51 Best (And 2 WTF) New Android Apps And Live Wallpapers From The Last 2 Weeks (9/15/12 - 10/4/12)
- Featured App
- SMS, my Car and Me
- Apps
- Field Trip by Google
- Maluuba: Your Siri alternative
- Chameleon Launcher for Tablets
- Calculator
- Conjure
- Sky Motion
- CallApp Social Dialer CallerID
- Triggertrap
- BBC Media Player
- BBC Good Food - Recipes
- Wi-Fi Now by U.S.Cellular
- Bloomberg Radio+
- Earthquake -American Red Cross
- Xero
- Sierra Trading Post
- Amtrak
- 2Checkout Mobile
- TomTom Navigation
- zeebox
- NFLRUSH Fantasy Football
- Google Play services
- Scout by Telenav
- Live Wallpapers
- WTF App(s) Of The Week
- Know A Worthy New App? Let Us Know!
- Comments (11)
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.
This is the app roundup. The game roundup from this week can be found here.
Featured App
SMS, my Car and Me
Today's roundup is sponsored by SMS, My Car and Me, a safety-focused app from Marc Ole Bulling. It's designed to make accessing communications (texts, emails, instant messages, et cetera) while in your car without putting yourself or other drivers in danger. IT automatically launches when you connect to a Bluetooth car stereo system, or start Navigation or Car Home, then reads out any incoming alerts using Text To Speech. You don't even have to touch your phone - the safest way to use it in the car.
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Reads out SMS, K9/Kaiten Emails, Facebook, WhatsApp*, GTalk and KakaoTalk. Google Voice coming very soon.
***Money-Back Guarantee: If you are not satisfied with the app, we will issue a refund***
Key features
You don't have to activate it, simply start Google Navigation/Car Home, connect to a Bluetooth device or plugin your headset
Tasker/Locale support through plugin
Use any language for the TTS (text-to-speech).
Ability to detect 23 different languages
Bluetooth (Mono and Stereo) Headset support
Reading out Caller ID (no mono Bluetooth support)
Voice Commands for easy calling and writing back (online and offline, Bluetooth support.) Does only apply to SMS.
Calls can automatically be answered
Calls can automatically be send to the phone's speakers.
Auto reply with SMS
Widget to activate/deactivate the app with one touch
Text replacement
And many other features
Apps
Field Trip by Google
Android Police coverage: Google Wants To Take You On A Field Trip With Its Newest Location-Aware Exploration App
Google's Field Trip is an odd one: think of it as a contextual version of Places, which finds and presents information about cool stuff around you, with extras from various in-the-know websites. You can specify via your interests, or just browse freely. The really odd thing? It's gorgeous. Google's apps are usually pretty Spartan in the visual department, and this is the single exception so far. It's got a scrapbook look to it, even while conforming to Holo standards. Field Trip is the first (but hopefully not the last) project from Google's mysterious Niantic Labs.
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Field Trip is your guide to the cool, hidden, and unique things in the world around you. Field Trip runs in the background on your phone. When you get close to something interesting, it pops up a card with details about the location. No click is required. If you have a headset or bluetooth connected, it can even read the info to you. Field Trip can help you learn about everything from local history to the latest and best places to shop, eat, and have fun. You select the local feeds you like and the information pops up on your phone automatically, as you walk next to those places. The hyperlocal history experts of Arcadia will unveil local lore in places you never expected. Trend-setting publications like Thrillist, Food Network, Zagat, and Eater will point out the best places to eat and drink. Experts at Sunset, Cool Hunting, WeHeart, Inhabitat, and Remodelista will guide you to the latest unique stores and products. Atlas Obscura and Daily Secret help you uncover hidden gems no matter where you are. Songkick and Flavorpill guide you to local music.
Maluuba: Your Siri alternative
Android Police coverage: [Hands-On] Maluuba Is A Google Now Replacement You Might Actually Want To Use
Since the advent of Siri and Google Now, there have been a lot of pretenders to the throne - I literally cannot remember how many Siri clones we've passed over for coverage on Android Police. But Maluuba might be worth your attention, once you get past the vowel-warping name: it takes the idea of a voice-powered digital assistant and goes above and beyond its competitors. Tasks are integrated with Google Calendar, Facebook, Twitter, and more dynamic content like local listings and events. And for those who dig the Windows Phone style, the UI should be interesting.
