Summer Travel App Round-Up

In light of the holiday weekend, take a look at a handful of travel apps. Whether you plan to drive or fly, there's an app for that. This weekend be safe and be informed with a handful of apps.

Android

FlightTrack (Mobiata; $4.99)
You might not be able to use this app while in flight, but if you're going to the airport to pick up friends or family, Flight Track not only gives you information on arrival delays, it lets you follow the plane on a map. The map is similar to in-flight information available on the personal viewing screens on some airplanes.

Beat the Traffic (Triangle Software; Free)
Get real-time traffic information in cities across the United States and Canada. Not only can you view a map to see points of congestion, you can view live images from traffic cameras so you can judge just how heavy the traffic is for yourself without having to sit in it.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry Travel (Research In Motion Limited; Free)
Plan, book, manage, and share your travel activities. This app lets you browse flights and even search for places to stay on your trip. If you have an itinerary emailed to you on your BlackBerry, the scanning feature will automatically recognize it and push it to BlackBerry Travel so you have your information in one easy to access app.

GasBuddy (GasBuddy Organization; Free)
While gas prices remain high over the holiday weekend, you can use GasBuddy to view the prices at nearby stations. The app lists prices across the United States and Canada. GasBuddy is an ideal program to have at your side on a road trip.

iPhone

Localscope (Cynapse; $1.99)
Whether you're entertaining friends in your home town or at a destination far from home, you can use this social data-powered GPS app to navigate local restaurants and businesses. Localscope uses search engines and social networks such as Google, Bing, Foursquare, Twitter, and Wikimapia to provide you with a list of places to go, with directions.

Weather+ (ITWC - International Travel Weather Calculator Association; $0.99)
With unpredictable and devastating weather occurring lately, it's useful to have a detailed weather app on your phone. Check out weather reports with forecasts and full-screen video loops of weather in a selected location.