App Review: PopScopes

Horoscopes are so passé and full of nebulous impersonal rhetoric, relegated to the back pages of newspapers. I mean, who even reads newspapers anymore if they’re not on an iPad? Enter PopScopes – a new app from those crazy kids over at the Delta Park Project, that puts a pop-culture spin on the tried and tested for the modern geek.

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Star signs are out and in their place are four distinct totems plucked from the cross-section of geekdom: Seinfeldicus, the TV Sign; for those that take measures if their show can’t be TiVo’d. Vadorian, the Movie Sign; for the film buff who glares hairy-eyeballs in the direction of crunching candy wrappers. Timeberlaken, the Music Sign; especially for those who sing in the shower and love being on hold. Zuckernatus, the Web Sign; who knows that the Internet is really only about one thing – cats.

Each day when you check the app or the website, you’ll be presented with a tailored PopScope of your sign on topics you’re familiar with such as career, friends, love and happiness. The catch – the fortune they provide are brought to you in an easily related message that draws upon pop-culture references that you’ll understand.

From within the app itself you’ll also have access to select Delta Park Project podcasts with the husband and wife duo, Jason and Anna – app creators and pop-culture connoisseurs – as well as PopScope’s Twitter feed which posts daily bonuses regardless of your sign in more of a fortune cookie style. My personal favourite (so far):

Happiness – Give your life the CSI treatment. There is joy in there some place, but you might have to zoom and enhance.

It’s a simple idea, yet incredibly effective and fun, but most of all so fresh and appealing that you’ll find yourself looking forward to checking in; and while you may only check it once a day, it’s five minutes which’ll soon see a smile curling from your lips. Factor in the built-in podcasts however, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself entertained right through the afternoon.

 
You can download PopScopes for free, from iTunes now for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Find out more about the Delta Park Project at their website.

About Rob

Rob Kidman is an aspiring writer, have-a-go designer, avid tea drinker and geek from birth. Oh, and he’s British. What he doesn’t know about Doctor Who, isn’t worth knowing. Sends text messages in full, perfect grammar, no matter if it costs an extra 10p, as he believes txtspk to be an affront to the Queens’ English. Partial to cheese and pickle, random gherkins, and a fan of the miniature sombrero.

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