The invention of Siri for iPhones brought a new way to find restaurants, get directions and ask random questions only Siri would know. AroundMe is an app with similar qualities, but you don't have to depend on Siri deciphering your question before you get an answer.
AroundMe works for both travelers and locals. With 19 different categories, such as banks, gas stations, hotels, movies and more, it can be can be beneficial for anyone who is trying to save money or try new things in a familiar area.
Once the app is opened, it uses your GPS to locate things in each of these categories in a close radius. Some of the categories, such as nearby, which tells you what buildings are nearby, have a description of what the building is used for, how much it costs and when it was built.
If you want to figure out what bar to go to in a new city, you can click on the bar and see comments from other people via Foursquare. For Toomer's Drugs, one of the comments says, "Enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade. It is an Auburn Tradition."
The app also tells you how far the destination is from your location and shows you a map of how to get there.
Some of the categories include relevant information, such as the phone number and the website where users can find more information.
Foursquare also links photos users have taken of the location if they are available, so you can see if a place is ideal for a date or if it looks subpar. The deals category, powered by Groupon, tells you places nearby with good deals.
Another useful category for travelers is the gas stations section, which lists the prices for each gas station divided by unleaded, midgrade, premium, diesel and nearest. It also tells you the last time the price was updated.
The hotels category is rated by stars, lists the price and allows you to book your room by transferring you to booking-
.com.
If you're in a hurry and need a place to park, the app will show you places nearby and include the format of the parking and any restrictions on parking.
Although free, you can eliminate advertisements with a $2.99 upgrade. It's a simple app that doesn't have too many distractions.
You can get the information you need fast and efficiently.
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