I’m reaching the point where my iPhone is almost more important than my laptop when I travel. After all, my iPhone is chock full of apps that are optimized for specific jobs. With that in mind, I rounded up seven essential apps that I wouldn’t be caught dead without on my next trip away from home or the office.
Quickoffice. This one is a no-brainer; equipped with this app, I can read and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents that I bring along or get in e-mail. I really can leave the laptop at home. You’ll need to pony up $9.99 for this one, though — it’s the only pay app in the list.
Taxi Magic. Need to rely on taxis to get around town? No problem — this app can dispatch a taxi directly to your location in about 25 different cities. The program’s live updates keep you informed about exactly how far away your taxi is and when you should expect to be picked up.
Trapster. Or perhaps you’re driving on your own. In that case, rely on Trapster’s crowdsorce-based notification system to alert you to speed traps along your route. I was dubious, but the same day I installed this app, it correctly marked a speed trap on a stretch of road that I thought was unlikely to be cataloged due to its rural and sparsely traveled nature.
Where. Where has it all — the cheapest gas, the closest Starbucks, the local weather, road construction advisories, local entertainment, and more. If you could only carry one location-aware travel app, Where would be a strong contender because it aggregates so much valuable information.
Traffic. Speaking of construction advisories, Traffic is a one-trick app that displays a map of the local area and overlays road conditions based on traffic camera data. Never again will you get stuck in a 2-hour jam because you didn’t know about major construction on the highway.
TripIt. You probably already know that we love TripIt. This app can suck in your itinerary from the code on your airline’s confirmation email and then do everything except drive you to the airport. It’ll track flight status, gate changes, your seat assignment, local weather at the destination, and more. Need to rebook? All the contact information you need is right in the app.
Yelp. Yelp is my favorite restaurant guide. And while Yelp’s database is built into Where, you’ll still want Yelp on its own. Not only does it have a wonderfully elegant interface, but it has Monocle — an augmented reality mode that points out local points of interest by overlaying them on live video of your surroundings through the camera. It’s a little gimmicky right now, but your grandkids won’t think so.
Did I miss anything you consider essential? Chastise me — and share your favorites — below.
