One of the most common uses for today’s smartphones has to do with shopping. Apps for finding the best deals on specific products or in-store deals are popping up all over the place. Here are some of the best apps to use if you want to save money.

What can shopping apps be used for? Just about anything from scanning barcodes to learning more about a particular product. Some apps allow users to redeem coupons or find out which store is offering the best price on an item you want.

1. Yowza!!

Coupon fanatics need this app. It calculates the deals in your area based on zip code and city and provides coupons you can use. You can set it to notify you each time your favorite store adds a new coupon and the coupons can be anything from photo frames and cleaning products to a new guitar or the latest fashions. It is free and paperless; cashiers scan a barcode on your device and the savings are added at checkout.

2. Groupon

Groupon partners with local businesses and then provides a daily deal in cities around the world. These deals might be for a particular restaurant, store, theater or special event. It is useful to browse for your own city or one you intend to visit soon as most deals expire within 6 months. When you see a deal you want, you purchase it and then share the deal with friends and family. The idea is to get the deal activated because enough people participate in it. The app is free and lets you find deals on the go.

3. Google Shopper

Google Shopper differs from the first 2 apps in that it doesn’t offer random items that you choose to buy or not. It allows users to search for a specific product and find the best deal on it. The app helps locate the lowest price on everything from books and music to video games and electronics. Users can also use their camera phones to scan the barcode to compare the prices of groceries and many other items to find the best price. It searches online and for stores nearby to deliver the lowest-priced results. It even has an option to let you buy directly while online with your smartphone or tablet. You can even enter items for searching with your voice by speaking into the app.

No matter which type of app you use, you are sure to find plenty of new and exciting ways to save money with your smartphone.

There’s nothing worse than running out of money when you’re really in need of it. Whether you’re on holiday and you suddenly find out that you’ve overspent (oops) or if you’ve got bills to pay and may have gone a little bit wild at the shops the week before hand. No one wants to have to go running back to their parents and ask for money, it’s a little humiliating but we’ve all had to go there once or twice. But if you’re really in a fix, it’s much better to run to the bank of mum and dad rather than an actual bank or a pay day loan shop with their ridiculous interest rates. It’s more than likely that they’d be happy to help you out as you make you make your way in the world, a few hiccups along the way are to be expected and you become more and more independent and learn how to become self-sufficient.

It’s now easy to manage your money online through the use of online banking and with smart phone apps, you can split the bill at a restaurant, pay your bills and receive a little bursary from your parents all in a split second, the days of going to the bank to take money out and transfer money across are long gone. Nowadays money is flying about all over the place, it’s easy some times to take it for granted, which is why we need to be more careful than ever with our cash so here’s a rundown of the best apps you can get on your smart phone to help get the most out of your money.

Your Bank’s Mobile App – Whatever bank you use, they should have a mobile banking app to help you manage your accounts. These can be really useful when you’re out and about as well as being totally secure. Whether it’s just checking how much money you’ve got in your pocket or you want to pay a bill or make a transfer you can do it right from your pocket, with a powerful app provided from your bank.

These apps are not just for checking your balance and making transfers, they can also make you smarter with your money. You can set up alerts when your bank balance dips between a certain point, balance updates and trawl through all of your transactions over the past month. Some banking apps can also direct you to your nearest cash point and top up your phone.

Budgeting Apps – As well as banking apps to keep you up to date with all your receipts and how much money you’ve got in your pocket, it’s always good to have a budgeting app so you can keep on top of your spends. There are a number of powerful budgeting apps available for you to keep a keen eye on your outgoings and incomings. Simply input your salary and all the bills you need to pay each month and these apps can calculate how hard your money is working and what you’ll have left over each month to either spend or save.

The eWallet- An eWallet is like having a credit card on your mobile, it allows for easy payments and transactions and allows for exceptionally easy money transfer online for when money gets a little tight and you make the dreaded call to the bank of mum and dad. Most companies that provide eWallets allow for completely free transactions from one eWallet to another and allow them to connect to your bank account but only take a preset amount that you specify whilst setting up the eWallet so that there’s no chance of over spending.

Whether you’re running a tight family budget, looking at the best way to manage your student loan or just want an eWallet to save your holiday spend in, mobile banking apps are an incredibly useful way of managing your money and tracking your spends. They’ve changed the way we look at banking and use our money on the high-street as well as online.

