Selena Narayanasamy is extensively involved in all things technology, social media, blogging/writing, entrepreneurship and productivity related. When she’s not dabbling in any of the above mentioned things, you can find her drinking her life substance (coffee) and blogging on Search Engine Journal and her website, Esvienne. Follow her on Twitter- @esvienne and@selenavidya, and like her on Facebook.

How many times are you walking through a store, and you see something awesome that you want? Then you look at the price and see it’s about $40.00 more than you want to pay? This happens to me a lot. Not because I have expensive taste, but because it seems everywhere you look, people are trying to make money and up the prices on items.

RedLaser for iPhone fixes that problem. I spent many an hour scanning things just for the fun of it. It’s impossibly accurate and can literally scan almost anything that has a barcode.

The way it works, is you open up the application and hold the scanner far enough away- so that it hits the left and right side of the barcode. It then scans the item and lets you know what it is.

• From there, you can:
• comparison shop (online and local)
• find books in different libraries
• check for food allergens
• search electronic reviews online.

Checking for food allergens is probably one of the biggest selling points of this free application, mainly because it’s impossible to find ingredients on some foods, and others don’t display everything. If you’re allergic to something that isn’t typical, this application will help you find it and possibly prevent you from eating it and having a reaction.

For books, I always find it nice to be able to find another place where you can borrow the book instead of buying it. I’m not sure how many people actually use libraries anymore (with the nook, e-reader, ipad etc) but I still love to go there and take out a book- because you can risk it being horrible and it’s free

Sometimes barcodes like to be bad- If the barcode can’t be read, for some reason, you can also enter the number in manually.

This app really is a must-have for the shopper. It provides you with so much information to help you make a calculated decision before you accidentally get ripped off buying something. Oh yeah, and it’s fun to scan things for absolutely no reason, too

This week’s featured app is brought to you by the developers at LightPillar.  The Touch LCD Designer Speaking Clock is by and large the best alarm clock app out there for both the iPhone and the iPad.  Recently I did some redecorating in my room, which allowed me to clear my laptop off of my nightstand.  With all that empty space I figured it would be the perfect spot for my shiny new iPad which wasn’t getting nearly as much use as I had originally anticipated.  I also decided to have my iPhone (which was my alarm clock) next to my laptop at night to allow it to charge and sync.  With my old alarm clock on the other side of the room I figured I would investigate alarm clock apps for my iPad.  I came across the Touch LCD Designer Speaking Clock and it was love at first site.  Read on to hear why…

Simple Layout

I love the simplicity of the layout of this clock, you can view it in landscape or portrait mode and can, to an extent, adjust the font and layout of the clock itself.  While the display is simple there are many options and configurations to allow for full customization.  The display is divided into three sections and with different viewing options for each line you can customize your clock to show as much or as little detail as you like.  For example, at the very top of the screen you can set your clock to display the time for your next alarm and the amount of time left until that alarm goes off.  Need to know what time it is in another time zone?  You can set that bar to show the time in whatever time zone you choose.  If you prefer a more simple display you can keep the top part of the display blank.  The middle section is the actual clock, you can adjust how the time is displayed by scrolling trhough the preset designs.  The bottom section is dedicated to showing the date in whichever format you prefer.

Night Mode

I prefer to have my bedside clocks lit all night so I can turn over and get the time at a glance, but one thing I’ve always hated about the traditional digital clocks is the bright light it casts in the room.  Touch LCD Designer Speaking Clock has a night mode to prevent just that.  You can adjust the brightness in night mode and it’s activated with one tap of the screen.

Speaking Clock

Well with a name like “Touch LCD Designer Speaking Clock” you would expect the clock to speak right?  Well not only does this app speak but you can also adjust how and when it speaks to you.  One of my favorite settings is ‘tap to speak’ where all you have to do is tap anywhere on the screen and a nice male computer voice tells you the time.  You can even set how he tells you the time i.e., “the time is 10:30 pm” or “the time is half past ten”.  So now I don’t even have to open my eyes when I need to know the time, I just tap and I hear it.  You can also set the clock to speak at hourly, quarterly and half hourly intervals, it can speak the time when your alarm goes off and you can silence the “speak time” option when the clock is in night mode to prevent unwanted wake ups.  One thing I would ask the developers though is that there is an option of a female voice.

