Though I travel fairly infrequently, when I do manage to get out of Minnesota I often find that I have a hard time figuring out what I want to do. The wife and I usually go driving around the new place we’re exploring and stop whenever we see something that strikes an interest in both of us. If only we had more information on local venues and events, we would better be able to plan our vacation and do things we both found enjoyable.
Where, an application developed by the appropriately named Where, Inc. hopes to be the one-stop shop on all things local. Where really has it all, from local weather and news, to restaurant reviews, event calendars, local traffic, local Starbucks, and even gas prices. All delivered in a sleek looking package. On top of all that, where.com has a check-in service so you can share your location and information about that location with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.
Being from progressive Minnesota, one of the coolest features Where offers is integration with by-the-hour car rental service Zipcar. The service lets you pay a monthly fee to have access to one of several cars located at hubs around the city. You can reserve the car to only use when you need it. Where gives you the ability to reserve a ZipCar directly from the application.
Another cool feature is that Where uses your location to find coupons to several stores around you. Within 15 miles of where I am now, I can get a free guitar tune up, 25% off all mongoose bikes, and $25 off tax preparation. All coupons “print” directly to your phone and can be saved or scanned directly from your phone at the store! Pretty cool stuff.
Final Verdict: You need to download this app. Though it has some minor drawbacks, it takes much of the information you would want to know about the city you’re exploring and packages it all in one convenient location. Also, having coupons at your fingertips to local locations is an awesome feature.
Pros:
- One-stop travel shop
- Event calendar helps you find what’s happening in your city
- Wide range of features
- Easy access to coupons from local vendors
Cons:
- Though the main app itself has a very nice feel to it, some of the sub-menus are downright ugly
- Seems to only recommend the major chain stores. I do enjoy finding the mom-and-pop shops, as they tend to have cooler (and weirder things).
Where is currently in version 1.9.1, and can be downloaded for free on the Android Market.
Note: This review was submitted by Anthony Domanico as part of our app review contest.