Mobility Apps LLC

GateGuru is a free travel helper app for your iPod Touch or iPhone from NYC-based Mobility Apps. When you download GateGuru, it will first ask you to use your current location. GateGuru uses your locale to find the airports that are closest to you. Choose either “Don’t Allow” or “OK.” If you choose “OK,” wait a few moments while GateGuru updates to find nearby airports. Tabs at the top let you choose between the closest airports to where you are geographically and every airport used in the app. The GateGuru application even lets you import your itineraries from Tripit and KAYAK. There are four main selections located at the bottom of the home page. The “Airports” option will be selected by default. If you click on “Trips,” you’ll be shown trip information, but in order to see this you must be logged into your GateGuru account. The “High Flyers” option lets you view the users who have wracked up the most points. You can filter these users by everyone on Gate Guru or just your friends. The “User” option lets you view account information once you’re logged in, including your bookmarks and scores. If you click the “More” button at the bottom of the screen, you’ll be taken to a list of options that includes a “Contact Us” button, an option for sharing Gate Guru with your friends and also information about the company. The best part of this iPhone app is all of the information available for a specific airport. When you click on an airport name, you’ll see a star rating at the top of the page. There are different buttons that let you view the airports terminals and main checkpoint, plus user reviews and tips. If you click on a certain terminal or airport, you’ll get details for that area like what food options are available and the different shops and services in the area. The best part of this portion of GateGuru is that you can add your own amenity to the list. This is most useful for people who use the same airports regularly - you can write yourself a note to remember which concourse had the best cafe or lounge area. The “Tips” button is great to find out basics like if the airport has free wi-fi or not or which restaurant is best. You can also write your own review or tip and get Read More

If you’ve been paying attention this morning, you’re perhaps somewhat aware of a program Microsoft has in place called Mobile Acceleration Week (part of its BizSpark program), where 12 hand-picked startups can access hands-on support and training to build compelling apps for the Windows Phone platform. MAWs happen all over the world all year long, but I was lucky enough to catch up with some of the participants of New York’s Mobile Acceleration Week, and was pretty pleased with the apps I saw. Microsoft gives each startup 60 days to push the app to market, so don’t get too excited and start hunting through the Marketplace. You won’t find what you’re looking for just yet. But considering that today’s theme (at least in my world) seems to be the state of Redmond’s mobile app platform, I thought it’d be worthwhile to give you a look at where the Marketplace is headed, and what you might find there in the coming weeks. Flud launched on the iOS platform back in 2010 and made quite a name for itself, winning the UI design award in 2010 and joining the likes of Flipboard and Pulse as one of the top 3 news reader apps on the platform. The app has since launched on Android, and is now looking to get its feet wet with Mango. So how did the company bring that award-winning UI to a platform with a totally different style than iOS and Android? In short, they built a brand new Flud — an app suited to the Metro UI of Mango that takes advantage of unique WP7.5 features. Within Flud for Windows, the user will be able to access their personalized news feed just like any experienced Flud user does now. But it goes further than that. Flud has built in a prominent social layer, allowing users to see what their friends read in a dedicated feed, and check out user profiles, too. I won’t spoil the surprise for all the features, as I’m sure that’ll be announced very soon, but you can expect to see the same features that are coming to Mango on iOS very soon, as well. The Windows version of the app will hit the Marketplace no later than early January. You may recognize Get-A-Game from your iPhone, but if not perhaps it’ll catch your eye over on the Windows platform. The app allows users to locate Read More

