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Despite the fact that many technologically-challenged people go through a bit of a struggle while using GPS, there are, in fact, many applications that have made that process a whole lot easier. In todayas article, weall be touching upon some of the best GPS-based apps that are out there for Android. These apps will not only help you use GPS, but will also let you get the most out of your phone and discover new places.

Waze is a social GPS application that helps you navigate to your destination and also connects you to other drivers. Once installed, the free app lets you lookup real time traffic information and road reports. Furthermore, you get notifications about upcoming police traps, speed cams, and occasional road hazards. The app is well designed, and the GPS integration is good enough to be used as your main navigation tool. In fact, the app also features voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions, so that you wonat get lost in the traffic.

One of the most important, and slightly controversial features of the app is the ability to create or join local driving groups and the ability to carpool with them. Some users might find this helpful, and some of them might find it a bit privacy-invasive. However, overall, the app is great for anyone who travels a lot and is looking to improve his or her overall transportation experience, so it’s like one of those handy Android travel apps.

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Known as the Swiss-army knife of GPS navigation, GPS Essentials is a free tool that lets you navigate, manage waypoints, and much more. The app lets you view data like altitude, declination, climb, sunrise, moon phase and more. Moreover, you can use it as a compass to show the earthas magnetic field and also as a marine orientation device. The app is composed of widgets, all of which you can drag and drop to your custom adashboarda. GPS Essentials can also be handy in long journeys, wherein you could send waypoints to your lost friends via email or share with them using Dropbox (KML or GPX format).

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Google Maps is perhaps the best GPS application out there for Android. Simple, feature-loaded, and stable, the Google-made app turns your phone into a full-fledged GPS device. From detailed maps with 3D buildings to real photos of streets, Google Maps is the perfect app for your every navigation needs. It also comes with a voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation system, which, complimented by the live traffic information, takes you to your destination without having to stop by and ask random strangers for directions.

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Sygic is a voice-guided navigation app that displays 3D cities and landscape along with spoken street names. With Dynamic Lane Guidance and Signposts, the app comes with features that most of the other navigation apps donat offer. You can search for any street, city, or suburb along with looking for maps of most of the major countries that are loaded in the app. Other features include stopwatch, Facebook and Twitter integration, pedestrian navigation, and much more.

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Though free to download from the Google Play Store, you have to pay for the app after the 7-day trial period. So, if you are looking for a simple GPS-enhancing application, we will not recommend Sygic; however, if you are in need of a full-fledged, dedicated GPS navigator, this is the perfect choice for you. Sygic has been rated 4 out of 5 stars in the marketplace and has gotten quite a lot of nice reviews.

These days, all the things you need for your journey are packed neatly into your tiny smartphone, thus fitting a whole bag full of accessories right in your pocket. Furthermore, there are a variety of applications that help us take care of the smallest of hassles we encounter in our voyage. Today, weall take a look at five handy apps that makes an Android smartphone or tablet a perfect companion for travelers.

TripAdvisor is a free app for Android that allows you to browse through over 50 million reviews and opinions by travelers about the best places to eat, sleep, and visit. The intuitive app helps you find hotels, restaurants, attractions, and more with tight map integration. Moreover, you can also find out more about places by browsing through thousands of photos uploaded by other TripAdvisor users. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, the app is freely available for download from the Play Store.

Co-founded by Reddit co-creator Steve Huffman in 2010, Hipmunk helps you find the best hotels and flights for your trip. Competing directly with Googleas flight search service, the free app shows you the cheapest and the most hassle-free flight. So, for example, youare flying from New York to Seattle, not only will Hipmunk find you the cheapest deal, it will also take into consideration factors like travel time, number of stops, and more, so that your journey is as comfortable as possible.

Furthermore when it comes to finding hotels, Hipmunk shows you a nice map of all the best ones around your area. Above each hotelas marker, youall find the pricing, rating, and a small picture of it. If youare more meticulous about the hotels you choose, you could also browse pictures of the rooms right from the app. Overall, Hipmunk is undoubtedly the best and the most useful travel app in this list.

KAYAK lets you compare hotels, rental cars, and flights right from your Android device. Once installed, the free app lets you track your flight status, look up baggage fees, manage itinerary, access airline numbers and more. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, KAYAK is freely available for download from the Google Play Store.

Hotel Tonight will help you find great deals on hotels while planning your next big trip. Limited to U.S cities only, this free app can save you up to 70% on hotel bookings. Hotel Tonight is especially made for frequent travelers who are forced to book hotels at the last minute. Once installed, the app will make sure that youare not stranded on the airport after your delayed flight.

Expedia Hotels is a free app that helps you book from over 130,000 hotel rooms without picking up the phone. Optimized for tablets, the app shows all available hotels in your vicinity on a nice map and then lets you book from any of them. You can then narrow down to the ones you need by using filters based on price, distance, hotel name, and traveler rating. If youare on the fence about the booking, you can browse through reviews of millions of other Expedia users, thus making the process quite transparent. Finally, when youare ready to book, you can securely reserve your room without having to worry about security issues. Rated 4 out of 5 stars, Expedia Hotels is freely available for download from the Play Store.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.