Flixster 3.0 for iPhone is out, and it’s a blockbuster update.
I’ve been using Flixster (well, it’s called “Movies”, but that sounds so generic) for a while now, but I certainly haven’t been tapping into its full potential. It’s mostly been a free movie-checking app for when I’d like to see something at a nearby theatre, but – like most media-related apps nowadays – it’s become a very social experience as well. The new 3.0 update adds a host of purchasing and social features to the mix, as well as a little UI overhaul to make thing easier.
You can now tie Flixster to Facebook to share movie lists and ratings, and you can also add flicks to your Netflix queue if you’re in the US. If a movie is out on iTunes, you can even buy or rent the title, but it’s not clear which titles are on iTunes until you view them. I can’t really see myself being bothered to use many social aspects of the app, as I don’t know many friends that use Flixster, but I suppose the results could surprise me. A whole lot more of my friends are on Twitter now as compared to a mere six months ago, after all.
Something I can really get behind, however, is the new layout. Flixster is easier than ever to use and navigate, and it makes surfing for movies to watch fun. Once you head into a particular title you’re immediately presented with a trailer, showtimes, and reviews (I chose RottenTomatoes) – everything you need to decide whether or not you’re going to watch a film. Navigating to a theatre is just as easy, since there are links within the app to find nearby restaurants, Googlemapify (new verb) the address, or just give the theatre a good old phone call.
So the next time you’re wondering about what to watch, you might want to check Flixster out. I didn’t even list all of the new features of this update, but you’ve really got nothing to lose except for the time it takes to download this free app.
The worst thing about Flixster is that it is US-only, unfortunately. I created an application that has less features but works in most places of the world, and it focuses on "sharing content". For instance, it integrates with Twitter and I am about to submit an update that integrates with Facebook and sends email invites (it already sends emails, but without real iCal invites).
The application is NearCinema, http://www.nyvra.net/nearcinema/ (http://linktoapp.com/nearcinema).
@Felipe
I can't say that it works outside North America, but Flixster also works in Canada (I'm based out of Ontario) and even shows iTunes purchases. That being said, I welcome other solutions that also offer services to places outside the US of A.
Works very well over here in the UK too. The only problem is with the differences in release dates as some movies are released in the UK before America or Canada