Price: FREE     Score: 8/10     By M. Schusterman

Sometimes combining existing ideas is even more brilliant than coming up with one new idea. Waze, an app designed by Waze Inc., takes three very popular app platforms – games, GPS tracking, and social networking – and morphs them into one incredibly unique free app.

Waze finds your location and allows you to add to the online database as you travel. You can contribute information on current traffic, accidents or police activity. Obviously, this isn’t the only iPhone app out there with these features. But Waze is a little different.

When you download the app and open it for the first time, you set up your account and a short profile and avatar. You can even choose a different little icon to represent your mood, which will be visible by other Wazers on the map and when they search for someone in their area.

Because that’s the other thing about Waze – it’s a community. You can view the map, select a user, view how vary they are from you and “ping” them, or message them in a chat room. (More cautious users can set their profiles to private, as the possible dangerous issues here are obvious.)

Waze makes sitting in traffic a game. Watch your car on the map as a little Pacman icon adding a new road to the Waze interface, all while chowing down some cherries and other items in the road for a few bonus points.

Really getting use out of Waze requires some effort – it’s not really the app for you if you just want something to open and check on the traffic nearby. But if you’re interested in joining and connecting with other users, as well as taking control of the content available by contributing your own, it’s worth taking the time to learn. And hey, the price is right – download this free app and check it out for yourself.

Waze requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Price: $1.99   Score: 6/10   By J.R Maldonado

The Modern Museum of Art. Bergdorf-Goodman. Applebee’s. MIDTOWNinmypocket by AppFury, LLC, to paraphrase Ol’ Blue Eyes, wraps Midtown Manhattan around your finger. This is true for fanny-pack wearing Midwesterners and jaded Gothamites alike. While it’s difficult to get lost in the neighborhood, the sheer number of boutiques and cultural institutions can overwhelm even the native New Yorker.

And like many New Yorkers, I find Midtown as frightening as a child does a clown. I only schlep to the land of Umbrella-holding tourist guides and gratuitously priced undergarments when I meet up with department-store or bank employees for lunch or a drink or have tickets to a Broadway show. However, with MIDTOWNinmypocket I can eliminate much of the sidewalk congestion and hone in on my desired destination.

This app lists 900 central Manhattan businesses where the user can shop, dine, drink and take in the sights. The user can navigate the directory via the proximity option or by category. Categories range from the obvious (Restaurants and Hotels) to the head-scratching (Gas and Pets, neither of which locations). To be sure, the developer has a thorough knowledge of one of the most famous destinations on earth. The most useful categories are the food and shopping ones, especially because MIDTOWNinmypocket includes discounts available at district establishments, like 10 percent off at Pop Burger and 20 percent off at the Excelsior Hotel.

Allow me to give and example of the app’s utility. Say you’re catching the latest retrospective at MOMA and have a hankering for haute cuisine or big-box chain restaurants. Use the “near me” function in the top right corner to search for your dining experience with Google maps. If you’re interested in perusing listings, the profiles list contact information and Web sites for those seeking further knowledge.

Curiously, some expected Bars entries were absent. Where are the stellar Campbell Apartments in Grand Central Terminal or the craft-beer palace The Ginger Man? Both magnets for visitors in search of Big Apple glitz and stiff suits, they merit inclusion in the MIDTOWNinmypocket‘s next update.

The reason for my lower than average score is the most frustrating of snafus some apps are all together prone to: Freezing. While looking through the bar listings, I selected one only to have the MIDTOWNinmypocket app freeze my iPhone. Twice! Repairing my beloved toy (and revenue source) took much longer than the writing of this review. Based on the single occurrence, I cannot in good faith give MIDTOWNinmypocket more than a mid-range score. No matter how useful and how beneficial to tourists and natives it may be. Hopefully the stability issues will be resolved with the next update.

It isn’t the only neighborhood directory app by the developer. AppFury, LLC, has applications for New York City’s SoHo nabe, with others in the works for Aspen, Los Angeles, Toronto and many more in the works.

