This App Might Help Some People Here

[Buenchico]

If, like me, you're doing your best to avoid crowded supermarkets at the moment, this new app might be worth a look:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-52446658

I've just installed it on my phone but, as all the supermarkets are currently closed, I obviously can't say yet whether it's actually any good or not but I just thought that one or two people here might like to know about it.

[tonyav]

Good idea that, Chris.

[jno]

I wonder who decides what "crowded" means. Does it assess the square footage of a shop and divide by the number of heartbeats it detects?

[Buenchico]

It looks like it might be helpful, Tony. It can definitely 'see' all of the supermarkets in my area, including the local Co-op branches (as well as the bigger Tesco, Asda, stores etc), so I might be better-placed to know when to go out shopping.

To be honest though, I know the shopping patterns of quite a few stores in my area anyway. My last supermarket visit was 10 days ago, to the big Morrison's store 8½ miles away. I deliberately got there just an hout before they closed and, as I'd expected, there were only about half a dozen other shoppers in the entire store.

However I'm still willing to try out the app for my future shopping trips (which probably won't be for another week or two yet anyway).

[tonyav]

I'll probably download that tomorrow morning, got to go to Tesco ( or another less crowded supermarket maybe )

[Buenchico]

I'll let you know when I find out, Jno, but (as I'm not planning on doing any supermarket shopping for at least another week or two) you might have to wait for a bit ;-)

[Mamyalynne]

I don't go out to shop but just showing my ignorance really , can you download such things to a PC if your phone is not up to it?

[Buenchico]

Sorry, Mamya. I think that it's only available for Android and Apple devices.

Jno: Here's an indication of how it works:
https://intallaght.ie/crowdless-the-european-space-agency-app-that-alerts-you-of-crowds/

[Mamyalynne]

Ta.

[jno]

assuming that ESA can't actually peek inside Waitrose and count heads, they're going to be checking whereabouts via the mobile phones of people who have them?

I can probably check in advance on my Ipad, but I don't take that shopping with me, so I won't be counted myself.

[Maydup]

This is great, especially for those of us in rural areas where the choice is either a local store, or supermarket 10 miles east or 10 miles west based on guesswork!

Now can we have an app to track down stocks of flour please?!

[THECORBYLOON]

I downloaded the app and there's a few stores near me they have no data on but some such as the Tesco Extra, a few miles from me, are not even shown on their map.

Does the app take into account the size of the store when determining "crowdedness"?