The Uncle Miltie of iPhone apps — that one breakthrough that makes people want to get the phone — may not have arrived yet. But at this point, the many GPS-based iPhone apps come closest. They give mobile users a way to do things never before possible.
Here are a few that are pulling consumers to the iPhone:
MobileNavigator North America: A cluster of companies offer turn-by-turn navigation software. Navigon’s Mobile Navigator is on the expensive end at $89.99, but it gets raves for its ease of use and rich graphics. TomTom and AT&T Navigator are among other top navigation apps. But free may be the future here as a version of Google Maps Navigation, a new Android 2.0 app, will certainly find its way to the iPhone.
Urbanspoon: Another set of apps overlays GPS with Google Maps and restaurant information – reviews, recommendations, ratings. Urbanspoon sees where you are, lets you spin three dials to indicate what kind of dining you’re looking for, then shows recommended restaurants on a map. Also check out Local Picks By TripAdvisor.
Zipcar: Using GPS, find where the nearest Zipcars are parked. Better yet, Zipcar downloads the code into your phone for electronically unlocking the car that you reserve.
NearPics: It tags photos with the location where they’re taken; then users can see all photos taken wherever they happen to be standing.
MotionX-GPS: Tracks your run or hike on a map, figures out mileage, elevation climbed, and your speed of running or walking, then delivers data about your workout.
Kevin Maney is a journalist and author who has been writing about technology for nearly two decades. His latest book, out in September, is Trade-Off: Why Some Things Catch On, and Others Don’t. Check it out here.
