TheFind, a technology-heavy shopping search engine, is introducing an iPhone application for the site that it says should launch on August 4. The application allows users to search for stores in a region that are selling a particular product (the site claims a database of over 200,000 retail locations).
Because the app hasn’t been accepted to the Apple App Store yet, TheFind is going to hold a beta using Apple’s Ad Hoc application distribution program. If it works well, we hope to be able to offer similar beta programs in the future for other App Store developers.
The first 100 users to go here will be able to sign up for the beta. After submitting their iPhone’s unique device identifier (UDID), users will be able to download the application from the site itself. Typically Apple requires users to download applications through the App Store, but this Ad-Hoc distribution system allows developers to distribute their apps before they’ve been approved to a maximum of 100 users.
TheFind launched in its current format in 2006 (it was previously known as FatLens, a ticketing and shopping site). The new site is a shopping discovery engine, geared more towards finding new products than locating a price for a particular item. In 2007 the site acquired Glimpse, a womens’ shopping destination.
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this is a way to launch an app if Apple doesn’t accept it.
I like the regular version of the site .. hope they can also simplify my on the go shopping experience as well ..
Can someone share why Apple might have objection to such a service? I am trying to get arms around Apple’s criteria.
The results look impressive…Would be interesting to see how it will work on an iphone.
This looks cool - of course we’ll see how it looks when it actually launches, but I like the concept.
They surely have a very large index to boast of!
Finally, a local search shopping app that makes sense! I’m going to check it out. I use their website, and I’ll check this out when they release it - sounds useful.
I’m sure I’d use it, I like the idea!
Wow, look at all the fake comments from the company!
I don’t get it, people get all worked up about beta opportunities but there’s a site that has been doing local shopping search for well over a year (slifter.com), and they have an iPhone web app - which I currently have on my iPhone, and you don’t have to sign up for a beta program or read comments that are clearly coming from the company.
good idea. I can’t help to using it.
Yes I use slifter.com too, but it doesn’t work for me… They have very few stores and not very good results.
On their site http://www.thefind.com has great results when you click on ‘local’ - I hope they’re porting all of it to the iphone. Then it would be much more useful then slifter.
Till then ..!
@Skay
You should stick to writing your own corporate PR Blog: http://blog.thefind.com/thefin.....or-sh.html
Or at least use different names for all of your comments on other blogs re: TheFind.
This entire post is a lame PR stunt.
Conspiracy theories are fun!
thefind’s CEO is Siva Komar - initials S K
Commenter SKay = S Kay
hee hee
Mike - you say that apple allows you to distribute the iphone app ad-hoc to 100 users.
Can anybody point me to this page on the apple iphone site?
I’m actually surprised there aren’t already half a dozen apps for this. Guesses on who is next out of the gate?
Fantastic journalism! Just a PR fluff job. Did anyone notice the “we” in the post: “If it works well, we hope to be able to offer similar beta programs in the future for other App Store developers.” Basically looks like Techcrunch copied and pasted an email from the Find into this post.
lolzzz .. “we” refers to TC offering startups to launch similar invite programs …. this is hilarious ..
Sounds like a great concept! I have found lots of items via TheFind.com and this would be a super addition to it.
Great. The app should include prices also. This will generate a smart shopping movement and the competence will increase.
I just want to be able to save money on gas, so if I’m at a store and able to comparison shop for better prices at another store without actually having to get in my car to go to said store - this might just be the key.