Travelling is an integral part of our lives in today’s world. Location is no more a constraint for us to carry out our activities across the globe. Technological advancements in the field of mobile computing has boosted this trend, as people are now using their smartphones and laptops to leverage the latest technical benefits on the run. Google-powered Android tablets and cell phones are the most popular among travellers, mainly due to the fact that there are several apps available on the Google play store that makes travelling an enriching experience. Here we take a look at the best apps that a traveller should always carry on their Android tablets:

a. TripAdvisor: This travel website has been operational for a long time and is the pioneer of all tourism related services. The TripAdvisor app has a simple yet effective design and the content is optimized for mobile devices. It uses the GPS sensor to identify the current location and provide information in and around the place. It is globally known for providing accurate and useful information about local hotels, restaurants and tourism operators, which is why it is an absolute must-have for your trips.

b. TripIt: The USP of this app is the fact that it can integrate with existing services to automate a lot of your activities. It can scan through the email and prepare a schedule for each upcoming trip. Moreover, it keeps a record of the past trips, which acts as a great repository for frequent travellers. Although the basic app is free, there are certain enhanced versions for which users are charged. The latest feature, known as TripIt Team, allows you to manage trip information about a team of people you manage.

c. My Tracks: Google developed this simple yet effective location-based tool that can be extremely handy when you are out exploring an unknown city. This app can record your geographical footprint and interpolate it on the Google Maps. Therefore, if you are exploring an unknown area, and cannot seem to find a way back, this app would help you back track your journey. It also provides interesting statistics such as the total distance covered, the time taken and the max speed during the journey.

d. Google Maps: There is absolutely no alternative when it comes to Google Maps for providing directions and helping you navigate through unknown places. Google Maps provides voice navigation commands, which is specially designed to assist users while they are driving.

Modern smartphones function somewhat like a remote control for everything in life. With the press of the touchscreen on your iPhone, you can find directions to local restaurants, listen to music, watch videos, or communicate with friends on social media websites. Some iPhone apps are essentially games, and these offerings help people pass time spent waiting at the doctor’s office or on public transportation. What are the best apps to download onto your iPhone? Let’s take a look at a few standout selections.

The RunKeeper iPhone App

RunKeeper is a really innovative mobile application. For those people who like to run outside, the app performs similar functions to the heads-up displays on stationary bikes or elliptical trainers. Using GPS functionality, this software tracks your performance during runs.

With the information provided by RunKeeper, you can hold yourself accountable to an exercise routine and make modifications to your technique to improve your results over time. For exercise enthusiasts, this iPhone app is incredibly useful.

Groupon

Savvy consumers love getting great deals. For many, Sunday mornings have been spent clipping coupons from the newspaper. The Groupon iPhone app makes deal hunting even easier. Essentially, local businesses provide special bargains exclusively through the Groupon app which then broadcasts them directly to the phones of nearby users.

It is incredibly convenient to have these sales delivered right into your pocket. If you are the type of consumer that loves buying goods and services at bargain prices, you will appreciate the Groupon iPhone app.

Shazam

Shazam is another interesting iPhone app. This software enables users to identify songs in nearly any location using their mobile phones. This algorithm-based service uses the on-board microphone to listen to audio and compares the results to a massive database of songs. After it reports a song’s details to you, you can then purchase it right on your iPhone.

Music fans will enjoy the functionality of Shazam. If you’ve ever wondered who an artist is after hearing a great song playing at the grocery store, you will recognize the utility of this iPhone app.

These are just a few examples of some of the top applications that have been released to the App Store. Any individual user will find an untold number of great apps that can make daily life easier. If you are a new iPhone owner that wants to try out some of the most well-known apps, starting with these examples is a fine first step.

Once you go through all of the work and decisions surrounding the development of a mobile phone app, another looming question quickly presents itself: how do I respond to users’ comments?

You could spend countless hours reviewing, analyzing, and trying to figure out ways to address each review with your next update, but is it worth it? Do you need to address every single comment that is made about your app? Yes and no…take a look at these tips to ease the process.

