The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Each weekend, Mashable hand-picks startups we think are building interesting, unique or niche products.
This week, we’ve rounded up startups making mobile applications that bridge the physical and digital worlds for improved communication and enhanced experiences.
TransFire breaks down global communication barriers with its instant and automatic translation capabilities, while Babbleville facilitates neighbor-to-neighbor communication around events or topics. And, Picdish uses time and place to bring friends together over shared mobile food experiences.
TransFire: Auto-Translate iPhone Chats
Quick Pitch: TransFire is a chat application that instantly translates chat messages to and from more than 50 languages.
Genius Idea: Eliminating language barriers one iPhone at a time.
Mashable’s Take: Texting and instant messaging with international pals via iPhone can now be a language-agnostic activity thanks to TransFire’s handy translation app for iPhone.
The free application, by TNT Creations, translates to and from 52 languages, and includes text-to-speech and phonetic transliteration options.
The application even hooks into Google Chat for a seamless experience, so you can GChat with buddies who speak different languages without anyone needing to manually translate the conversation.
Maryland-based TNT Creations recently closed a Series A funding round and plans to release version 2.0 in September with more chat service integrations.
Picdish: iPhone App For Foodies & Friends
Quick Pitch: Picdish is a mobile app that allows real-time sharing of food experiences.
Genius Idea: Bringing families and friends together over shared mobile food experiences.
Mashable’s Take: People really like to share photos of their food on the web. Now, Picdish joins the growing selection of iPhone applications helping fuel the mobile food photo craze by turning the experience into a family affair.
Picdish’s group-centric approach automatically weaves together photos and food musings captured at the same time and place for a single, but collective, shared experience.
You can also share individual experiences, follow other users, browse popular experiences and explore what other foodies are sharing across the globe.
One thing to note: Picdish only supports login via Facebook.
Babbleville: Mobile Forums for Local Discussions
Quick Pitch: Create instant local discussion forums using Babbleville’s mobile apps for Android or iPhone.
Genius Idea: Event organizers can create “Villes” for hosted conversations.
Mashable’s Take: We’ve seen startups attempt, with moderate success, to crack the chat-with-folks-nearby-via-mobile-app nut. Add Pasadena-based Babbleville and its forum-based approach to local discussions to that list.
The service, which has apps for iPhone, Android and the web, helps mobile users start up location-based forums. Drop a note — called a “Babble” — at a stadium or convention center to start a discussion thread or join a “Ville” for local, topical chatter with other people in the area.
“Users can post and have threaded discussions while at the event or location with any other users. Instead of using Twitter hashtags to find out what people are saying, users can have full-on discussions instead,” says founder Paul Chiu. “Discussions can be both organizer and user driven. No need to friend or follow in order for users to talk to each other.”
However, Babbleville’s biggest challenge will be attracting enough users to keep local discussions current and lively.
Image courtesy of Flickr, Paul Lowry
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
More About: Babbleville, bizspark, iphone apps, Picdish, spark-of-genius, Startup Weekend Roundup, TransFireFor more Startups coverage:Follow Mashable Startups on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Startups channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Posted on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:00:08 +0000 at http://mashable.com/2011/08/07/3-handy-mobile-apps/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/08/07/3-handy-mobile-apps/#comments
Each weekend, Mashable hand-picks startups we think are building interesting, unique or niche products.
This week, we’ve rounded up startups making mobile applications that bridge the physical and digital worlds for improved communication and enhanced experiences.
TransFire breaks down global communication barriers with its instant and automatic translation capabilities, while Babbleville facilitates neighbor-to-neighbor communication around events or topics. And, Picdish uses time and place to bring friends together over shared mobile food experiences.
TransFire: Auto-Translate iPhone Chats
Quick Pitch: TransFire is a chat application that instantly translates chat messages to and from more than 50 languages.
Genius Idea: Eliminating language barriers one iPhone at a time.
Mashable’s Take: Texting and instant messaging with international pals via iPhone can now be a language-agnostic activity thanks to TransFire’s handy translation app for iPhone.
The free application, by TNT Creations, translates to and from 52 languages, and includes text-to-speech and phonetic transliteration options.
The application even hooks into Google Chat for a seamless experience, so you can GChat with buddies who speak different languages without anyone needing to manually translate the conversation.
Maryland-based TNT Creations recently closed a Series A funding round and plans to release version 2.0 in September with more chat service integrations.
Picdish: iPhone App For Foodies & Friends
Quick Pitch: Picdish is a mobile app that allows real-time sharing of food experiences.
Genius Idea: Bringing families and friends together over shared mobile food experiences.
Mashable’s Take: People really like to share photos of their food on the web. Now, Picdish joins the growing selection of iPhone applications helping fuel the mobile food photo craze by turning the experience into a family affair.
Picdish’s group-centric approach automatically weaves together photos and food musings captured at the same time and place for a single, but collective, shared experience.
You can also share individual experiences, follow other users, browse popular experiences and explore what other foodies are sharing across the globe.
One thing to note: Picdish only supports login via Facebook.
Babbleville: Mobile Forums for Local Discussions
Quick Pitch: Create instant local discussion forums using Babbleville’s mobile apps for Android or iPhone.
Genius Idea: Event organizers can create “Villes” for hosted conversations.
Mashable’s Take: We’ve seen startups attempt, with moderate success, to crack the chat-with-folks-nearby-via-mobile-app nut. Add Pasadena-based Babbleville and its forum-based approach to local discussions to that list.
The service, which has apps for iPhone, Android and the web, helps mobile users start up location-based forums. Drop a note — called a “Babble” — at a stadium or convention center to start a discussion thread or join a “Ville” for local, topical chatter with other people in the area.
“Users can post and have threaded discussions while at the event or location with any other users. Instead of using Twitter hashtags to find out what people are saying, users can have full-on discussions instead,” says founder Paul Chiu. “Discussions can be both organizer and user driven. No need to friend or follow in order for users to talk to each other.”
However, Babbleville’s biggest challenge will be attracting enough users to keep local discussions current and lively.
Image courtesy of Flickr, Paul Lowry
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
More About: Babbleville, bizspark, iphone apps, Picdish, spark-of-genius, Startup Weekend Roundup, TransFireFor more Startups coverage:Follow Mashable Startups on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Startups channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Posted on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:00:08 +0000 at http://mashable.com/2011/08/07/3-handy-mobile-apps/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/08/07/3-handy-mobile-apps/#comments
