Foursquare - An Addictive App for iPhone

1. I was introduced to Foursquare app for iPhone in the middle of the year when I am using the iPhone 3GS. It has now became one of my favorite app.
2. It has the ability to link with my Facebook and Twitter account. Thus, its easier to share the places with my friends. Its like voluntary way "to get yourselves being stalked"..!
3. The client interface as shown below showed how simple it is to use the app. We have a choice either to check-in to the places which have been registered by others or we might add a "new" place. The location-based services of the iPhone will automatically detect the nearby places.
4. Sometimes, we might noticed that there are several people already "checked-in" at that place at the same time. 
5. For a traveller, you might want to find good tips regarding certain places (restaurant, shop, etc) which are being left by others (or you can leave tips too). There is also an option for "things-to-do", just in case, you might want to check out that place again. It serves a good reminder.
6. Since the app links to the Google Map, it will help you to find the exact place. But sometimes, the place is not 100% correct due to the inaccuracy of the location based services. If this is the case, you can log-in to Foursquare website to edit that location map.
7. There is also a summary the whereabouts of your friends. 

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You Can't Follow Apple App Store

Its interesting to note an article by James Midleton on "App Store Opportunity Overhyped".
He wrote:-

"Despite all the hype around mobile apps, only a minority of consumers download them on a monthly basis. Research released this week based on a survey of more than 25,000 European adults shows that only 4 per cent of all mobile users and 15 per cent of smartphone users download apps at least once per month."

"The exception to this rule, unsurprisingly, is Apple, with 64 per cent of European iPhone users downloading apps on a monthly basis." 

"In this respect, Husson argued that the market opportunity for app stores is somewhat overhyped, and said players should be looking at sources of inspiration other than Apple to provide a unique user experience"

 True enough - Apple have tremendously gained success in their App Store model. Like it or not, the other App Stores have to find the "right formula" in making theirs also a success.

Another article by David Pringle "Apple and Nokia: A tale of two contrasting companies" mentioned:

"The contrast couldn't be greater. Apple's revenues in the quarter ending June 26th were US$15.7 billion, yet it spent only US$464 million on research and development. Nokia's revenues in the quarter ending June 30th were EUR10 billion (US$12.83 billion) and it spent EUR1.48 billion (US$1.9 billion) on R&D - more than four times as much as Apple."

Its worrying to see how Apple grew so fast to overtake the Giant phone maker, Nokia.

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