• Review all of the comments. Your audience is talking directly to you so listen! Some will be very straight forward and outline exactly what they would like to see while others may be more ambiguous. If it is a simple, “I love this app!” smile and move on. If it is, “I love this app because…” take notes; analyze what they are saying. What features do they love? What do they feel is missing? What do they not care for?
• Learn from criticism. Rather than approaching sub-par reviews as negative, look at them as room for improvement. If you have several comments on one aspect of your app you can consider that in your next update. Often times the negative comments will be regarding bugs, so…
• Fix known bugs. You should obviously test the app thoroughly before launching, but it is almost imminent that there will be bugs. It is crucial to the sustainability of your app for you to fix the bugs in a timely manner so your app performs as intended. Gauge how often you should release a bug fix on how crucial the bug is to the performance of the app and the comments of the users.
• Embrace their ideas. As you review the comments, put them in to this context, “If you want me to continue to use this app, you should…(user comment)”. Of course you should not attempt to be all things to all people or you will end up being overwhelmed and frustrated. But, if you want your app to last, embrace the ideas that will improve your app and better fit your users’ needs.

The best apps out there are actively responding to user feedback on a continual basis, through upgrades and feature enhancements, and in their communications. Be sure that your app users know that you’re committed to building an app that they’re thrilled to use, and they’ll be thrilled to share their excitement about your app with others.

So you bought an iPad and now you are in the process of finding the best apps for iPad? The apps world for Apple’s gadget is growing bigger and bigger every passing day. Due to the public API for the tablet, there are thousands of independent parties, mostly individuals, who have started developing applications and due to the increasing demand and supply, many websites have come up to publish the best apps for iPad. In addition, most tech blogs such as Lifehacker and Gizmodo have dedicated majority of their posts to talk about iPad and applications for the device.

Let me make one thing clear. Trying to cover each and every free best apps written for the device in a brief article will sound insane. Therefore, let’s discuss about some trademark apps that are in use today.

First of all, Kindle is gaining increasing popularity among the tablet users. Although Kindle was released after some time from the initial tablet launch, the application was able to win the hearts and souls of eBook readers. Many people found this as a successful replacement for Amazon Kindle.

For students, Blackboard Mobile Learn can be one of best apps for iPad. Through this application, teachers can interact with students online, write blogs, give feedback, and post grades for their assignments.

If you are a music lover or a wannabe DJ, Groovemaker is similar to having a built-in DJ in your tablet. It can actually do most things that modern DJ software can do. With this app, you make a great mobile DJ and your friends will surely want you at all their get-togethers.

As a matter of fact, being organized is a challenge for most of us. Most of our to-do lists get cluttered over-time and it is quite hard to find a full featured to-do list as a mobile application. ‘Things’ is one of free best apps for iPad. This sophisticated and well-designed task manager app allows you to manage your day more effectively with ease. With ‘Things’, you will never miss a task.

The tablet is a great source of entertainment. That is if you make the correct selections. Netflix is one of the best apps for iPad when it comes to streaming media. Netflix has already become the de facto standard for online streaming of media and expanding its presence over sub-mainstream platforms of the Internet. Unlike many other streaming apps for handheld devices, Netflix can search for movies and shows and even set up a queue.

If you miss your piano or keyboard while you are travelling with your iPad, Pianist Pro is the best solution for you. This app is also available for iPhone, and it became a huge success as many iPhone users started loving it. When this app was ported to iPad, the usability was greatly enhanced as the tablet offers more screen real state for bigger keys. Therefore, this version of Pianist Pro is actually sufficient for playing an actual full-length song.

Apple started out a complete new industry when they entered the cellular phone organization with the iPhone. Not only is Apple earning massive funds with all the iPhone itself, it is also making huge funds for Apps for iPhone OS. An app for iPhone is accessible only in iTunes, Apple’s media player/organizer computer software which also acts as a point of sale system or on-line shopping cart. iPhone apps or applications for the iPhone are typically extremely useful and entertaining. They enhance the iPhone by adding numerous functionalities to the iPhone which can be not included inside the built-in OS. An iPhone app is offered in iTunes for every model released such as the very first generation iPhone, the iPhone 3Gs along with the lately released iPhone 4.

When the iPod was released, everybody wanted the sleek, revolutionary music player with all the really aesthetic form factor which only Apple engineers can come up with. When Apple announced its entry into the cellular phone industry, every person was excited in obtaining an iPhone which turned out to be better-looking and more revolutionary than the iPod. The iPhone was intended to be versatile like all other smartphones. Although it had a number of shortcomings like its lack of 3G assistance and easy cut and paste, Apple answered these difficulties with all the release of the 3G, 3GS as well as the iPhone four.