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The next generation of voice enabled personal assistant apps to challenge Siri and Vlingo. The Maluuba "do engine" helps you search for local businesses, organize your calendar, alarms and reminders, and share great concerts and movies with your friends. Tired of chatty, limited personal assistants? Download Maluuba now to see how our do engine surpasses a personal assistant in making your life easier. Through Maluuba, you can connect to services like Wolfram Alpha, Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Eventful, Foursquare, Google Calendar and Youtube.
Chameleon Launcher for Tablets
Android Police coverage: Chameleon Launcher Leaves Beta Status, v1 Is Now In The Play Store
We've covered the blazes out of Chameleon Launcher, and if you didn't get in on the Kickstarter project, now's your chance to buy the first official version. It's a hefty $10, so be sure to check out our previous coverage before pulling the trigger (and remember that you can only use widgets created with Chameleon's API, relatively limited in selection at the moment).
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Chameleon is a revolutionary tablet-specific launcher that lets you create multiple home screens, each with your own layout of widgets and apps. The Chameleon system includes an innovative context based home screen system giving you the most relevant information that you want, when you want it. Your information needs may change throughout your day, so Chameleon includes an innovative context system. You can create context rules based on GPS locations, WiFi networks and time ranges, allowing you to define which Home Screen is the most relevant for any situation. Chameleon doesn't just let you customize your Home Screens with the widgets you want. It also lets you customize your own mini App Tray. Giving you the apps you want up front, without having to swim through a large grid of apps.
Calculator
Android Police coverage: Modified Calculator App With Advanced Options Released To The Play Store, Will Become The New Default In CM10
After getting down and dirty with the AOSP music app, the CyanogenMod team is taking their modding skills to the calculator. The modified calculator app is now default in nightly CM builds, but you can download it now from the Google Play Store for free. Slide the number pad to the left or right to access advanced settings, like an expressional graphing calculator and scientific features. It's not the most powerful calculator out there, but it should get you through Chemistry 401, and it's light enough to integrate easily with the rest of Android.
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The default CyanogenMod calculator. A very simple calculator that tries to make graphing and matrix math as simple as adding or multiplying two numbers. Slide left and right to access more panels. It requires v4.0+ (Ice cream Sandwich or Jellybean). This version is slightly ahead of the nightly version because of the time it takes to review and merge changes.
Features:
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. Really, if I broke this I'm sure you guys would find a way to give me negative stars.
- Advanced functions like log, sin, cos and irrational numbers like pi and e.
- Calculate complex numbers.
- Graph X,Y functions.
- Matrix addition, multiplication, determinants, and eigen values.
- Hexadecimal, Binary support
- Displays history by pulling down from the top (long press to copy)
- Hide the pages you don't need
- Tablet and Smartphone supported
- Completely open source. Download the source code at https://github.com/Xlythe/android_packages_apps_Calculator/tree/ics
Conjure
Android Police coverage: [New App] Conjure Is Probably The Smartest Launcher Companion We've Seen For Android
Halfway between search replacement and hyper-utility, Conjure is a lot like Spotlight, Quicksilver or Windows' built-in search for desktops. Only better. You can do the standard search for files, apps, contacts, et cetera, but there's also a ton of extras. Things like device rotation and alarm volume, stuff you'd usually have to dig through a menu for, are right there. You can adjust most of the switches and sliders even without leaving the app.
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Conjure is the fastest, smartest launcher for Android. Use it to open apps, make calls, toggle wifi, adjust volume, and much more. Search results are prioritized according to use so your favorite apps and contacts are always a keystroke away. Start typing and watch the magic happen.
