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Snaptell for iPhone goes 2.0

by Mike Schramm Dec 8th 2009 at 5:00PM

One of my favorite apps in the early days of the App Store, SnapTell Explorer, has recently updated to version 2.0, and while they've dropped the "Explorer" part and were purchased by Amazon earlier this year, the app still offers the same impressive functionality: take a shot of a book, DVD, or album with the iPhone, and have it pull up ratings, information, and prices on the item in question. Despite the Amazon buyout, it still offers prices from elsewhere, though the Amazon mobile store in the app is the best-looking choice. The app now also lets you share "snaps" (you can email a found item to a friend for, say, a holiday wishlist), and it has a few reporting options for incorrect matches, to make their system even better.

I'm still amazed by this app and how it can pull up an object from almost any picture -- more than a few times I've been in a bookstore or music store, and pulled up the app to snap an item, only to find it cheaper somewhere online. The app is a free download, too -- I can't think of a more must-have app for serious comparison shoppers.

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Software Odds and ends Freeware iPhone App Store iPod touch

One of my favorite apps in the early days of the App Store, SnapTell Explorer, has recently updated to version 2.0, and while they've...
 

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Tom_R

I just had to comment. You say "more than a few times I've been in a bookstore or music store, and pulled up the app to snap an item, only to find it cheaper somewhere online" -- do you see anything wrong that? How is a local 'brick & mortar' retail store who sets themselves up for you to come in and browse around (and thereby undertaking significant overhead) going to compete with an "online retailer" after you've had a chance to "check it out" in person? How would you like it if that were your bookstore?

December 08 2009 at 6:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Tom_R's comment
Tony

I use the app in brick and mortar stores, and if the "in person" price is close, I go ahead and buy it even though I may have been able to save a couple bucks online. It's those occasions where the brick-and-mortar store is completely out of whack that I'll say "no thanks" and buy it online.

December 08 2009 at 8:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Albert

I like your taste in music :)

December 08 2009 at 5:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Albert's comment
Joachim

The screenshot is the one featured on the App Store :)

December 08 2009 at 5:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John.B

This is just a ripoff of the Delicious Library app for the iPhone that Amazon yanked the "rights" to in favor or their own app. No need to fawn over a blatant copy when the original was so good...

December 08 2009 at 5:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to John.B's comment
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