Over the last week Boston has been abuzz with the MBTA’s recent announcement to release real-time MBTA data. And yesterday the first iPhone app was approved, but what about us non apple fanboys like myself? Or perhaps the non-smart phone wielding crowd (perhaps 1% of our readers.)

MBTAInfo, a recently developed web app, is one current solution. The web app is a stand alone web page and provides the same information as the iPhone app, just from your computer. It is also optimized for mobile phones, even Blackberrys!

The user interface could definitely use some work, but it is free and even includes data for all of the bus routes. One of the most useful pieces of functionality is the ability to ‘favorite’ a certain bus route or train line.

Track the T, another stand alone web app, and slightly sexier than MBTAInfo, also provides all of the MBTA info released including buses. This web app is definitely slicker, incorporates auto-refresh and even a countdown, to ensure you have the most accurate data possible. Check out the screen shots below:

Have you tried the iPhone app or this web app? Has it saved you some time from having to wait endlessly for a train?