Android applications list for local search [GPS & AR]

Use your Android to find restaurants, shops, new friends, never miss the latest event in your hometown or on your vacations and for sure Socialize

Finding information at the nick of the time is very important. But one cannot get hold of laptop and WiFi connection every time, hence the presence of intuitive smart-phone applications have revolutionized the way people interact with physical location and object, we call it Augmented Reality. Here is a video about Augmented Traffic Views – Android to get an idea.

This Android application list below, is an abstract of local based applications where you need on some GPS functions, or Augmented Reality functionality or the applications we present here on this list are web-based applications, designed for your Droid (R2D2_?)

First of all let us check your GPS status that we can start, when your phone also has Augmented Reality?! [Great]

GPS Start Up

GPS Status displays the information received from the phone’s GPS receiver and other sensors.

In addition to the basic location information it can extract and display the state and location of each visible GPS satellite which is displayed on a simple sky view. The outer circle represents the horizon while the center corresponds to the zenith right above your head. The little blue arrow represents true north, while red means south. In addition there is a little compass needle that always shows the state of the phone’s internal compass (magnetic north/south). Each satellite is represented by a dot, with a size correspondig to its signal strength. Green satellites are used in the GPS fix.

Finding Restaurants, Hotel and places around you

‘Where‘
The ‘Where‘ application for Android-phones-features the most useful GPS-based widgets all wrapped into one native application. ‘Where‘  allows you to quickly launch a mobile experience that puts the people, places and things you look for at your fingertips while on the go. Local content available through ‘Where‘ includes everything from the weather, news, and restaurant reviews, to the closest coffee shop, cheapest gas, traffic updates, movie show times and more. This application also helps you reach your destination with easy to use maps and directions. A homepage style layout makes accessing your local information quick and easy.

Be sure to check out Where-Connect to chat with other ‘Where‘ users in an engaging and safe manner and ‘Where-SMS-local-search‘ “Find anything you are looking for by texting 94373”

View on Vimeo.

‘Where’: Android app review from John Walton on Vimeo.

Location-based go-to activity app. more @ phonedog.com

Happy Cow

HappyCow’s VeginOut Dining Guide is an application made for mobile devices that run the Android system. This app allows you to accesses the restaurant guide easier while traveling and on-the-go.

This app has the option of using your current location, via GPS or Network, OR allows user to enter an address and a radius to search within.
Right now these areas are supported:
USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Japan (Tokyo), some of Malaysia, and Singapore.

Sherpa

Sherpa discovers information about where you are and what you’re looking for. It prevents you from the pain of searching through the web pages. The app automatically learns your likes and dislikes, displaying surrounding restaurants, retailers and attractions that reflect your taste.

Introducing Sherpa

Androinica review

T-Mobile introducing Sherpa

Geodelic partnered with T-Mobile to develop Sherpa, a customized app with our unique learning feature.

Google Places Directory App

Google Places Directory, developed by Google Places Directory Team, allows you to browse nearby places in categories like Restaurants, Movie Theaters, Hotels and Banks. You’ll see distance and directions to the destination, and if you tap on the listing, we’ll show ratings and photos. You can also call the business or view its location on Google Maps. It currently support US English and Chinese. English download

The interface is just like the Yelp application. Google Maps has offered the ability to review my locations for the longest time, and ‘Places Directory’ brings it all together.

Images via Official Google Blog

Open Table

OpenTable allows you to make confirmed restaurant reservations on the go and in an instant at more than 10,000 restaurants nationwide.

“OpenTable for Android allows diners to:

• Find nearby restaurants and see real-time availability
• Display restaurants on an interactive map
• Refine by cuisine, price, points and availability
• View restaurant profile pages with detailed information, including photos, menus and diner reviews
• Send an invite to fellow diners via email
• Get directions to the restaurant
• Earn Dining Rewards Points including 1,000 Dining Points on eligible dining times.”

Where is Open-Table available in the United States

Open-Table Featured Areas

Open Table International areas

See all OpenTable areas

Check the “50 best restaurant bars in the United States”

‘OpenTable’ for Android also leverages the

“Android platform’s unique integration capability between applications.”

via

Yelp

Yelp which was previously available for only iPhone user is finally here for Android mobile.The basics are all there: restaurant and business navigation, ratings and reviews, photos, and direct calling all work just fine. There’s even a new feature that shows you directions from your current location to your destination in separate browser.
The Android version is read-only, meaning that for now you can look at other people’s opinions but not share your own.

