Hipmunk

Getting travel search right on a mobile phone is tough. Thankfully Hipmunk, for the most part, has nailed it. The service launched its iPhone application last February and an Android app in September, both of which serve Hipmunk’s agony-reducing flight search in a smaller — and very polished — platter. Now Hipmunk is giving those mobile apps a big upgrade: they now both support hotel search (which the web version of the service launched back in March). You can download the new iOS app for iPhone and iPad right here, and the new Android app here. As with the apps’ flight search, the new feature is both straightforward and good-looking. Tap the ‘Hotel’ button from the main screen, and you’ll see a map with your GPS dot at the center (by default it looks for hotels near your current location, though you can easily swap it to another city). Enter the dates you’re planning to book and the app will start searching, with small orbs appearing on the map to represent each hotel. The app will color these orbs when possible to indicate the price — green means cheap, blue, average, and red, pricey. Tapping on an orb will bring up reviews from TripAdvisor and key details about the hotel. And you’ve got more options. The app will let you overlay various heatmaps on top of the map of hotels, which indicate the density of food options in the vicinity, sights to see, or, the all-important Vice. You can also sort by hotel price, and if you’re partial to a particular chain, you can sort by that too. Unfortunately, there’s still one hiccup in the process: Hipmunk won’t let you actually complete a booking via its app — once you’ve chosen a hotel, it hands you off to a service like Orbitz to complete the transaction (it’s easy to tell, because the experience suddenly gets way uglier). And if you’d prefer, the mobile app will provide you with a special passphrase that can be used at Hipmunk.com/finish/ to complete the booking next time you’re at a PC. Read More

Apps are, at the end of the day, very personal pieces of software. And your favorite mobile app isn’t mine. So we decided to poll the staff here at GigaOM to see what apps changed our lives in 2011. It could be apps that just launched this year, or it could be programs that really came of age or matured greatly through updates. Or it could just be an app we missed before. Some are very familiar but others may be new to you, but all have played a big part in our lives this year. Take a look and then tell us your favorite app in the comments. Android typically takes a backseat to iOS when it comes to getting slick apps. That’s why it’s so refreshing that Hipmunk, the travel search engine, put real time and effort into making its Android app just as awesome as its web and iOS offerings. Shopping for plane tickets in general can be a real headache, and doing it on a mobile device is usually impossible. But I’ve priced out and purchased plane tickets with this app, and it’s a pleasure to use. Path is great because it’s a beautiful-looking tool for people who might not share a lot of content, but like to keep on top of what their friends are doing without feeling overwhelmed. It feels like Facebook did before apps, games and the need to monetize made it a noisy, privacy nightmare. Path’s relatively pristine environment probably can’t last, but for now, that’s what makes it great. This is the best if you’re regularly passing through cities on short notice. It does what it says: finds you a hotel for tonight only. But they don’t bombard you with options. Hotel Tonight helpfully curates the lodging choices for you: there’s usually just a couple to pick from among the categories basic, hip and luxury. They have relationships with the hotels so using it is a snap. I used this to locate the best local hotel deals night-to-night when we were between apartments in our new city. And it’s especially helpful if you want to make a last-minute trip to pricey cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. This free app is a must have for transferring files from an Android device to any other device on the same Wi-Fi network. Works as a small web server on your Android and shows up as a Read More

