Traveling with asmartphone as a guide

Traveling with a smartphone as a guide is a topic about traveling with a smartphone as a guide
1. Traditional Traveling
Traditional traveling in foreign countries has always involved careful planning, loads of maps and a lot of gesturing when all else fails. It has always been part of the charm and adventure of foreign travels, that by getting lost and “discovering” some incredible “hidden” spot only the locals know about and then staying an extra day or two. Traditional books and guides such as “Lonely Planet” (1) and “Let’s Go” (2) have kept up with the quick pace of change by introducing websites and tailor-made travel packages to suit everyone. But in this ever changing world with change being the only constant, the question had to be asked; is it enough?
The next wave of travel guides are here and they conveniently fit in your pocket!
2. No more need for web help
With the fusion of fast mobile internet access and smartphones, a new era has dawned. Instant access and instant feedback is the way forward. Gone are the days of taking along a book that was printed the previous year with dated information. This gap in time is currently being filled by a new generation of smartphones and their various applications.
Most airplane companies have shifted from paper-based ticketing towards e-tickets which they then e-mail to you.
Although the various services are predominantly aimed at the US and European users, most applications have some working form in most of the tourist hotspots around the world, as long as you have access to mobile networks.
Whether you use an iPhone, Android, Nokia or Blackberry the only preparation you will need is to activate roaming on your phone and to decide which apps suit you and your phone the best.
3. Most popular apps currently used for traveling purposes are:
* Google Maps (3): In order to find out where you are or where you are going, can also be used as a navigation device.
* WikiTude (4): It is a light weight turn-by-turn navigation system that uses Augmented Reality. (5) Has the power to identify place
:and buildings.
* Facebook (6): Keeping up to date with friends and family.
* Twitter (7): Up to the minute accounts of your travels. It is also great for receiving tips and warnings from friends or linking up
:with other users.
* Foursquare (8): Help you check in at restaurants and cafés and let you leave tips online for other travelers and for your friends on a 2do-:list. It also lets you see where the highest concentrations of people are at in any given area.
* Yelp (9): Gives you an up to date guide on restaurants (currently they have more than 15 million evaluations!), all done by
:previous patrons and categorized by location, price, characteristics, suitable for children etc.
* Flight (10): Lets you check if your flight is on time and Flight Track (11): Lets you do inflight checks on your current location and
:the exact arrival times.
* Tripadvisor (12): is also a review-site, which helps you identify the best possible hotels and activities at the best prices.
* Skype (13): Because of the high costs associated with phone back home, this app lets you phone home free via Wi-Fi connection
:(normally free in restaurants and most Hotels).
* iGo My way (14): Is the perfect app to give you a complete oversight of everything you will need to know when entering a new and
:strange city, including information such as; public restrooms, parking facilities, petrol stations, places with free Wi-Fi, activities
:for children, shopping areas, local weather and local news.
* Trip Journal (15): Allows you to precisely document your trip and experiences and to share it with your friends and family.
* Hertz (16): Car rental app that allows you to book a rental car, compare prices and find your nearest Hertz agency.
* AllSubway (17): Complete subway maps for 123 major cities around the world.
4. Problems?
In terms of problems there is always the issue of security, this is probably the deal-breaker for most people. The burning question of, is it really such a good idea to constantly share your whereabouts with the world? Most people would answer, not really. This would be the next important issue to erase for developers of apps and programmes such as these.
You may think your updates are only visible to a select few friends, but you never know whose eyes are following you…..
1. Lonely Planet www.lonelyplanet.com
2. Let’s Go www.letsgo.com
3. Google Maps www.maps.goole.com
4. WikiTude www.wikitude.org
5. Augmented Reality []
6. Facebook []
7. Twitter http://en. .org/wiki/Twitter
8. Foursquare
9. Yelp []
10. Flight
11. Flight Track
12. Tripadvisor
13. Skype []
14. iGO My way
15. Trip Journal
16. Hertz
17. AllSubway

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