With technology featuring in almost every corner of our lives, from making our love lives easier to getting takeouts, our smartphones are always there to help guide us our decision-making.
If you’ve ever been out on the road and found that your phone battery was on red and quickly dwindling in its charge, you’ll no doubt be aware of how panic-inducing it can be when you don’t have a charger available in the car.
If you’ve got a decent SatNav, GPS or othe system, great, but the truth is many of us rely on our smartphone devices to get us where we need to go.
If worst comes to worst, you might find yourself hopping into the local dairy or gas station to ask for directions (and hopefully pick up a charger!). After a few discerning looks from the local attendant, you’ll hopefully be on your way.
But the truth is that whether we like it or not, our phones have morphed into more than just a way to connect. So much more. Now they’re like an extension of our nervous system, keeping us calm and reassured when we need to.
Gone are the days when the best thing on your phone was a game of Snake, we’re now in the digital age where our phones can provide entertainment, GPS directions, and so much more. So, with this spirit, we thought we’d cover off our favourite driving apps.
Also, just going to be cheeky here and say that while we don’t have an app (yet!) the My Auto Shop is hands down the easiest way to get any headaches sorted, wherever you are. With a mobile-friendly page, we’re first-choice to get the best priced service at a time and place that works for you.
However, without further ado. Here are our Top 5 favourite apps to use on the road.
Google Maps / Apple Maps
Stating the obvious, but it’s a rare occasion that we’re not using one of these apps in our car, even if its on the daily commute. It just gives you that bit of assurance that you’re on track and (generally) on the fastest route. It takes mental work out of your drive and gives you a heads up on any traffic congestion in real time.
GASPY
New Zealand’s original fuel finding app that tells you where the cheapest fuel is in your area. It’s a set up and run by like minded Kiwi’s and helps you locate and share the best petrol & diesel prices in the country, through user submissions. Super handy when you’re outside of your local area!
ParkMate
ParkMate is another handy app to have on your phone. With over 400 parking sites around the country, you just plug in a search and away you go. It also lets you sort your parking payment in many cases. Woohoo, contactless!
Spotify
Oh man, I am so addicted to Spotify! It got even more intense when they started to load up audiobooks onto their platform. Spotify is New Zealand’s most popular streaming service. You can listen to playlists tailored to your tastes, or just go random. Some cars allow you to hook up Spotify straight to your dashboard, but if you’re not quite so lucky, an auxiliary cable or bluetooth will do the trick.
BookMe
This is a pretty sweet app to have on your phone if you’re out and about. BookMe is all about giving you the lowdown on local dining and activities, and it’s riddled with crazy discounts that are sure to have you maximising the fun without blowing the budget. Seriously worth checking out!
So, what’s the key lesson here? It might not be too obvious, so we’ll spell it out. If you’re heading out in the car, don’t leave home without a USB phone charger. That way, you’re all set for whatever comes your way, wherever you find yourself!