Groupon 2.0 (for Android)

Looking for a good deal? On the go? With minimal effort? Groupon, the groundbreaking online couponer, released a revamped app this month that makes finding and using good deals pretty effortless. Groupon 2.0 for Android's new interface is clean, bright, and Ice Cream Sandwich-y with lots of layers and scrolling, but it doesn't scroll smoothly. From what I've read in other comments and forums, my Samsung Galaxy Nexus is not alone.

What's Groupon?
For the uninitiated, Groupon is one of the most popular destinations for coupons on a wide range of products, ranging from restaurants to massages. There are two types of deals: 'Daily' and 'Now!' 'Daily' deals are offered for a few days and expire within several months, and are only activated when enough people purchase the deal (typically the next morning). 'Now!' deals can be used immediately, but they can only be redeemed within a set time frame. However, if you don't get a chance to use the deal, Groupon will refund you. ?

UI Refresh
Groupon 2.0 brings all the features of the Web application to your Android device, but adds geolocation and print-free redemptions.

The app requires permission to track your phone, which I know bothers our more privacy-conscious readers. The reason for this is to display nearby deals based on your location. As soon as you sign in, the app displays a map with markers of nearby "Now" deals. A scrollable menu at the top lets you see deals by topic: Nearby, Featured, Getaway, Goods, Our Favorites, and Rewards.

As someone who always has problems deciding which mediocre place to grab a quick, cheap lunch, I found the geolocation feature useful. Instead of going to my usual mediocre deli across the street, today I redeemed a $6 for $10 voucher at another mediocre deli I hadn't been to a few blocks away.

If you've synced your credit card, simply tap "Buy" to, you guessed it, buy a Groupon on the spot. There's no printing necessary to redeem it as with the desktop Groupon?simply show the vendor your order number on your screen, or store it in the app for later use. By default the app also pushes notifications for expiring, unused Groupons.

Every Groupon member sees different deals when they open their accounts because Groupon takes into account all your past purchases and click-thrus. You can also refine the deals you see by "heart-ing" categories from dozens of deal types. Choose from deals like Foodie, Just Dance, Tee Time, and much more.

This year Groupon added a Rewards loyalty program that lets you collect points to redeem exclusive Groupons, by using your credit card at participating Groupon Rewards stores. Participating stores will have a green Groupon sticker at the cashier. Interesting idea, but I have yet to see this sticker anywhere in New York City.

Get Your Groupon
Despite its disappointing IPO, Groupon is still one of the biggest players in the market and reportedly commands 90 percent of the daily deals space, along with Amazon's Living Social site. Google Offers (beta) is also making strides in this crowded category, and recently launched its first Android app as well. However for now, the mature Groupon 2.0 for Android offers more features and better organization, so if you had to go with just one daily deals app I'd recommend Groupon's.

For more Android Software, see:
??? Groupon 2.0 (for Android)
??? LastPass Premium Password Manager (for Android)
??? Flipboard (for Android)
??? Keeper 5.0 (for Android)
??? Spotify 0.5 (for Android)
?? more

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