As a company that does an enormous amount of its work on iPhones, we like apps. We like learning, and are, at heart, curious. And—as you also may have guessed—we also like giving our opinions about things.
So when we were asked to test out and write about the new Show Me Now apps, we jumped at the chance. Five of us took the apps for a test drive.
And now, it’s your turn. We’d like to thank you for reading, and give you some free apps in return. We’ll give four (4) apps away to random commenters on this post. Comments must be relevant and the giveaway is for comments on this post only. Comments must be posted by Sunday, March 20, at midnight PST to be eligible.
Here are some excerpts about the Show Me Now app from our review team:
“Among the many sets of how-to instructions contained within this app—”how to make a tin can luminary” and “how to tie a cherry stem in your mouth”— is “how to create a hollowed-out book.” I tried this once as a teenager, way back before they had apps, and it didn’t go so well. … Oh, if I had only had the great fortune to have benefited from the wisdom contained in apps.” [READ MORE]
“in the Eat category, I found something I can’t wait to try on my next family camping trip—“cook cake in an orange.” It sounds simple. Just cut off the top of an orange, then hollow out the inside, fill it halfway up with cake batter, replace the top and then wrap heavily in foil. Place ’em on the coals, making certain to turn often, and 35 minutes later, you’ve got a campfire dessert with a citrus flair. Bet on a big hit with the kids.” [READ MORE]
“Basically, Show Me Now teaches you how to do just about anything. Yes, a lot of it was completely ridiculous and no, I will never need to learn how to “dread my do,” “walk like a diva in heels,” or “befriend a scared kitty.” I already teach classes on the first two, and I hate cats, so that’s that. But seriously, the absurd how-tos made me laugh. And that’s always welcome, isn’t it?” [READ MORE]
“Within minutes you check your iPhone again. Maybe because there might’ve been a text or email that never buzzed. But perhaps you got a sneak peek of how to make a killer Christmas wreath with a coat hanger, and let’s be honest, even though you may never put together any kind of Christmas decoration, these how-tos are pretty damn addictive.” [READ MORE]
“For instance, I’ve always wanted to know how to “Fool a Polygraph” (don’t ask) and “Apply Lipstick Sexily” (again, don’t ask), but the demonstration that really caught my eye was the one on how to do a card trick.” [READ MORE]
Please comment. Let us know if you’re intrigued, excited, not into it, an app user or an app hater. Four random commenters will receive free codes to try out the Show Me Now app.
I love a random task to while away the time – and previously I’ve stocked up on theose ‘novelty’ books which tend to appear around Christmas to add to my party-piece repertoire. To be able to instantly look up something new to try after a few gins is grand!
I worry sometimes than my iphone is taking over my life. But I think there’s an app for that, so it’s OK
This seems like a pretty great app for both actual productive use as well as entertainment–what could be better? I wonder whether everything is really going to be the kind of thing you’d need to access on your phone (as opposed to a computer), but who knows where you’ll be when you determine you must know immediately how to do a lindy backflip.
I definitely fall into the “love apps” category, but there’s a lot of junk out there. My hope is that many/most of the how tos will be useful (to someone) with a smattering of humorous ones thrown in for good measure. I also think it’s important that the app be functional without internet or data service (I rather a large app than an app that only works in civilized places.
Apps?
While I only use a feature phone, I carry an iPod touch. For me, the apps I use are typically for my personal entertainment. I like apps like these that purport to give people an idea how to do something, but ultimately it only presents only the general concept of how to. People need to remember this. Just because there is an app telling you how does not mean that you will actually be able to execute.
Me, I typically make it up as I go.
While I’m all for some joking how tos ultimately I hope that the majority of them will be serious ones like “how to tie a tie” or “how to check your oil”. Okay I know how to check my own oil but I hate wearing ties mainly because I don’t know how to tie them.
This is hard to believe.
Hard to believe I don’t know how to tie a tie?
Oh yeah! This looks awesome!
This looks interesting, I have so many questions about life and I normally consult my phone for everything.
This looks like a pretty grand time-killer. I’m with Sarah, though, how DO you catch birds?
Not to eat or anything, just…
I’d be interested to see how the app is organized. Can you search for random things? What kind of things? What makes this easier than Googling, if you’re looking for a particular how-to? Does it have how to make finger-waves? Because I’ve always wanted to know how to do that.
Much like those Worst Case Scenario books, this app looks more suited to provide humor than useful info…a fact that I’m 100% okay with.
Argle Bargle,
don’tcha just wish people knew how to do stuff? I mean, come on, iPhone. Do we need to be emasculated by technology? I made sure to learn everything cool ever before I was 16 so that in a pinch I could make an orange-clove air freshener, boil the hide of an armadillo to make soup AND protective epaulettes, and sell an expensive public works proposal. bah humbug.
I would befriend a scared cat, but it would be more interesting to learn how to catch a bird. That would feel like more of an accomplishment.