If you’ve been paying attention this morning, you’re perhaps somewhat aware of a program Microsoft has in place called Mobile Acceleration Week (part of its BizSpark program), where 12 hand-picked startups can access hands-on support and training to build compelling apps for the Windows Phone platform. MAWs happen all over the world all year long, but I was lucky enough to catch up with some of the participants of New York’s Mobile Acceleration Week, and was pretty pleased with the apps I saw. Microsoft gives each startup 60 days to push the app to market, so don’t get too excited and start hunting through the Marketplace. You won’t find what you’re looking for just yet. But considering that today’s theme (at least in my world) seems to be the state of Redmond’s mobile app platform, I thought it’d be worthwhile to give you a look at where the Marketplace is headed, and what you might find there in the coming weeks. Flud launched on the iOS platform back in 2010 and made quite a name for itself, winning the UI design award in 2010 and joining the likes of Flipboard and Pulse as one of the top 3 news reader apps on the platform. The app has since launched on Android, and is now looking to get its feet wet with Mango. So how did the company bring that award-winning UI to a platform with a totally different style than iOS and Android? In short, they built a brand new Flud — an app suited to the Metro UI of Mango that takes advantage of unique WP7.5 features. Within Flud for Windows, the user will be able to access their personalized news feed just like any experienced Flud user does now. But it goes further than that. Flud has built in a prominent social layer, allowing users to see what their friends read in a dedicated feed, and check out user profiles, too. I won’t spoil the surprise for all the features, as I’m sure that’ll be announced very soon, but you can expect to see the same features that are coming to Mango on iOS very soon, as well. The Windows version of the app will hit the Marketplace no later than early January. You may recognize Get-A-Game from your iPhone, but if not perhaps it’ll catch your eye over on the Windows platform. The app allows users to locate Read More

Posted 08/11/2011 at 1:21pm | by Nik Rawlinson and Susie Ochs Believe J.J. Cale, because he knows what he’s talking about: traveling light is the only way to fly. The next time you’re tempted to overpack, remember to take half as many clothes, twice as much money, and your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. An iOS device can replace paper maps, books, and travel guides; and the information you’ll find in apps and iBooks is more timely and relevant anyway. Obviously you won’t need CDs or a portable DVD player -- or pricey hotel or in-flight pay-per-view -- to stay entertained. And by posting photos or blog updates about your vacation online, you won’t even have to send postcards. To prepare you and your electronic travel buddy to hit the road, we found the best apps, gear, and know-how to keep you connected. Travel can be tough on your iPad or iPhone, so it’s smart to insure them. Check your existing home, renters’, and travel policies for any exclusions that might leave you out of pocket if you lose your device. Verizon offers insurance for iPhone 4 for $10.99/month, AT&T just started offering a plan for $4.99/month, and if you bought your iPhone at Best Buy, you can add Geek Squad protection within 30 days of purchase. GoCare will insure an iPhone 4 from $69/year, or $97 for two years, but it’s got a 30-day waiting period, so plan ahead. SquareTrade has a free app in the App Store that lets you buy coverage for $99 for two years. But check with your regular insurers first, and always read all the fine print on deductibles, exclusions, and, well…everything. Insurance won’t help you recover your own device if it “wanders off,” so get Apple’s free Find My iPhone app (which also works on the iPad and iPod touch) from the App Store, and follow the directions to register. That’ll let you track your device online, plus remotely lock and wipe it to remove any sensitive data. You should also set the Passcode Lock (Settings > General > Passcode Lock) for the duration of your travels so that nobody can gain access. Stock up on reading material before you leave in case you find yourself without network coverage later. Back up your data by syncing with iTunes before you leave, and consider making an online copy of your essential data. If you have Read More

I love finding useful free apps. Today I'll steer you to GateGuru, a free app that will help you navigate airport terminals and find food, ATMs, conference rooms and shops. The app was featured in an iPhone TV ad earlier this year, and it has been updated since then with some new features and bug fixes. GateGuru starts by locating the nearest airports via GPS (U.S. and Canada only, unfortunately). You can also type in an airport's three-letter identifier code or city name. Once your airport is identified, you can select the main terminal or a particular concourse. You'll get a map and a list of what's there, be it food, shops, or services like shoe shine stands or free Wi-Fi. You also get user-supplied ratings of shops and restaurants. Sometimes there are photos as well. This is all pretty handy, especially if you are in an unfamiliar airport. You can also add your own photos and reviews. There are a few drawbacks. I'd like to have the app locate me within the terminal, making navigation easier. Those all-important restrooms aren't listed, although a few show up on some of the airport maps. Plus, I couldn't find airports in Des Moines, Iowa or Eugene, Oregon. Even with the omissions of some smaller airports, GateGuru will be a good companion for your iPhone, especially since it is free. The app will also run on an iPod touch and an iPad (note that it's not universal, however) and requires iOS 3.0 or greater. Read More

