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Are you an academic with a tight research budget? Do you have no research budget at all?

I’m going to throw Android Applications like Shop Savvy and Compare Everywhere into the mix as one of the ways the Google Phone can be useful for academics.

How These Programs Work
First, you walk around the store and find some item you are interested in buying. Then, use Shop Savvy to scan the barcode with the phone’s built in camera. Shop Savvy will search online and give you a list of prices at a wide range of websites. You can buy it with your phone from the website, or (if you are in a haggling mood) see if the store owner will match the low price.

My Experience
I was in Best Buy yesterday looking to buy a high capacity MicroSD card for this phone. They had a 16 GB card for $99. I opened up Shop Savvy, scanned the bar code and within seconds I had a long list of websites (and local stores) that sell the same card. One website was selling the card for $56 (no tax and free shipping). Factoring in the tax I would have paid at Best Buy, I saved about $50.

Book Buying
For Academics
That’s right. Shop Savvy scans the ISBN barcodes on books.

This is going to make browsing bookstores and book exhibits at conferences way more fun.

I can’t wait to go to the next APA and price shop at to Oxford University Press book table.

Extra Bonus For Students
This program could take some of the sting out of the beginning of the semester.

Stroll through the bookstore, scan all of your books for the semester, and then either buy them online from your phone or if you’re in a haggling mood see if the bookstore will come down.

2 Responses to “Stretching Your Research Budget With Shop Savvy”

  1. Jim Heathcock

    Is shop savvy avaiiable for Iphone?

  2. Andrew Cullison

    I’m pretty sure Shop Savvy is only available on the Android Market (the google phone).

    I think there is one for the iPhone (or in the works) but I’m really not sure.

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