New tools use social data to find iPhone apps

November 4, 2009 | Cody Barbierri | Comments | |

Apple’s big news today is the historic accomplishment of over100,000 applications in their App Store. With those numbers, it’s no surprise that the evolution of the iPhone user and how they find and use iPhone apps have progressively changed. Most recently, users have found that a simple search just doesn’t cut it anymore. There are just too many apps!

To solve this, companies have begun to get smart about helping users figure out which iPhone apps are right for them through what we are calling social data. Notably, Chorus, an iPhone app that launched yesterday from envIO, seems to have the answer. Chorus is a free app that enables you and your friends to review apps and share your opinions. Ultimately, Chorus lets your friends do the searching for you. Based on the principal that friends have similar likes and dislikes, you’ll arrive on a set of apps that you may find interesting and want to download.

A similar iPhone app that leverages social data for recommendation includes Yappler – which lets users create app lists and show your friends through email, Twitter, Facebook or MySpace. A great tool for friends who may have a new iPhone and need a little help.

On a similar note, AppStoreHQ, a website dedicated to making it easy to browse and discover the best of the mobile web, released a new feature today that’s also looking to social data for recommendations. AppStoreHQ is pulling tweets together into a feed that shows which iPhone apps are currently receiving the most tweets and, through a rating system, creating a list of “hot” apps on Twitter. Oh, and the number one app on Twitter, according to AppStoreHQ? Chorus.

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About the Author, Cody Barbierri

Cody Barbierri is a social and digital media consultant. He works for Weber Shandwick and blogs about social media at socialtab.wordpress.com. (None of his posts are about clients or their competitors.)

  • Cody, you are missing some of the most interesting tools out there.

    we created http://appsfire.com (in june this year) the very first service that allow users to find apps via their friends or peers. The service is being used by top users and tech writers (http://appsfire.com/vips), we d be happy to add you there.