Editor’s note: Contributor Brad Spirrison is the managing editor of mobile app discovery services Appolicious, AndroidApps and AppVee. After having looked into the best iOS apps and games of 2011, Spirrison now turns his attention to the best Android apps of the year. Android apps come in all shapes and sizes – literally. Unlike iOS applications, which are basically created for two form factors, Android apps need to be developed with dozens (if not hundreds) of device-types in mind. This is on top of the inconsistent operating system releases still mucking things up. While all of this fragmentation is a headache for developers, ignoring a platform with 50 percent market share would ultimately lead to their peril. The best Android apps are thus the ones that can both push the technological envelope while also remaining accessible to the vast majority of users. This is no easy feat. We divided our list of the best 30 Android apps into four distinct categories. The top ten apps come from third-party developers, and, if not exclusive to Android, were created primarily for the platform. Additional sections include the best new or significantly updated apps from Google, as well as the best apps and games that appeared first on iOS but later arrived to Android in 2011. As is the case with our lists of best iOS apps and games of 2011, hundreds of additional titles are worthy of consideration. Our top 30 showcase the growth and maturation of Android apps over the last year. They are also worthy downloads. Funded by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, Any.DO is the best productivity and to-do application tailored specifically for Android devices. The app’s elegant interface is optimized to limit actual typing through voice-driven commands. Users can swipe each task when complete, and shake their phones to clear them from the screen. The app also offers (mostly) seamless integration with Google accounts. More than just an Instagram for Android, Lightbox offers features like photo journals and the ability to arrange pictures by personal timelines that make it unique and, to some, indispensable. The app’s stunning visual display and compatibility on multiple Android devices set the standard moving forward for photo-sharing apps on the platform. Along with Google Music (see below), Amazon MP3 is the best way for an Android smartphone and tablet owner to kick an iTunes habit. The app provides access to a library of nearly Read More

Editor’s note: Contributor Brad Spirrison is the managing editor of mobile app discovery services Appolicious, AndroidApps and AppVee. After having looked into the best iOS apps and games of 2011, Spirrison now turns his attention to the best Android apps of the year. Android apps come in all shapes and sizes – literally. Unlike iOS applications, which are basically created for two form factors, Android apps need to be developed with dozens (if not hundreds) of device-types in mind. This is on top of the inconsistent operating system releases still mucking things up. While all of this fragmentation is a headache for developers, ignoring a platform with 50 percent market share would ultimately lead to their peril. The best Android apps are thus the ones that can both push the technological envelope while also remaining accessible to the vast majority of users. This is no easy feat. We divided our list of the best 30 Android apps into four distinct categories. The top ten apps come from third-party developers, and, if not exclusive to Android, were created primarily for the platform. Additional sections include the best new or significantly updated apps from Google, as well as the best apps and games that appeared first on iOS but later arrived to Android in 2011. As is the case with our lists of best iOS apps and games of 2011, hundreds of additional titles are worthy of consideration. Our top 30 showcase the growth and maturation of Android apps over the last year. They are also worthy downloads. Funded by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, Any.DO is the best productivity and to-do application tailored specifically for Android devices. The app’s elegant interface is optimized to limit actual typing through voice-driven commands. Users can swipe each task when complete, and shake their phones to clear them from the screen. The app also offers (mostly) seamless integration with Google accounts. More than just an Instagram for Android, Lightbox offers features like photo journals and the ability to arrange pictures by personal timelines that make it unique and, to some, indispensable. The app’s stunning visual display and compatibility on multiple Android devices set the standard moving forward for photo-sharing apps on the platform. Along with Google Music (see below), Amazon MP3 is the best way for an Android smartphone and tablet owner to kick an iTunes habit. The app provides access to a library of nearly Read More

When it comes to travel and local apps, Android is a step ahead of other mobile operating systems. The integration of Google Maps plus free navigation is a bonus for Android users, while often-updated popular apps like Kayak, TripIt, GasBuddy and FlightTrack continue to grow in popularity. But we’ve seen a number of new kids on the block this year, so without further ado, here are five of the best Android travel apps we came across in 2011. Skyscanner is an app that’s great for booking flights from your Android device. While other travel offerings let you select hotels, rental cars, vacation packages and so on (and that’s certainly valuable for many consumers), Skyscanner keeps things straightforward by focusing solely on flights. Once you do a simple search, Skyscanner lets you get more picky, narrowing down all possible airlines, departure times and airport connections so you can choose wisely. Well-received by the press and public alike, Skyscanner is worth adding to your Android app collection if you’re a frequent flyer. Another flight search app? Sure, but Hipmunk is a little different to Skyscanner and its ilk. What makes it unique is its ability to single-out the potential ‘agony index’ of your chosen flight. Once you’ve selected your destination, airline, time/date and all that good stuff, Hipmunk takes into account things like how long you’ll be traveling, how many stops you’ll make and various other algorithms to return results ranked on how ‘enjoyable’ a potential flight may be. You still could be delayed of course, or face a crazy surcharge for carrying-on a bag. But in the initial stages of booking a flight, Hipmunk proves a worthy companion. You finally made it to the airport and now you’re facing a six-hour layover due to delays, errant birds or a massive snowstorm. Here is where GateGuru can help. The app covers a bunch of world airports already (though not all of them) and offers full maps of the terminals and in-depth details of shopping, restaurants and amenities plus reviews and photos from fellow travelers. If you’re a user of KAYAK and TripIt too, it syncs-up nicely with either of those apps. Some security wait-times have not been updated for a while, and some big airports are missing, but GateGuru seems to be on the right track with plenty to offer travelers everywhere. In these lean financial times, traveling to distant locales is not Read More

