TMCnet Feature

This Valentine’s Day, love isn’t just in the air; it’s on our smartphone screens.

According to a recent Valentine’s Day survey by Rebtel (News - Alert), 56.8 percent of respondents will be separated from their significant other for Valentine’s Day 2012. Good thing we have technology right at our fingertips to spread the love and stay connected.

To help liven up Valentine’s Day from the traditional flowers and chocolate, the Android Market offers apps especially themed for the day that revolves around love.

The Valentine Scanner allows a couple to each place their fingerprint on the screen in order to test the chemistry between the two. The Romantic Ideas app offers ideas on how to make the day more special, including complimenting your partner in public and giving a magic gift box.

Bubble Blast Valentine takes the popular game and makes it Valentine’s Day themed by popping hearts instead of bubbles. justWink Greeting Cards is an app that allows users to personalize e-cards with pictures or notes.

As many couples set out for a romantic dinner out on the town, OpenTable may be the perfect app for them. This app allows users to quickly scan restaurant availability and lock in a reservation.

In honor of the 14th day of February, Apple also released an app geared toward Valentine’s Day. Appropriately titled, “Valentine’s Day 2012: 14 best free apps for your love,” the app has picked the best 14 free apps to surprise your partner on Valentine’s Day or help single users find that special someone.

The app unlocks free apps for 14 days, offers a soundtrack that is available for change by shaking your iPhone (News - Alert)/iPod, and allows users to win bonuses: the more hearts you open the more your “love’o’meter” will fill up, which opens new surprises and free songs.

Not everyone is as fond of Valentine’s Day, as some refer it to as “Singles Awareness Day.” There’s an app for these users as well. The Ex-App blocks users from calling or texting an ex and even tracks the number of consecutive days that you have stopped contacting them to help you stay motivated and committed to being ex-free. Never Liked It Anyway allows users to sell old gifts, from Valentine’s Day cards to jewelry and clothing.

Even Starbucks joined the buzz for love as they served coffee and hot drinks on their Valentine’s Day designed cups. But that’s not all; the cup comes with a little memo under the design, encouraging users to download the Starbucks Cup Magic App to see their Valentine’s Day cup come alive. Okay, I’ll admit it; I wanted to see my very own Starbucks Valentine come to life.

Once downloaded, users scan their cup to their smartphone screen and see their cup come to life through 3D augmented reality. The app also allows users to send a virtual Valentine, where the recipient of the Valentine will be able to scan their own Valentine’s Day Starbucks cup to reveal the Valentine message. Last but not least, the app is also equipped with an eGift feature, allowing users to send Starbucks eGifts to friends and loved ones from their smartphone.