Wake Up Test

Probably one of my favorite features of this app is the “wake up test”.  The wake up test feature requires you to follow a set of simple instructions to turn off the alarm.  How many times have you found yourself accidentally turning off your alarm in your sleep?  I’ve done that far too many times to count.  The wake up test actually requires me to wake up by requiring me to tap numbers in various spots on the screen in order to dismiss my alarm.  While I can easily go back to sleep  after passing the test that requirement wakes me up just enough to prevent me from falling back into a deep sleep.

The Touch LCD Designer Speaking Clock has a plethora of features, far too many to discuss here, if you would like to see a full list of features check out their site (which includes a link to a pdf users guide).  I have to thank LightPillar for creating such a great app, I look forward to more apps from them soon.

Do you use Touch LCD?  What’s your experience?  Do you love/hate it?  Let us know in the comments.

On my quest for a new desktop RSS reader I came across Socialite.  Made RealMacSoftware, the same group who brought us RapidWeaver and LittleSnapper, Socialite is basically a social network aggregator that also incorporates an RSS feed reader.  What originally drew me to Socialite was the ability to combine all of my social network accounts in one place along with my Google Reader account.  I used it for a couple of weeks and really enjoyed it but, it being in beta, I found it to have some bugs that were too obtrusive to ignore.  So off I went again, looking for another solution to my problem.  I quickly stumbled upon Gruml which is now fast becoming my favorite desktop app.

What is Gruml?  it’s a desktop RSS reader for Mac.  You can sync Gruml with your Google Reader account and can do just about anything in Gruml that you can do in Google Reader.   So what makes Gruml one of the best desktop feed readers I’ve used?

Open Tabs in Background

One thing I really didn’t like about Socialite was that when I clicked on any link it would bring up my default browser (Chrome) and open a new tab.  While that’s a nice feature, many times I find myself opening multiple articles in a row to read so having to switch between applications every time I want to open a new link can be tedious.  With Gruml, if I click on the link to an article it opens a tab within Gruml but in the background so I can click on as many links to articles as I want, they open in tabs behind the default view and I can scroll through the tabs at my leisure.

Share to Any Social Network/Bookmarking Site

This has to be one of my favorite features of Gruml, it’s extremely easy to share articles to all of your most used social networks and bookmarking sites.  All I have to do is highlight the article hit command-I and it’s instantly shared to my Instapaper account.  Along with Instapaper you can share articles to networks like Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Diigo, StumbleUpon and more.  In total you can share articles to 14 different bookmarking sites and social networks.  

Works with Growl

Any desktop app that has the ability to integrate with Growl gets extra brownie points automatically.  I love Growl and the fact that I can get unobtrusive reminders that one of my feeds has been updated on my desktop is invaluable.  If you’re so inclined, you can pass on this feature by simply changing the settings in the preference pane.

Customizations Galore!

Speaking of the preference pane, let’s take a look at that.  While at first glance it may seem simple Gruml’s preferences allow for lots of customization.  You can customize how the title bar of the article preview looks, and the font and size of the text within the app (for example you can change the way the titles of the articles look within the unread articles list).  On top of that you can customize which default buttons you want on the toolbar and adjust the window pane view to your liking.  I a big fan of being able to adjust apps to work and look exactly the way I want and with Gruml’s preferences I’m able to do just that.

There are plenty of other great reasons to love Gruml but those you’ll have to discover for yourself.  If you’re looking for an effective method of managing and viewing your Google Reader items through your Mac desktop, look no further than Gruml.

Do you use Socialite or Gruml?  Which do you prefer?  What do you like about Gruml?  Let us know in the comments.

Selena Narayanasamy is extensively involved in all things technology, social media, blogging/writing, entrepreneurship and productivity related. When she’s not dabbling in any of the above mentioned things, you can find her drinking her life substance (coffee) and blogging on

Picture this. You’re at the office, working along happily on some documents. You figure that even though you haven’t finished writing, you can always work on it at home. You plan on attaching it to yourself in an email…

…but wait. If you’re anything like me, you probably forgot to send it to yourself. This poses a big problem- especially when it’s something that’s urgent for the next day.

So what has been saving my life these hectic workdays? A little somethin’ somethin’ called Dropbox. That’s why it’s the iPhone app of the week. So… what is Dropbox?

I discovered this a few weeks ago (even though it’s been around for a while) and it’s a file syncing system that you can use on both Windows and Mac OSX. The other sweet detail about this is that it also has mobile apps for Blackberry, iPhone, Android and the iPad. I can now be a workaholic from my iPhone and iPad. THANKS DROPBOX

The web interface, that syncs files with the app, is pretty sleek and simple. If you’re on the computer where you have Dropbox installed, you simply drag and drop a folder/file into it…and that’s that.

