Technology: Travel apps

Technology is all around us. 20 years ago, we looked at mobile phones like weird artifacts that few people were able to own. And they weren't small or pretty or anything like that. The opposite in fact.

This looked like black magic to us a few years ago.

Nowadays, no one is free from these devices that we now call smartphones. We could not believe our eyes in 2007 when Steve Jobs presented to us a tiny device that was able to recieve and make calls, connect to the internet, play visually stunning games, plus music, all at the same time!

I remember not long ago, seeing a kid that would probably be like 8 years old, handling an iPad that was bigger than his head, in a way that was beyond my comprehension (And I studied computer science, so you tell me...).

What I am saying is that fortunately (or unfortunately, how you prefer to see it) everybody these days owns one of these smartphones. And this has some perks for us curious persons.

Most of these phones allow us to download mobile applications, games, from the online stores of each brand. No matter if you own an iPhone or an Android operating one, there will be an application in your store for every single thing you can imagine.

Solitaire? Done. That's an easy one.

 

A fake caller? Sure, if you want to fake a call from the president, we got you!

My life is now complete.

A beer drinking simulator? We JUST needed this in our lives.

And much more weird ones... I could fill this post just with those weird obscure apps that fill the stores.

But I'm going to take the chance and talk about something you will thank me later.

Being an avid traveler and passionate about technology, I'm always on the watch for which applications may be helpful for me when I'm out there, and of course, apps that help me get the better deals on flights, hotels, etc. Or... you know, apps that are just... handy.

Many persons do not know many of the apps I have, which I think that may be extremely useful in some situations. So I'm going to tell you what's on my phone right now!

Skyscanner: The cheapest flights out there

So many places to go...

Well, I lied to you. Skyscanner does have an app, but when it started, it was (and still is) a web page. But it is handy to have on the phone!

Skyscanner is, simply, the best online flight comparator. You just put the origin, destination, and dates. Skyscanner then will proceed to compare flights from EVERY SINGLE airline out there, showing you the best deals.

It has some interesting functions as well:

• You don't really know where to go? You can choose a country instead of a city, and it will tell you the cheapest destination in that country. Or if you place no destination at all, Skyscanner will then tell you the cheapest place in the world to fly to.

• You know the place, but no clue on when to go? Skyscanner allows to compare flights of all the year, or a whole month, telling you when its the best time to go.

Or if you just want to get lost, you can place no destination and no date, and let Skyscanner guide you.

So you know, next time you plan on going out, check the flight prices here!

Wanderlust/Fog of World: To get lost

World map posters where you scratch the countries that you've been to are becoming very popular gifts in my home country, Spain. (I actually own one!)

It is really nice to have a look and check where you've been, as well as planning your next trip!

Well, someone took it one step further, thanks to our phones. If you like wandering on the streets of the cities you visit, this app is made for you.

Wanderlust if you're an Android user, Fog of World if you own an iPhone, but the main premise behind the app is the same.

The world is covered in fog, and as you travel along the world, the fog will dissipate on the streets and cities where you've been, thanks to the phone's GPS, which leaves you with a really accurate and pretty map of the exact places you've visited everywhere.

This person has traveled a lot...

It has achievements as well for visiting certain places or uncovering a total amount of kilometers in the planet. It is more of a game than anything, but you get to see your own steps on the world.

The main downside is that this app eats whole batteries for breakfast, your battery will drain drastically while you use it, so having a portable battery helps in this situation.

Survival manual: If you actually get lost

Many persons out there enjoy hiking and getting lost in nature. And I perfectly understand them, nature is, indeed amazing. 

I have never gone camping myself, I would like to do it in the future, but I usually favor another kind of trips over camping ones.

Don't know if you should've not eaten that plant? We got you!

A problem you can encounter in the countryside or hiking is, basically, lack of mobile or internet coverage. And when you're in the middle of a 20 kilometer route through one of the deepest mountain forests, getting lost isn't a very pleasant thing.

This app is basically, like the title says; A survival guide. It has some of the most basic advice and instructions that you can require in this situation. It covers a wide ambit of aspects such as finding food, water, shelter, among many others. If used correctly, could save your life in a extreme situation.

The downside is that you'll need your phone at least to be operative and with some battery, but it is offline, so you won't require internet to check it.

Why do I have it, if I do not like these trips? Well, it is really tiny, does not take much space, and who knows when could I need it! It may be a life saver.

Airbnb: Which is the cheapest ceiling out there?

Well forgive me again, for I have lied to you once more. Airbnb is a website, that has also an app out there. But I just had to talk about this!

These last years have seen the rising of many websites that compare, hotels, hostels, places to stay, in one word. Trivago, Booking, Travelodge, Momondo, Kayak... and they work really well, I have to say. I may even talk about all these options in a future post.

These webs often offer absolute bargains in terms of housing, but if you want to sleep even cheaper, there is a clear winner over these. It may suit you or not... but there's no doubt that the best deal you can find will be here.

Airbnb was born over the premise of house sharing. You own a property that you are not using at the moment, why not let anyone stay there for a short stay and get money in return?

You won't find hotels in Airbnb. You will find apartments, flats, rooms, each with their curiosities and peculiarities.

Basically is the renting of an apartment for short trips, but it is a lot cheaper than official websites and of course, hotels themselves.

The community overall works pretty well, built among trust, you can score your hosts, and hosts can score you as well, so you can see if the house you're about to rent has a nice score or not, and the host can check you too.

For students and young people, the best way to sleep comfortably and cheaply, is Airbnb, without a doubt. And if you are in position of becoming a host, why not share your flat too? You may earn some money and, you're covered by Airbnb's insurance and policies.

SoundHound/Shazam: Which song is that?

No more humming randomly!

Actually this one app is not related to travel at all. But how many times have you been outside, or in a bar, or in the car, and suddenly, a song that you've never heard pops on the radio and you just say, "Dammit, I love this song, which is the title? How it is called?"

Shazam and SoundHound are your friends here. With a tiny sample of the song, that you can record, the app will scan it and actually guess the actual song, so you can get it.

It is so simple, yet so amazing. No more lost songs!

Both apps do exactly the same, but their algorithm isn't equal. Depending on the genre one app may prevail and guess better than the other, but overall, both do pretty good at their job.

So that's pretty much everything I have to offer at the moment. If this post gets too popular, I may make a second part of it. Let me know what do you think in the comments.

Until the next post, my fellow nerds!