Elysa Rice (@elysa) is known for 119 in-depth app reviews and 64 super lists on everything from social media apps to finance apps. Based in Dallas, Texas, Elysa is community manager for Bizzy.
1. Tell us about yourself – where you live, your job, things you like to do.
I am a self-proclaimed geek girl. My love of food and technology merges in my job as Community Manager for Bizzy. I am also a blogger, app fangirl, and social media-ite.
2. Which iOS device or devices do you own?
Most people stand on one side of the Android/Apple debate. I have an iPhone 4, an iPad and won a Galaxy Tab at SXSW this year. No one will accuse me of being behind the times! My iPhone is powered by an external battery (mophie!), full (97%) of apps, music & photos of food!
3. Is there a particular category of apps that interests you the most?
Not really a gamer, majority of my apps are food or social related.
4. What are your top 3-5 apps and why?
- Bizzy: (I might be biased) I love being able to share my opinions on restaurants as I check out, and to discover local places to eat, shop and play fit to my preference.
- Boxcar: As someone who uses social media for work as well as personally, I love that I can set Boxcar to send me push notifications for mentions, Twitter direct messages, and Facebook comments for multiple accounts!
- Amazon: I love that I can order something and have it sent to me rather than trekking all over town looking for the best deal.
- Grocery IQ: Before you throw away the empty milk cartoon, scan the barcode to quickly add that to your shopping list. Grocery IQ is so easy to use and a nice bonus – if you are in a couple, you can autosync your lists.
- Foodspotting: Last but not least, for all those foodie photographers, Foodspotting lets you share photos of your food tagged to the location/restaurant and the particular dish. It’s a fun way show off what you’re eating and view other items at the place you’re visiting.
5. What apps are popular among your colleagues and friends?
Instagram, Hootsuite, the entire spectrum of Location Based Services (foursquare, Gowalla, Bizzy, SCVNGR), SoundTracking/Shazam and Pandora Radio. Well and of course Angry Birds.
6. Give an example of a time an app was truly useful to you.
In my previous job I traveled all the time. I had a 40-minute layover in some airport and stopped in the food court to grab a quick bite. As soon as I got my food, the TripCase app sent me a push notification to let me know my flight was 45 minutes delayed. I got to enjoy my food without rushing to the gate only to find out about the change in flight times!
7. What other Appolicious member do you admire the most and why?
I can’t pick just one so I’m going with two – jenniferbeese will always get credit for being the person who told me about Appolicious! Plus, she is hilarious, even when she is not meaning to be. She can make an app review for even a boring app sound funny.
And doniree, as someone with such a variety of interests, always seems to be finding fun and random apps. Did you know there are some awesome yoga apps? Doniree also provides great insight on useful, productive apps since she works for herself.
8. Do you have a blog, Twitter, Facebook, app etc. URL’s you’d like to share?
Of course! Can’t get your geek girl badge without ’em!
Blog: Genpink.com & http://blog.bizzy.com/ Twitter: @Elysa & @Appgurl (there may be a few more)Facebook: http://fb.me/BizzyFans & http://fb.me/genpinkhttp://fb.me/genpink
9. Anything else you’d like to share with the Appolicious audience?
I have a folder for “New” apps I download. I’ll give them a solid chance and testing for at least two weeks. If by that time, I’m not in love I’ll delete them. There are soooooo many apps out there, no sense in keeping “meh” apps around.
