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Web Exclusive: Smart Apps
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These clever smartphone programs make your travels easier
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BY ADAM BAER
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Warm up to the word “app.” Smartphone “applications,” which range from
serious to silly, have quickly become indispensable—especially for
travelers. A bevy of travel apps (and not just for the iPhone) can help
you track your flights, find cheap gas and more. Here are some of our
favorites.
FlightView
Don’t
drive to the airport until you absolutely must. With this app, you can
enter the details of your upcoming flight and receive alerts whenever
the status changes. You also get an “airport delay map” that shows lags
across the U.S. and Canada as well as current weather conditions. flightview.com; $5 for Blackberry and Palm; iPhone users should opt for FlightTrack Pro ($10), found at mobiata.com
The Weather Channel Max
An
original take on weather apps, this one tracks your GPS location and
gives you interactive maps that you can customize with layers devoted
to radar, clouds, temperature and rainfall. You also get long- and
short-term forecasts, some as videos from The Weather Channel’s on-air
talent. weather.com/mobile; $4 for iPhone
Tether
With
this app, your laptop can connect to the Internet via your phone's
signal. That means no more hunting (or paying) for WiFi service; you
just need to be in an area with cellular coverage. tether.com; $50 for Blackberry
WorldMate Live
Want
to convert a foreign currency using up-to-the-moment exchange rates?
How about storing and organizing your itinerary as well, all with an
app that doesn’t cost a thing? worldmate.com; free for Blackberry, iPhone, Nokia and Windows Mobile
Voice on the Go
If
you can’t type in your car, that’s probably a good thing—and this app
supports it. Use voice commands to send emails and text messages from
your phone, and to listen to, compose, reply to, forward and delete
emails. And check Facebook and Twitter. voiceonthego.com; $6 for all smartphones
Cheap Gas!
You’ll
save even more on your road trips by downloading this free app, which
steers you to the least-expensive gas stations close to your car’s
current location. apple.com; free for iPhone
Navigon MobileNavigator
The
MobileNavigator is considered the best app for turning an iPhone into a
GPS navigation system, with realistic renderings of roadways (think
asphalt, road markings and signs) as well as a feature that lets you
know if you need to change lanes for your next turn. navigon.com; $90 for iPhone and Windows Mobil; a version for Google Android is in the works
SitOrSquat
They joked about it on Curb Your Enthusiasm,
but it really exists: an app that finds (and even rates) the nearest
available public bathroom, based on your GPS location, zip code or address. Hey, we all have
needs. sitorsquat.com; free for Blackberry and iPhone
Layar
This
next-gen app pulls info off the web and lays it on top of the live
picture from your phone’s camera. Let's say you're standing across from the
Empire State Building: Pan up, and a Wikipedia entry might appear. Click on it to find out when the skyscraper was built. Or pan down the
block and click on the Yelp! restaurant review to find out what you should order for
lunch—or not. Technologists call this augmented reality; we call it the
future. layar.com; free for Google Android
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Published: March 1, 2010
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PHOTO: Corbis
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