Tag: Mapquest »

This week at 148Apps.com, we pondered life after the change from Google Maps to Apple Maps. Carter Dotson took a look at his Favorite Four alternatives to Apple's built-in guidance system: "So, there’s a bit of a brouhaha over iOS 6 switching its maps provider from Google Maps to TomTom and other Apple sources. Yes, the 3D flybys in the maps are pretty, but the lack of details once had in Google Maps and loss of transit directions is a backbreaker for some. Sure, Google Maps has a mobile website that can be added as a web app, but maybe it’s time for something all new. Unless or until a separate Google Maps application is released, here’s four fine alternatives for mapping and directions."

Take a look at Carter's choices on 148Apps.

GiggleApps writer Amy Solomon got cooking with a kids' game called Dr. Panda's Restaurant: "My son and I are thoroughly enjoying Dr. Panda’s Restaurant as this app has so much to offer in cooking fun for children of all ages. This app consists of a two-story restaurant, each containing a two-person table to be filled with the animals who get welcomed by Dr. Panda, now the chef of this restaurant as well as the one who greets these animals before they are sent to their table. Eight animals are included, as are ten recipes to cook."

Read more of what's on the menu at GiggleApps.com.

And finally, AndroidRundown.com featured a KickStarter Spotlight on Lifx. Joseph Bertolini writes, "Lifx is an LED light that connects to any home wireless network and is controlled by a smartphone. It would have been easy for the developers to just simply stop at changing the color, and I, frankly, would have been satisfied. But seeing as this is a KickStarter project, it is a safe bet that these developers did not become complacent. Some simple additions, such as dimming and batch operation are included, but the one that I am most impressed by is the ability for the light to deliver phone notifications. Imagine every time a text message comes in the room blinks green or blue for Facebook notifications. There is also an option to program lights onto specific actions and cycles, such as dimming over a period of time or turning on every day at 8 am."

Read more about this potential product at AndroidRundown.

And that about covers it for the week that was. Joins us every day for the latest news, reviews and contests - and keep track of it all by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook. See you in 7.

So, there’s a bit of a brouhaha over iOS 6 switching its maps provider from Google Maps to TomTom and other Apple sources. Yes, the 3D flybys in the maps are pretty, but the lack of details once had in Google Maps and loss of transit directions is a backbreaker for some. Sure, Google Maps has a mobile website that can be added as a web app, but maybe it’s time for something all new. Unless or until a separate Google Maps application is released, here’s four fine alternatives for mapping and directions.

HopStop

Transit directions are notably missing from iOS 6 maps. However, for those needing to get around, HopStop provides valuable directions. Supporting many major North American cities, just choose the starting address, destination, departure/arrival time, and preferred method of transit, and the app provides helpful directions, including alternate arrival/departure times for buses and trains. It even includes some transit options that Google Maps doesn’t, such as suburban Pace buses in the Chicago area.

Waze

This app uses OpenStreetMap data to power its maps, relying on the free user-supported data supplied to provide reliable up-to-date information, similar to Wikipedia. It uses this data to provide a free turn-by-turn navigation solution. The hook is that data on traffic, accidents, speed traps, and more, is all provided by people also using the app. Simply driving around with the app open can help intelligently detect where rough traffic is based on slower speeds. Waze can even find cheap gas along routes based on user-submitted reports.

MapsWithMe

This app offers over 7800 maps of cities and places all over the world, which are all downloaded direct to one’s device. So, where data service is spotty or nonexistent, this app still provides valuable street data along with various locations and landmarks available offline. It’s perfect for the iPod touch and wifi-only iPad. The maps are curated by the development team, including their CEO who wears a sweet hat.

MapQuest

Long before there were Google Maps, there was MapQuest. While The Lonely Island declared Google Maps “The best”, who’s got an app on the App Store now? MapQuest does! Find important places and get turn-by-turn directions using their main app, or use their “Local” app to find the best restaurants and bars based on crowdsourced information. MapQuest is a survivor, and will be around to give us directions when all that's left is Twinkies and cockroaches!

Where is the summer going? My apologies for last week's lack of a Friday Five. We're back this week, though, with five interesting apps from the past week, just like always. Enjoy!

Hellsing's Fire
Hellsing's Fire is a beautifully illustrated puzzle-adventure game from Clickgamer (Angry Birds, anyone?). Dr. Hellsing's illuminating torch and his assistant Raffton's tonics are both necessary to defeat the undead hordes. The puzzles are trumpeted as being "quick but rewarding"...sounds great for pick-up-and-play or, you know, losing hours of your life. With 90 monster-packed levels, Crystal integration for leaderboards and achievements, and wry dialogue, Hellsing's Fire looks to be a great new App Store game.

Audible
Audible.com is one of the biggest audiobook sites on the web. Subscribers to the website enjoy a market of digital audiobooks that's hard to beat, and now with the Audible app, said users can download their Audible.com libraries to their iPhones. The Audible app runs in the background with iOS 4 on multitasking-enabled devices. It also support chapter navigation, Play as You Download, bookmarking, Button Free Mode, and Sleep Mode. It's a great app if you want to listen to your Audible.com audiobooks, but unfortunately this app doesn't yet allow you to buy them in-app.

Wheel of Fortune Platinum Edition
This app brings the famous TV game show to the iPhone...finally! Test your wordly wit against the app or with others via multiplayer mode. The wheel and the sound effects are true to the show, and the puzzles are written by the producers themselves. You can customize your characters, too. Multiplayer comes in the form of pass-and-play, local multiplayer (Bluetooth / WiFi), or network mode (yes! online multiplayer!). "Theme Weeks" featuring custom puzzles and wedges will be introduced, too. The app itself looks pretty good, though some players have apparently experienced crashing...so proceed with caution. As famous as Wheel of Fortune is, though, I'd expect a bug-fixing update soon.

Mapquest 4 Mobile
Remember when MaqQuest was practically the king of online mapping? It's no longer the undisputed champ, but MapQuest is still as solid a service as ever. MapQuest 4 Mobile finally brings it to the iOS platform, with awesome features such as turn-by-turn spoken directions, quick re-routing, backgrounding support on iOS 4, and even pedestrian directions. Best of all, however? It's free! It might not be brand-new, but the latest version of Mapquest 4 Mobile is such a step forward that I felt justified in including it here.

Fly Vs. Car
On the surface, Fly Vs. Car is simple. Playing as a small fly, you must tilt your iPhone to avoid being hit by oncoming traffic. Simple, simple, simple...even OpenFeint and Facebook / Twitter score posting can only add so much to such a basic premise. But what makes Fly Vs. Car unique is that the developers at Snow Day Games have pledged to donate half of all profits to Child's Play Charity, a not-for-profit group that donates toys and games to sick children. Now that's a mission we can get behind.