NOTE to mobile and tablet users: Go to a browser version of WCPO.com to be able to click on the downloadable app links.

UPDATED 2/12/2012

Let's Date App

Makes finding single people in your area, with similar interests easy.  Free for the iPhone.

Click here for the Let's Date app.

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Twitter Vine Video App

Twitter has released a new app for Apple products that allows you to share 6 second videos via tweets.  Only problem:  it is already embroiled in controversy, because many of the videos on it are pornographic.

If you can keep it clean, CLICK HERE for Vine

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Mint.com App

The updated Mint.com app will help you watch your finances, and set your monthly budget.  It is one of the top rated budgeting apps, is safe, secure, and free.

Click here for Mint.com.

Fly Delta App with "glass bottom plane" feature

This is super cool if you fly planes with Wi-Fi aboard, and have an iPad.  This app shows what is directly below your plane, such as mountains, lakes, and landmarks, as you fly directly over them.

Free from the iTunes store for iPads only.

Click here for the Fly Delta App

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App Finds Out Who Got You Sick

The "Help, I have the flu" app scans all your friends Facebook postings, to find out who has been posting words like "sick," "clammy," fever," "cough," etc., so you can find out who gave you those germs.  Free on Facebook.

Click here for "Help, I have the flu."

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Apple's Top Free Apps of the Year for 2012:

       iPhone winner: Action Movie FX

       iPad winner: "Paper" digital notebook

Clck here for Action Movie FX

Click here for Paper (Free, but be aware of in-app purchases)

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Clip-ix Shopping App

Scan the barcode or take a picture of the item you want, then save it, and wait for alerts on when the price drops.

Free for iPhones and Android devices.  Apple version gets great reviews, Android version gets mixed reviews.

Click here for Clipix for iPhones

Click here for Clipix for Android

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Slice Holiday Delivery App

Ordering a bunch of gifts online?  Keep track of when they ship, where they are, and when they arrive with this convenient free app for iPhones and iPads.

Click here for the Slice app.

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New Twitter iPad App

Makes Twitter much more visual and easier to use on your iPad.

Free at the iTunes store.

Click here for the new Twitter app.

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Earn Money by Working Out

Gym Pact will pay you $1 each time you work out at your favorite gym.  What's the catch?  You have to pay if you miss a weekly workout (which is how it gets money to pay other members.)

Free for iPhones.

Click here for Gym Pact App

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PollTracker App

With the Presidential race in full swing, this free app will keep you up to date on all the latest political polls.

Free for the iPhone.

Click here for the PollTracker App.

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Pinterest App for iPad

Pinterest, which until now worked best on desktop and laptop computers, now has a dedicated free iPad app.

The site has also upgraded its iPhone app, and has added one for Android devices.

Click here for Pinterest apps.  And feel free to pin any Don't Waste Your Money stories!

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Back to School Apps

Don't hate:  it's back to school season, so why not load up some cool helpful apps onto your smartphone?

The StudyBlue app lets you make hundreds of flashcards easily, a big help when studying for that big exam. It's free for iPhones or Androids.

Click here for StudyBlue.

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The Dictionary.com app is a  must for every high school or college student:  a full dictionary and thesaurus.

Free for iPhones.

Click here for Dictionary.com.

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Red Cross First Aid App

Instructions for dealing with dozens of common injuries, a must for parents of young children.

Free for iPhones and Android devices.

Click here for the Red Cross App

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Scam Detector App

The Scam Detector App lists hundreds of common apps, and lets you know if something is on the up and up.

Free for iPhones and Android Devices

Click here for the Scam Detector.

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Vanderbilt University's CoachSmart

The CoachSmart app helps you work out and stay safe in the summer heat.  It gives you the current temperature, humidity, and heat index, and tells you how long you can safety be outdoors or work out in the current conditions.

Free for iPhones and Android devices.

Click here for CoachSmart in the iTunes store.

Click here for Google Play's version.

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Hotel Tonight gives you last minute deals at hotels in 40 cities around the US.  The deals come available at Noon every day, for rooms that evening.  Best of all, they name the hotel, unlike Priceline and Hotwire's basic services.

Hotel Tonight is free for iPhone and Adroid devices.

Click here for Hotel Tonight.

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Shopkick App earns Target reward points

Lots of us have a price comparison app on our phone, to scan prices in bricks and mortar stores.

But now one price comparison app will earn you reward points at Target every time you scan something.  Build up enough points, and get a Target gift card.

Target just wants to get you in the store, knowing you will probably buy something on your way out.

Free for iPhone and Droid phones.

Click here for Shopkick.

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MLB.com At the Ballpark App

A must-have app for any baseball fan.  Detailed seating plans of all major league ballparks, including info on parking and locations of food and beer vendors.