MIDTOWNinmypocket requires iPhone OS 3.1.2 or later and is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Price: Free*    Score: 5/10     By Anna Papachristos

Everyone, at some point or another, has needed directions.  Whether you’re traveling in unfamiliar territory or simply looking for something new and exciting in your own area, one can’t know where everything is at all times.  With UrbanCompass by The Good Life, users are supposed to be able to do just that – find directions.  However, these “directions made easy” may be a bit more misleading than promised.

UrbanCompass is designed to guide users to their destination with only a compass and a map (but only for iPhone 3GS users).  You can use the search function to enter what you’re looking for, including a specific address if you desire, or you can choose from the list of quick-search buttons: bar, restaurant, coffee, grocery store, bank, shopping, hotel and gas station.  (Simply tap on the ‘x’ on the compass to access this menu.)  When using the quick-search buttons, UrbanCompass sorts results by distance, allowing you to choose which nearby spot you’d prefer.

UrbanCompass will then provide a map labeling your current location, the location of your destination, the distance you must travel and a compass to set you off on your way.  Users can change the appearance of their map from Standard to Hybrid view a la Google Maps and vice versa under the ‘Settings’ menu by tapping on the icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.  This menu also allows users to auto center their location on the map and use UrbanCompass Connect.

UrbanCompass Connect allows you to send their your location to a friend so they can find you using the app as well.  As long as you are within range of 3G coverage, you can access UrbanCompass anywhere in the world.

However, claims that UrbanCompass provides “simple but useful navigation” that is “as intuitive as possible” and “easily accessible” have proven somewhat questionable when put to the test.  When searching for local restaurants, of which I already know the exact location, I found that UrbanCompass had failed to update their information recently because places that had changed names or closed were still listed as hot spots.  With users depending on this app as a supposedly useful tool, it would be a shame to see people being misdirected to non-existent places.

Another issue is simply finding your destination.  When using the map feature, I was unable to zoom in to see exactly which streets I should be using to reach my ending point.  Each time I would pinch or stretch the screen for a better view, the screen remained stuck for only a moment before it returned to its indistinguishable self.  Attempting this too often then made the map glitch and turn to grid form, which was only reversible by exiting the app and reloading it again.  I will acknowledge that the developers recently issued an update to fix a supposed bug, but it certainly was not to correct this particular problem.

Also, it seems UrbanCompass will only be of use if you are able to walk to your destination, for one must constantly be looking at the directional arrow of the compass and exactly which street to turn onto despite the tiny scale used on the map itself.  The last thing we need is another reason for drivers to be distracted in their cars!  The texting epidemic has been terrible enough, let alone an app that specifically requires you to keep your eyes on it (not the road) at all times.  Bring a companion if you really have the need to use this app so they can navigate for you.

*The price noted is a special release price, which ends March 20.

UrbanCompass requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible with the iPhone 3GS.

Price: $2.99    Score: 9/10    By Michael Essany

Athletes who thrive out in the open air will certainly find a friend in EasyTrails GPS, an iPhone application designed for outdoor athletes looking to trace their tracks and record their stats.

No matter the activity, EasyTrails GPS from Zirak S.R.L., promises to make it a “unique and easier experience.” Here’s how it works. EasyTrails GPS is built to provide you with relevant data that matters to you as an athlete. If you go for a jog, the app will record how fast, how far, and long you jogged for. You can even log your records and, best of all, view your trails from a perspective that resembles a satellite view.

Getting started really couldn’t be easier:

• Establish your “waypoints” or points of interest.
• Then view the direction and the distance to a target point of interest.
• If you prefer, you can receive an audio alert when you approach a designated point.

After tinkering with the app for only a short while, it was still easy to understand why EasyTrails GPS won the 2009 award for Best Outdoor Use App.

I was pleased with the attractive user interface and navigation is simple enough to use at rest or while at play. I haven’t tried using it while skiing, for example, but the app is tailored to folks who are fond of trekking, running, skiing, sailing, traveling or “just wandering around.” Of course, the app doesn’t require much of any hands-on involvement during your physical activity, so there are no distractions to throw you off and potentially risk injury.

