Yahoo goes after app discovery with AppSpot We do the best we can around here to help you find the most interesting and helpful apps across the iOS landscape, but the job is too big for anyone to tackle alone. That's why it's nice to see Yahoo's pair of products aimed at the app discovery challenge, the brand-new App Search site and the AppSpot app.
AppSpot is a free quick search tool for finding apps on your phone, along with a recommendation engine that can (with your permission) review your installed apps and suggest new ones you'd like, refreshed on a daily basis. The recommendations seem a little offbeat (I have no idea why my 'News' suggestions include the Emma Watson app, unless it's tracking off the Harry Potter Lego game), but we'll see if they improve over time.
The app's 'slot machine' UI is basic but usable, and the search works well; it also includes a QR code reader for quick access to specific apps from the App Search site. You can click any category header to see a full list of recommendations in that category. On an app's detail page, the 'More apps you'll love' will show apps with similar themes or from the same vendor.
Yahoo's App Search is an app-specific search portal covering both the iOS and Android app stores. In addition to filtering by free or paid apps, you can also view App Store reviews and write your own Yahoo reviews if you like.
Once you click on a specific app's price or 'Free' button on App Search, you get the option to send a link to the app to your phone via SMS, go directly to the App Store page for the app, or snap a scan of a QR code using AppSpot to get the app quickly. The site is usable, although there are a few quirks -- you can't cancel out of an SMS request, for instance.
If you download and try the AppSpot tool or search on the App Search site, let us know how well they work for you, and if they help create some serendipitous discovery of new and cool apps.
Gallery: Yahoo AppSpotContinue reading Yahoo goes after app discovery with AppSpotYahoo goes after app discovery with AppSpot originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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