REDMOND, Wash. – Jan. 31, 2013 — Love. As it turns out, one Microsoft employee had an app for that.
For more than a year, Kevin Reynolds was stuck in the “just friends zone” with Christine Amundsen, the girl of his dreams. But rather than being discouraged, Reynolds, a Microsoft software design engineer in test (SDET), decided to be the most thoughtful, charming, and considerate “just friend” ever.
To make a long and romantic story short and sweet, Reynolds kept up his Colorado River-like persistence, and the two “just friends” eventually found themselves in a Grand Canyon of love. A year ago on Valentine’s Day, Reynolds created a Windows Phone 8 app to propose marriage. They were married in September, and this Valentine’s Day, they’ll celebrate the one-year anniversary of the day she said yes to the app by taking a cooking class together.
“Those of us that are passionate about technology – it’s OK to express it,” Reynolds said. “Think of any great painter, or those great romantic singers. If technology is your passion, use that in your romance. Bring those two loves together.”
Using an app to propose – or even just to plan a great Valentine’s Day for someone you care about – can be a creative way of sharing yourself beyond the cultural norm, Reynolds said, “like flowers.”
Though Reynolds has yet to put his (now tried and true) marriage proposal app on the marketplace, here are some other apps that can help make your Valentine’s Day a success.
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Plan (and Be) a Great Date With Perfect Date Pro
January 31, 2013
Dog walks and barbecues, bowling and test-driving sports cars, this app is a treasure trove of fresh date ideas – cheap, moderate or expensive; indoors or outdoors; winter or summer. This app can also be your Jiminy Cricket for how to land a date, and how to act while you’re out. Dating pro tip: Perhaps study the Perfect Date Pro app’s tips before you’re actually sitting at a restaurant table on a date.
Bring Back That Old-School Magic With Valentine Cards
January 31, 2013
Once upon a time, before things got more complicated than recess bells and lunch money, Valentine’s Day cards were a staple. Adorned with cartoon characters and stuffed with candy hearts, they were the perfect way to send love to everyone, particularly that someone special. You may be all grown up, but you can still give the holiday the charm and magic it once had by creating personalized greetings with Valentine Cards. Choose a photo of you, your love, or the two of you together, and then select the perfect frame, all without the mess of scissors, glitter and glue.
Do the Fandango
January 31, 2013
You know what’s romantic? Preparation. Show your date that you planned ahead by purchasing movie tickets on Fandango, the No. 1 movie-ticketing app. What’s more, you can get movie times, read reviews, watch movie trailers, and look ahead to coming attractions. Now if you could just figure out a way to pre-purchase fresh popcorn with real butter and a soda with two straws…
Get Out of the Hot Seat and Into a Hot Eatery With Urbanspoon
January 31, 2013
Getting restaurant reservations on Valentine’s Day can be a hopeless affair. But with Urbanspoon, you can make instantly confirmed reservations right from your Windows Phone at one of over 800,000 restaurants in the app’s database. The app can help you find the best restaurant near where you’re standing, in your city or while you’re on the road. You can search by cuisine type and price; read reviews, critics picks and chef favorites; and share reviews and pictures of your dining experiences.
Netflix Rounds Up Romance Flicks for Valentine’s Day
January 31, 2013
In all of our hustle and bustle, maybe throwing on some pink or red sweatpants and spending a quiet night at home with your sweetheart is honestly the most romantic thing you can imagine. Use the Netflix app to update your must-watch list, and you can even start watching a romantic movie together on your Windows Phone while you wait for your takeout order. Then you can pick up watching the same movie all snuggled up on the couch at home using Xbox LIVE, and even finish watching (thanks to the swoon-worthy magic of the cloud) in bed on your Microsoft Surface.