Explore the world, get some apps

• Posted by Lillian2611 February 07, 2010
• Recommended for News Junkies, Shopaholics, Budget Hawks or Tech/Social Networking Junkies

If you're American, you probably own Doodle Jump. It's much less likely that you own National Geographic World Atlas, however.
These 'stats' are courtesy of App Popular, my No. 1 pick for App-Finders over in the Curated Apps section.
More than 75 countries are represented in App Popular, from Macau to Vietnam and Malta to Venezuela. And if you suspect you might be exposed to new apps by exploring these countries' favorites, you'd be right. I wasn't even aware of the National Geographic app until I checked out the top products purchased by Irish customers; they've made it their fifth pick overall for paid apps.
In another example, it turns out Sri Lankans love the Productivity app Hide a Caller.
Hide a Caller allows users to keep certain contacts private; you can password lock the app and even use it to generate fake identities for the friends you'd like to keep for yourself. And I don't know what's more interesting: the app itself or the fact that Sri Lankans have such an apparent need for it.
App Popular is more than just lists of apps by country, however. It's also a tracking tool, something that might be particularly useful for those who want to monitor how an app is doing worldwide or for those seeking pricing updates.
There's a stream feature within App Popular, too. Use it to get up-to-the-minute information on apps as their popularity wanes or grows; it's a great way to get a quick look at a large number of apps at once.
Finally, access a list of the Most Wished-For Apps; it has certainly gotten me giving some apps (e.g. Documents To Go Premium) a second look now that I know they're objects of desire for other users.
In the end, I appreciate App Popular for the many ways it gives me to see and search new apps. A wish list option and an album-view style presentation are just the icing and sprinkles on the cake.