Google Maps API and Yelp!

Yelp on Android lacks many of the interactive program features that are present on the iPhone version (Cnet), including the ability to contribute your own photos and tips. We’ll presumably see more functionality in future editions. For now, Yelp is read-only on Android phones.

GoWeb3D Augmented Reality on Layar Reality Browser from Dave Elchoness on Vimeo.

“Dave Elchoness of GoWeb3D demonstrates augmented reality, AR, layers on the Layar Reality Browser from Boulder, Colorado, USA. Layers demonstrated includeYelp, Wikipedia, FlickAR, Eat, Drink. Layers developed by GoWeb3D include Yelp, Wikipedia, FlickAR, Mazda, Eat, Drink, UDR Apartment Search, Syracuse University iSchool.”

Hotels Near Me

“Hotels near me” Android app finds hotels for highly competitive rates and is first worldwide GPS hotel finder for Android. This app lists hotels based on your current location or keyword search. The accommodations can be booked mobile for highly competitive rates and no reservation fees.

Finding Friends and Location around you

Loopt
One of the most popular mobile social networking providers available. The Loopt Android app lets you see where you and your friends are located and display status updates of what you’re all doing.

Loopt makes it easy to connect while on the go and easily share comments, photos, and cool places to visit.

Aloqa
Aloqa is a mobile service that proactively notifies you of interesting places, events, and Facebook friends near you. Instead of having to search, you can just look at your phone and see your favorite hotspots, friends, events of interest, and recommended bargains close by. Whenever You Want. Wherever You Are.

Aloqa – a new mobile recommendation engine (Android)

Aloqa Intro Video (iPhone)

Tripit
TripIt for Android is a free app that keeps your TripIt itineraries at the ready. Get instant access to all the information you might need while you’re traveling, even when you can’t connect to the Internet.

Tripit meats social media and you can also sign in via your Facebook account, Google Mail or Google apps account

LinkedIn’s TripIt Application (Hi-res)

With TripIt for Android, you can:

1. Access your TripIt itineraries right from your Android
2. Get maps and directions and make calls to airlines, hotels, etc. straight from your itinerary with the tap of a finger
3. Use TripIt Pro to see flight alerts and find alternate flight options

About TripIt (Press)

Finding your way (Navigation)

NYC Bus & Subway Maps
Formerly known as NYC Subway Map, it is a very simple application. It allows quick access to the REAL NYC MTA Subway & Bus maps that work offline and it “…has been rated 4 1/2 stars by the Android Market community…”

Or do it the old way

Massimo Vignelli and his 1972 NY Subway map

NYC Bus & Subway Maps was developed for Android by episode6

This can be very useful to any person who is visiting New York for the first time and has no idea about the bus route and timing.

also try DC Metro for free

Wikitude Drive Augmented Reality Navigation

Wikitude Drive – AR Navigation System was developed by the Mobilizy Research & Development group in Salzburg, Austria, to satisfy the curiosity of the developers to see if it was feasible to combine real-time navigation with mobile augmented reality. The result of this quest is Wikitude Drive, a fully-functional, light weight navigational system which overlays point-to-point directions on a camera-view, without the need for maps.

WIKITUDE Drive – AR Navigation

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReH9dmqfOqA

Wikitude Drive has the following features:

• Mobile AR navigation, similar to a heads up display (HUD);
• Fully functional, map-less navigation;
• POI 2 POI navigation;
• Integrated voice commands (additional text-to-speech engine required);
• World wide navigational data which is accessed in real-time from the internet;
• (a mobile internet connection is necessary to access data while in motion)
• Peer-to-peer navigational functions
• Social navigational features will be implemented in future releases
• Interfaces with existing navigational APIs (for example: NavTeq, Map24, TeleAtlas)

This is the time where physical world is painted with digital information to give you more than what you see around.

This is your sixth sense and a guide to better judgment. If you have the right application then you can easily get information about the things around you. The concept of localization is the new way how new applications are being developed and this headline says everything “Yelp and Google? Sure, Local is Everything“ according to the latest rumors Google will buy Yelp

New Smartphone applications have become quite intuitive, which exploits the power of maps and locations. This can be strongly seen inAndroid apps which are strongly connected with Google Maps and Street View.

Related Posts

1. ‘Google Maps Navigation’ update for the Android available
2. Modifying ‘Google Maps Navigation’ Android-app for Non-U.S.
3. Google Maps Navigation goes mobile (Android 2.0 Demo video)