Archive for Apps
London Tube Deluxe
Courtesy of iTunes
This, and two app reviews that’ll be appearing over the next two days, were used to a freelance gig. If you’ve never ridden the Tube, be sure to join in the fun.
“There is a good service operating on all London Underground lines.” This mythical claim over the tannoy is as rare as a Unicorn and while the Tube offers commuters a competent transport network, it inevitably breaks down. Circa 1863, the Underground was never built with the modern city in mind and navigating it as an outsider can be a daunting experience.
This is where Tube Deluxe comes in. It’s a comprehensive guide to Transport for London’s rail behemoth providing the traveller with live updates, a searchable map and GPS support when you’re trying to find that elusive station. Quick and easy to use – it takes the hassle out of the Tube, whether above ground or under it.
Its live updates are perhaps its most useful feature. The Tube’s prone to signalling problems, commuter incidents and general maintenance wear-and-tear and knowing whether your chosen line is running at full capability when on the move is invaluable. Not only does it tell you whether there’s trouble, there’s a handy feature with push notifications. If you’re a regular user, you can input your times-of-travel and it’ll alert you if there’s problems in advance, preventing you from snoozing through an incident.
There’s a full detail scrollable map of the entire tube network with easy-to-use station search and a travel planner which upon entering your start and end destination, will yield a variety of routes in time order. If you’re above ground with an internet connection, it’ll even plan around track closures and delays. It occasionally lacks a local’s knowledge of walking distance between platforms, but generally it’s spot on with the right route to take.
With live train departures for your favourite stations so you can grab that early-morning cup of coffee and a ‘find me the nearest station’ feature for when you’re off the beaten track, Tube Deluxe allows you to pinpoint your next destination perfectly. A simple to use feature set and a near-perfect interface, it really does keep it on the rails.
So whether you’re an Underground veteran or visiting London for the first time, at only £0.59p it’s a bargain and one that your iPhone shouldn’t be without.
