Mobile Maps - Android

In my opinion maps on a mobile phone are some of the most useful apps available. Here are some of my favorites.

Of course Google Maps has changed GPS usage forever. http://goo.gl/aUY7pZ 

Add Streetview and you have the ability to see what your destination looks like. http://goo.gl/n0cDFu

You can navigate just fine with Google Maps but the Driving shortcut makes it a little easier to get strait into that mode. For places you goto often.

Find directions

1. Navigate to the widget section on your phone or tablet.
2. Find the "Directions" widget .
3. Tap and hold the widget and drop it on your home screen.
4. At the top, choose a mode of transport.
5. Type a destination and create a shortcut name.
6. Check any boxes that match your preferences. ...
7. Tap Save.

You ask why do I need a GPS for places I goto often? Because Google maps gives up to date traffic reports. So you can quickly see how your trip to work is going to go for example.

 

c:geo is a Geocaching app. We'll save that for another post.

That brings us to GPS share. This app allows you to share your location with other people. Via all the methods you can share other information about yourself. For example you can text it to an individual. Making it possible for that person to find you in a crowd. Or you could share it on Facebook or Twitter to give a group of people a link to locate you.

You could also use it to mark a spot you want to remember. These are some of my favorite map apps. Do you have some to share?

Money Saving Tech: Free Magazines

I retired recently. So money saving measures are on my mind. OK maybe that not a new thing for me. Did you know your local public library is a source of free digital media? That's right besides free books you can get e-books, audio books, movies, music, and magazines. This post will be about magazines. Go to your library website. Chances are you will find a link to digital content similar to the one shown here.

Look for a electronic magazine link. You will need an account with the offering company. For me that is Zinio. I plan to check out Flipster soon. Warning! They also sell magazine subscriptions. You may want to purchase a magazine not carried by the library. That is fine, and the prices are usually quite good. However I have to warn you. I only purchase single editions. I bought a couple of subscriptions and had a very hard time keeping them from auto renewing.

Anyway the library selection is really very good. Hundreds of magazines are offered at my library.

The list is also searchable by topic. Photography for example.

You can read them from your PC at the Zinio website or you can put the app on your tablet. Download the magazine (many back issues are available too). Once you get used to the tablet page flipping technique you love getting magazines for free.