Now, when I start a document at work and stupidly forget to email it to myself, I can access Dropbox 80 billion different ways and completely save my butt.

So why does Dropbox increase your productivity? These are some awesome features that it has:

• Easy drag-n-drop feature for your computer application
• Offline access for the iPhone app
• Changes sync instantly
• Ability to work on the web app if you’re not on your personal computer

If you right click a folder in Dropbox, you’ll also notice that you have the ability to:

• Share file- even with non Dropbox users through public URL
• View previous versions of documents
• Share folders with other Dropbox users- it’ll appear in their own box

On a Mac, you even have an icon in the finder window because it treats it like its own personal drive. You’ll see in my screenshot that I actually have the iDisk icon for my Dropbox  icon. It’s actually not like that originally. If you want to do this (so it looks prettier) follow these steps. It’s pretty simple-

1. Right click Dropbox icon in your finder sidebar and hit “get info”
2. Right click your iDisk icon in the finder sidebar and hit “get info”
3. Click on the iDisk icon in the info window and hit Command C
4. Click on the icon for Dropbox in its info window and hit Command V

Voila! It’s not rocket science but it’s a neat tip that I figured I would share.

If you’re syncing with the iPhone app, you can access anything that you would normally be able to from your computer/web app, as well as “star” them so you can access them if your phone is offline. This comes in handy if you’re getting really awful reception and absolutely need to see a file.

They have a free version which allows you to hog 2GB of storage- as well as paid versions.

I highly recommend Dropbox because it’s made my life so much easier. Not to mention, saved my butt. THAT is why it’s iPhone app of the week!

Google, who is known for their innovation and ability to transform and shift with new technology, is bringing something new into our lives. Google TV and TV ads.

What are the benefits that Google TV and Ads will bring?

• Familiar Interface- Chrome is the main component.
• Shift between TV channels and internet channels, such as Hulu.
• Google TV SDK and web APIs for developers
• Ability to optimize your website for one more advertising platform.
• The ability to search for shows- type it in and let Google TV find it online or on regular TV
• Targeted exposure for your company

Some companies, such as Verizon with Fios, have offered widgets and other internet enabled features with their set-top box, but none that are extensive as what Google can offer. Not only is Google offering the integration of the whole internet landscape into one consolidated place, but they are offering the ability to tailor and design web apps specifically for your viewers if you’re a developer.

This video is a brief overview of some features:

Google TV has chosen Chrome to integrate into your TV, so that you can shift endlessly between the regular channels offered, as well as the thousands that the internet expands into. Want to watch Hulu? You won’t be confined to your itty bitty widescreen display on your desk, or your laptop anywhere. You can sit in the family room and essentially browse whatever you want to.

According to the Official Google Blog,

“We’re working together with Sony, Logitech and Intel to put Google TV inside of televisions, Blu-ray players and companion boxes. These devices will go on sale this fall, and will be available at Best Buy stores nationwide. You can sign up here to get updates on Google TV availability.”

Google TV will be changing the whole TV and advertising landscape. The question is… are you ready? What are you looking forward to most with this product launch?

This week’s iPhone app is Ambiance.  Now I know this app has been around for awhile now but it’s constant expansion makes it feel like a new app every time I use it.  I’ve recently been confined to my office doing very mundane computer work.  Being in my office all day has lead to many distractions (people walking in without knocking, the phone ringing off the hook, etc) which has prompted me to find a way to drown out all of those distractions.  I’m one of those people that get distracted when I’m listening to music so I’ve taken to listening to ambient sounds.  This is where Ambiance comes in.

Created by Matt Coneybeare, Ambiance is an application that plays various “white noises” on a loop allowing the user to drown out distractions, relax and focus.  With Ambiance users can choose specific sounds, add them to mixes and playlists and set the duration and volume level at which each of them plays.  You can set the application to sound an alarm or turn off after a set amount of time, perfect for waking up or falling asleep.  Ambiance offers a great feature that I have yet to see in any of the ambient sound iPhone apps – a “sound store” where new tracks are added daily.  You can browse through hundreds of different sounds to find exactly what you’re looking for.  Users can download the sounds directly to their phone through the application free of charge.

