AppDate: Get up and Go with Pokemon Go

In this week’s AppDate, SEAN BACHER tries out Pokemon Go and highlights FlipSell, LogBox, 1Fetch and Swift Playgrounds.

Pokemon Go

Getting kids and adults out and about has been an unexpected spin-off of Nintendo’s big new hit, Pokemon Go. The game uses a player’s location and augmented reality to display a range of Pokemons in their vicinity. It is then up to the player to hunt down the Pokemon, lob power balls at it and ultimately catch it. Some Pokemons are more difficult to catch than others, and the more characters caught, the more experience points a player gains. Nintendo has only released the game in a few countries, but there are work-arounds for those who want

to play it in South Africa. In effect, one “sideloads” the app directly from a download site rather than installing from an app store. A quick search on the Internet on how to install Pokemon Go in South Africa will reveal all the answers you need. Just do an additional search to ensure its a safe download source.

Platform: Android and iOS

Expect to pay: A free download, but with quite a few in-app purchases.

Stockists: Pokemon Go is available from various sources on the Internet.

FlipSell

Fraud, theft and personal security are some of the issues consumers contend with when buying or selling second-hand goods through online classifieds. FlipSell, a new online classified service, is designed to take away the hassle and unease of dealing with a stranger, with its online transaction system. Through FlipSell’s online system, sellers receive offers to purchase via SMS or email, which they can accept, decline or counter, without ever having to directly engage with buyers. Consumers looking to buy second-hand goods can also engage in online transactions with peace of mind, with FlipSell taking on the role of intermediary between the buyer and seller. FlipSell will collect the goods from the seller and deliver to the buyer, which also frees sellers from the added expense of arranging delivery.

Platform: Any Internet browser.

Expect to pay: Free to use but with a commission being paid to

FlipSell on any successful sales.

Stockists: Visit www.flipsell.co.za

LogBox

Developed by local surgeon Dr. Neal Goldstein, in collaboration with EPI-USE, LogBox allows patients to capture and share their personal information electronically with medical practitioners and any other healthcare professionals. LogBox is a free mobile and web-based application. The idea behind LogBox is to save patients the time previously wasted in repeatedly filling in or updating paper forms at each medical practice they visit. The application is not restricted to any medical aid or hospital group. Apart from doctors, it can be used by any person involved in the healthcare industry, including dieticians, physiotherapists and optometrists,.

Platform: Android and iOS

Expect to pay: Free to use.

Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.

1Fetch

1Fetch is an on-demand, same-day, hand-to-hand motorbike delivery service. Similar to Uber, 1Fetch connects users with drivers and runs from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. The company guarantees collection of a package within 90 minutes of the order being placed. Once collected, the package is delivered directly to its destination, with no stops along the way. The entire process, from collection to delivery is done through the app, allowing users to monitor exactly where their parcel is and when it will be delivered.

Platform: Android and iOS

Expect to pay: A free download, with a charge of R11 per kilometre and a minimum delivery charge of R50.

Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.

Swift Playgrounds

Swift Playgrounds is designed specifically for the iPad and aims to make coding easy and fun. It brings coding to life with an interactive interface that encourages students and beginners to explore working with Swift, the programming language from Apple that is used by professional developers to create apps. Swift Playgrounds includes Apple-developed programming lessons where students write code to guide onscreen characters through a graphical world by solving puzzles and mastering challenges as they learn core coding concepts. The app also features built-in templates to help users express their creativity and create real programmes that can be shared with friends, using Mail or Messages or posted to the web.

Platform: iOS

Expect to pay: A free download for a limited time only.

Stockists: Visit the App Store for downloading instruction.

* Sean Bacher is editor of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter on @SeanBacher