Hottest new applications out of SXSW 2012

At this year's SXSW, Samsung is planning to give the world itsfirst live demos of the anticipated game on the over-size screen ofthe Galaxy Note. It's a clever bit of cross-promoting that Roviohopes will reinvigorate dormant Angry Birds enthusiasts, andSamsung hopes will help sell its enormous stylus-totingphone-tablet thingies. We'll see how it all shakes out.

The way it works is

The way it works is, you might sign up for a particular discountWeb site or in a smartphone app. By entering your credit cardnumber at this CardSpring-enabled site, you could at that time go to theadvertised store that offered the product and when it was time topurchase the item, you would swipe your card, and the discountwould automatically be deducted from the price. This would allowWeb site and app developers to offer coupons and loyalty discountsthat are tied to the credit card or rather than having usersphysically bring a coupon with them or present a bar code on theirphone.

We can envision a ton of uses for this innovation like discountapps on your phone where you could sign up earlier a big purchase,at the time get the discount as before long as you swipe your credit card. We'llbe excited to see what developers can do with this API and whatother features they'll be able to come up with.

Vibop2.0Made exactly for iPhone and iPod Touch, the new Vibop appessentially lets you create video postcards with your mobiledevice. To give you an idea, the app offers love note, Super 8, andcomic book themes among others to wrap around your footage. Inaddition, at this year's SXSW, Vibop's developers are pushing itsbrand-new Twitter theme, which styles your video with components fromyour Twitter profile. Sounds interesting, sure, nevertheless useful? Not somuch.

MaiiAfter enjoying significant growth in international markets, Maii,the popular multiplatform communications app for iPhone, has hitU.S. shores by way of Austin, Texas.

Maii's biggest feature is its VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calling. It lets you makeunlimited free voice calls to other Maii users and paid voice callsto other mobile numbers and landlines. As well, the app's developersclaim that Maii offers "unique social network integration,combining your Facebook friends with your phone book contacts."What we actually like, even though, is Maii's dead-simple registrationprocess. All you have to do is enter your existing mobile number,and you're all set.

Also, on time for SXSW, Sonar has announced that itspreviously iPhone-only app has in short made its way onto Android devices--sortof. Unfortunately, Sonar for Android is in invite-only beta.

KismetAnother people-discovery app being buzzed about at SXSW is Kismet,which performs passive location sharing similar to that of aHighlight, Glancee, or Sonar. What Kismet adds, but, is theability to actively declare your location a la Foursquare. Thisfunction can be useful in high-traffic areas where multiple eventsand venues are in essence sitting on top of one another--SXSWbeing the perfect example. Just in case, the app lets you easilycreate spontaneous pop-up events in order to meet with like-mindedindividuals in the vicinity. Kismet is available only foriPhone.

UberlifeU.K.-based startup Uberlife officially launched its iPhone app atSXSW in hopes of generating buzz for its offline hangoutsfunctionality. Similar to Kismet, The Uberlife app lets you createand join hangouts wherever you go, and broadcast them to yournetworks. During the app's design and functionality do appear to bepretty solid, we'll have to wait and see if this lower-profileiPhone-only app gets lost in the South-by shuffle.

Zaarly Zaarly, the Craigslistlook-alike app that CNET covered back in July of last year, as well has a presence atSXSW 2012. The company doesn't have any specific app news scheduledfor release, nevertheless CEO Bo Fishback did speak at the Field of DreamsManifesto panel. And clearly, throughout the festival, the wholegang has been promoting Zaarly's potentially market-disruptingtechnology. For those not familiar with the app, Zaarly lets youname your price for anything, and get it from people nearby. Itchanges the way people think about performing small, menialtasks.

Instagram for Android Instagram, the hugely popular photo-sharing app for iOS, is coming to Android"very before long" according to the company's co-founders Kevin Systromand Mike Krieger. Speaking on a panel at SXSW on Sunday, the twowhet the appetites of many as they flashed a prototype of the appon stage. They at that time mentioned that it's not quite ready for a fulldemo but. Nevertheless, Systrom did go so far as to say that in someways the Android app is even better than its iOS sibling. Needlessto say, we are in the extreme curious to see what he means.

Kinoma Unveiled on Monday at SXSW, Kinoma Play is noordinary app. It's a platform that gives you a new way to interactwith your Android device.

Jaymar Cabebe reviews mobile apps and Windowssoftware for CNET. He as well likes to trek in the open air, explore localhole-in-the-wall eateries, and train in mixed martial arts. Hisdream is to one day put it all at the same time by opening a mountainsidetaqueria where ninjas take orders on Android tablets. Don't stealhis idea.

Jason Parker writes software reviews andfeatures for Windows, Mac, and iPhone and has been with CNET formore than a decade. His primary focus is staying on top of iOS andMac software releases during at work as a senior associate editor,however in his downtime enjoys seeking out the best breakfast spots inthe Bay Area.

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