Even considering that the first-generation iPhone, apps for iPhone instantly became a branch of the IT business with most main application developers scrambling to release an iPhone app. Even so, with Apple’s
mantra of control and top quality, only the very best apps make it to iTunes. This organization model is comparable to Nintendo’s early practice of giving a seal of quality or approval to games for the Nintendo Entertainment System thereby curtailing the number of mediocre games. Apple goes a single step further by checking the apps for iPhone themselves and promoting the applications only through iTunes.

An app is generally modest, helpful, attractive and simple to utilize and for games, extremely addicting. Nonetheless, the most beneficial characteristic of iPhone apps is that they’re extremely inexpensive. One of the most pricey iPhone app can visit as much as thirty dollars even though the least expensive are underneath a dollar. The low price tag of iPhone apps is because of Apple’s ever escalating consumer base. An iPhone app developer can earn as a lot as numerous million dollars if numerous million iPhone users acquire the application from iTunes. Simply because apps for iPhone are affordable, a common iPhone user can have a number of pages of apps installed in their Phone. Many apps have versions which might be compatible for all iPhone models such as the Phone 3GS and also the Phone four.

Like numerous other intelligent phones, there are several categories of applications that may be installed inside the iPhone. Apps also fall into a number of categories like productivity which incorporate applications that boost the iPhone’s company value like enhanced messaging, to-do lists and schedulers; entertainment like casual games, music players, radio applications, video viewers and e-book readers; utilities which boost or adds more functionalities, like app launchers, battery managers, GPS systems, rulers and even compass applications. Some popular functionalities have already been incorporated into newer iPhone models such as the iPhone four and iPhone 3GS.

When you know what are the best apps for iPad, your gadget allows you to customize the machine to meet any of your needs. There are many apps you can install on your iPad depending on your preferences. Apps may consist of games to social networking and utilities. You can also find what are the best apps on iPad by searching online.

Movies by Flixster

This is an application that will provide you when an upcoming movies will be available. You are also able to see movie ratings and watch various movie trailers. The available showtimes are available as well as the location of a theater. This app is free for you to install.

The Daily

This is a newspaper publication that is only available on the iPad. You can read daily news articles to a current editorial and even technology news. Daily updates keep you in the loop with current events that occur in your area. You are also able to view high-definition video and photos. Articles can be saved for reading at a later time. This application is also free for your to install.

Photogene

A photo editing tool with a variety of editing options is Photogene. This app is designed with an easy to use interface that includes the option to fix mistakes with a redo, an undo and original button. There are many presets that allow the user to add various effects to their photos. The app is priced at $2.99 on the App Store and requires iOS 4.0 or later for the iPad.

Sketchbook Pro

This is a professional-grade paint and drawing application for the iPad. The user has the option of using high-quality digital pencils, markers, pens and various air brushes. You can use this app to create simple sketches to impressive artwork. The app is available on the App Store for $4.99.

Scrabble

One of the best multi-player games for the iPad is Scrabble. Up to 25 people are able to play this game at once. Access to your iTunes music library is also available inside of the app. This is a digital version of the popular board game that you can find on the App Store. The price for this app is $9.99.

Additional Information

You can find out what are the best apps for iPad directly from the App Store. But you will need to search for the best apps on iPad that are the most popular or have the highest rating every time as new selections at App Store are available.

Multiplayer games on the iPhone were the hot new thing a year ago. Now, the quickly maturing field offers a host of choices. We’ve picked some of the best for you — but first, some housekeeping:

To play over local WiFi, all players have to connect over the same hub. Global WiFi and 3G games let you compete from anywhere, but are sometimes geared to a universal pool of players; playing your buddy might be impossible if the game automatically matches you to opponents.

That said… let the games begin!

N.O.V.A. (Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance,) Gameloft; $6.99. Gameloft has been a powerhouse of iPhone gaming since day one. Gameloft’s specialty is delivering the kind of experience you expect from one of those grandpa game machines hooked up to a television, but in iPhone size. (The company’s “Brothers In Arms” franchise, a knockoff of “Call of Duty,” is legendary). NOVA is a HALO-like first-person shooter set in a sci-fi world, and up to four can play in a game. The graphics are gorgeous, the gameplay is crisp, and you have good leeway to explore in every screen, adding to the realism.

Galcon, Galcon.com; $2.99. There are those who say that Gameloft gets by on perfect implementation of someone else’s idea. The secret of Galcon’s addictive power, by contrast, is its originality. The graphics are flat and geometrical, but they’re not meant to be realistic. The action is in the strategy, but here’s the kicker: there are no turns. You do all your galactic domination in real time. It’s simple, it’s addictive, and it’s at the best at what it does. Add in human opponents and your iPod touch or iPhone become an arcade you can’t leave.

