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Thumbs Must Hurt
Posts: 79
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west Virginia
Model: 8310
Carrier: ATT
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09-03-2006, 08:32 AM
Wirelessly posted (BB 7100g: BlackBerry7100/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)
After using this program for a few weeks, I feel that I am ready to review it. I will take this feature by feature so I don't leave anything out.
4info desktop
ver. 1.2
This app allows you to keep track of sports, stocks, news, and weather, find businesses via yellow pages, find movie times and theaters, get turn by turn directions, view flight information, and check your horoscope all in the same application. While having all of this info in the same app is easier to use, and it gives the app a good reach, some of its features are a little weak.
Sports
While the learning curve is short, once you get the hang of navigating the section, it's fairly easy. With stats for your favorite fantasy sports, (although I don't know the range of different ones 4info is capable of displaying) and most major sports, lots of good here. Expanding the number of sports offered and tracked to nine, there is something for every one.
Stocks
All the info you could want at a quick glance about the different exchanges, and tracking the ups and downs of particular stocks. Lots of information displayed about each individual one should keep almost all in the financial business informed, and up to date.
News
Tracking headline news, I am assuming, from USA today, with six categories, News, Money, Sports, Life, Tech, and Travel. This is where I see problems. Although the info is good, and the layout of the categories is excellent, only being able to read the first four or so words in the headline leaves one wondering what the story is really about. I can't count the number of times I was interested in a headline only to find I could have cared less about the story, and felt I had just wasted time opening it. Also, while pushing the back button when reading several stories in succession, the app would go back one more screen with each press. I.e. look at one story, press the back button, go to news stories, open another story, click back, go to the news categories screen, click news categories, click a story, click back and wind up at the start screen. This bug is most noticeable in news, but affects all categories.
Weather
Tracking weather from user defined cities, with multiple entries, info includes current temp, skies, high and low, wind speed, time of sunrise and sunset, and a four day outlook. While barometric pressure and recorded high and low would be great additions, Weather looks and feels slick.
Yellow pages
With keyword lookup specific to zipcode or city and state, this feature could not work better. Easy interface and clean looks leave no bad after taste.
Movies
Allowing searches for theaters by zip, city and state, or by movie title, this is a quick way to find the theater closest to you. An option to save theaters to a favorite list allows quick and easy access to your favorite theaters. Movie reviews are standard industry fare, though are informative and brief.
Directions
Turn by turn directions are easy to understand, though the lack of maps is a little disheartening. Google maps for mobiles offers a more informative alternative, for the same price, however 4info is faster to use and even the most directionally challenged individual should be able to find any address in their own neighborhoods. Not recommended for long trips however.
Travel
Allowing the user to track flights by flight number, or airport, and offering USA today travel news, those who are seeking info about airline flights need look no further. Easy to use and fast as all get out. Who needs 800 numbers?
Horoscopes
While I don't personally use them, everybody needs a little entertainment in their lives.
Conclusion
Automatic downloading of updates allows the user to feel confidant that they always have the most current version of 4info. A sleek interface with little learning curve, and pleasant colors, lend a user-friendly feel to this app. The few shortcomings, and lone bug, ensure that this app will remain on my BB for a very long time.
A very contented four and a half stars.
It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden, it's our job to arrange the meeting.
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