Illustration by Michael ByersNavigating an app store can be tricky, with vague descriptions, dubious user reviews, and sometimes buggy apps. We searched for the best apps available. Locale$1 Locale lets you create location-based tasks. For example, you can have your phone turn on Wi-Fi when you get home, or have the phone silence itself when you get to work. It’s a great way to automate minor tasks, saving you a few extra minutes—and the embarrassment of having an overly noisy ringtone go off in the middle of a meeting. Head to Locale. SpringpadFree Create notes and reminders about movies you’d like to see, books you’d like to buy, or just events you’d like to remember. Springpad is also great for putting together shopping lists: You can quickly create checklists and scan barcodes to keep track of items you’ll need in the future. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to Springpad. WunderlistWunderlist for AndroidFree Wunderlist syncs your to-do lists across all your devices, so you al­­ways have your tasks with you. Wunderlist will also email you when you are close to a deadline, in case you don’t check the app every day. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to Wunderlist. Minecraft Pocket Edition$7  When you need to kill time on the go, you’ll find no better game to play than Minecraft Pocket Edition. Al­­though the app lacks the Survival Mode found in the desktop version, its Create Mode lets you mine and build to your heart’s content. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to Minecraft Pocket Edition. Reckless Racing$3 Reckless Racing is one of the best-looking racing games available for mo­­bile devices, and it has dozens of courses to choose from, some with hidden shortcuts (a huge advantage if you know them). Then, once you’ve sharpened your skills, you can challenge friends and strangers to online multiplayer contests to find out who really is the most reckless racer. Head to Reckless Racing. StumbleUponFree StumbleUpon lets you “channel surf” the Web to find things that are relevant to your tastes. You list the topics that you’re interested in, and the app will recommend websites to match. On Android devices, it will even recommend other apps based on what you have already installed. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to StumbleUpon. Toddler LockFree Warning: Eventually your toddler is going to get hold of your phone and wreak havoc upon it. Solution: Toddler Lock can keep the little one entertained but out of your phone’s precious contents. It lets your Read More

Illustration by Michael ByersNavigating an app store can be tricky, with vague descriptions, dubious user reviews, and sometimes buggy apps. We searched for the best apps available. Locale$1 Locale lets you create location-based tasks. For example, you can have your phone turn on Wi-Fi when you get home, or have the phone silence itself when you get to work. It’s a great way to automate minor tasks, saving you a few extra minutes—and the embarrassment of having an overly noisy ringtone go off in the middle of a meeting. Head to Locale. SpringpadFree Create notes and reminders about movies you’d like to see, books you’d like to buy, or just events you’d like to remember. Springpad is also great for putting together shopping lists: You can quickly create checklists and scan barcodes to keep track of items you’ll need in the future. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to Springpad. WunderlistWunderlist for AndroidFree Wunderlist syncs your to-do lists across all your devices, so you al­­ways have your tasks with you. Wunderlist will also email you when you are close to a deadline, in case you don’t check the app every day. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to Wunderlist. Minecraft Pocket Edition$7  When you need to kill time on the go, you’ll find no better game to play than Minecraft Pocket Edition. Al­­though the app lacks the Survival Mode found in the desktop version, its Create Mode lets you mine and build to your heart’s content. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to Minecraft Pocket Edition. Reckless Racing$3 Reckless Racing is one of the best-looking racing games available for mo­­bile devices, and it has dozens of courses to choose from, some with hidden shortcuts (a huge advantage if you know them). Then, once you’ve sharpened your skills, you can challenge friends and strangers to online multiplayer contests to find out who really is the most reckless racer. Head to Reckless Racing. StumbleUponFree StumbleUpon lets you “channel surf” the Web to find things that are relevant to your tastes. You list the topics that you’re interested in, and the app will recommend websites to match. On Android devices, it will even recommend other apps based on what you have already installed. (Also optimized for tablets.) Head to StumbleUpon. Toddler LockFree Warning: Eventually your toddler is going to get hold of your phone and wreak havoc upon it. Solution: Toddler Lock can keep the little one entertained but out of your phone’s precious contents. It lets your Read More

