Shadab Khan Durrani

Latest Phone Tech That’s Causing All the Buzz

by Shadab DurraniJuly 21, 2016July 21, 2016FeaturedLeave a Comment

Mobile phones have phenomenally grown, advanced and evolved in recent times. The rate of advancement is such that it feels as if it was only yesterday when we stood wide-eyed; jaw-dropped and marveled at the technological wonder that was the integration of a digital camera in a cell phone. Which is to say that in a span of a decade and a half, mobile phones went from being a mere portable telecommunications device to perhaps a conclusive technological revolution.Presently these phones go neck to neck with high-end professional cameras and pack more features and functionality than one can poke a stick at. But it doesn’t stop there- Every couple of months, a new phone equipped with revolutionary technology is launched and flat out transforms the way people use their phones. So here’s our pick on what latest phone technology is causing all the buzz in the tech world.

Modular Smart Phones- From Dreams to Reality

Google paved the way for Modular Smart Phones in 2013 when it announced Project Ara- An embodiment of Google’s vision of making truly customizable smartphones.It seemed like a too-good-to-be-true epitome of smart phone modularity and got almost every tech enthusiast holding their breath until its release. The Ara concept featured a basic endoskeleton frame on which various third-party modules such as advanced Cameras, Speakers, batteries, heath & fitness tracking modules and etc. could be lodged in and secured by industry-grade electromagnets.While Project Ara is still in the labs getting some final touches before its consumer release in 2017, a lot seems to have happened in terms of smart phone modularity in the last couple of years. For instance, the recently launched LG G5 and Lenovo’s Moto Z, both of which feature a degree of modularity and allow users to clip new batteries, cameras and Hi-Fi adjusters and customize the phone further to their own requirements. So modularity is definitely catching up and where Google laid down the plans years ago, LG is the first to deliver.

Dual Lens Cameras- ‘Cause 2 is better than 1.

Dual Lens Camera’s in smartphones are dubbed as the future of mobile photography. Where Huawei and LG seem to be leading the trend with their two very different dual lens, phone cameras and rumors of Apple’s iPhone 7 plus to catch up on the lead later this year- The fact of the matter is that HTC was the first to step into the foray of Dual Lens Cameras with EVO 3D in 2011. As the name suggests, the two-headed shooter on the EVO 3D used its dual lens to merely produce 3D images. Although remarkable, but back then it seemed that HTC’s technology was way ahead of its time and held no real value to photography enthusiasts. Hence it failed to create much of a stir in the world of phone photography and was gone and forgotten. However, modern manifestations of the Dual Lens such as that on Huawei P9 and LG G5, are very well received. With an advanced software, they put the two-lens to better use, and actually invest in improving image quality- The holy grail of all photography, unlike HTC’s 2011 gimmick. Co-created with Leica, Huawei P9 is equipped with a separate monochrome and a colour sensor with the two lenses which work in synchrony to capture three times the light of an ordinary camera, resulting in much better sharpness and clarity. LG G5’s on the other hand, uses its dual lens functionality to add a second 8 megapixel, wide-angle, prime lens; next to its primary 16 megapixel shooter. Hence allowing for bigger group, landscape, or architecture shots.

USB Type C- One Port to Rule Them All!

From smartphones and tablets to memory sticks, desktop-computers and laptops, USB is the standard when it comes to connectivity. And USB Type-C (henceforth mentioned as Type-C) is the latest update to the USB Standards since USB 3.1 in 2013. As opposed to common knowledge, Type-C does not only account for efficient charging, but also a means of phasing out headphone jacks and other ports on media devices. And that’s exactly what smartphone manufacturers have been looking for! Why you ask? Well, basically because the 3.5 mm headphone jack has long been seen as a major obstacle that’s keeping phones back from getting even thinner, and with the multi-functional abilities of Type-C, manufacturers can finally do away with it. What’s more is that Type-C brings another level of multi-tasking abilities of smartphones. For instance, a pair of Type-C headphones can not only play high quality music, but at the same time measure your heart rate and feed that information back to your phone.Measuring an astonishing 5.2mm in thickness, Lenovo’s Moto Z is the first do away with the headphone jack and fully embrace the USB Type-C for all that it has to offer and other manufacturers such as Apple are not too far behind.