And in case you’re worried about battery life, the app will record your activities while your iPhone is on standby. In fact, it works like a charm in this fashion. And that’s a welcome factor given how athletes try to preserve their own batteries let alone their cell phone batteries while out for a long day of physical activity.

EasyTrails GPS is a very cool application that truly serves up happier trails in all sorts of ways.

EasyTrails GPS requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later and is compatible only with iPhone.

Price: $0.99    Score: 9/10    By Michael Essany

If you dwell within or frequently visit the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, a new application from AppFury, LLC could very well make your trendy shopping experiences and exploits a lot more enjoyable and efficient. SOHOinmypocket is billed as an informational application aimed at giving SoHo visitors (both regulars and newcomers) all the resources, tools, and information necessary to function within 50 city blocks of the SoHo & NoLita neighborhoods of New York City.

A cursory glance at the app and its functions provides a clear indication of just how useful this $0.99 application could be, particularly when you take into consideration how many boutiques, restaurants, bars, and hotels you could easily get lost in if you don’t know your way around SoHo.

So what’s so cool about SOHOinmypocket?

• It’s the ultimate tour guide and map for anyone exploring SoHo
• It serves up comprehensive info on the massive territory that comprises SoHo and NoLita.
• It offers a categorized directory containing address, telephone, and website for each listing.
• There’s an interactive map depicting the location of all listings.
• It provides turn by turn directions to wherever it is that you’re going.

Best of all, SOHOinmypocket has one of those nifty “you are here” features so that wherever you go in SoHo, you’ll know exactly where you are and how far you are from your car, hotel, or the friends and family that may have left you behind.

Just as you wouldn’t want to check out SoHo without some cash in your wallet or plastic in your hand, SOHOinmypocket is a crucial must-have tool for any shopping or entertainment excursion in SoHo.

SOHOinmypocket requires iPhone OS 3.1 or later and is compatible with both iPhone and iPod Touch.

Price: $0.99    Score: 9/10    By Lee Cash

Ask any self-confessed java-junkie what the worst thing is about visiting a strange town, and the most common response – maybe after “I don’t know where I’m going” – will surely be: “I don’t know where to get a good cup of coffee.”

Coming to our rescue, MagnoSphere Software’s latest app “Where Is Coffee?” attempts to mitigate such a possible caffeine drought by pin-pointing just where the best mug-of-joe can be found no matter where you find yourself.

The concept is quite simple, and is similar in practice to other social navigational apps that rely on user input to provide any real worth. App owners, after perhaps enjoying a particularly good brew or even just wishing to show their support for their favorite local barista, are invited to tag coffee establishments anywhere in the world with a rating and a few choice words. And if you just so happen to be in the vicinity of said establishment and are looking for coffee, you’ll be privy to a number of these first-hand recommendations.

Using your iPhone’s GPS ability and the power of community – not to mention some people’s almost zealous affection toward their favorite coffee-houses – Where Is Coffee? not only provides a great service, it’s a telling insight into the minds of fellow coffee-freaks. There’s a real sense of glimpsing behind the curtain after honing in on a stranger’s personal favorite bean-house and then partaking in what they believe to be the best coffee in town. And, of course, you can always add a retort of your own. What better way to enjoy your new-found coffee hang-out than by sipping on a (possibly) wonderful latte while confirming or disagreeing with another person’s opinion?

The interface is clean and easy to use, with a warm umber aesthetic that a coffee lover will find alluring and attractive with both satellite and normal map modes offered.

If there is one issue we can find at fault about Where Is Coffee? is its understandable reliance on user-generated content. So far there are over 23,000 coffee-houses and their kind rated, but if the app is to be a success, this database needs to flourish or the quoted locations become a mere rag-tag collection of possible iPhone-owning café owners flagging their own site as the best place around.

So, go buy it. If you’re into your coffee and are interested in what the best – and sometimes underground – java haunts are in your city and the cities you may soon be visiting, Where Is Coffee? is a godsend and comes highly recommended; especially at such an attractive price.

