A New Era in Movie Tracking
A new movie- and TV-tracking app, Binge, has emerged on the scene, boasting a clever feature that warns users of impending jump scares in real time. Developed by the indie developer behind Mammoth and Bulletin, Binge taps into Apple's Live Activities to bring users a unique experience.
Live Activities for Jump Scares
Binge takes advantage of Apple's Live Activities, which brings real-time notifications to your device's Lock Screen and Dynamic Island. This feature is not new, as other apps have used it for tracking ongoing events like food deliveries, Uber arrivals, and sports scores. However, Binge is the first to utilize it for jump scares, making it a game-changer for horror movie fans.
Filtering and Customization
To use the Live Activity feature, users simply tap on the clock icon on the jump scares detail page to start the live activity when they begin to watch a movie. Users can also filter for only the "major" scares if they prefer. Binge also offers a range of customization options, including the ability to add private notes, details about post-credit scenes, awards breakdown timelines, episode ratings graphs, integrations with other tracking apps, and more.
A Comprehensive App
Binge is not just a jump scare warning app; it's a comprehensive movie- and TV-tracking platform. Users can find the usual details about the shows or movies they're following, like release date, description, trailers, cast and crew, reviews, runtime, genre, and other basics. The app also allows users to add items to a watchlist or mark them as seen, making it easy to keep track of their favorite shows and movies.
External Data and Parental Guide
Binge pulls in data from external sites, like Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd, IMDb, and Metacritic, creating a guide for parents using IMDb information about the movie's or show's amount of violence, sexual content, frightening scenes, drug and alcohol use, profanity, and other factors. This feature is especially useful for parents who want to ensure their children are watching content that is suitable for their age.
Premium Features and Pricing
The app is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and is free to download. However, users must either subscribe or pay a one-time fee to unlock premium features, like the jump-scare warnings. Subscriptions cost either $1.99 per month or $17.99 per year, or users can opt to pay a one-time fee of $49.99 to unlock the app's premium features permanently.
Conclusion
Binge is a unique movie- and TV-tracking app that offers a range of features, including jump scare warnings, customization options, and a comprehensive database of movies and TV shows. With its use of Apple's Live Activities and external data, Binge is a must-have for horror movie fans and anyone who wants to stay on top of their favorite shows and movies.