Phone Cases That Go Beyond Protection

Much like the mobile phone itself, smartphone cases have long evolved from rigid, gimcrack plastic frames for your phones, to an accessory which is every bit of a technological wonder as the phone in its wraps! So much so that they occupied an entire section of the giant North Hall at CES 2016 and exhibited quite a variety of revolutionary phone accessories. These smartphone cases almost add a degree of modularity to no non-modular smartphones and here are some pretty cool cases that caught our eyes:

Prynt- This case turns your smartphone into a Polaroid-style camera that not only prints photos but also turn them into augmented reality videos when viewed on the phone’s screen.

Speck Pocket VR- This case is compact, made to comply with military standards and provides real drop and shock protection for your phone. But that’s not it, what’s amazing is that the case pulls apart to form a fully functional, cardboard certified VR Viewer!

Typo 2- We all missed the convenience and functionality of physical keyboards so much, that this case brings it all back. Type 2 gives you the ability to add a physical QWERTY keyboard to your iPhone.

Eye Tracking Feature in Smartphones

by Shadab DurraniJuly 18, 2016July 21, 2016Featured / AppsLeave a Comment

Smart phones have become a necessary element of our daily life. They are replacing every other gadget by providing access to do everything; previously done be different other devices. Apart from the advancement in technology of smart phones, more and more human interactions are increasing. Moreover taking use of voice detection to finger print detection previously, eye tracking is a new feature to control activities in your smart phones.

Eye tracking technology is a new idea for smart phones. Previously it was used in retail research, ad placement research during website development and also in the health sector to provide help to the people suffering with paralysis. But it does work accurately in specialized settings; with the use of powerful computers and sophisticated eye tracking software which makes it a costly technology.

There is research going in this field to make eye tracking economical, precise, and accurate to be introduced in the smart phones. It first emphasise on the gaze information from different people and then training the mobile software to interpret it on the run time accurately. This is the difficult task as smart phones come in different sizes; it becomes hard to identify where a person is looking approximately. Researchers at MIT, the University of Georgia, and Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Informatics are working on the project, and they say that they have almost solved this problem. The software designed by their team so far identify the user’s eye movement with an accuracy of about a centimetre on a mobile phone and 1.7 centimetres on a tablet. But they are trying to improve this further. They are training their software with more eye movement data of smart phone users by launching an iPhone app called GazeCapture. This software captures the data of how people usually look at their phones while using their phones.

GazeCapture information is used for another software named iTracker to train further. This application is also available for iPhones. It captures the user information through front camera and takes into account the factors like the position and direction of the user’s head and eyes to determine where the user is looking exactly. Researchers believe that the more the eye movement data they will get; the precision rate for iTracker will be improved eventually.

It is a hopeful path to take mobile phones in; because we use our eyes all the time effortlessly and this fact will make it more useful than typical voice control. This precise eye tracking will change the typical navigation and gaming concept in smart phones. The next generation of eye tracking for smart phones will be the pixel-level accuracy. But this new feature will come up with high battery usage.

Tagged : Eye Tracking / GazeCapture / iTracker / Smartphones

5 Game-Changing Gadgets You Can’t Afford To Not Know About

by Shadab DurraniJuly 17, 2016July 18, 2016FeaturedLeave a Comment

The Future is here and technology is undoubtedly taking over! From self-driving cars and virtual reality gaming consoles to personal assistant robots and wearable tech- Every year a handful of thousands of new and emerging products are launched in pursuits of changing the world and the way we interact with it. But amidst the foray of technological advancements, we sometimes happen to over-look the most revolutionary of products and promising startups. So here is our list of 5 game-changing gadgets you might be missing out on.