by This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. Quick Pitch: GateGuru is designed to redefine the in-airport experience. Genius Idea: Even for those of us who travel frequently, airline travel can make the most calm among us want to pull their hair out. GateGuru’s iPhone app [iTunes link] serves as a mobile directory for 100 different airports in the U.S. and Canada, and can help you avoid travel headaches, at least for the airport portion of your trip. The app experience is pretty much self-explanatory, and you can poke around inside the airport nearest you (and checkin if you’re at the airport), the last airport you visited or select one for the app’s list. You can then choose to peruse the entire airport or limit your digital airport exploration to a particular terminal or concourse. The terminal/concourse guide is essentially the meat of the application, so you can see a comprehensive listing of all airport amenities, or filter for just food, shops or services. Each amenity has its own GateGuru listing so users can view the exact location, add photos, write and read reviews, update information or bookmark a place for future reference. GateGuru also includes a gaming element reminiscent of Foursquare’s leaderboard. In the HighFlyers section, users are awarded points for checking-in to airports, rating and reviewing amenities. This month JetBlue is sponsoring the contest, so the member that accrues the most points nationally for the month of June will win two free JetBlue tickets. Regional winners will also get $100 gift cards. Overall, we find the app to be a handy airport utility and may make those stressful travel experiences much more manageable, and possibly more rewarding. BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today. Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the Azure Services platform for their website hosting and storage needs. Microsoft recently announced the “new CloudApp()” contest – use the Azure Services Read More

Mike Haney puts the latest smartphone applications to the test to find which make work — and life — easier on the road. Don't miss these Travel stories As usual, It's a Snap fans submitted stunning photos from their travels. Check out this week's gallery and vote for your favorite. ON THE MOVE Organize your itinerary:TripIt is the easiest way to consolidate all your travel details—flights, hotels, cars, events—on one site. Just forward your confirmation e-mails to plans@tripit.com and the site will instantly pull the relevant info and build your itinerary. The app includes basic flight tracking, terminal maps, driving directions, and airplane-seat advice (good for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone; free); the Pro service adds loyalty-program tracking and recommends other flights if yours is canceled ($69 per year). Though a bit slower to upload your trip details, TripCase works in a similar manner and automatically adds itineraries booked through a Sabre reservation system (good for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows Mobile; free). Keep an eye on your flight: Most flight-tracking apps offer international coverage and gate info and update TripIt itineraries. What sets FlightTrack Pro apart is its push alerts: notifications of flight delays or cancellations that buzz your phone even when the app isn't open. Like most apps, FlightTrack gets its data from FlightStats, which bundles info from the FAA and airlines (good for Android, iPhone; $10). Book last-minute flights, hotels, and car rentals: For sheer comprehensiveness, Kayak's app is a good place to start any search (good for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows Mobile; free); Kayak First lets you search for premium-class seats ($2). But when it comes to booking hotels, it's much faster to use Android's Hotels Near Me, BlackBerry's HRS Hotel Organizer, or iPhone's HotelPal—all save your account info to spare you tedious typing (free). Kill time at the airport: GateGuru provides terminal-­specific guides to restaurants, bars, shops, and services at 85 U.S. airports (good for iPhone; free). ON THE GROUND Find a taxi:TaxiMagic ties directly into dispatch systems in 25 U.S. cities, so you can use the app to book a cab, track its progress toward you, and pay. In other cities, it'll bring up numbers of local companies (good for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone; free). Cab4me lets users rank taxi services (free with Android; $3 with BlackBerry; $1 with iPhone), while Rocket Taxi covers several European countries including Germany, Italy, and Spain (good for iPhone; Read More

