Not below freezing this time of year? Awesome. In the fifties? Time to celebrate. Everyone agrees that winter in Boston has been pretty darn rough this year. This recent lift in temps and all the melting snow has us giddy and looking to do anything but be cooped up inside. If you’re like us, you’re making plans to get out and about tomorrow and through the weekend, so here are 10 iPhone apps (a few which are built right here in Boston) you should have on hand to make the most of it:
Goby (Boston-based)
Looking to find something new to do this weekend? Goby is a local search and attraction recommendation engine on a mission to help you find things to do locally. This app will help you discover new things to do right here in the city, or if you plan to make a day trip somewhere new, help you know the must-go spots. Want to go with friends? Goby recently launched a new feature where you can share a location/venue/attraction with your friends over social networks, or invite them personally over email.
FX Photo Studio
Boston has been pretty unrecognizable with foot after foot of snow falling since Christmas. With all this nice melting action going on, you’re bound to find some random treasures revealed from under the snow or remember how gorgeous all the old buildings here are under bluer skies. FX Photo Studio has you covered, and will turn casually snapped photos into masterpieces. The app allows you to crop, rotate and change the gamma light on photos, alongside applying over 180 filter affects from “Derby” to “Water Circles” to “Neon Light.”
Waze
Looking to make a mini-roadtrip getaway this weekend? Waze is an absolute must for your car ride. This social GPS app with turn-by-turn directions and gaming elements is filled with fun. You can see other Waze users on the road, and even interact with them and ask them questions. Want to know whether to take the Bourne Bridge or Sagamore into the Cape? Poke a Waze driver already there and ask how the traffic is moving along.
Springpad (Boston-based)
Looking to do some Spring cleaning or get organized this weekend? Springpad, which helps you keep track of your life should be top of mind. This app lets you create notes, tasks, snap photos, scan memos, even flag wine and overall keep track of your life. You don’t have to miserably create to-do lists indoors, keep this app open as you go about your day or just get situated on a park bench and get yourself organized.
BarBird
Know you and your friends want to go get your drink on, but can’t decide where? Use BarBird to find places promoting deals over Twitter, where it pulls content from local venues and aggregates it into a nice stream. For example, tonight right here in Boston, Myers & Chang is offering $1 oysters and $1 PBRs and Living Room has a Miller Light Promo and half price apps.
RunKeeper (Boston-based)
Even non-hardcore fitness types get inspired to go for a run outside when the weather starts getting warmer. For marathon trainers RunKeeper will help you track your runs seriously, and for casual runners it may just be the app you need to keep you motivated to continue to run. One of Apple’s top apps of 2010, RunKeeper PRO is now free for life so you have no reason not to download and give it a test drive.
iheartradio
You obviously need some good tunes if you’re going to be walking around the city the next few days. There’s Pandora, sure, but if you’re looking to mix things up or give a throwback to old school radio, try the iheartradio app. This app, build by Clear Channel, includes 750+ radio stations across the US. You can bookmark stations, view song lyrics, and even access exclusive digital stations like AT40 with Ryan Seacrest or eRockster.
Google Goggles
Have friends in town and plan to do a little sight seeing? Make sure you have the Google Mobile app downloaded so you don’t look like a schmuck for not knowing which buildings are which as you’re walking around. The Google Goggles feature lives right in the search box of the Google app: press the camera icon, snap a pic of what’s in front of you, and Google magically will tell you what you just took a photo of. Keep in mind that the technology behind this (augmented reality) is still being refined, so bear with any misstatements.
AroundMe
Doing something or looking to find something on the fly? AroundMe has you covered, quickly identifying your location and providing you quick access to things by category like gas stations, movie theaters, parking, coffee shops, ATMs, and more. View each listing on a map, make a quick call, or even email info to a friend. You can also check out the app’s “Nearby” feature, which pulls in information about what’s around you from Wikipedia.
The Weather Channel
Saturday looks like some showers may fall, so I had to include a weather app on the list given how quickly it can change here in Boston. The Weather Channel is my personal go to for a weather app, quickly finding your location and giving you hour-by-hour updates. It also includes a radar for those of you more meteorologically inclined, and even a daily video of a meteorologist relaying the forecast for Boston. Use this app to help you decide whether or not a roofdeck party to enjoy the fresh air is a good idea or not.
What apps do you plan to have on hand with all these warmer temps?
