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18/11/2009Top 10 iPod apps for expats

Top 10 iPod apps for expats Sarah Novak, life coach and iPod lover, lists her top 10 iPod applications for travellers and expats.

We all know that having the right tools is critical for success. When you travel or live overseas, though, having the right tools becomes essential to completing your daily tasks. While you may be familiar with traditional resources like guide books and maps, I’d like to share how to use new technology to improve your overseas adventures. 

Apple’s iPod applications (apps) for the iPhone and iPod touch have functions that can simplify life. But with thousands of available applications, the task of finding the right ones to download can be daunting. I’ve researched them and consolidated my recommendations into a list of essential apps for any traveler or expat. 

Background on iTunes apps
Applications can be uploaded to any iPod touch or iPhone (traditional iPods including the classic, nano and shuffle do not use applications). All applications can be downloaded from the iTunes store, where transactions are processed via credit card through iTunes and delivered instantly.


Top 10 essential apps for expats
  1. iMetro - USD 1.99 (CHF 2.02, EUR 1.38) to upload. This app provides metro maps for 28 cities around the world, including Lausanne, Paris and Berlin, keeping you from wasting money on taxi fares. The metro maps are scalable, so you can zoom in or out to find your way. There are quite a few metro apps out there, but I like this one best because of the large number of available maps for the low cost. 
  2. Sit or Squat - Free. This user-maintained database identifies free public toilets around the world. Over 65,000 toilets have been identified by users. To use, enter the nearest address, city, zip code or intersection and it will generate a list of the nearest toilets. You can also check out the reviews and comments for each toilet at www.sitorsquat.com.
  3. Gate Maps - USD 0.99 to upload. This app provides airport terminal layouts for over 30 international airports. It runs offline, avoiding charges for uploading data overseas. Savvy travelers can check the map of their arrival airport in-flight so that they can speed off to their destination upon landing.  
  4. Flight Track Pro – USD 9.99 to upload. This application integrates with the online travel organiser TripIt, saving your flight itineraries and keeping you up-to-date on delays, gate changes, cancellations and more. The offline mode allows you to check your most recent flight details without the use of wi-fi.
    1. Packing Pro - USD 3.99 to upload. This handy packing checklist will keep you from arriving in the Caribbean without a swimsuit! Create your own list or work from one of several custom templates.
    2. Spend - USD 0.99 to upload. I love, love, love this app! It solves the problem of how to keep track of all the daily cash transactions that occur on vacation or in everyday life overseas. This is a top-notch tool for accounting as well as budgeting.
    3. WifiTrak - USD 0.99 to upload. This handy app locates free wi-fi signals nearby; perfect for the traveler on the move.
    4. HiConverter – USD 0.99 to upload. This fantastic conversion tool incorporates all the usual measurements such as temperature, currency exchange rates, distance, as well as some surprises including clothing and shoe size conversions. It also includes features from the popular app Tipulator, allowing you to calculate the tip on a bill. 
    5. Lingolook Flashcards – USD 4.99 to upload. These flashcards list 500 translations of the most common words in an easy-to-use flashcard format (100 actual cards). Bonus: 300 of the translations come with an audio clip from a native speaker to help you perfect the pronunciation. The cards are available in seven languages including Spanish, French and German. The best part of this app is that it lives in the phone, requiring no data transmissions (or ensuing bills) overseas.
    6. Lonely Planet City Guides – USD 14.99 to upload. If you don’t feel like lugging around a big guide book, download a Lonely Planet City Guide instead. For USD 14.99 you can access one of 20 major cities, including Amsterdam, London and Barcelona. Designed as a stand-alone application, this program does not require a data download, saving you roaming charges. It is however GPS-enabled, so you can find your location on the application’s city maps. 

    5.  

    Sarah Novak, MBA, CPCC is a certified professional coach and founder of Envision Life Coaching. As a global lifestyle coach, Sarah works with spouses of expats and diplomats to reclaim their identity after moving to a new country or repatriating. Sarah authors a blog titled Inspired Overseas Living that is full of resources, tools and inspiration for expats and diplomats. Connect with her online at: www.facebook.com/envisionlifecoaching
    www.twitter.com/coachsarahnovak
    www.linkedin.com/in/coachsarahnovak 
    www.envisionlifecoaching.net
    www.inspiredoverseasliving.com   

    This article was first published on Expat Women.


2 reactions to this article

Quinn Genzel posted: 2010-02-05 12:23:03

*** From the Developer of Packing

Quinn Genzel posted: 2010-02-13 04:58:44

I just wanted to let everyone know that a MAJOR new upgrade has just been released on the App Store. Both Packing (now ver.7.0) and Packing Pro (now ver.4.0) have been given a MAJOR FACELIFT, with new artwork, layout and icons. I've also reorganized and simplified the home and info pages, and improved the general look and work-flow of the entire app. Come see why Packing is #1 in Canada

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2 reactions to this article

Quinn Genzel posted: 2010-02-05 12:23:03

*** From the Developer of Packing

Quinn Genzel posted: 2010-02-13 04:58:44

I just wanted to let everyone know that a MAJOR new upgrade has just been released on the App Store. Both Packing (now ver.7.0) and Packing Pro (now ver.4.0) have been given a MAJOR FACELIFT, with new artwork, layout and icons. I've also reorganized and simplified the home and info pages, and improved the general look and work-flow of the entire app. Come see why Packing is #1 in Canada

Add a comment
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