If you've been watching TV over the last few days (and who hasn't, with that USA / Canada hockey game and the tsunami coverage), you may have seen the latest in the series of iPhone ads. The ad, titled "Family Travel," features a voice-over by a Mom who gushes that "It's unbelievable how much better family trips have gotten..." as she demonstrates using the Southwest Airlines app to check in on a flight from Denver to LA, finds a restaurant for the family (Heidi's Brooklyn Deli) in the C concourse at Denver International Airport with Gate Guru, makes sure that she has entertainment for her kids in the form of "Finding Nemo" loaded in the iPod app, and then turns off the living room lights at home with the Schlage Link app. For those of you who are sticklers for advertising accuracy, note that Southwest flight 1403 is not an actual SWA flight between DEN and LAX and that the restaurant list for Concourse C at Denver International Airport is actually a mashup of restaurants located throughout Denver International Airport. All of the apps are free, although Schlage Link does require a monthly subscription and appropriate Z-Link hardware on the home front (similar to the Christmas tree ad from the holidays). Read More

February 23, 2010   Brooke   commercials, videos   Apple’s latest iPhone commercial, Family Travel, focuses on the iPhone’s ability in making “family travel” much more convenient. “It’s unbelievable how much better family trips have gotten. Just last week I checked us in on the way to airport. Found the kids a snack near the gate. And even had their favorite movie ready to go. Then my husband turned to me and said, “Did we turn off the lights?” So we turned off the lights. And that’s why I don’t go anywhere without my iPhone.” Apps shown in Ad: - Southwest Airlines (Free) - GateGuru (Free) - Schlage LiNK (Free, but requires compatible hardware and service plan) Read More

The time for Macworld Expo 2010 is upon us and the handiest tool you’ll bring to San Francisco with you is, of course, your iPhone. What apps should you install on your phone to enhance your Macworld experience? The iMacworld is a handy guide for navigating the show floor and planning your day. iMacworld, featuring maps and a show directory, was just recently updated for 2010, so jump onboard. For those who don’t travel often, favorite airport amenities frequently change and may be difficult to find. You’ve got 30 minutes between flights and can’t play “Where’s Waldo” to find your favorite coffee dispensary. Did Peet’s moved to gate 12 from gate 18? Gate Guru can help. Additionally, the app has a review function so if you aren’t sure where to eat, let the wisdom of crowds guide you. The interface is a bit clunky as you can’t search by airport, only by terminal within the airport, but otherwise it is handy and accurate. Traveling requires corralling an endless stream of alpha-numeric confirmation codes and repeating the same information over and over again to family and friends. Setup a TripIt account and email TripIt your confirmations, and they’ll automatically put it all into an itinerary complete with additional hotel information and links that you can share with others. When the front desks says they have no record of your reservation, pull up your TripIt app and you’ll have all the data handy. Flight delays are a fact of life and getting accurate information is sometimes a challenge. Like many other apps, FlightTrack Pro will track flights for you. What’s special about this app is that it will also give you handy access to the airline’s phone number and provide push notifications. An indispensable feature is its ability to find alternate flights that match your planned itinerary should your flight be cancelled, as well as integrated access with TripIt. iCommute is similar to MuniApp and iBART, except that it also covers the AC Transit system which serves the East Bay. Utilizing Nextbus information, it offers real time and predictive information as to when the bus or train will arrive. It might be the best “jack of all trades” for general getting around, but the interface was a bit more cluttered the MuniApp’s UI. Still, with the more complete data, if you had to pick a single app, iCommute is probably the one. MuniApp focuses Read More