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10 Essential Mobile Apps for the RNC & DNC

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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