What are the best Apps?

[Randu]

Just dumped the talk only phone and now can become smart. I'm amazed what this Note 4 is capable of doing but have a lot to learn to use it.

I got a few basic apps like Gas Buddy, Road Ninja, Facebook, and e-mail. So many apps and hard to understand what may be of the most use.
Bring on your recommendation's of what I need. Randu

[5er4ever]

Torque Pro app. Works on Cars / Trucks that are OBDII compliant (all vehicle's after 1996).

An app that works with a device (ELM327 V2.1 Super Mini Bluetooth).

Purchased device from China ($4.80 or $7.54 after shipping to my mailbox). I use a pre-paid MasterCard - for these things.

I wanted Bluetooth to use on my extra 'Samsung tablet'.

The supplier site says it works best with Android 'Torque Pro' app.
I purchased a legal version from Google-play store that gets it directly from Torque for about $5 (I do not trust CD's from China).

What happened:

1) Plugged it into truck.
2) Fired up tablet 'Torque' & paired it to device.
3) Worked great!

Drove around 30 or so miles and all seems just fine.

Spent about 2 hours learning how it works (the app) and created a few screens that look ok. Spent an hour or so on the net finding many other apps that also work ok with it.

Some personal designs are looking good in their ride.
For now I just pull out the tablet and check things hand-draulicly.
I have used it to reset engine fault codes on about 7 different cars and trucks in demos I have done....:)

I have configured the software for separate profiles to handle my two cars and truck. The software even permits external pid's for those car-buffs in the technical know area.

As an example. My truck has a pesky P0305 pop up now and then so I have the Torque app trained to speak to me (voice) when it happens then resets the engine code and moves on. It speaks to me and tells me when the truck has reached normal operating temp's.
I plugged in the price of gas, Imp gallons and a real-time display tells me my 'cost per mile'. :S

Day one summary.

a) Beats my old $145 scan tool hands down.

b) Has all the data available that a (less than $500) cheap unit has. Complete with app-like interfaces, charts, digital standard conversions, etc.

Many links and forums and the users have a lot of info that I will reference.

I know now that after six months of use that I got my $12.54 investment hardware & software.

Here are a few links that describe uses, looks and functionality:

Forum of Torque users

A review of Torque - one of hundreds out there

I too like to read about recent apps and enjoy reading other peoples opinions on them. Got a few new apps to test (from the above posts) keep them coming in!

[Pirate1]

The only app I'm interested in hasn't been developed yet - a good app for RVparkreviews.com. I hope they come up with a good app like RV parky with the data base of campgrounds and reviews of rvparkreviews.

[jrobert88]

Here are the ones I use:

• Yelp
• RoadTrippers
• AllStays
• GasBuddy
• Yahoo Weather

A few new ones that look interesting:

• www.campstake.com
• www.roverpass.com
• www.gociety.com

The Waze app is also interesting - it let's people report accidents, dangerous road conditions, traffic, police, etc. But Google just bought them last year so it's starting to show up in Google Maps as well.

Joining various Facebook groups is also a great way to connect with people quickly about either certain areas/states/regions or certain topics like RVing or camping. I typically get some pretty quick responses back for questions like "I'm gonna be in this area for X amount of days, what should I do?".

[vermilye]

Some other apps I regularly use that haven't been listed:

The Photographer's Ephemeris - While designed for the photographer, it is useful if you want to position your RV with regards to the sun or moon (for the view, solar, etc) For any location and date it shows where and when the sun and moon will rise & set.

AccuWeather - Similar to Weather Underground

CardStar - copies your store discount cards so you don't have to carry them - they can be scanned from the phone.

Night Sky - A Star map

SPLnFFT - A sound pressure meter

Public Radio - links to most public radio stations

Pandora - on-line music

MotionX-GPS - A good hand held GPS app for hiking

iBird Plus - While expensive, this app is the equivalent of a good bird id book, complete with the sounds of each bird.

Clinometer - This is the leveling app I use the most.

All these are iOS apps, although most of them are also available for Android.

[Randu]

Looks like I have lots of checking out to do. I would not have even looked for satellite or bubble level apps. I figured that Good Sam/Woodall's would have campgrounds but it appears that the other 2 mentioned could be better choices. Great suggestions for me to get started with. Thanks, Randu

[global2]

I agree with Jon Vermilye. Those 3 apps are my sources 99 percent of the time.

[vermilye]

naturist wrote:
If you want an app for finding campgrounds, you need both Allstays and RV Parky. Between the two, you get all you really need to know about the campground. Neither alone is sufficient.

Another very useful app, particularly for those looking for non commercial campgrounds is the Ultimate Public Campground app. Available for iOS, Android, and as a POI list for your GPS. I have many campground apps, and find I use this and Allstay's Camp & RV most of the time.

[naturist]

If you want an app for finding campgrounds, you need both Allstays and RV Parky. Between the two, you get all you really need to know about the campground. Neither alone is sufficient.

[global2]

My latest fav is a bubble level app. There are several on the Android side so probably on Apple too. Makes level checking real easy without trying to see the small levels on the rig or dragging along a carpenter's level. My app does horizontal, vertical and a cool 360 level. Once I get front/back, side/side level, I lay the phone on our table and check overall level with the 360. Big bright screens, easy to use.

[brirene]

In addition to RVparky, gasbuddy, and satelliteAR, I use compass level everytime I set up my dish antenna.

[Ed_Gee]

With little doubt in my opinion the best single app for RVers is ALLSTAYS Camp & RV.

[Executive45]

Here's a few:

RV Parky
Gas Buddy
WeatherBug
Hurricane Software
My Pilot
Satellite AR
Eset Security
Lookout
FireFox

[IAMICHABOD]

A great list that others have.I have a few others on my RV page.

RV PARKY

GOOGLE EARTH

TV ANTENNA HELPER

[Big_Katuna]

We like finding great local restaurants. We use Urbanspoon often.
I second DISHPOINTER.