LEVI’S® COMMUTER X JACQUARD TRUCKER JACKET

Function meets style with Levi’s Commuter Trucker jacket designed with Google ATAP’s project Jacquard technology woven in. This smart jacket takes wearable tech to the next level and is equipped with the technology in the form of conductive Jacquard yarn to remotely connect to your smartphone and transform fabric into an interactive surface that can register and respond to touch. Whereas the digital connectivity is provided through a detachable smart tag that houses all the necessary electronics. The wearer can do a bunch of things such as attend or dismiss calls, play music and get audio directions without ever needing to pull their phone out of the pocket. And the best thing is that, expect for the detachable tag, the whole interactive garment is washable and durable like regular Levi’s denim that you know and love.

BIRKSUN SOLAR BACKPACK WITH BUILT-IN USB

Lightweight, Durable and packed with a ton of functionality- Birksun’s solar backpack is an answer to all our prayers. Equipped with a solar panel and a battery, this revolutionary backpack allows you to conveniently charge all your gadgets on-the-go without ever running out of juice as long as the sun is up. Furthermore, the backpack is water resistant and leak proof, and the smart charging circuitry communicates with all your devices to determine the right amount of power to deliver in order to deliver safe charge at the fastest possible speed. Also, Birksun’s solar backpack is available in a variety of chic colors and designs, so you never run out of style!

KERV

The year 2016 saw some major advancements in the world of wearable tech, but a product that really caught our attention is Kerv- World’s first contact less payment ring. Crafted from aerospace-grade zirconia technical ceramic, the ring does not only look gorgeous, but makes life a whole lot easier without the hassle of carrying multiple credit cards and bulky wallets. What’s revolutionary is perhaps the fact that the water-proof ring is a stand-alone device and doesn’t require pairing to a smartphone or even charging. It allows you to pay for anything anywhere around the world where contact less payment is accepted, without the need of a card, pin, signature or even a bank account. Moreover, it can even be used to tap into London’s public transport network, store contact, emergency and medical information and access NFC locks.

MAGIC CABLE

Dubbed as the most adaptable charging cable, Magic Cable allows you to charge all your devices using any of your devices. Although only a startup, this remarkably simple yet phenomenal product is already taking the market by storm and giving bulky power banks and conventional cables a run for their money. The magic happens on either ends of the cable, which can transform to fit any charging port. All you have to do is plug one end of the cable into a charged device and another into a device that needs charging and watch the magic as it happens!

Onagofly

Drones! They are all the rage in the tech world. From palm-sized indestructible carbon-fiber ones to quadcopters equipped with 4K professional video cameras, they come in all shapes and sizes, but sadly most are capable of burning a hole in your wallet. But this fun, affordable and powerful smart Nano drone by Onagofly is the next best thing that we common folks can hope to buy. The palm-sized drone is equipped with GPS technology and a high resolution 15-megapixel camera, and is capable of automatically following you as it films your journey. With a long battery life and obstacle avoiding built-in infra-red technology, it is a ton of fun for people of all ages to play with.

So now that you’ve read through this article, you know exactly what to put on your Birthday/Christmas wish list!

Tagged : Game-Changing Gadgets / KERV / MAGIC CABLE / Onagofly

Pokémon Go – It’s All the Rage! And here’s everything that you need to know about it.

by Shadab DurraniJuly 14, 2016July 14, 2016Featured / GamingLeave a Comment

If you’ve recently been on the internet or even out for a stroll in the park, chances are that you’ve already noticed a game by the name of Pokémon Go taking the world by storm. Since its release, tens and thousands of people around the globe have succumbed to the phenomenon. And if you’re someone to whom the name Pokémon is unheard of, you’ve probably raised an eyebrow or two at the flocks of players (read Pokémon trainers) armed with smartphones rummaging through streets, parks, rivers and national heritage sites in quest of virtual creatures called Pokémon. You might have wondered what the hell is going on, and here’s exactly everything that you need to know!

The Origin Story

Pokémon is a Nintendo franchise that has its genesis in mid-1990’s when Nintendo first published Pokémon Red and Green in Japan. It took off from there and the world of Pokémon and the franchise itself progressively grew through the decades. In the Poke-world, “Trainers” embark on a journey to catch monsters called Pokémon and use them to battle each other. As the franchise suggests, a trainer’s ultimate goal is to become a Pokémon master by catching ‘em all, and there-by defeating Gym leaders and the Elite Four.