Where Is Coffee? is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch and requires OS 3.0

Price: $0.99    Score: 10/10    By Nancy Jones

Have you ever parked in a large parking lot and had trouble finding your car? If like myself, the answer to that question is “yes,” then Park‘n Find, developed by Affinicore, is a definitely worth a look. Using the iPhone’s GPS features, it captures where you parked and provides you with a map and directional arrows to help you along the way. If this was all it had it would be great – but there’s a ton of other great features.

Through Park’n Find, you can use the iPhone camera to capture a photo of the spot – or a photo of the signage around the spot. You can record a voice message and describe what you see and you can add some notes. Some of you are probably saying that if you do all that then couldn’t you remember where you parked? Sometimes the answer is probably yes, but for anyone who leaped out of their car at Disney World, glanced at the signage, went in for a full day of fun and then came out exhausted and happy, but only vaguely sure of where they parked this app will be a blessing. It would also come in really handy at malls and large corporate, hotel or convention parking lots.

Park’n Find allows you to track multiple locations – not just one or two. If you are traveling, you might like to log your location in the airport parking lot and keep track of your rental car. I’ve traveled a number of times, picked up the non-descript white rental car, parked in a giant parking lot, worked all day and then came out – to my horror – to find out that not only was I not sure what my car looked like or where it was, but that it had snowed. If only I had this app then!

As full-featured as this app is, you don’t have to use all the options. If a simple GPS location capture is all you need, then save it and you are good to go. The other features provide you with additional functionality, but you need only use the ones which you’ll find helpful. You can even set push notifications to remind you to feed the parking meter or to move your vehicle if the lot is scheduled to close. You can also save the level, section, row or spot number of your location.

When I tested Park’n Find the mapping was awesome and it brought me to within ten feet of my car.   I have already recommended it to a couple of friends and I expect you’ll have that same reaction. Some apps are just perfect for the iPhone and this is one of them.

Park ‘n Find is compatible with iPhone and iPod touch). Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

Price: $2.99    Score: 8/10    By Tamara Somerville

For all the eco-friendly or budget conscious iPhoners whose Blahniks or Ferragamos have migrated to public transportation, using mass transit may be a less expensive budget alternative but it’s still a far cry from curbside service.

Working in NYC keeps me swiping my Metro Card – and after two years, I’m still no expert. There are, however, a few things I’ve learned in my travels; For one, don’t sit on the subway with a map. Everyone else who isn’t sure where they are going will be constantly looking over your head. And the golden rule:  don’t make the person sitting in the map seat uncomfortable by looking over them. Besides, this makes you look tourist-y. If you are a tourist visiting the city, it’s always best to try not to look like one!

City Transit from Magnetism Studios saves you from the anxiety-provoking fear of getting lost in The Big Apple. Maintain your effortless sense of City style, knowing when and where your stop is. City Transit provides several maps for offline (no internet connection) use including the MTA subway system, individual train lines, Metro North, Long Island Railroad & a Manhattan bus map. Learn the best transfer points and which lines run express to keep you from being too fashionably late. The app integrates with iPhone’s built in GPS to locate your proximity to the nearest station and provide directions. It also provides service advisories are for all subway lines.
(really good!)

Though Carey Bradshaw rarely ventured off the Emerald Isle, there is more to New York than just Manhattan. NYC is composed of five boroughs – Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Maps for all of the boroughs would be a great addition. Magnetism promises future maps will be available for buses and commuter lines. Services advisories are downloaded from the MTA website. It is odd then that advisories are only provided for subway lines. MTA provides advisories for Metro North, Long Island Railroad, Long Island Bus and MTA Bus. Providing the additional info as well as a trip planner would be a great addition to this app.

You can always take a taxi to your destination but at $1.99 and a metro card you can save your pennies for something nice – a pair of great sunglasses, more comfortable shoes or a hybrid car. In the meantime, no one will have to know you were riding public transportation but you and City Transit on your iPhone.

City Transit requires the 2.2 iPhone OS software update and is compatible with both the iPhone & iPod Touch.