Apps, Bajan style

The main screen for the "Bajan Lingo" Android OS app

Apps are the in thing when it comes to smart phones and tablets. Apple has its App Store, Blackberry has its Blackberry App world and Android has Google Play (formally the Android Market). Unfortunately application development has not been looked at a lot in Barbados. The Nation Publishing Company Ltd does have an application for the Blackberry platform available for download but this is one of the few locally developed apps.

The majority of smart phone users in Barbados are utilising the Blackberry platform and in terms of application development, apps developed for Blackberry are far fewer than those for market leading Apple OS and second place Android OS. Of course now that Research in Motion (now formally known as Blackberry) is placing a lot of hope on its latest OS, Blackberry 10. Time will tell if they are able to make any significant dent into the app market. While application development in Barbados is still in the infancy stage there have been Barbados related apps that have been developed in other countries.

We are going to take a look at a couple of them. The first is an app entitled “Bajan Lingo” which is developed by GCT Labs. This app is your portable source for Bajan sayings and phrases. Popular phrases such as “plaster for every sore (an excuse for every situation)” and “wha gine on? (a greeting saying how are you doing?)” are included in this app.

The app gives you access to Bajan words and phrases on the go

The app provides a Bajan word or phrase for the day feature and also allows users the option to look for words and phrases alphabetically by letter. It is a great little app to have on your phone and with it you can ensure you always have a piece of Barbadiana with you, even if you are “ova an’ away (overseas)”. Best of all, the app is free to download from Google Play.

A downside to this app is that unlike some translation apps, there is no audio option. Such a feature would allow you to hear the words or phrases being pronounced. That would have been a great addition and hopefully a feature that would be added in any update that may be done.

Streekes on Tech gives the “Bajan Lingo” Google Play app a 4 out of 5 'Green Coconut' rating