What is Pokémon Go?

Every 90’s kid’s dreams turned to reality on July 6th 2016 when Niantic Labs released Pokémon Go – the latest and greatest installment of the Pokémon franchise in form of an augmented reality mobile game. And just days after its official release the application has already exploded in popularity and broken all records with millions of downloads worldwide; in turn adding $9 Billion in value to Nintendo’s stocks. Available for free on the IOS and Android App stores, the game pretty much makes use of the same concept as its predecessors on Nintendo’s handled consoles and the goal still invariably remains to catch ‘em all. However what’s revolutionary is the augmented reality, where trainers interact with real world objects to progress farther into the game.

The game makes use of the phone camera, GPS and clock to mix real world and game-play and present an augmented reality experience like no other. So if you are by the lake, you are more than likely to encounter water-type Pokémon, whereas strolling through parks and fields will lead you to more grass and bug-type Pokémon. Similarly, the dark of the night reveals more ghost and fairy type Pokémon’s that you can locate using your phone camera. Which means that you actually have to get on your feet and go around looking for Pokémon’s and explore the real world. This may explain the flock of entranced millennials and kids that you’ve probably noticed snooping around the neighborhood with their phones. The game also has Gyms and PokeStops often marked by real world locations such as monuments and churches; creating spots for trainers to meet and duel. Gyms are where trainers can battle gym leaders and gain experience. Whereas PokeStops are like digital shops where trainers use real money to buy items and supplies to help them level up in the game and catch rare Pokémons.

Why Is the Game So Massively Popular Today- 20 years from its genesis?

Simply put, the reason behind the Pokemon Go’s sensational popularity is that every 90’s kid with a Nintendo or Pokémon cards had been patiently waiting for this day to come. It taps into their nostalgia and is an embodiment of all the childhood dreams. The game is also free to download which makes it all the more accessible to people of all ages.

What’s Niantic and Google got to do with Pokemon Go?

John Hanke is the mastermind behind the Pokémon Go. He launched Niantic Lab in 2010 as a google funded startup to create game layer on maps. It was in 2014 that Google and Pokémon first partnered with Niantic Lab for an April fool’s Day joke, which allowed Google Maps users to spot Pokémon’s on the map. It was a viral hit and gave John the idea of turning that April fool’s day joke into an actual game someday- Fast-forward 3 years from then and we have the massively popular Pokemon Go breaking all application records left, right and center.
Go Catch ‘em All

Now that you’ve read through this post and have learned everything that there is to know about Pokémon Go, perhaps it’s time you give the app a shot and embark on your own Pokémon journey and travel far and wide, meet new people and become a Pokémon master you never thought you could be.
And always remember, Gotta Catch ‘em All!

Tagged : how to / pokemon go / story

This amazing app lets you stay connected on-the-go with the people you care about

by Shadab DurraniJuly 11, 2016July 12, 2016Apps / Android / iPhoneLeave a Comment

How often do you find yourself in a state of dilemma when signing your child’s permission slip for a school trip or allowing them to spend the night at a friend’s place? May it be your daughter going out at night, a date with your partner, a ski trip or a business meeting, at many times during the day we find ourselves wondering where our loved ones are at the moment? Where today’s world seems to have shrunk; playgrounds have evolved, children have become more independent and are ready to explore their horizons and travel far and wide- a parent’s heart is never at ease. But worry no more, because finally an app is here that promises to keep you and yours connected wherever you are!

What Is Wave?

An answer to all your prayers and available for free on the iOS App Store as well as Android’s Google Play Store, Wave is a location app that allows you to locate your contacts in real-time on a private map for a limited period of time. It is dubbed as the easiest way to locate your friends and family and is a must-have app for everyone who owns a smartphone.

How Does It Work?

