The
2004 Democratic and Republican national conventions were all about
the bloggers. Mainstream reporters even wrote articles about their
scrappy young counterparts, who in turn provided some long overdue
alternative coverage to the mostly mundane quadrennial festivities.
Four years later it was Twitter that was red hot, though mostly only
insiders, reporters, and attendees took advantage of the service,
since it had yet to fully click with the American public. As for
2012, technologically speaking it's the year of the application –
there's even an app for delegates to cast their votes in the hall. As
such, we've spent the past few days fiddling with everything from the
official DNC and RNC tools to newspaper offerings and electoral
trivia games. Whether you're going to Tampa and Charlotte or staying
home, this year you can chase the action and catch the gaffes without
leaving your toilet seat. Here's how they break down.
Partisan Apps
Obama for America (official
campaign app)
4/10
Devices: iOS | Android
I'm
not sure where the Democratic National Committee is wasting its
money, but it sure as hell wasn't on this app. While
well-intentioned, Obama for America – more or less a tool for
hardcore enthusiasts and volunteers – only performs about half of
its functions through the native application. For information, news
updates, and even to make a donation, you're suddenly pushed to a
browser for maximum inconvenience. Otherwise, as a resource for
canvassers to find blue households and to learn about local voter and
enrollment laws, this app can be as much of an asset as it can be a
pain in the ass.
DNC 2012 (official
convention app)
Rating: 10/10
Devices: iOS | Android
In a
full redemption from their canvasser app, the Democratic National
Committee comes through with a smooth and stylish companion for its
upcoming Charlotte festivities. It's all in here, from schedules, to
partisan blog posts, to spotlights on local businesses. More
importantly, DNC 2012 reflects the character and personality of
attendees – especially as they compare to the Tampa crowd. For its
most impressive feature, the app allows people to select their type –
hipster, shopper, art lover, beer drinker, pet lover, “farm to fork
foodie,” history buff, LGBT, and others – and then set how long
an activity should last, and how far away it should be. Much more
revolutionary than the party itself.
Tampa 2012 (official
convention app)
Rating: 9/10
Devices: iOS | Android
Conservative
coders might be harder to come by than pro-life Democrats, but
apparently there are enough talented geeks with non-existent souls
who could be bought out and forced to work for the red team. Though
not as cutesy and tricked out as the official DNC joint, Tampa 2012
gets the job done and looks damn good, with bonuses in its clever
integration of Google Maps, news and video, and detailed schedules
including info on the delegate bus route. Proud capitalists that they
are, the Republicans also have a pretty kickass store to stock up on
everything from yuppie visors to memorabilia.
RNC 2012 (protest app)
Rating: 5/10
Offered
by the March-Hare Communications Collective, this protest-friendly
tool is built in the image of their previously released NATO 2012
app, only it's apparently better. Though truly rudimentary in its
design, when this weapon gets loaded with info it can be extremely
valuable to those who are out in the streets ducking the long,
militarized arm of the law. In theory, once this app is pumped with
data – some of which comes from police scanners – users will get
updates on matters ranging from cop and barricade positioning to
medic stations. Just be sure to start it after you're connected to
the internet, or you'll be staring at a blank map when Johnny Law
ambushes you.
My 2012 Tampa / My
2012 Charlotte
Rating: 8/10
Devices: Devices: iOS |
Android | BlackBerry
Considering
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's propensity to aggravate Democrats
and Republicans – as well as those on the far-left and
far-right – it makes sense that his media empire is offering free
apps for him to profit off of both conventions. My 2012 Tampa and the
identical DNC version are essentially hybrids between news apps and
official convention apps – featuring everything from Bloomberg
reports on relevant happenings to tourist info and social networking
– but they also take it one step further. Thanks to sophisticated
coordination with planners and promoters, users can buy, transfer,
and receive tickets and invitations to the week's parties and events.
On the downside, though perhaps necessary for the level of
personalization, Bloomberg and their project partners at Event Farm
require a unique registration. Once you're logged in, then you get
the option of also piping through Linked In and Facebook.
News Apps
NY Times Election 2012
Rating: 2/10
Devices: iOS | Android
This
election year app has something very much in common with the
politicians who the New York Times covers – you have to pay
to play. All DNC and RNC-related Times content is in here –
right down to polls, editorials, and a delegate tracker. Just don't
try using all of it unless you're a paid subscriber. Considering that
everybody with a Times membership can already access this
material, it kind of makes you wonder why they even bothered with
this otherwise impressive and aesthetically appealing effort.
DNC 2012
(by the Charlotte
Observer)
Rating: 8/10
Devices: Android
Android
users are lucky to have this one. The region's leading news source,
the Charlotte Observer has accomplished the rare feat of
engineering an app that's very much basic, but that also goes above
and beyond expectations. Even two weeks before the DNC, this gem is
already packed with info on parties, protests, and events. There's
also a plethora of content from Observer reporters and
columnists, plus easy sharing features that, like most everything
else, are contained within the app (only long versions of some
articles bring you to their website). Simple, but awesome, not to
mention the only DNC app I could find that features protest times and
places.
Poll Apps
Elections Free
Rating: 8/10
Devices: iOS | Android
Despite
its unappealing icon, this app – powered by a number of polling
sources and aggregated by electoral-vote.com – is an absolute
must-have for every geek and wonk who loves the horserace. As far as
apps go, this is by far the best destination for tracking likely
electoral vote tallies as well as the projected outcomes of every
Senate race in America. There's also a 99 cent version without ads,
and if you're so inclined, I recommend supporting everything these
cats are doing – they claim that historical data plus more charts
and graphs are coming soon. So long as it stays updated, this is a
remarkable asset.
Game Apps
Race for the White
House 2012
Rating: 7/10
Devices: Devices: iOS |
Android
As far
as apps go, this is probably the most intense game based on the shit
fight that is the 2012 presidential election. Props to everyone at
Lunagames International for creating this elaborate role-playing
labyrinth, in which you're essentially responsible for getting either
Romney or Obama elected. In the process, you can run campaign ads,
build a volunteer base, appear on television shows, and even smear
your opponent's lousy ass. In other words – it's a pretty damn
realistic distraction from the actual race that's going on. Finally,
while this runs on any number of Android and iOS devices, it's most
fun on an iPad or any comparably oversized tablet.
Comedy Central's Indecision Game
Rating: 6/10
Devices: Devices: iOS |
Android
Other
than how this app keeps freezing my Samsung Galaxy Tab to the point
that I have to shut it down, the Indecision Game packs the potential
to provide some good old-fashioned fun with political trivia. Once
you pick a side – Democrat, Republican, or Independent – you get
to customize your avatar with sweet stereotypical accessories before
engaging questions on current, as well as historical events. Better
yet, you get to duel with Facebook friends – you have to log in
through Facebook – who may or may not be ideological adversaries.
The result is supposed to be yield answers as to which side is
smarter, though it shouldn't take high technology to figure that out.
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