:: ALONG FOR THE RIDELondon based or simply planning on visiting soon? Jump might just be what you're in need of.
Newly released to the App Store, the app lets you to track bus progress in real time - allowing you to not only see what bus stops are around you but also giving you the heads up on when you should start heading to the bus stop to catch your ride. In theory, it'll mean you need never wait around in the rain for your bus again. Because, yes, London can be pretty rainy at times.
The free version of the app allows you to view what buses are coming up as well as what bus stops are nearby, while for $1.99, you can enjoy push notifications so you know when to get moving.
Jump is out now on the App Store.
Friendly London, by Intervox (makers of Friendly New York and Friendly Barcelona), is a travel guide for having the best time you can in London. With its insider take on local-only places, restaurants, music venues, and more, Friendly London makes finding your way around that much easier.
The app allows you to filter what you want to do by interest and includes info on opening hours, websites, and phone numbers. You can easily figure out directions as each location is pinned on a map. Friendly London also offers offline mode in the full version.
Make London feel more like home with the Friendly London app, which is available now on the App Store for free.
Today Pocket Gamer announced Pocket Gamer Connects, a new mobile gaming conference that will be the largest the U.K. has ever seen.
Pocket Gamer Connects is set to open up on January 21, 2014 at Vinopolis in London's Southbank. They've already been securing speakers from all over the place, including Asia, Europe, and the US, but if you're interested in throwing your hat into the ring as a sponsor or speaker yourself there's still time to do so. Just hop over to the official website and let them know!
"We've been dedicated to helping the mobile games industry develop for almost 8 years now. In that time we've created some of the industry's leading websites, reports, awards and a whole host of great networking events. A fully fledged conference is the next natural step and we believe our expertise and connections will allow us to create something genuinely innovative, valuable and of course fun!"
- Chris James, Managing Director of Steel Media
:: NICE IDEAEverything from classic restaurants to stylish and new eateries are catered for here, with plenty of hidden gems for those who want to discover something a little different.
Users can search according to name, location, cuisine, editor's favorites, or simply consult the map for inspiration. Information such as what to expect to pay is included as well as suggestions as to whether dressing up beforehand is essential.
There's social network sharing courtesy of Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, plus users can email details to others. GPS functionality completes the app with it easy to find directions to a restaurant.
Tatler Restaurant Guide 2012 is out now and is currently free to download. It's normally priced at $1.99.
This week at 148Apps.com, we geared up for the London Olympics with a Favorite Five list of summer games apps. Site editor Rob LeFebvre writes, "With the 2012 Summer Olympics headed to London starting July 27th, it’s night time we took a look at some great apps to use to watch and keep track of the happenings in the UK this year. Today, we’ll take a gander at five useful apps that will help you do just that."
Read the full list at 148Apps.
Over at GiggleApps.com, Amy Solomon took a closer look at This Book Is About To Explode. She writes, "This Book Is About To Explode is an interesting interactive storybook with fun puzzle elements that children and their adults will enjoy. This fun sci-fi story centers around Tiki-Zin3, a robot whose job is to search for alien life – ironic because mischievous aliens, in the interest of making their existence known, explode bombs which send Tiki-Zin3 to different locations out into space. Although this character expresses displeasure about being blown to different locations, I am glad to see that the enjoyment children experience from pressing the button to explore the scenes from this book is not a set-up to be terribly sadistic as Tiki-Zin3 makes comments such as not having the time to take a vacation within the place he has just landed, keeping this story light and fun without making children feel too bad for causing these explosions."
Read more of Amy's review at GiggleApps.
AppBot sends a daily digest of the latest user reviews for a developer’s app, allowing them to get a feeling for what their users are saying on a regular basis. For example, if a new version of iOS launches, and 1-star reviews are saying that the app is crashing, then the developer has a point of entry to troubleshoot. Or, common complaints or request made in reviews can be more easily tracked in this daily digest format."
Read more about this new service at 148Apps.biz.
And that just about wraps up this past week! Join us on Twitter and Facebook to keep track of the latest app news as it happens, plus get in on contests, giveaways, promos and more. See you next week!
2012 Team USA Road To London
Here's the official app of the United States Olympic Committee, providing information about the US olympic team and their experience before and during the games in London. The app will include daily updates of which athletes make the team, daily editorial content on the specific sports and athletes involved in the Olympics, and a "cheer" button to let you send messages to athletes via Facebook and Twitter. You can also donate to Team USA or buy official gear directly from the app.
NBC Olympics
NBC is the official US network of the 2012 Olympic games, and their app will provide pre-game content including news, videos, photos and athlete information. During the games, the app will allow you to follow every event from London, including real-time results & schedules, medal counts and TV & Online listings. Plus, it will function as a second-screen experience during the nightly recap on NBC.
NBC Olympics Live Extra
Want to actually watch the Olympics live while it happens? Use this app from NBC. It will let you watch all the live coverage, as well as on-demand replays and alternate camera views. The app includes archival video of the Beijing Olympic Games, too, so you won't run out of content any time soon. If you have a new iPad, you'll be able to watch the videos in HD resolution as well.