What makes Wave a go-to location app is perhaps its remarkable simplicity and ease of use. What you need to get Waving, is a compatible smartphone with enabled location services/GPS and an internet connection. And this is all that you really need to do to set up the Wave app:

Launch the Wave app, pick a contact and request to see each other position for as long as you wish.
Your contact will receive a push notification indicating that you wish to open a wave with them for a particular amount of time.
Once your contact accepts your request, you will be able to see each other on a dynamic, live and private map as your pin on the map follows your movements in real-time.
You can also set a Meeting Point, leave a message on a board, create Group Waves with up to 10 people and chat with every member of active wave.
How many times a day do you look at your wrist? Well that is about to change, because Wave has a full fledged Apple Watch companion App to take your Wave experience to the next level

Who Is It For?

The creators of the app believe that every open Wave brings people together in real life. And joining people always mean the beginning of something new and beautiful. The app can prove to be more than useful at many times during the day. For instance, you can open a wave with your mother when you go out at night, Keep track of your friends on your way to a group hangout or outdoor sports like a hike through the woods, and know where everybody is. You can even set up your client’s addresses as meeting points and check everyone’s on their way, or show you care by opening a wave with your date and letting them know that you’re on your way.

So Wave is for everyone; everyone who owns a smartphone and cares about their loved ones!

What makes Wave so Amazing?

Although the application doesn’t bring anything too phenomenal in term concept, but tucked away under Wave’s seamless and beautiful user interface is a masterwork of software engineering and ingenious Multi-OS optimization that plays in synchrony to present an experience like no other. Moreover, every single push notification and all movement data registered into the Wave app is encrypted and never saved on its servers. Wave seems to have achieved what no other location app could- Simplicity and uncompromised privacy! And this is perhaps what has earned Wave testimonials putting it much ahead of apps like Apple’s Find My Friend and Google Latitude. It has appeared in more than 100 specialized media and has been selected for some of the world’s most renowned technology and creativity summits, including Dublin’s Web Summit and the 4YFN Congress where Wave earned its place as an official Alpha Startup.

So get Wave app right now and show your loved ones that you care!

Tagged : connected / GPS / location app / wave

If Superheroes Designed their own Supercars

by Shadab DurraniJuly 6, 2016July 6, 2016EntertainmentLeave a Comment

2016 is the year of superheroes and we have some great superheroes movies to watch from Marvel and DC. Someone took on Photoshop and set to work on some outstanding concept designs for the modded cars we think should be driven by the world’s most super of heroes.

Iron Man – Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Captain America – Ford Mustang GT350R

Spider-Man – Ferrari 488 Spider

Wolverine – Audi R8

Deadpool – Ford Mondeo/Fusion

The Hulk – Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6

Superman – Bugatti Chiron

Batman – BMW M2

Wonder Woman – Lamborghini Huracán

Aquaman – Toyota Mirai

Tagged : Aquaman / batman / captain america / cars / deadpool / ironman / super / superheroes / Superman / The Hulk / Wolverine / Wonder Woman

Creating Chatbots is as easy as ABC with Massively.ai

by Shadab DurraniJuly 3, 2016July 6, 2016Featured / AppsLeave a Comment

Chatbots are the new black in the tech world. From social-media giants like Facebook to popular messaging apps like KIK, every tech company is head over heels to hop on this raving bandwagon.

But what exactly are Chatbots and why are they all the rage?

Chatbots are simple artificial intelligence systems that one can interact with via texts. The Raison d’êtreis to simulate mano a mano human conversations and interactions with them can range from executing simple tasks like asking the bot to book you an Uber cab, or a more complex one, like having it troubleshoot a problem with your internet connection. According to a TechCrunch article, Chatbots provide “Some advanced type functionality in a fairly easy fashion.” And this is perhaps what makes them so popular; Popular enough to give apps a run for their money and potentially replace many of them in the near future.