One of my favorite features of Ambiance is the ability to make mixes.  These are not your typical mixes, this feature allows you to overlay various sounds and adjust each tracks volume to come up with a personalized track just for you.  For example, I have two mixes that I have been playing for awhile now.  As Fall approaches I’ve been looking forward to those foggy, overcast rainy days so I created one mix that overlays the sound of ‘rain from inside a car’, ‘rain and windshield wipers’ and ‘thunderstorm’.  I also created a mix of ‘rain interior’, ‘fire crackling’ and ‘thunderstorm’.  Each of the tracks on these mixes have their volumes set differently so that it’s just right for me.

The only downside of the app is that it can crash on me quite a bit when I’m creating mixes but that could just be my phone and not the app itself.  Overall this is a great app with an abundance of sounds available.  Whether you like the sounds of Tokyo’s city street marketplaces or an airplane cabin you will find a sound that is perfect for you to relax to and drown out the outside world.  The app is usually $4.99 (which is a little pricey but worth it) but is on sale for $.99 right now so go get it!

Do you use Ambiance?  What are your favorite sounds to fall asleep to?  Let us know in the comments.

I am on a constant quest to find the next best iPhone app. Whenever I see someone with an iPhone in their hands I’m always curious to know what apps they are using. Just like we share what music we’re listening to (via Facebook, Pandora or Last.fm), we should also be able to share what apps we are using. Wouldn’t it be nice to view other people’s combinations of apps to help create your own ultimate collection? Well AppsFire has created a way for you to do just that. AppsFire is free desktop software (available for both Windows and Mac users) that allows you to create collections of apps and share them with anyone you like. After downloading you will find it in your preferences pane. Before you open AppsFire for the first time make sure you have your iPhone plugged into your computer.  AppsFire syncs with iTunes to get your list of apps.

When you first open the application it scans your iPhone to get the information on all of your apps. It will then take you to a private page where you can customize exactly which apps your friends see. Another cool feature is the approximation of the total amount of money you’ve spent on all of you apps (While it’s a cool feature I’m not sure how keen I am on being reminded of the amount of money I’ve spent). Once you’re on the site you can choose to share your app collection through Twitter, Facebook or Delicious, email, by embedding a widget (see mine below) or through a direct link. People who view your AppsFire page or embedded widget can click on any of the app icons and be directed to the description of the app in the iTunes Store.
AppsFire recently released a native iPhone app (free) that allows users to find new apps by browsing “Top 15″ lists of apps downloaded and clicked. In addition to browsing popular apps, users can also peruse AppsFire‘s VIP lists which are lists of the apps used by some of the top names in the technology blogosphere (@LouisGray, @loic, etc.). AppsFire is a simple app that does one thing and it does it very well, allows people to share their app collections. If you want a way to share what apps you are using with friends then AppsFire is for you.

I know it’s been a few weeks since the iPhone App of the Week and I apologize but I think I have one that might make up for it. I love getting new apps and figuring out how I can incorporate them into my busy everyday life. With iPhone and iPod Touch users downloading an average of 10 applications per month and the App Store reaching 1 billion downloads within less than a year of it’s opening the mobile application market is booming. With new applications being added and updated on a daily basis, it can be difficult for even the savviest iPhone user to stay on top of all of the goings on at the App Store. Have you ever bought an iPhone app one day only to find out the next day it went on sale? Have you ever thought some developers are asking too much for their apps? Well BargainBin may help you become a better app shopper.
Originating from AppAdvice (previously known as AppleiPhoneApps.com) this free application not only aggregates all of the applications that have gone on sale in the app store but it will also notify you (using push notifications) when apps that you are watching go on sale. BargainBin updates frequently to keep you on top of the most recently price reduced apps. You can set it to notify you when a specific application goes on sale for a specific price (For example, you can set it to notify you using push notifications when Oregon Trail is reduced to $.99). The in app browsing is really what sets BargainBin apart from other app monitoring applications out there and makes for an even better user experience. If you see an app that looks interesting just tap on it and a drop down menu with links to a description, screenshots,the iTunes store and to add it to your “watch” list are provided. These links are what really set this app above the other app monitoring applications out there. The utilization of push notifications is brilliant as well, BargainBin will use the new push notification feature to notify you when an app you are watching reaches a sale price.
If you’re an iPhone or iPod Touch user you know that apps are what make the iPhone stand apart from other smart phones. There is literally an app out there for everything. Staying on top of all of those apps and their prices can be a difficult feat but BargainBin makes it a little easier to help us find the best apps at the best prices.