Features:
- Find and launch apps
- Find and call contacts
- Adjust Android's volume
- Toggle wifi, bluetooth, airplane mode, silent mode, and vibrate mode
- Make your device speak using text to speech
- Search the web
- Conjure results are prioritized by frequency of use
- Devices with a search button: Long pressing the search button opens Conjure
- Optimized for phones and tablets
Sky Motion
Android Police coverage: [New App] Sky Motion Arrives On Android With Down To The Minute Weather Forecasts In US And Canada
You're a professional. Precision is your watchword. You need to know if it's raining in Muncie, Indiana, right now. And four minutes from now. And eight minutes after that. SkyMotion is for you: an obsessively precise weather service, integrated with GPS and maps. It's ultra-precise for up to two hours into the future and any ZIP code you'd care to name.
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SkyMotion lets you know exactly when precipitation will start and end for your exact location. Plan the next 2 hours with precise knowledge of how precipitation will impact you, your family or your business. Enter your ZIP code or use the GPS to find out the weather in an astonishing 16,000,000 zones across the contignuous United States and southern Canada. Find out exactly when precipitation will start and end, down to the minute, for your exact location.
CallApp Social Dialer CallerID
Android Police coverage: After Several-Month Absence, CallApp Makes Its Way Back To The Play Store With New Features In Tow
CallApp, the powerful combination of custom dialer and caller ID, has been the center of a minor controversy in both the Android and privacy-security circles. After being voluntarily pulled from the Play Store for several months, it's now back with an updated version. There are new features, like a local search function, but to install the new version you'll have to remove the old... and all your stored CallApp data with it.
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CallApp connects your phone to a super-smart Universal Contact Book that gets smarter every day.
CallApp provides you with the most relevant info you need about nearly anyone you communicate with, including:
SOCIAL INFO - Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, and Foursquare.
PERSONAL INFO - Name, Photo, Birthday, SMS, last Email, Google Search etc.
BUSINESS INFO - Reviews, Menu, Reservation, Street View, Yelp, Map etc.
Triggertrap
Android Police coverage: [New App] TriggerTrap Offers Android Users Remote DSLR Controls For Nearly 300 Camera Models
Remote camera control is dead useful for DSLR users, even if you're more on the consumer side of the equation. TriggerTrap brings the function to your Android function (via a proprietary adapter) with remote control of all basic functions, plus some pre-baked functions like auto-time lapse and high dynamic range. The user interface looks like it's designed to emulate modern DSLRs. You need to buy the hardware, plus the $5 app.
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Trigger your SLR camera* with your Android device, using eight different triggering modes. You can trigger using:
Timelapse
TimeWarp (timelapses with acceleration.)
DistanceLapse (take a photo every 30 m)
Long-Exposure HDR**
Long-Exposure HDR Timelapse
Star Trail mode
Bulb Ramping Timelapse mode
Cable Release (press to take a photo) which also supports Long-exposure shots (exposures of up to 24 hours.)
BBC Media Player
Android Police coverage: BBC Launches BBC Media Player, Lets UK Android Users Go Flashless With iPlayer Content
Adobe ruffled a lot of feathers when it unceremoniously dropped Flash support for Android, and not just among end users. Content providers had to shift their strategy as well. The BBC has updated their iPlayer service with a new Android component, the BBC Media Player, which allows Android users without Flash to access all The Beeb's UK content. Yanks (and everyone else who doesn't know what a lorry is) need not apply.
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BBC Media Player works with other BBC websites and applications to provide video and audio playback on your Android phone. We're just rolling it out now to the BBC iPlayer website. Other applications and websites will follow. Once you have downloaded this application, continue to browse the BBC iPlayer website on your Android device as normal. When you play any video or audio the BBC Media Player will launch and handle playback of the content. We've worked hard to integrate it as much as possible with the website, so don't worry if you don't notice this happening.
BBC Good Food - Recipes
Android Police coverage: BBC Releases Good Food Recipe App For Android, Packs Hundreds Of Detailed Recipes - All Free For A Limited Time
This is a weird one: the British Broadcasting Company wants to give you a bunch of recipes. And for the time being, they're free - after an undetermined amount of time, they'll switch to 1.49 a pop. Get them while you can... and get your screen captures ready.