Free for iPhone and Android devices.

Click here for At the Ballpark

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iHandy Carpenter App

Guys will love this app, that turns your smartphone into a bubble level, ruler, protractor, and several other cool tools.  Just don't use your phone for a hammer.

$1.99 for iPhones and Android phones.

Click here for the iHandy Carpenter.

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Weber's On the Grill App

Recipes, tips, and emergency help for anyone who plans to grill out this summer.

$4.99 for Apple or Android devices.  Not free, but cheaper than having to order pizza when you ruin the steaks.

Click here for Weber's On the Grill

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Coppertone My UV Alert App

Wondering how strong the sun's rays will be tomorrow, if you are planning a bike ride or gardening? Just check this summertime app from Coppertone.

Free for iPhones and Android devices.

Click here for the Coppertone My UV Alert for iPhone.

 Click here for the Android version.

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Nike Workout App

The Nike Training Club App has 25 different workouts to help you if you are outdoors jogging, of just in your living room.

Free from the iTunes store for iPhones.

Click here.

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Apps to Find Lost Phone or Keys

Find my iPhone:  Free for Apple phones

Where's my Droid?  Free for Android devices

Gadget Track: Takes photo of theif, emails it back to you!  $3.99 for iPhone or Droid

Cobra Tag will find lost car keys, sunglasses, luggage, etc, by GPS:  $59 for iPhone or Droid (includes special fob to attach to keysO)

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"Say Hi" Translation App

Instantly translates English to Spanish, French, or dozens of other languages. Apple devices only.

99 cents at the iTunes store

Click here for "Say Hi"

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Connect to Digital Versions of Newspapers Articles Instantly

The Free "Shortcut" App from Kooaba lets you take a smartphone  picture of a newspaper or magazine article, then connect instantly to the digital version, with more content and photos.

Free for iPhones and Android devices.

Click here for the new Shortcut App

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Compare SIgnal Strength of Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint

The Carrier Compare free app installs on your iPhone, and checks signal strength where you live or work, to tell you which carrier is the strongest where you are.

iPhones only.

CLICK HERE for Carrier Compare
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Free SparkNotes App for Students

Remember Cliff Notes, how high school and college students used to cram for exams and pretend they had read War and Peace and other long novels?

You can now get a new high tech version of Cliff Notes, with study guides for hundreds of books and topics, on your smartphone.

SparkNotes is free for iPhones and Android devices.

Click here for SparkNotes.

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Free Mapquest GPS App

Mapquest, the online trip mapping website, now has a GPS app for iPhones.  It does almost everything the "big boy" GPS units do, at no charge.

Unlike the free GPS app that comes with the iPhone, it gives talking directions, just like a portable GPS unit that can cost $150 or more.

Click here for the Mapquest GPS app at the iTunes store.

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Great Road Trip App

The Roadside America App shows attractions all the way along your route on your driving vacation.  This way, you won't miss that awesome Totem Pole, giant ball of string, or vintage gas station. 

Its available for iPhones. Cost is $1.99 for temporary access, up to $5.99 for fulltime access.

There is also a version you can download onto Garmin GPS units.

Click here for the Roadside America App

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Weather Radio Apps

These apps do the same thing as a standard plug in radio: alert you to approaching severe weather.  Plus, they include forecasts and radar maps as well.

iMap Weather Radio App for Apple Products:  $9.99
CLICK HERE

NOAA Weather Radio App:  From National Weather Service: $4.99
CLICK HERE

WCPO 9 News Weather App:  Now just 99 cents
CLICK HERE

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"Task Rabbit" Finds People to do Chores

Looking for someone to walk your dog, clean up your backyard, or pick up your laundry?  Task Rabbit connects people looking for a service with those offering to do the service for a small fee.  It's a hot app in New York and LA, but is just starting up in Cincinnati. 

Be among the first to check it out.  Free on i Tunes.

Click here for Task Rabbit.

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Free App Maps Malls, Finds Your Car

"Fast Mall" has maps of hundreds of shopping malls.  The biggest bonus:  a car locator feature to help you find your car in the parking lot.

Free in the iTunes store for Apple devices.

Click here for Fast Mall.

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Free Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Viewer App

Sports Illustrated Magazine is offering a new app where the models in its swimsuit issue "come to life" in videos on your smartphone.  Just scan the smartphone code on the page.

The app is free for Apple devices in the iTunes store.  However, you will have to buy the swimsuit issue.  Not that most guys would complain about having to buy it.

Click here for the Swimsuit Viewer App

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Free "Where the heck is my refund? App"

That's not the name of it, but that's what it does. Check the status of your refund daily, even hourly, from your smartphone.

