Android App: Locale

Recently I heard from a friend about a location-based app for your Android phone that performs actions based on conditions that you choose. The app is called Locale. I'm an iPhone user, so I can't use this app. And from what I have heard, the iPhone doesn't even have the capability to support an app like this. Wait until you hear what this thing can do! This one app is enough to make me seriously consider switching to Android. One little app!

Let's start with a few scenarios to explain.

Scenario 1: You and your significant other like to go to the movies on the weekends. Locale has you covered. You can program the app to set your phone to silent and turn down the screen light when you enter the theater.

Scenario 2: You're at the office. Locale has you covered there too. You can program the app to set your phone to vibrate and connect to the office's WiFi if you'd like.

Scenario 3: You don't want to be bothered while you are sleeping. Locale has you covered. You can program the app to set to silent from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am, except if it's your mom calling. Now that's smart!

Locale doesn't need babysitting. You set the conditions based on your schedule and your needs then forget all about it. Your phone works for you, and you are never embarrassed again when Lady Gaga ringtone starts singing from your pocket in church!

The one downside for Locale is the price: $9.99.  I don't like paying for apps, but for what I know about this one, I would be 100% willing to pay ten bucks for it!

If you already use Locale, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on the app. Is it worth the money? Does its features work as well as they sound in theory?

HomeWhatNot Part 1: Trulia

My husband and I are in the middle of buying a home, moving, unpacking, and renovating, so I would like to share some of my wisdom and good finds from the Internet in a little home series called HomeWhatNot. 

I first found Trulia (a real estate search website and mobile app) through a coworker who was addicted. The app allows you find houses for sale and rent nearby based on conditions that you set (example: 3+ bedrooms, 2+ baths, $150-200k) using the GPS in your phone. You can also enter a different address and find houses in that area. The app pulls pictures from the real estate listing so that you can quickly see the inside of the house, selling price, recent price reductions, upcoming dates for open houses, all of the basic facts about the house that you would expect to see in a real estate listing.

Now that we have purchased our home, I use the Trulia app to look at homes in the area and in other parts of the country to get decorating ideas.

Trulia is available as a standard and mobile website and currently has an iPhone app. You can create an account with the website for more advanced features like saved searches and favorites, but an account is not necessary. I have found other websites with similar features, but as an iPhone app, I think Trulia stands above the rest.

Have fun home hunting or just looking!

http://www.trulia.com/