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Whether youre looking for weekday inspiration, trying to cook the perfect steak or attempting your own homemade ice cream, get cooking with the new BBC Good Food - Recipes, tips and cooking tools app. This app lets you buy and store all the existing BBC Good Food cookbook apps, and organise your favourite recipes and shopping lists in one place. The app is free to download, and comes with 20 of our favourite recipes, like, Beef & beer pie, Summer vegetable curry and Chocolate & raspberry pots. It also includes tools like our simple-to-use roast timer, handy weight converters, and a basic glossary of ingredients and techniques, to get you started. All recipes and tools found in the app are available offline. The recipes include nutritional information on kcals, protein, carbs, fat, saturated fat, fibre, sugar and salt per serving.
Wi-Fi Now by U.S.Cellular
Android Police coverage: US Cellular Releases 'Wi-Fi Now' App, Automatically Connects Applicable Devices To Quality Wi-Fi Networks To Save On Mobile Bandwidth
Sadly, US Cellular customers cannot frolic in the unspoiled highlands of unlimited data. While other, likewise limited carriers perform passive-aggressive acts of digital limitation like "stealth" always-on Wi-Fi, US Cellular has gotten a little more proactive with the Wi-Fi Now app. It automatically connects any US Cellular device to access points which are part of the partner network... so you can use data as it's meant to be used.
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A free service for U.S. Cellular customers to manage data usage and save money. Welcome to the Wi-Fi Now application from U.S. Cellular . This is a free service that gives you access to the worlds largest Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi Now automatically connects your device to Wi-Fi and helps you save on mobile data usage. Once set-up, Wi-Fi Now operates in the background to automatically connect to partner Wi-Fi hotspots. WiFi hotspots are tested for functionality and quality service. Wi-Fi Now makes connecting to Wi-Fi network convenient and easy.
Bloomberg Radio+
Android Police coverage: Bloomberg Radio+ App Launches With Access To Live Finance Radio Talk 24 Hours A Day
If you're a big fan of Bloomberg's financial coverage, you need this app. Bloomberg Radio+ grants free access to the iconic financial coverage in streaming audio... for free. Sure, the interface is a little choppy and it isn't exactly integrated with Android like most premium music apps, but we're talking about free, 24/7 live coverage here. Best of all, you can save shows locally for listening on that all-nighter to Tokyo.
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24/7 Access to the Smartest Names in Finance & Economics. Listen to in-depth interviews and insightful analysis from the most influential names in Finance, Business, Economics & Investment. Bloomberg Radio is the 1 radio station in Manhattan with guests from around the world.
Features:
- Bloomberg Radio live 24-hours a day
- Bloomberg shows and interviews available on demand
- Offline listening. Save/download shows and interviews
- Latest market data on companies
- Charts as they are referenced during a show or interview
- Bios of guests
- Customizable scrolling ticker
Earthquake -American Red Cross
Android Police coverage: American Red Cross Releases Yet Another App - This One's All About Earthquakes
West Coast residents, take note: the ground is not as solid as you think. To deal with California's least enjoyable native tradition, The Red Cross has released a new readiness app. Notifications of incoming quakes, a to-do list for emergencies, and a catch-all "I'm Safe" message for your social networks are just a few of the features included.
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Be ready for an earthquake with Earthquake by American Red Cross. Get notified when an earthquake occurs, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out a must have for anyone who lives in an earthquake-prone area or has loved ones who do.
FEATURES:
Step-by-step instructions let you know what to do even before/during/after an earthquake, even if no data connectivity.
Get notified when an earthquake occurs; see the intensity impact to your area or those of loved-ones with notifications generated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Let family and friends know you are okay with the customizable Im Safe alert for Facebook, Twitter, email and text.
Xero
Android Police coverage: Xero Officially Comes To Android, Brings 'Beautiful Accounting Software' To Your Mobile.
"Aesthetically pleasing" and "accounting software" are not terms that are usually used in the same sentence. But it might just be applicable here: Xero organizes your accounts into separate sections and lets you input expenses and other information. Best of all, it's slick UI integrates with Holo while still being utilitarian. Data is saved - and encrypted - online.
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Beautiful accounting software. Run your business from your Android device. Track your finances and easily manage your cashflow: check bank balances, invoice customers, upload receipts, submit expense claims all while youre on the go.
