Mobile App Helps You Find the Vinyl
I recently came across a mobile app called The Vinyl District, which is designed to help music lovers (specifically, those of us who are into vinyl) locate record stores, keep up with the latest music trends from their blog, and connect with others with similar interests.
I had a chance to give the app a quick test drive, and it seems to be a nice tool if you’re in a new city and find yourself wanting to go record shopping. I’m not sure how much I’d want to use the app in my own town (San Diego), but I did discover a couple of stores I had not previously heard about.
The “All Stores” section automatically lists record stores near you (assuming you allow the app to use your location). It also includes an option to display those stores on Google Maps. When you tap the location, you are taken to a new screen which will allow you to get directions, view the business on Yelp, see recent nearby Tweets (most of which will have nothing to do with the record store), or check-in (similar to a Foursquare check-in).
The TVD Blog (link for the online version) looks nice in a mobile format and is updated several times each day from what I can tell. News like Jack White’s latest release and a personal account from a recent Ryan Adams concert in DC (along with news for tons of other indie artists I haven’t heard of) fill the blog with a good mix of content.
In terms of social integration, the app has a nice social foundation – but it kind of feels like a ghost town. No comments on the blog that I could find and not a ton of activity in the “Social” section. Maybe there just aren’t that many people out there talking about record stores. I get it.
Still, overall I like the idea of this app and how they’ve integrated more robust services like Yelp and Twitter.
What are your favorite music related apps? Leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks for mentioning our app! Drop us a line on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvdrecordstorelocator