Android App Spotlight #35: Untappd

So you're checking in to the locations you visit and the boring shit you're doing at home, but are you really sharing all the meaningless information you can? The answer is no, at least if you are the makers of Untappd, a new mobile app that seeks to answer that question that has plagued us all  from time to time: "Whatcha drinkin'?"


To me, this seems like more than just another checkin app, if only because tracking beer is something to which I am no stranger. Since this time last year, I've been taking photos of the beers I've drunk and keep a collection of them online. (it's been a while since I've uploaded a new batch, but they're patiently waiting on my camera) I got the idea for this from a guy I met (and many like him) who collected beer bottles as wall decorations. I liked the idea of collecting them, but thought that keeping track of hundreds of beer bottles could get out of hand, and moving them would suck. This served as a fun compromise.

Untappd is like this, except more social. You make friends like you would on any other social networking site, and when you're at the bars, you can "check in" the the beer you're drinking. You can also share the bar you're at, too. From there, you can check in to just the app, or you can share with your friends on Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter. You can earn badges, too, if that's your thing.

What's notable about Untappd is that it's not really an Android app at all - it's an html-based mobile app, which you access through your phone's browser. Traditionally, I'm not a fan of these types of apps, as they're not as stable as their locally-stored counterparts, nor do they take advantage of the platforms unique features, but they do allow for widespread use, and - in Untappd's defense - this is the nicest mobile app I've ever seen. I've still come across some flakiness while using it, though.

(You do know how to make a shortcut to a website on your home page, right? How you bookmark the website in the browser, long press on a blank area of your home page, select shortcuts, select bookmarks, and select your bookmark? You totally knew that, right?)

No God-fearing American dislikes beer, and if you expand your tastes beyond Miller Lite, you might want to share these tastes with friends. Untappd lets you do that, and hey - no precious MB's taken up on your phone's hard drive.