View all your accounts on your Android device bank accounts, credit cards and PayPal balances, outstanding invoices, expense claims and all your contacts.
Create, approve and send invoices directly from your phone.
Upload receipts by taking a photo and do your expenses on the spot.
Find contacts, call customers and suppliers, view them on a map, and quickly save your notes.
Multi-currency support for foreign exchange transactions.
Integrates with payroll, CRM, inventory management systems, e-commerce and other popular apps including Freshbooks, 37 Signals Highrise, Salesforce, PayPal, Shopify, Zen Cart and Magento
Save a 4-digit PIN code to login quickly.
Sierra Trading Post
Android Police coverage: Sierra Trading Post App Lands In The Play Store, Makes It Even Harder To Keep Money In The Bank
If you're the outdoorsy type, you probably know about Sierra Trading Post: the online equivalent of Cabela's or Academy Sports. After too long a wait, the store has finally got its own Android app, complete with listings and the ability to buy all the stuff you (don't) need without opening a browser.
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A clean, streamlined interface has made this app THE fastest and most convenient way to shop Sierra Trading Post from your Android phone or tablet and Save 35-70% Every Day. Enjoy app-exclusive deals and free shipping, plus use the special coupons youve come to know and love. In the closeouts business, products sell out quickly, but with the app, you can shop the NEWEST items in a single tap as soon as they arrive. Filter by color, size, review, price and so much more. With the one-page, infinite-scrolling product lists, youll be able to view even more styles at one time. Every item includes enhanced product shots, customer reviews, similar item suggestions and full product descriptions.
Amtrak
Android Police coverage: [New App] Amtrak Gives Passengers 'A New Way To Take The Train' With Official App
Amtrak might be just a little behind the times with a travel companion app, but it looks like they've done their homework. The new branded app includes all the bells and whistles: schedules, status updates for active trains, a listing of stations, and links to your personal account. Integration with Android's calendar is a nice touch, and you can even display your ticket to board on your phone.
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Experience a new way to take the train with Amtrak. Get simple and intuitive access to all the travel information you need, book your trip on the go, and stay up-to-date as trains arrive. Do it all without the hassle of your laptop, making calls or extra trips to the office. With the Amtrak mobile application you can:
Plan and book travel throughout Amtraks nationwide system of trains and buses
Check the arrival and departure status of trains
Display your eTicket from right in the app. Leave paper behind. eTickets are available nationwide. See Amtrak.com/eTicketing for more details.
Modify your reservations or upgrade your seat.
Search stations for location, building amenities and hours of operation. Amtrak links you to Google for maps, streetview and turn-by-turn directions
Connect to your Amtrak Guest Rewards account
2Checkout Mobile
Android Police coverage: 2Checkout Mobile Arrives In The Play Store, Allows Users To Track Sales, Issue Refunds From Their Phone
Retailers, your mobile command center has arrived. Online stores that use 2Checkout's modular store system can now access their information from Android. Even better, you can issue refunds directly from your phone or tablet, making sure your customers have nothing but good things to say about your service.
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2Checkout Mobile is designed for sellers to monitor their account activity from anywhere. Now you can view sales, issue refunds and check payments on your mobile device.
Payments
View all payments made from your 2Checkout account including total and pending amounts
Payment Charts view weekly and monthly reports with an interactive sliding graph to discover payment trends
Sales
Sales view all purchases made by your customers
Sale details view order details, customer information, invoice details of all purchased items
Sales filters and search search and sort sales such as refunded or declined recurring sales
Sales chart build weekly and monthly sales reports and discover sales trends using the interactive sliding graph
TomTom Navigation
Android Police coverage: TomTom Finally Releases Offline Maps And Navigation For Android, But It Doesn't Work With Any Modern, High-End Device
If you've been waiting for GPS pioneer TomTom to get their heads out of the hardware sand and come to Android, the wait is over... sort of. They've got an extensive collection of GPS apps with localized offline maps all over the world, from Turkey to New Zealand. The bummer us that they're wickedly expensive: maps for the US will run you an "introductory" price of $38, while the UK and Ireland is a crazy $43.99. Maps for all of Europe are a whopping $75. And here the kicker: none of them seem to work with any Android devices released in the last year. If you're a desperate TomTom user, and you've got an older phone, and you're willing to pay big bucks, the USA version is embedded below. Click here to see worldwide versions at various prices.
