I’ve been having mega computer issues the past few days, hence the lax posting. So I figured today I’d start looking at some of the location-based apps that have been released for the Android platform and give you a comprehensive overview of what’s available. So here goes:
1. JOYity
Almost a gaming platform rather than a standalone application, JOYity from Germany-based Zelfi, nets you three different games with one application download. YouCatch is a multi-player game that allow players in the same city to join in, at the same time acting as the hunter and the hunted. In a nutshell, you’re assigned someone to hunt while another player is assigned to hunt you. Any time someone is within 25 feet of their assigned victim they just have to press the scroll ball to kill…which at the same time reveals their location to every other player. Not surprisingly, the last player standing wins.
The second game, Roads of San Francisco, is basically a scavenger hunt though supposedly this one has some kind of storyline behind it. You’re given an initial destination that once reached results in another destination clue given to you in text message or image form. It can be played alone, in a large group, and even has a design-you-own-version option.
I’m not sure of the purpose of the third and final game, City Race Munich, but I’m assuming it’s an all-out scavenger hunt that rewards the quickest party to the finish line.
Head over to AppVee for some cool video reviews.
2. Cab4Me
Cab4Me lets you track down the elusive taxi cab when you’re on the go. When the free application is launched it immediately finds your location on its simple Google Maps interface and pulls up a list of all the cab companies nearby, as well as their contact information. Then you can simply place a quick phone call and order your cab. Definitely of limited use in your hometown unless you’re a newbie and aren’t familiar with the local cabbies, Cab4Me is simple to use and a probable lifesaver for those that often travel.
3. BreadCrumbz
BreadCrumbz is interesting, as it brings a little personalization to the process of map navigation. The application lets users create their own guide from point A to point B, allowing the integration of interesting landmarks and points of interest. So rather than an app you’d rely on for the quickest possible route to your destination, it’s of novelty use for vacationers or people just looking to explore. The process of creating your own guide is a step-by-step guided process that’s very easy and you can make and share as many as you want. Oh, and one more cool tidbit: you can even move the guide right into buildings!
4. Wertago
Wertago lets you find all of the hottest local venues without requiring a big social network commitment or, on the other hand, provides improved functionality if you do. You just register, fill out a profile, select your favorite local hotspots, add friends and you’re ready to roll. The app receives emails from contacts, provides plenty of specific search options, or if you’re really open-minded has a giant GO! button that when pressed will populate the screen with nearby venues using Android’s GPS. Of course it’s effectiveness is ultimately in the hands of the number of people using it, which is, at the moment a little on the low side.
5. Panoramio
Before I get into how it works, Panoramio requires the radar package available from the Android Market. You’ll need it to run Panoramio, which is an application that uses Android’s GPS (or other positioning methods) to return to you photos geo-tagged for your vicinity. Upon opening the application you’ll be greeted by a default map view but you can choose to view the photos in list form, on a map, or in radar mode. Using the map, you can accurately find where a photo was taken so you can visit the spot if you wish.
6. ShopEverywhere
This application looks super handy. To find information about virtually any product, you can use Android’s barcode scanner to scan a specific barcode or you can enter the product’s name manually. What’s really neat is the application will return all the locations in your area where you can find the product as well as pricing information. And if you find the price a little high, you can just add it to Price Alerts which notifies you when the product is in your pricing range.
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