App Review: Halalan 2013 vs. Eleksyon 2013

It’s election season again! And, of course, two of our major television networks, ABS-CBN and GMA, are showcasing their own gimmicks to promote awareness and, hopefully, influence our fellow countrymen in choosing the right people to lead the country.

In this era, where mobile devices are widely used and is already a part of our daily routine, mobile applications will surely be a good medium to use in disseminating information.

ABS and GMA has leveraged on mobile devices and came up with their own mobile apps for this year’s national election. In this article, let’s take a look on what each app offers to it's users.

ABS-CBN	GMA
App Name: Comelec Halalan 2013 Mobile Platform: Android & iOS (iPhone, iPod, & iPad)	App Name: GMA News Mobile Platform: iOS (iPhone & iPod)

COMMON FEATURES

ELECTION-RELATED NEWS

SENATORIAL CANDIDATES PROFILES

ABS-CBN’s senatorial candidates profiles are in paragraph form.

GMA made use of bullets, which makes it easier for the user to read and look for specific details that the would like to know about the candidate.

ELECTION RESULTS

According to the app’s About page, it will also show updates on the election results. I’m just not sure where as it doesn’t have a placeholder yet, similar to GMA’s.

GMA already shows a placeholder for both Unofficial count and Official Comelec Results

ELECTION FAQs / HOW-TOs

ABS-CBN mostly made use of infographics in their how-tos which makes it very interesting to read.

GMA’s FAQs are very concise.

VOTER STATUS CHECKER & PRECINT FINDER

ABS-CBN made it possible to integrate these features in their app. The user can now easily check the status of their registration and locate the precint that they should go to on the actual election day.

After entering your details in the above screenshot, you’ll see your complete voter’s registration details.

And you also get to see your precint map.

GMA didn’t have these features integrated. However, there’s an item in their FAQs where you will be redirected to Comelec’s website to check the voter’s status and precint.

UNIQUE FEATURES

ABS-CBN’s app also shows all Party List and LGU candidates.
For the LGU candidates, you just have to identify your location so the app can filter the LGU candidates in your area.

ABS-CBN’s app does have vote simulation and generates your own ballot list

From the app, you can select your favorite candidate and it will generate a list for you. However, you won’t be allowed to use your devices while voting, so, should you need a cheat on the actual election day, you still have to do it the manual way.

ABS-CBN’s Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo integration

Bayan Mo Ipatrol Mo is ABS-CBN’s way of interacting with and making everyone a reporter in their own way. Here, anyone can report whatever’s happening in their area thru a picture/video.