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March Apps Madness 2013 Final header

Wow, we’ve finally done it!  Our readers, over the last two weeks, have narrowed 32 apps down to a final pair.

We’ve come from four categories including social, gaming, news and entertainment and utility and productivity to come to a final pair of apps that will be crowned the winner of the Conversations by Nokia March Apps Madness 2013 competition.

Without further ado, let’s unveil the two apps that are up for vote.  Competing for the grand finale are Twitter vs. All About Windows Phone!

In this round, myself and Jason Black present our case for each contender.

All About Windows Phone, by Jason Harris

There are quite a few Windows Phone blogs out in the wild and they’re all good. Why is All About Windows Phone my favorite? Because as an old school Nokia fan, I enjoy reading news written by folks who have been around the block with Nokia devices going a ways back.

AAWP_screenshot

All About Windows Phone is headed by Rafe Blandford and supported by Steve Litchfield and Ewan Spence, three of the most authoritative voices when it comes to Nokia and now Windows Phone.  These pundits provide news, perspective and viewpoints that can’t be found anywhere else. Last, AAWP may not be the first publication to break Windows Phone stories, but I can guarantee that the site will bring a perspective or insight you won’t find anywhere else.

The AAWP app was constructed to bring the best of AAWP directly to your Nokia Lumia. The app enables you to read articles, listen to the AAWP podcast, search the entire site and more. Want to leave a comment? Yes you can do that in the app directly, without having to go to a web view.

Where some media applications just bring headlines and limited functionality, the AAWP app gives me full access to my favorite Windows Phone site.

The AAWP app is free to download in the Windows Phone store. I’d highly recommend you check it out today.

Twitter, by Jason Black 

Twitter screenshot

While the app for AAWP is undoubtedly indispensable for the true Windows Phone fan, the app that I use all day long – from the moment I wake up to the time when I finally charge my phone in before going to bed – is Twitter. I need it, both to do my job and to keep up with the world around me.

And, the app for Windows Phone suits my needs perfectly. It is graceful and understated, yet it is fast and responsive, too. There are big, easy-to-understand icons across the top of the screen for the Home view, the interactions and mentions (@), the Trending topics (#) along with suggestions for who to follow, and my own profile details (which includes easy access to any direct messages sent my way). The bottom of the screen has persistent elements to go back home, write a new tweet or search.

Looking at the details of specific tweets that are on my timeline reveals quick options for replies; retweets; favoriting tweets; and options to mail, text or link to that tweet.

It is this simplicity that gives it the power I need to be a go-to tool that I use over and over again throughout the day. Whether you are a Twitter newbie, or a long-time Twitter fiend (we all know a few of those), this app is designed with the user in mind.

The app is free to download from the Windows Phone Store; and unlike the browser-based interface for Twitter, when you use the Windows Phone app you are not subjected to the “Promoted” posts that are starting to clog the top of my main Home view in the web version (in other words, this app is one of the few remaining ad-free zones you will find).

So, as you decide which app deserves your vote in the final round of this year’s March App Madness competition, think about how you will Tweet your decision to the rest of the world, and then your choice will be clear.

Wrapping up

There you have it. We’re down to the final two apps up for vote.  So use the form below to vote for your favorite amongst these two top applications.

Voting will run over the weekend only and the winner will be crowned on Monday, April 8th.

Thank you to all who have participated thus far and we look forward to crowning the winner on Monday!