What’s the point of having an ultra-mobile, multitouch personal computing device that fits in your pocket if you are not going maximize it’s ability to find adventure? I’m going to explore some free apps in the hopes of turning your iPhone in to the world’s greatest personal tour guide.
Google Earth for iPhone – Don’t think of this as the default Maps app on steroids, Earth is really how the desktop version of the software should be. With multitouch zooming, panning, swiveling, and tilting, Google Earth presents the latest publicly viewable satellite imagery of earth in an extremely accessible way. Google Earth also provides searching for nearby businesses, retail, and attractions comparable to Maps.app. Unlike Maps.app, however, Google Earth does not provide directions, so you will have to find out how to get there yourself, or switch to another app. Google could not have done a better job of bringing the imagery of their Earth app to the iPhone, but the spartan feature list leaves much to be desired.
Yelp – if you have ever touched an iPhone, or even watched a commercial for Apple’s most popular product, it’s likely you have heard of Yelp. Yelp is a local business search engine complete with user ratings and reviews to help you find the best local business for whatever your need. Opening up the app, you are presented with a list of the most frequently used categories (Restaurants, Coffee, Gas, etc.). Selecting any of these will present you a list of the closest places in that category. The fun, but ultimately gimmicky Monocle feature points you to nearby locations using your camera and built-in compass functionality (iPhone 3Gs and 4 only). One small caveat is that you must sign up for Yelp in order to write and post reviews. Otherwise, Yelp is a proven champ in the free app colosseum.
MotionX GPS lite – This free, somewhat less feature packed version of Fullpower’s MotionX GPS app provides at least as much functionality as most handheld GPS receivers. Using your iPhone’s aGPS chip, GPS lite provides you with accurate location information, waypoint creation and navigation, track recording. GPS lite also gives you satellite map caching (from Bing) so you load up your maps at home and keep from using your data. Another cool feature is that you can set what the app does in the background when using iOS 4’s multitasking feature. This has three settings: Always On, which keeps the GPS receiver on in the background, Optimized, which only keeps the GPS on if you are currently recording a track, or Always Off. MotionX GPS lite will be a mainstay on the phones of the budget-conscious GPS user.
Author:
“Ben is a tech savvy college student currently attending MJC pursuing a degree in biology. Having grown up using Apple computers and taking apart electronics, he is passionate for emerging technology of every sort. His latest obsession is Apple’s hugely popular app platform, iOS and it’s devices. ”
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Phorbie
