Is there an app for that?

Posted by Rob Walker on May 14, 2009
Posted Under: Uncategorized

Actually I don’t care if it’s an app, a site, a widget, a service, whatever, as long as it’s free (or perhaps very, very inexpensive). But:

1. I am a fan of three sports teams: The Houston Astros, The Houston Rockets, and The New Orleans Saints. I would like to know when those teams’ games will be broadcast in my area (which is not Houston, or New Orleans), on whatever channel, on my specific cable setup. That’s all I want to know. I don’t want to comb through the teams’ sites to find out, I don’t want to read the listings on every possible station where a sporting event might be televised. I want regular updates, in advance of the broadcast.

Does this exist?

[UPDATE: I think I actually have an answer for this second one! FeedFlix.com, suggested in the comments, seems to do almost everything I wanted… ] 2. I use Netflix. Sometimes we watch movies quickly, sometimes they sit for weeks on end, gathering dust, next to the DVD player. I want something I can sync to my Netflix account that will tell me how much I am paying per movie — a running tab. I want, in effect, to be prodded: “Do you realize that you have now paid $30 to rent that documentary about The Weather Underground, and you still haven’t watched it?” I also want to be able to find out, easily, how much I’ve paid per rental, during whatever time horizon I choose. (The last month, the last six months, the last year, etc.)

Does this exist?

If so, please tell me!

If not … well, some of you are clever young entrepeneurial techie types — make ’em!

Further diversion may be found at MKTG Tumblr, and the Consumed Facebook page.

Reader Comments

Re: Request #2: http://feedflix.com/
I haven’t used it — I actually have the Apple TV instead of Netflix — but it looks to do exactly what you’re seeking.

#1 
Written By Ryan on May 14th, 2009 @ 11:50 am

Can’t say for NBA or MLB, but there’s a handy NFL site: http://www.the506.com/nflmaps/

#2 
Written By Paul Berry on May 14th, 2009 @ 12:01 pm

Hey, I want to read books about New Orleans and getting someone’s buy in, and I don’t want to pay for them.

Can some clever young entrepreneurial authory type write these books for me for free?

As a developer, I take exception to your requests for free apps. If I write software that solves your problem, or makes your life better, why should you expect me to work for you for free?

#3 
Written By Andrew Cronk on May 14th, 2009 @ 12:10 pm

Ryan — That does look pretty much like what I had in mind! Gonna try it out, thank you! (Other suggestions still welcome.)

Paul — I’ll check that out, too, though on first glance I’m not sure. We’ll see. Thanks though!

Andrew: Tell you what, you can have access to Murketing.com for free, and I’ll keep on writing it for exactly as much money as ever, which is none. I’m not asking you to work “for me” any more than I write this site “for you.” Much like this site, these apps could fit into some individual’s or business’s larger plan for making a living, or a profit. In any case, no offense intended.

#4 
Written By Rob Walker on May 14th, 2009 @ 12:21 pm

Hi Rob – love to hear what you think about FeedFlix. I wrote http://feedflix.com. Also FYI… if you have movies in your DVD Queue that are available on Instant Watch/Streaming, FeedFlix will tell you that.

#5 
Written By Raghu Srinivasan on May 14th, 2009 @ 12:38 pm

Hi Raghu — I like it! This seems to do just about everything I want. And I REALLY need to watch that Weather Underground doc, or give up and send it back. Nice job!

#6 
Written By Rob Walker on May 14th, 2009 @ 2:53 pm

Hi Rob – Another cool thing about FeedFlix is that you can sign up for alerts to remind you if you’ve got titles gathering dust. Just go to the ‘Account’ link on your FeedFlix page and you can ask to get an email alert every Friday if you’ve kept titles for longer than 15 days. You can choose any day of the week and a frequency that you like (including everyday). You need to opt-in to get these emails and you can stop getting them anytime you want too. Check it out.

#7 
Written By Raghu Srinivasan on May 14th, 2009 @ 4:54 pm

do watch that weather underground doc before sending it back. it’s been awhile, but i recall it being good.

#8 
Written By jen t. on May 14th, 2009 @ 6:59 pm

Jen T is right, the Weather Underground doc is good, but I don’t think it’s absolutely essential viewing. Life is short and there’s too much to watch.

#9 
Written By Brian Zabcik on May 18th, 2009 @ 4:43 pm

Thanks for reminding me — I DID watch it, and while it wasn’t essential, it was good, and thanks to Feedflix I realized it had been sitting here for more than two months. Yikes! After all that, I had to check it out.

I find that a few days later I’m still thinking about it, so that’s a good sign. Bottom line is the sixties continue to baffle me.

#10 
Written By Rob Walker on May 18th, 2009 @ 5:01 pm