DISQUS

Rebecca Miller · 7 months ago

Stranger's Cocktail Compass:
-216 Happy Hours right now (4pm)
-No Pictures
-Search functionality
-Neat Countdown Clock

GoTime Happy Hours:
-427 Happy Hours right now (4pm)
-Pictures
-Much more detailed place info
-Nifty shake feature

I'd go with the better content + pics, so I think GoTime Happy Hours wins, but I think the biggest winner is all Seattleites!

Frank · 7 months ago

I was surprised to hear about this. I've been using the GoTime app for a couple of months now and it's (to my delight or chagrin) helped me to find lots of happy hours and spend lots of money. Especially after 1 AM, when I sometimes don't even know where I am, it's pretty helpful in pointing me in the right direction based on my GPS. Also, GoTime has the NightLife app, which is pretty cool, too (events instead of happy hours). I sort of wish they'd find a way to integrate them...

Anyway, I'm not really sure why the Stranger needed to put out an app after the fact that's basically the same thing and not even as good in my opinion. Shouldn't they stick to what they do- like write articles, print papers and sell advertising?

If I want to find out about a happy hour, I'll go to GoTime. If I want to read a story peppered with profanity, I'll read the Stranger.

Galen · 7 months ago

Brilliant!

Cassie · 7 months ago

Ditto to what Frank said.

Adam · 7 months ago

John, this audience is a little biased but I'd bet on an agile smart group of devs over a lunky print publication, in this space especially over the long term. Wouldn't you?

John Cook · 7 months ago

Adam,

It is a good question, but I wouldn't dismiss The Stranger's offering.

While Rebecca Miller in the first comment points out some of the advantages of GoTime, one thing that is not mentioned is The Stranger's massive audience in Seattle.

It can turn that on to market the app, which is a serious advantage. Even if GoTime has a better app, it won't go anywhere if people don't know about it.

Granted, GoTime does have a partnership with a radio station, which helps.

But this competition is not over, and will be interesting to watch.

John Cook

Heavy Drinker · 7 months ago

Considering how inaccurate the Stranger is when it comes to their restaurant and bar listings (not to mention their event listings) I would never trust the info in their iphone app or anything else they come out with. I mean, seriously, the information they have is wrong like %50 percent of the time. I'm sticking with the GoTime app, which I have found to be very accurate.

Tim Keck · 7 months ago

Hey John
Tim from The Stranger here. Thanks for the mention. We've had really good feedback on the initial launch. (Not from the folks at GoTime but from real users.)
One of the great things about the Compass is that our content has been tested and used by tens of thousands of thirsty folks in Seattle who read us in print, online, in special supplements and now on the Iphone.
It's free, easy to use and we're going to be pretty ambitious about new features.

Tim Shrek · 7 months ago

Wow, what a smug *sshole Tim Keck seems to be. Because, of course, any feedback which doesn't agree with the Stranger just can't possibly be from real users.

Typical arrogance from the Stranger (sigh)

Jeff Khadavi · 7 months ago

Hi All,

Jeff from GoTime.com here. First off I want to congratulate The Stranger on producing a great App. There are some cool features in there as Rebecca pointed out, together with The Stranger's wide distribution channel. Hats off for their innovation - they can't be labeled as a "lunky" print publication. We appreciate GoTime users' defense of our "Happy Hours" application but nobody loses with more sources to find out where to eat and drink for cheap! Why the hating?

All the best,
Jeff

Roy · 7 months ago

Just look at the difference in responses from the guy from GoTime vs. the guy from The Stranger. The GoTime response was classy, complimented The Stranger and wished The Stranger well. The guy from The Stranger was arrogant, put down GoTime.com and, as number 9 stated, was smug and arrogant. Adios Stranger. You just lost another reader.