SXSW Appy Awards highlight new apps

AUSTIN (KXAN) - SXSW is known for launching thousands of new mobile apps every year. With such a huge selection to choose from, it can be confusing finding the best apps that work for you.

The Appy Awards honor the most creative apps aimed at making life on your smartphone or tablet easier. The goal of the awards, finding the best apps so you don't have to.

"The entries this year are no exception providing great examples in creativity and technological sophistication," said Appy Awards judge Chuck Barton.

In the mobile app development world, The Appy Awards are like the Emmy's. It's the first year the awards were held in Austin, and mobile app developers from just about every category you can think of showed up hoping to be honored.

Yiftee is a up-and-coming location based app that allows its users to buy gifts, drinks, and meals for friends all on a mobile device.

"We like to call it a not so random act of kindness," founder Aldo Briano said. "I like to use it to send my friends beers. I'm in San Francisco, but my hometown is Puerto Rico and so I just send my friends a gift and say, 'Hey I can't be there but here's a beer.'"

Briano is in town for the SXSW interactive portion to spread the word about Yiftee, while also hoping to win an Appy. His app was one of three different ones vying for the best location based app category at the awards.
By the end of the night, it was announced that Yiftee won. An accomplishment Briano says will help get his app in the hands of even more people.

Other apps nominated at the awards included apps for finances and even one to help snag a babysitter for the night. All were hoping for the chance to launch their idea to the next level.