BBC Olympics
Follow the Olympics with a decidedly welcome non-US flavor with direct coverage of the 2012 Games by the BBC, Britain's own boradcast network. There will be daily live text commentary, breaking news, and headlines that reflect your own national team based on your location. You'll also be able to share stories and videos via Facebook and Twitter, and customize the app to just show the sports and teams you are most interested in.
London 2012: Official Results App for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Just want to follow the results of all 36 sports in the Olympic Games? This may be your go-to app, with just-the-facts-quality coverage of all the results, live updates, calendar schedule, details of sports, medal tables and athlete profiles you can handle, brought to you by The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited, the official body for the summer games.
[gallery]
Coming from Britain's conservation organization, The National Trust, Soho Stories offers a fantastic audio tour of the area, narrated by veteran Soho entertainer Barry Cryer. Alongside that are stories from various 'Sohoites' such as Molly Parkin looking at artist Francis Bacon's drinking ways and Janet Street Porter's analysis of the Groucho club. A darker look at Soho comes from Frankie Fraser with the history of the rise of the gangster.
The app isn't quite for the family to listen to with some references to sex and violence, as well as strong language, but it provides a great piece of social history of an iconic area of London.
GPS functionality means that Soho Stories tracks the user's location and provides relevant stories, but it's possible to listen away from Soho and choosing pieces of audio individually.
For social historians and tourists alike, Soho Stories should prove a fascinating source of information.
Now there’s an app for lucky local London culture seekers, travellers and even those of us who just want to admire from afar. London Theatre is a universal, cross-platform mobile guide to The West End. It’s also a ticket agent for LastMinuteTheatreTickets.com. The app also has info and tix for special events and all sorts of cultural fare from opera to dance to concert listings.
For everyone the app offers news, lucid reviews and cast interviews from the website’s blog. For each theatre address users can even get GPS guidance – ideal for those planning on a New Year theatre junket across the pond.
This is done through its quarterly updates by editors who offer the best inside knowledge as well as word-of-mouth recommendations from the locals.
London: Condé Nast Traveller City Guide comes with over 500 fully searchable listings, encompassing Food & Drink, where best to stay, shopping locations, things to see & do and what's worth checking out as part of the nightlife. GPS capabilities, offline maps and augmented reality functionality all makes it easy to explore and find the places within London.
Besides that, there are audio tours of the editors' favorite places, and a To Do list and travel journal for the ever organized traveller.
London: Condé Nast Traveller City Guide is available now for free.
Summer means beaches, holidays, skimpy clothing and the world greatest cities host the best international music festivals. London is no exception and since 2007 Apple has been getting in on the festival scene, capitalizing on its brand with the iTunes Music Festival.
And, since this is an Apple affair, of course, there is an app for that.
iTunes Festival London 2011 gives fans from across the world a chance to catch the live performances and access archival videos and some impressive photos after the fact. It’s a slick package that seems to be pleasing users more since an update in mid June fixed some reported crashing issues and added integrated iCal reminders and Air Play support.
If you get the app late, you’ll have to be satisfied with photos from Paul Simon’s appearance, but videos of every other gig so far, including Linken Park and Adele, are there to watch late or again. Duran Duran was a late pull-out, leaving one mystery spot – big names yet to play include The Wombats, Coldplay, Lang Lang, James Morrison and Moby.
Find artist information in-app along with festival news, according to which Jessie J is also a last-minute no-go due to a broken foot. Tickets to the festival are free, given to those who enter prize draws, but if you weren’t lucky enough to win one or be in London this month, take the festival along on an iPhone or iPad.
[gallery]
Finally, a game for the British part of me to sink my teeth into. Postal Panic is welcoming to all but its primary focus is on the humble British postcode (the British equivalent of zip codes).
The game starts out in the London area, increasing across the country. Throughout, an accurate coverage of British postal codes is offered adding a slight educational element to things.
Ultimately though, it's simple but compelling to play. Right now, it's also available for the grand price of nothing! Although once it switches to $0.99, 50% of the revenue will be going to the British youth charity, the Prince's Trust which is a very worthy cause indeed.
Postal Panic is out now for the iPad.
In Britain, it'd be easy to assume that once someone's in London, there's no need for them to go elsewhere for some fantastic sights and some great day trips. That couldn't be further from the truth with there being some terrific places to go for day trips within comfortable reach of The Big Smoke. Roving traveller Earl Steinbicker, previously known for his work with Waltzing Through Vienna has come up trumps again with London's Backyard, an app that aims to provide users with 25 one day adventures within a reasonable distance of London.
London's Backyard covers a fair amount of places ranging from the old fashioned seafront style town of Hastings to Winchester, Guildford, Canterbury and Dover. Each area is covered extensively ensuring that there's something of interest for all people. For instance, Colchester in Essex, North of London, is not only Britain's oldest record town with some extensive Celtic and Roman history to be seen, but it also offers a great zoo, popular with many people.
Less well known places such as the canal village of Stoke Bruerne and Woodstock in Oxfordshire are also examined ensuring that people can get away from the hustle and bustle of London easily, either via public transport or by car.
Many of these places might be familiar to British readers but I doubt they know a huge amount about them all making London's Backyard ideal for everone.
It's out now for all iOS devices, it's an universal app and it's a mere $2.99 which seems a good deal for over 3 weeks worth of daytrips!
:: INVALUABLE