Massively.ai takes Chatbots to the next level

Massively.ai is an exceptional bot developer platform which aims to empower anyone to begin developing and instantly deploying chat bot solutions anywhere that messages can be sent and received- SMS, Kik, Wechat, Messenger, Twitter, you name it! The best part is that you don’t have to be a computer coding prodigy or burn a hole in your pocket, to create your own Chatbot. The ready-to-use Massively bot-developing toolkit is open to all users for free and doesn’t require any programming experience to be accessed. It encourages developers to experiment with its resources and let their creativity run wild. And that’s what makes creating bots with Massively.ai fun but as easy as ABC.

What’s Massively’s secret sauce?

One-to-One at Massive Scale, Massively.ai gives its developers the ability to create high-engagement DIY bots for any messaging platform. But the secret sauce to Massively’s commendable success is its robust data analytics program, which uses information collected from user responses and choices to fine tune campaigns and furnish insight to clients. Which is to say that it tracks campaigns, optimizes in a heartbeat and measures growth in real-time.

Give your brand the push it needs with Massively.ai Chatbots!

Chatbots are not only a probable replacement for apps, but also a great way of marketing your brand. From its launch in 2014, Massively.ai has executed many successful campaigns for brands like Insidious Chapter 3, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trails, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Degrassi: Next Class and Indianapolis Colts, amongst others. In the case of Degrassi: Next Class for instance, the Chatbot integrated into Kik messenger allowed the shows young fans to take a Degrassi based personality quiz and get exclusive sneak peeks at the characters and plot points from the show. Furthermore, supporting the launch of Insidious Chapter 3, Massively’s interactive story telling Chatbot reached 16 million interactions and sent some serious chills down Insidious fans’ spines. Inspired by the idea that the fans want to chat with the characters they love, these campaigns created quite a stir and their success is a glistening example of just how interesting and human like interactions with Massively.ai Chatbots can be.

Are bots taking over the world?

Although Chatbots are still in the infancy of their revolution, given the tremendous potential they hold, they are likely to take over the world. May it be promoting emerging businesses, marketing a big movie franchise, ordering pizza, or having a lighthearted conversation with, there’s a Massively.ai bot for everything. So maybe you should give it a shot and become a Massively bot creator, let your creativity run wild and create and deploy your very own Chatbots!

Tagged : ai / build / chatbots / massively

SpaceX Fan Guy Replicate Falcon 9 Landing in a Swimming Pool

by Shadab DurraniJune 29, 2016July 12, 2016Featured / EntertainmentLeave a Comment

A hobbyist built a tiny working model of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and successfully land it in a swimming pool. The “rocket” is built around a stripped down Blade Inductrix 200, using a variety of model rocket and custom parts. The legs deploy in flight, and got a removable “Flame” that can be attached.

SpaceX Twitter account acknowledged his work and we hope Elon Musk will invite him on the next launch.

Tagged : Falcon 9 Landing / spacex / SpaceX Fan Guy / Swimming Pool / Twitter

Easy to use Screen, Microphone and Camera Recording Chrome Extension

by Shadab DurraniJune 27, 2016June 27, 2016Web Applications1 Comment

Screen recording tools are often cluttery, limited in functionality and a nightmare to set-up. With several plugins to install and software to download, recording a quick ten minute tutorial can take up several hours and seem no less than rocket science. And even though the potential is endless, most product managers fret at the very thought of dealing with the hassles of screen-recording. However, the good news is that there are some emerging alternatives that aim to put a fresh spin on this rather interesting aspect of the digital experience and make screen recording a piece of cake!

Available for Google Chrome, Openvid is one such game changing extension for seamless Screen, Microphone and Camera Recording. The stand-alone, easy to install extension not only declutters the whole process of screen-recording but also adds a ton of functionality to it. Unlike conventional screen-recording solutions, Openvid allows users to record audios well as front-facing camera video; whilst simultaneously recording the screen. It also gives its users the flexibility to record and store unlimited video. It then instantly produces a URL for sharing or downloading the video in HD. This opens door to a horizon of new possibilities and makes Openvid a one-stop solution for all screen-recording needs.

Where everything so far seems really lucrative, there comes the question that who exactly is Openvid really for? The answer is everyone. And by everyone, we literally mean everyone! For instance, Picture yourself on call with your grandma; trying to teach her how to set-up a Facebook account. Wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier to just send her an interactive video tutorial of the whole process, instead of repeatedly explaining her the difference between sign-up and sign-in?