Click here for the IRS Refund Status App

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Free i Tunes University App

Check out Apple's new I Tunes U app, free for all Apple products.  It links to "the world's largest library of free digital educational content."

Click here for I Tunes U.

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Easy Photos of Baby  App

Every new parent knows how tough it is to get an infant or even a toddler to look at the camera, let alone smile for their photo. And by the time you snap the shutter, the baby looks away.

This cool iPhone app called QuadCamera takes multiple photos in a row.  So when you make a sound and get your infant to look at the camera, you get 4 quick shots...to capture the baby's expression as he or she looks

It's 1.99 for iPhones.

Click here for QuadCamera.

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Google Shopper App

This is another free price comparison app that compares prices at major stores and online vendors. 

However, it doesn't require you to scan the barcode,which doesn't always work . You enter the product name or description, or take a photo, and up come prices and dozens of Google product reviews.

Free for iPhones and Android devices.

Click here for Google Shopper.

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Read it Later Free App

If you have a WiFi iPad or iPod touch, wouldn't it be great to load up on news reports while you are on WiFi that you could read later, when you don't have WiFi access, such as while a passenger in a car or on a bus?

You can with a great free app from the iTunes store called Read it Later.  Critics call it a "DVR for web pages."

Click here for the Read it Later Free app.

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TripAdvisor App

Trip Advisor, the popular website for comparing hotels and attractions in thousands of cities, now has several very good versions of its site in app form.

It's free for Apple products, Android phones, and the Blackberry.

Click here for the TripAdvisor app.

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Budget Watching App

Shop N Sale helps you watch your holiday shopping budget, by showing prices as you pick up items in the store, and giving you a running total. 

It was created locally in the Cincinnati area, David Kozikowski, and is available at Apple's iTunes store for 99 cents.

Click here for Shop N Sale.

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App to calculate restaurant tips

Ever struggle to figure out an 18% tip in a restaurant?   Fumble no more.

Tipulator is a 99 cent app for iPhones and Android devices that automatically calculates the tip for your server. You can set it for 20%, 18%, 15%, or "cheapskate mode," but please don't do that.

CLICK HERE for Tipulator

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"Map My Run" Jogging App

A must for every jogger who has a smartphone.  This app uses your phone's GPS to show what streets you are on, time your run, and show the total mileage.

Free for iPhones and Android devices

Click here for Map My Run.

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"Urbanspoon" Restaurant Review App

This app locates restaurants and, better yet, lists thousands of user reviews of those restaurants, so you know whether you are getting upscale Mexican or just just a taco place.

It lists dozens of restaurants in Cincinnati, as well as hundreds of other cities around the country.  Not so much in smaller towns, however.

Urbanspoon is free for Android, iPhone, and Blackberry users. 

Click here for Urbanspoon.

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"Shazam" Song Identifying App

Ever hear a song on the radio and wonder what it was? And the DJ didn't announce it at the end?  No more frustration with Shazam.  Just hold your smartphone up to the radio and in 10 seconds it will tell you the name and the artist of the song.

Free for iPhones, Android phones, Blackberries, and the iPod touch, if you have WiFi in your house.

Click here for Shazam.

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Price Comparison Apps

Red Laser is a popular free app that lets you scan barcodes in the store, and find out if another store has the same item for less.  Free for both iPhones and Android phones. Click here for Red Laser

Shop Savvy is an alternate to Red Laser, and works in a similar way.  Some shoppers prefer this one.  Also free.
Click here for Shop Savvy

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"Nearparent" Child Locator App

This is a new free app for parents who want to keep tabs on their children.

It helps you find their location, plus has a emergency button that will immediately alert you if they need help or have a question. Parents must have a smartphone, while the child must have a "feature" phone.

Click here to download it from the iTunes store.

Click here to download it from the Android Marketplace.

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Downtown Cincinnati App

A cool new app comes from DCI, Downtown Cincinnati Inc.  It lists stores, bars, and restaurants in downtown Cincinnati (no quips about vacant storefronts, please).

It also has a map service to take you directly to the spot you choose downtown. And it lets you read what others say about the place in FourSquare.

Click here.  It's available free from the iTunes store for iPhones.

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Yelp

Yelp, the popular business and restaurant review website, now offers a free smartphone app for iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberries.

It has a cool  mapping feature to help you find the nearest yogurt shop or ribs joint, for instance.  Then you click on it to read real customer reviews.

Click here for Yelp.

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Thornton's Gas

Thornton's gas stations has just released a new app for iPhones and Droid phones, showing its locations and gas prices in the Cincinnati area.

The best feature is that it also alerts you several hours before a price hike, so that you have time to fill up.

Click here for Thorntons.

 As always, don't waste your money.

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Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.

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