.
In terms of originality and innovation, the app works as a more portable and streamlined form of Tripadvisor/ Google based apps, and so, whilst the app demonstrates current technologies and methods already in use, it does make such technologies easier to use whilst on the go.
The app is relatively easy to use and works much like a GPS, whilst providing three different search options including: bars, restaurants and all in order to plan your evening more effectively. The on-screen GPS map allows you to select venues and links to a venue information screen which provides you with information on its opening/ closing times and distance in time and metres.
The app typically attracts a younger audience and caters to a particular lifestyle that is symptomatic of students and young professionals. Despite this, the features demonstrated are relevant to people of all ages and are useful for anyone wishing to plan a night out whilst on the go.
The app is completely free and combined with its ease of use, makes it excellent value for money and extremely useful for users that regularly attend nights out as well as those that only go out occasionally, but wish to make the night as long or as tailored to their interests as possible.
The app features a host of strength and weaknesses, in terms of the apps strengths: the app is simple and easy to use whilst on the go; it is extremely cost effective; and the apps use of GPS systems in order to tell you distances and bars that are open or closed is good in its intention. The apps major weakness however aligns itself with other review based programmes such as Tripadvisor in the quality and reliability of the information provided. Bars and restaurants are closing, opening and amending times all the time and this will prove an extremely arduous process keeping on top of this. In using other apps and websites of bars and restaurants, I have found information to be missing or entered wrongly into the database; and so, the question remains as to whether such inaccuracies and inconsistencies will also find themselves within the app on a regular basis.
Hello Vino
Hello Vino is an up and coming app that specialises in wine and boasts the claim of providing an on-the-go sommelier service, whilst removing the snobbery indicated within circles of wine enthusiasts. The app works on a search or scan basis and has been designed in order to aid users in making wine selections that match their chosen meal whilst still in the supermarkets.
In terms of originality and innovation, it has already been suggested that other apps exist that cater to this need. However, the unique selling point of this app suggests a simpler service that would not require you to go into the complexities of the wine enthusiasts world, whilst still retaining enough knowledge of wine to make the best decisions in terms of what flavours should accompany what sort of wines.
The app boasts simplicity as one of its predominant qualities over its competitors and succeeds insofar as it works on a basic search system as well as featuring a self-scanning label system to further streamline the process. The apps anchor page features six options which a categorised according to what event/ social occasion you are requiring the wine for, including: the typical meal, special occasion or as a gift. A further five page deviations allow for more in depth features such as wine databases, flavour descriptions and recommendations.
As indicated, the app features a target audience of shoppers and has been designed in order to aid shoppers whilst engaged within the shopping trip. As a result, the app can be seen to have a regular usage potential and a degree of longevity. The app is completely free and widely available and can be seen as exceptional value for money in terms of the service it provides.
When evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the app there are several points to consider. In terms of strengths, the app boasts an exceptionally user-efficient service that can be used when it is needed most. The inclusion of the wine label scanner can be considered a major unique selling point that helps to streamline the service further. Additionally, the flavour thesaurus that allows the matching of certain foods and flavours to complimentary wines provides a service that is relevant, useful and current within society. Despite the apps many positive points, it does have several weaknesses. Firstly, one crucial point to consider is that there are already apps that feature the exact same purpose already on the market, and whilst the Hello Vino app claims to differ, the primary purpose remains the same. Secondly, due to the need for such information previously, many labels already detail flavours and which dishes compliment them on the bottle and therefore the overall requirement of the app comes into question. Lastly, issues with self-scanning label process can be found in that certain wines may not feature on the apps database.
Harvest
The Harvest app is a specialised database that provides its users with helpful information regarding the storing and selection process of produce. The database features over 120 produce items and allows its users to check what variety of produce is in season, when the best time of the year is to look out for certain produce items, as well as further information regarding the correct storage procedure in order to retain the best out of your produce and information regarding pesticide levels which can indicate when the best time is for users to buy organic.
In terms of originality and innovation, Harvest represents a unique development that attempts to satisfy the growing inquisitive nature of consumers in their desire to know where their produce comes from, what their produce contains in terms of pesticides, and, how their produce can be stored and selected in order to guarantee it stays fresher for longer.
The app is relatively easy to use and the database works with an alphabetical system with the option to search for particular products. After selecting one particular item, the database them provides the crucial information needed in order to select the produce of best quality, including further information regarding the perfect temperature and conditions to store the product and whether they are prone to certain defects such as premature moulding or discolouration and whether this effects the overall quality of the product. The portability of such information allows this to be used whilst part of the shopping process.
The app features a large target audience, catering especially to regular grocery shoppers and users wishing to know more about what to eat and how to store food in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle that is free of preservatives and chemicals. The app has attracted a great deal of attention and has been endorsed by healthy lifestyle companies including weightwatchers; furthermore, the app currently costs $1.99 and has proven to be cost effective with Apple noting that this app has achieved the rank of 2nd on their database of paid for reference apps.
The app has been considered a strong contender in terms of its value and consumer requirement as an app and has several strengths. Firstly, the app is relatively original in design and provides useful and concise information that meets consumer demands as an app that allows the user to select and store products effectively, but, most importantly, how to select the best quality produce in the first place. Secondly, with a variety of over 120 items, the app can be seen to have considerable coverage of many produce types. Lastly, the app does not require an Internet connection to use and can therefore be relied upon wherever you are. When looking at the weaknesses of the app, it can be suggested that the target audience does depend on whether individuals care enough about the need to purchase food with an awareness of pesticides or storage options, or, whether supermarket labels and own judgement on quality will suffice. Lastly, the app can be considered inexpensive and value for money, but still retains a cost, however small, in order to use its database.