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Last minute plans? With the TomTom Navigation app, driving somewhere new couldnt be easier. Youve always got your smartphone with you, so navigations close at hand. And losing your signal is not a problem, because the app works without it. Youll have constant access to the same maps, technology, and world-class navigation as on our GPS devices. Its the app that drivers can rely on.
zeebox
Android Police coverage: Zeebox TV Companion App Comes To The US With Comcast/NBC Backing
If you need a companion app to help with your TV watching, you might have a problem. (And that's coming form a guy who's seen every episode of Star Trek, Farscape, and Battlestar Galactica.) Still, if you need a social network for your favorite shows, this is it: Zeebox is a full schedule is complimented by updates from around the web.
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zeebox is the free companion app that makes watching TV better than ever before. It's social, clever and fun. Want to find what's hot? zeebox gets you to the most talked-about shows quickly and easily. Check out what everyone else is planning to watch - or see what the stars are viewing right now. And with our handy bookings feature, you'll never miss a show again. Feeling social? zeebox has you covered. Chat with your friends, start a viewing party, or Tweet your thoughts on what you're watching. Don't worry, you can be as private as you want to be - with zeebox you're always in control.
NFLRUSH Fantasy Football
Android Police coverage: [New App] NFLRUSH Offers A Slightly Tweaked Fantasy Football For Kids, Plus Scholarship Prizes
NFLRUSH is fantasy football for kids. Because you have to be at least 30, two drinks in, and wearing an officially-licensed NFL jersey to understand standard fantasy football, it's simplified: each week the kids can choose just six players, a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, defense (yup, half the game is just one player) and a wild card. Kids compete for weekly and yearly scholarship prizes based on the performance of their teams.
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This app is a fully-featured companion to the 2012 NFLRUSH Fantasy Football game, and is essential for everyone who wants to keep track of their lineup wherever they are.
Key features include:
- Full gameplay: Enjoy all the same features on-the-go as you would in front of your completer.
- Roster: Edit your weekly lineup using an easy-to-understand interface. Select your players on the go and then be able to track their progress on game day.
- Groups: Create and join groups with your friends and see how your team stacks up against theirs.
- Leaderboard: See how your roster is stacking up against everyone else playing the game. You can compete for prizes* and earn bragging rights with your friends.
Google Play services
Android Police coverage: Google Play Services Can Now Be Installed Manually From The Play Store
This one's pretty simple: if your integrated Google services framework isn't updated (whether you're stock or running a custom ROM) download it from the Google Play Store.
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Google Play services lets Android apps from the Google Play Store integrate with Google+ and Google Accounts. To work correctly, some apps may require Google Play services to be present and up to date. Google Play services is usually updated automatically on Android devices. You can also install or update it manually from the Google Play Store.
Scout by Telenav
For most Android users, the combination of Google Maps, Places and Navigation is more than enough. But if you want something a little more premium, Scout offers an alternative with its own database of places, turn-by-turn GPS directions, and live traffic. An in-app purchase unlocks traffic avoidance features, a database of speed traps and cameras, and integration with Ford's Sync-enabled vehicles. Both versions work with voice control, so you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
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Meet Scout a better way to discover where to go and how to get there. Join the tens of millions of people on the go, saving time, energy and effort with our hassle-free personalized navigation, local search, and live traffic.
Scout Plus In-App Purchase (Scout it for the first 30 days free.)
Premium Traffic Avoid traffic jams with traffic incidents, traffic cams, and speed traps
Speed Traps & Red Light Cameras Avoid tickets and drive safer with red light camera and police speed trap alerts
Lane Assist Never miss an exit with easy-to-follow guidance on the correct lane to be in
Car Connect - Connect to Ford Sync AppLink to get voice-guided directions on your in-car display and hear them over your car speakers
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