100 new location based applications were introduced into the App Store this week and there were several new applications that stood out.  The first being Save Our Snow.  Save Our Snow will locate the resorts closest to the users current location that are the most environmentally friendly.  This includes resorts that fight climate change with renewable energy sources, education and outreach programs, and participate in waste reduction.

goCraigsy is cool because it features all the trademark characteristics of Craigslist.com and brings them to the iPhone. In addition, the user can take, edit and post pictures directly to Craigslist from their phone as well as locate nearby ads using the phone’s GPS function.  Furthermore, a map hyperlink to where the item is being sold can be included within the content of the ad

Human Weather delivers weather based on location, but with a twist.  Human Weather integrates real time, geo-matched user comments along with the current weather.  These comments include opinions on what is really feels like outside as compared to the forecast or advice on what type of clothing to wear.  Ideal for anyone who wants a second opinion after watching their local forecast.

By Courtney Teeling

There were a few new cool and interesting applications this week .  Trazzler uses XPS capabilities to locate local weekend trips nearby as well as recommending trips nearby that are best suited to the users taste.  There are also several dozen new locations added every week, continually creating new travel opportunities locally and globally.

iSkateboard, created by Sneaker Pimps, Inc. is the newest location enabled app to be added to the Sports category which has been primarily dominated by applications related to golfing.  iSkateboard is a local search application designed by skateboarders that can search up to 50 miles and through 30,000 listed locations across the world to find the closest skate shop, street location, or skate park.

InBetween presents a “better way to meet halfway”.  InBetween finds the closest midway point between two iPhones and then sends an email and/or text message to any InBetween user in your contact list.  The application also features the option to choose what type of meet up spot to find.  Options include restaurants, parks, bars, shopping malls and even supermarkets.

MyPanic is an essential application for an emergency situation.  Hitting the panic button will allow the app to collect the user’s location and then email a list of pre-determined contacts and update Facebook and Twitter accounts asking for assistance.  It will also update every 60 seconds to show changing location and can optionally be set to dial 911 or local emergency numbers if specified.

By Courtney Teeling

Skyhook announced this week that its network now includes the location of over 100 million Wi-Fi access points and over 400,000 cell towers worldwide.  This announcement shows that Skyhook’s technology stands alone in the industry: it is the largest and most comprehensive system in existence.  It shows that Skyhook can provide developers, operators and device makers with the means for their users to produce the best possible location-based content and applications.

The numbers alone demonstrate Skyhook’s ubiquitous position in the LBS market.  The system already supports over 1,000 location-based apps across its customer base of 50 million devices.  This generates over 100 million location requests per day, and over 15 billion location requests were made during 2008.  No location system has ever included massive amounts reference data while supporting such a high volume of usage.

The variety of applications for the technology is broad- Skyhook has already been integrated on over 16 different types of location-based applications across numerous platforms.  Developers are using location to produce apps with capabilities that would not have been dreamed of in the past.  As the Skyhook database continues to expand, it is certain that usage will continue to expand.  As the Skyhook database continues to expand, more and more unique and groundbreaking apps and services will be created.

It’s been an exciting few weeks for location-aware applications as the App Store has to date nearly 1,300 unique LBS apps.  FedEx Mobile for iPhone, Bank of America - Mobile Banking, and The Weather Channel currently hold the number one positions for Free Apps in the app store for Business, Finance and Weather categories. All three are location-aware applications.

The past few weeks have also seen the introduction and expansion of applications designed specifically for the gay community.  GayCities provides instant access to nearby gay friendly, bars, clubs, hotels, and beaches in over 70 cities, while The Gay Community App is a social networking application that locates others in the user’s vicinity.

The music industry is now making use of location with the release of the Death Cab for Cutie application.  Fans of the band can view tour dates sorted by distance from their location with extra features like a routing map and directions from current location to the concert venue.

Are you safe - DC is great for people in the DC area who is not sure about the crime level in any area of the city.  This is particularly useful for those who have recently moved or are visiting the DC area to make more informed decisions on where, as an example, to park their car, take a cab or walk, or to visit an area they are unfamiliar with.  It will be nice to see if this application expands to other cities in the coming weeks.

Finally, Wasted may seem like an application that features recipes for your favorite mixed drink, but it is actually a cleverly disguised device locator.  If someone steals your iPhone and opens this application, it will send out the location coordinates of the device to a predetermined email of your choosing.  The thief is only given an error message that the app is not working and none the wiser that their location has just been revealed.

By Courtney Teeling