Kik App — No Pun Intended

Kik has become one of the leading companies in instant messaging, with over 6 million users worldwide. Along the way, the company faced a few legal problems over patent infringement with Research In Motion (RIM, makers of BlackBerry), but that hasn’t stopped the firm from continuing to grow. And now they’ve seen a new business venture on the horizon. Not only do they want users to be able to connect via their application, they also want to make a content-sharing application that will allow users to share documents with one another.

Kik to Start

The new API is designed to help users share content from one app to the same app on another device. With this API, there will be no need to utilize Facebook, Twitter, or emails to send links to open webpages. Users will be enabled to send each other restaurant reviews, drawings, and even gameplay levels. In order to do this, both users need to have Kik installed. If, however, a user doesn’t have the application, they will get a message prompting them to download it. How thoughtful.

Kik is also implementing an option called Apps That Kik in Kik Messenger, another thoughtful way to introduce you to other apps that are enabled by Kik. The new version of Kik Messenger became available on the 22nd of December and is currently compatible with Android and iOS devices. Kik is also working on having the API on FileKicker, DrinkOwl, Smiler, Zwonks, and FlyScreen.

Read More

Banjo Web App Makes Local Connections Even Easier

Half a million smartphone app downloads is a milestone many aspire to but few achieve—and one that Banjo has surpassed. And from all appearances, they are going full speed ahead. The Banjo app that lets you keep track of what’s going on in your neck of the woods is now available for all on the Web.

Dueling Banjo

Banjo pulls recent and current updates and location information from popular social standards Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. It then allows users to search by location and discover what is being said where and by whom. The beauty of the service is that you don’t need to be a user of social media sites to participate. Anyone with a smartphone (and now anyone with access to a web browser) can use the service to get a feel of the social pulse of potentially any place on the planet.

Read More

Tweet Speaker a Bargain For Twitter Users

Tweet Speaker, the app by App Cubby that lets you listen to your tweets is now on sale for a limited time on the App Store.  The app was originally released last October for $2.99 but is now available for just 99 cents.

Do you remember what an answering machine is?  It was a device that you connected to your archaic house phone. You came home pressed the play button and it replayed all the calls you would have otherwise missed while you were out.  Tweet Speaker takes that basic concept and builds on it to create an app that Twitter addicts will surely love.

Tweet Speakers does not simply read out your tweets. It gives you a variety of tools to customize the experience. You can choose to create what amounts to a custom podcast or you can use the smartly designed timeline dial to simply play back all your content.

Tweet Speaker Packed With Perfect Features

The app has a slick feel to it. Its design is well done and the interface is very intuitive. At the bottom there are three main buttons:  “Voice,” “Play,” and “Airplay.” Above that there is a classic radio dial style depiction of your timeline. You can use this dial to move back and forward in your timeline and choose a starting point for Tweet Speaker. Above your timeline dial you will find your tweet stream.

You can choose any of your lists, or you can choose to start at any point in your  overall timeline and then press play. Tweet Speaker will then read out your tweets in a human sounding voice. The app is specifically designed for Twitter and understands its jargon. It will for example know that RT means “re-tweet.”  It will also recognize and read out links that are embedded. Various options (including the ability to change the speech rate) round out a very well-designed offering. The app also has integration features allowing you to link it to other twitter clients. That feature allows Tweet Speaker to pick up where you left off so you don’t have to listen to tweets you have already read.

One Tweet Deal

Tweet Speaker is one of those apps that just seem to work. If you are heavy Twitter user you should definitely give it a try.  Available for 99 cents at the App Store, for iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.