One extension to rule them all

Creators of Openvid, especially believe it to be quite a resource for people who own emerging businesses. For example, it gives Product Managers around the world the ability to create quick product tutorials, evangelize new product features, capture competitor’s experiences and create contextual analytics reviews with the click of a single button. It also enables UI and UX designers to share unambiguous feedback or inspiration with clients, colleagues or QA at every step of the product life cycle. The minds behind Openvid, strongly believe that it can help people in business close deals faster by showing off the benefits, products, and features that matter the most to each individual perspective client. Furthermore the extension can also prove to be the quickest and most precise way to answer questions on customer support. It makes the answers more personable by adding your smile to the video.

Openvid is a promising product that seems to bring functionality, flexibility and ease of use to the concept of screen-recording and completely revolutionizes it. From common-folk to business owners, it is there-fore a must have for pretty much anyone who sits behind a computer-screen.

Tagged : Camera Recording Chrome Extension / chrome extension / handy / Screen recording / sound recording

Discover places to explore and learn about your destination with this iPhone app

by Shadab DurraniJune 25, 2016June 26, 2016Apps / iPhoneLeave a Comment

Summer is a great time of the year to pack your bags and set off on an adventure; explore new parts of the world, meet new people and go to places you’ve never been to before. But where the benefits are umpteen, traveling can at times seem rather overwhelming. We often find ourselves enthusiastically flipping through the pages of a tourism magazine only to shrug at the very thought of the hassles of planning a travel. However, contrary to popular belief, traveling has never been easier. And given the advent of the digital age and the plethora of mobile travel guide applications available, planning a trip today accounts for little more than a press of a button!

Available in the IOS App Store for a competitive price-tag of $0.99, Modern Atlas is one such application that brings trip planning within the palm of your hand. The application features travel guides and maps to over 21,000 cities and has information on more than 1.5 million landmarks and hidden gems. The guides are written by independent travelers from Wikivoyage and Wikitravel and thus provide you with recommendations for the best places to see, eat, and sleep while on your trip.

When it comes to visual interface, Modern Atlas offers a clean and minimalist aesthetic that seamlessly fuses with the overall IOS design. The user interface is well organized and easy to maneuver through, as various businesses and spots of interest at your destination appear colour-coded and the Avenir typeface makes text legible and easy to read. The application also features subtle animations that make the user experience more interactive; as one moves from one part of the app to another. Furthermore, the application also puts great emphasis on visuals, and exhibits beautiful snaps of selected destinations that are photographed by actual travelers. This gives the users a taste of what they are likely to experience in their travel and inspires them to pursue their travel dreams. And even if you aren’t traveling anytime soon, it’s always nice to learn about different places around the world, and if you like what you see, it’s never too late to add a destination to your bucket-list!

When launched, Modern Atlas welcomes the users with a few introductory screens that acquaint them with the application’s features and walks them through the process of getting started with the first map guide. Which is as easy as typing a city or a landmark in the search bar. Once a point of interest is selected, Modern Atlas, then takes you to that spot using Apple maps, which are well integrated with the application and the whole process is rather seamless. Modern Atlas quickly pulls up all relevant data from sources like Wikivoyage and Wikitravel, and as spots on the map start to populate, you can access pop-up detail boxes with a single touch and read up about the spot. And if you like the spot, you can quickly save it by tapping on the ‘star’ icon. The map also allows users to use multi-touch gestures for ease of access and enable 3D Flyover mode to take a virtual tour of the destination. Modern Atlas’ functionality, allow it to not only be used to find out about the destination before visiting it, but it can also prove to be very handy at the moment. Either way, the application provides a lot of information, including how to get to a particular spot, to its historical significance and tips on how to make the stay safe and comfortable.

They say that the world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page. And now that you have the world within the palm of your hands, now is a better time than ever to fire up Modern Atlas, pick a destination and pack your bags for an adventure of a life-time.

Tagged : destination / iphone / location / travel