The smartphones are getting increasingly accessible, feasible and affordable and this is significantly reshaping our lives. Developers are throwing new apps in the market regularly. From banking to driving assistance, there is practically an app for everything.
According to Statista, the gross annual revenue of the industry shall exceed $189 billion by 2020. There is a difference in figures estimated by researchers, but the main point is that the market is beyond its saturation point.
Mobile apps are taking over most of the aspects of our life. The commute is also one area that has been affected by app development — using smart devices while driving is not a wise option. But there are plenty of apps that can help us handle our vehicle better and make our ride more fun. Several apps in the digital marketplace work to maintain productivity and safety and keep the drivers entertained while they are stuck in traffic.
Check out these Android and iOS apps that can add to your in-car experience:
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Google Maps
Google Maps contains detailed information about geographical locations around the world. With a conventional road map, the service also gives an aerial view of some places. It is the best app to guide you from one route to another when you are unaware of the directions. It functions through the GPS and also catches data from cellular networks.
It automatically re-routes based on real-time traffic information and then suggests an alternate lane.
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Torque Lite
Torque is a performance diagnostic tool. It communicates with your engine and ECU through the Bluetooth adapter. It helps you view what your car is doing in real time. You can obtain fault codes, sensor data and a lot more.
Some other features of this app include exporting log files to Google Earth, customizable dashboard, and data logging functions.
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Waze
Waze stands to be the world’s largest traffic and navigation app. This app helps you access information like up-to-date traffic situation, alerts about road hazards, routes, and maps. When you connect to Facebook while using this app, you can see other friends who are also driving to your destination. So you can meet and coordinate with them easily.
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INRIX Traffic
INRIX Traffic is an app that maximizes your chance of arriving at your destination on time. It does the guesswork of when to leave and how to reach a certain place by analyzing the user’s driving habits. It monitors the road conditions of around 6.4 kilometers.
With relevant traffic news, the app figures out the quickest route towards the desired destination. The personalized features of this app are what makes it different from other navigation apps.
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Dash
With a little OBD device and app integration, Dash converts a regular car into a smart car. It turns the driving experience into a game where you can unlock the performance and cost savings. Plus, there is efficiency feedback that shoots up positive vibes by making your car greener.
The app automatically sends alert to friends or family in case of an emergency. And also calls 911 when you are in an accident. Moreover, it delivers detailed diagnostics to help you figure out if your mechanic is reliable or not.
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ly
Urgent.ly provides access to roadside assistance. You can easily connect with the professionals through this app and view their location. Every stakeholder gets full transparency of the incident lifecycle. They have built-in real-time communication and tracking channels.
The payment process when you access services through this channel is free from hassles. The services are pay-per-use. So there are no yearly membership charges, and they show you the charge sheets only when the task is complete.
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Craftsman garage door
Craftsman Garage Door Opener enables you to control the door of your garage through an app. It integrates with the AssureLink Connectivity. This setup makes it possible for you to open and close your garage door from anywhere. It works even when you are not at home.
There is an alert feature to notify you when someone else opens or closes the door. Besides, it has a separate plugin to turn the garage lights on and off. The security algorithm of this app protects the personal information of the users. A similar system is functioning in the AirG Spam free apps like Hookt.
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Audible
When it comes to long work trips via road, most of us can’t stop grumbling about it. The trips are boring and cut you off from your normal leisure stuff. How about listening to an interesting book on the drive?
Audible is the audiobook library where you can purchase the books and swap it for free. The subscription includes one free audiobook every month, regardless of its price.
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Headspace
At times, no music or book can calm your nerves. You need to find ways of reducing stress. This ensures a safe driving experience.
Headspace is an app that guides the user to pick a mindful meditation technique. There are sessions on different topics like happiness, bravery, sport, health, and education. When you know that you are not in the right place of mind, we recommend that you opt for any of these sessions as per your interest. A brief session before the drive can uplift your mood and improve the journey.
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Siri and Speak to me
We all know about Siri. It has garnered a great deal of popularity, and the functions that it performs are indeed, appreciable. It can operate as a car companion. It will read aloud the emails, texts, and will also place calls upon user command.
Same is the function of Google Voice Action. It does a wonderful job of searching your phone via voice commands. Through it, you can search the web, too. Both have a slick interface.
