The App Store has assisted in the rise of location-based services, and now Google is entering the fray with its new app – Google Places.
The app itself is a type of directory, allowing you to find restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels and even petrol stations within your vicinity.
Once you search for a particular location, a list comes up allowing you to pick one. A new screen will come up after clicking on a location, providing you with a number of reviews aggregated from different travel and review sites.
From that page, you can get directions, search for new information and visit the home page of whatever location you’re viewing. You can also rate different locations, ensuring the app tailors future recommendations for you.
If you’re out and about on the road a lot, this is a must-have free app.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