Alive 4-ever, Meridian; $2.99. Prefer your shoot-’em-ups with a top-down point of view and waves and waves of living dead? Alive 4-ever is for you. You and up to three other survivors battle it out in a zombie-infested wasteland, where if you know what’s good for you, you even shoot the dogs. You’ll play Alive 4-ever until you realize you’ve become one of them,and go looking for fresh brains to eat. Bonus: with multiplayer gameplay, now you’ve got a lunch date. Bluetooth and local wifi (you and your buddies,) no global wifi.

MyBrute, Bulkypix, $3.99. MyBrute strips away everything except the fighting, then doesn’t let you control the fighter. If that turns you off, skip to the next “best.” If it doesn’t, you’re an RPG fan. RPGs are about building, training, equipping, and perfecting your character, then pitting him against others and letting nature take its course. MyBrute does that brilliantly, with equipment and skills out the wazoo and dojos competing for the privilege of training your cute little gladiator. Caution: extremely addictive for the RPG fan, and provides insidious option to buy new features. Fighters also kill each others’ pets, but it’s cartoony, so you won’t mind.

F.A.S.T. (Fleet Air Superiority Training), SGN; Free. Online, real-time, 3-D Dogfights sound sweet? Then you want F.A.S.T. Go to where the DefCon’s highest, and engage the enemy over wifi internet, either in private combat against friends, or against random internet victims. Fight head-up or in 2-on-2 dogfights. Ten planes, 30 missions, unlimited opponents.

There’s no doubt about it: Facebook is the most popular social network online. The fact that anyone can use it to communicate, keep in touch and interact with other people (whether they’re friends, relatives or strangers) is the most important reason why Facebook manage to outrun Google, the search giant, in page views for a few months consecutively in the United States.

These past couple of months, the trend has continued, and now Facebook has a relatively stable monthly page view count of over 300 billion (just imagine the number, 300,000,000,000!). But Facebook isn’t only an online messaging and picture sharing tool. Since the introduction of Facebook apps, users have the ability to do a lot of other things without leaving the website, including play games, manage their time and finances, video chat and much more.

If you didn’t know about these possibilities, here is a list of the most useful Facebook applications that can help you get started.

Advanced Wall. This should be everyone first install, because it adds a lot more possibilities to the default posting method. Using a WYSIWYG editor, you can now post messages that contain drawings, pictures, graffiti, video, flash, text of different sizes, font and color, and a lot of other interesting and useful things.

Task Master. This is a very neat Facebook app that allows you to plan any tasks and To Do list items right on your Facebook account, which, as you may know, you can access from anywhere, anytime. This means that you won’t forget what you need to do because you left your phone or notebook home. The feature set is pretty basic, but enough for most tasks and small projects.

Birthday Calendar. Another great app that is similar to the above task manager, Birthday Calendar compiles all your friends birthday dates, so you can easily plan ahead for any presents and messages that you want to send them. Now you can create your own custom messages and buy the presents in advance for anyone you want.

Static FBML. This is a great app that helps you further customize the look and feel of your fan pages. While the default Facebook options are enough for most people, sometimes you just need more of them. Static FBML lets you easily customize the fan pages using HTML and FBML (FaceBook Markup Language), and the end result can be a very professional or personalized feel that few other pages can provide.

DivShare. This is one of the best apps available. It allows you to share any files with anyone. Now you can easily upload any mp3s, documents, ebooks or other stuff to DivShare for free and share it with anyone on Facebook. The only thing you’ll need is an account at DivShare, which you create when you allow the app access to your account.

Last.fm Music. This application is for all of you music lovers (and Last.fm lovers:-). Using this Facebook app you can listen to your favorite songs, compare your playlist with your friends’ lists, listen to your friends’ music, share your music with others and much more.

Facebook Mobile. Not really an application, but it’s extremely useful, especially now when everyone is using a mobile device to access their Facebook account. Facebook Mobile should be loaded by default when you visit Facebook.com, but if for some reason it doesn’t, know that you can always access manually it at http://facebook.com/mobile.

Of course, there are a lot of other nice and useful tools on Facebook that can help you do whatever you want, you just have to search for them and find the ones that suit you the most. With over thirty thousand apps available, you certainly will have a wide variety of options to choose from.