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Filed under: Internet, Features, Productivity, Apple, iPhone, Search, Lists

5 iPhone apps that will make you a hero

You don't need to be super-strong, invulnerable or able to fly to be a hero. Sure, that worked for Superman, but don't forget that Batman got out of all kinds of tough situations just using his gadgets. Maybe you don't have a tricked-out car or a utility belt, but if you have an iPhone, you can be a hero, too. Here are some iPhone apps that might help out:


1) Urbanspoon

Superpower: Settling arguments about where to eat

When you're out with a date (or a group of friends) and nobody can decide where you're going to eat, Urbanspoon's iPhone app can come to the rescue. Just put in some search terms (or don't, whatever) and shake it. It'll give you a restaurant that will hopefully settle your argument without any hurt feelings over who got to choose. If you end with a place that nobody likes, just shake again. It's also handy when you're by yourself in a new neighborhood and want to sample the local eateries, so you can use it to be your own hero, too!

2) HopStop

Superpower:
Getting anywhere fast in some big cities.

Before you complain: yes, I know this only works in a handful of cities, particularly New York, Chicago, Boston and DC. The thing is, it works so well you might as well have superpowers. I can't count the number of times I've overheard someone on the phone in Manhattan saying, "Why don't you just HopStop it?" HopStop is well known for giving some of the best point-to-point directions via subway or cab, and telling you how much it'll cost to get there. Plus, it's expanding to new cities all the time.

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Filed under: Internet, Google

Google to add transit maps for New York

Google TransitGoogle has been providing Google Maps-based public transit directions for a few years now. If you happen to live in Portland, San Diego, Pittsburgh, or a handful of other cities, that is.

But Bloomberg is reporting that Google Transit is about to add directions for the largest public transportation system in the country: New York City.

Earlier this year, Google added subway stop information to New York City maps. But there was no way to get directions from one stop to another. According to Bloomberg, Google is working with New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New Jersey Transit to develop the trip planner.

No word on how long you'll have to wait to get your New York subway directions from Google. In the meantime, you might want to check out HopStop, which recently launched a mobile version of its trip planner. Unlike Google, which currently has routes for smaller cities, Hopstop covers New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

Featured Time Waster

Graveyard Shift - zombie-busting Time Waster

With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet. They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...

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