Android quick app: Android Town

With all the social media applications out there, it's refreshing when comes along that that's sounds so unique you have to try it.  Android Town is one of those apps.  From the looks of things in the forums and around the Internet I don't think I'm the only one that thinks so.  Hit the link below to have a closer look at Android Town and check out some screenies from this exciting new app.

Android Town takes the basic chat program and crate of industrial surplus parts and turns it into an Android.  Location based social media needs to do many things well, and Android Town is certainly on the right track.

It's pretty full featured even though it's relatively early in it's development.  Things like:

Searching for other users -- search for people close by or across the globe by age, sex, or name

User profiles -- once you found someone you can check out their profile to learn a little about them ( Fill out your profile on the Android Town website )

Communicating with them -- you can add friends, send messages or pictures, as well as block the random ne'er do well.

Then I looked at the development blog at the Android Town site and saw the next phase of development will be working on invites.  Imagine blasting out "Watching the Red Sox at the Sidebar -- who's with me?" to everyone close by.  Or inviting that interesting person you've been chatting with to Starbucks for a coffee and some WiFi.  Sounds like the development team is on to something here.  BeerBelly, the app's developer, is in the forums, listening to the users, killing bugs, and kicking general butt.

And it hit me. 

Users switching from a Blackberry to an Android phone have a particular empty spot that Android could never fill. You know what I'm talking about, so I'm not even gonna say it. Android Town looks like it's on it's way. I think the makings of a top shelf app that's pure Android to the core is there.  The basics are in place, the developer is responsive, and more importantly seems to have the right vision, and Android Town is one app that's surely worth watching.

All of us in the Android Central crew have been checking out the app. When you get it installed, look for:

  • phil [Phil Nickinson -- Editor]
  • duvi [Forums moderator Duvi]
  • drm2blv [Jared -- contributing writer]
  • Jorge [Forums moderator -- Jorge]
  • afazel [Ali -- contributing writer]
  • jerry [yours truly]

Be sure to hit the forums and share your user names as well.  We can have a nice big Android Central virtual party during Google I/O while Phil runs between presentations to get us the info we all crave.

Jerry Hildenbrand
Senior Editor — Google Ecosystem

Jerry is an amateur woodworker and struggling shade tree mechanic. There's nothing he can't take apart, but many things he can't reassemble. You'll find him writing and speaking his loud opinion on Android Central and occasionally on Twitter.