Welcome to the weekly roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Market or were spotted by us in the previous 3 weeks or so. This is PART 1 of the app roundup. You can find PART 2 here. The game roundup from this week can be found here and the tablet app roundup here. Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the AppBrain widgets, which include ratings and pricing info. Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them here. Today's roundup is sponsored by HeroCraft's latest game - Musaic Box. Our own Liam Spradlin reviewed this game a few weeks back and found it to be excellent for both lovers of puzzle/hidden object games and music. In HeroCraft's own words: -- Musaic Box is an unusual combination of musical puzzle and a detective quest. Its scenario offers you a riddle: to find the old organ master who has vanished. Solving various quests and gathering the clues just like in other classic hidden object games you'll find outlines of musical scores for your music box and reveal exclusive puzzles where you have to recreate masterpieces of classical and modern music out of smaller pieces. Unlike other puzzles, Musaic requires not just logic but a sense of musicality. Correctly composed melodies will lead you to the mystery's revelation and unlock new game mode. A free Lite and a $1.49 paid versions are available in the Market. Musaic Box Musaic Box Lite TripAdvisor is one of those sites you usually check out before traveling to another city or booking a hotel - I know I definitely do. To supplement its main Android app, the company released a slew of separate city guide apps, each highlighting one large city from all over the world. You can find all the apps here, but here are some examples: London, San Francisco, Paris.        ** Root Required ** Have you ever wanted to evict someone from your Wi-Fi network for whatever reason? Maybe your roommate is hogging all the bandwidth? Wife spending too much time on Facebook? Kids playing too much WoW? Now you can easily knock them off of the network thanks to an app called WiFiKill. Unsurprisingly, WiFiKill was in violation of Google's terms and conditions, as it "could be used in a way that is harmful to devices, networks, Read More

The app is similar to other popular travel booking sites out there, in that it certainly makes scheduling flights quick and easy. But Hipmunk Flight Search is a special service all it's own —it's set up to find flights that will be the most comfortable for you. After you've entered your flight information (your departure city, destination and date you plan to leave) the results are sorted by “agony.” This means that the app takes into account how long you'll be traveling and how many stops you'll make, and then uses special algorithms to locate flights that will be most enjoyable. Users can also sort by price, duration of flight, departure and arrival time, view if there’s Wi-Fi on board and book travel directly with airlines or popular third-party services like Orbitz or Travelocity. The app has its own color-coding system, with a different color for each airline. It makes sense if you click around or pay a quick visit to the app's mother site. The trouble is though, it can be a bit confusing and overwhelming when you first conduct a search. Hipmunk is otherwise easy to navigate, and makes booking flights easy. Because it makes your comfort and pocketbook a priority, it is definitely worth straying from your usual service in order to give this one a try. Read More

Hipmunk Slowly but surely, many of the best iOS apps are coming to Android, and their quality once they get there is improving. Case in point: The excellent air travel search engine Hipmunk, which arrived in a version for Android phones recently. Its Android version is just as good as the iOS one—good looking, easy to use, and brilliantly useful. (It ranks flight options by a price/complexity formula it calls “Agony,” and, as you can see above, shows which flights have Wi-Fi). Hipmunk does flight search better than competitors such as Kayak and Bing Travel, but it’s not the only airfare research tool you’ll ever need, mostly because it only shows prices available through Orbitz, and routes you there when you’re ready to buy. Still, even if you just use the app to look for flights you’ll buy elsewhere, it’s invaluable. And it’s nice to see it didn’t get watered down on its way to Android. Read More