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Reality doesn't get more real: 2 iPhone views of the NYC subway

by Michael Rose Jul 16th 2009 at 2:30PM

There are two bits of knowledge that all native New Yorkers are gifted with: where to get "the best" pizza (Grimaldi's on the Brooklyn waterfront, in case you were wondering), and where to stand on the subway platform so as to arrive at the destination station in exactly the right spot to exit ahead of the rush. While this sometimes leads to bunching and crowding in the desirable cars, it ends up saving a lot of time and aggravation on the far side.

If you aren't a veteran straphanger, you can simulate the expertise of the locals with Exit Strategy NYC, a $1.99 iPhone app that tells you where to stand based on your destination station. The app is straightforward: select your train line and your direction of travel, then pick your arrival choice from the list. You'll get a clear diagram of the exit locations, along with the conductor's position in the train (great for late-night trips) and notes on any special circumstances, transfer options or wheelchair access.

In my tests, Exit Strategy matched my instincts pretty well with only a few hiccups (one exit that was closed for construction wasn't yet reflected in the app, but chances are us NYC residents wouldn't know that either). There is one drawback for outer-borough residents: while Manhattan and most near-to-downtown stations are included, some of the further-out stops, like my station along the R line in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, are not yet built in to the app. Still, Exit Strategy should definitely be part of your iPhone arsenal for a visit to the Big Apple. The demo video for the app is in the 2nd half of the post.

Despite their much-admired situational awareness, even NYC subway veterans sometimes get confused about where to find the nearest station -- and if you're a first time visitor, fuggedaboudit. For iPhone 3GS-enabled residents and tourists, it's about to get a lot easier: acrossair is offering an NYC version of the Nearest Tube augmented reality app, New York Nearest Subway.

Hold your iPhone flat and see a 2D map of the entire system... then lift it perpendicular to the ground, and the heads-up display mode shows you floating icons representing nearby stations, complete with line legends and walking distances. For anyone who's ever walked to a faraway subway stop only to realize that there was a much closer option, this is incredibly compelling. No word on price yet, and the app is awaiting approval; as noted, this app will only work on the 3GS, as the magnetometer is used to determine the direction the phone is facing.

If you've got preferred apps for navigating public transit in your city, pipe up in the comments.

[via Gadget Lab]

Here's the video for Exit Strategy:


Here's the video of NY Nearest Subway in action:



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There are two bits of knowledge that all native New Yorkers are gifted with: where to get "the best" pizza (Grimaldi's on the Brooklyn...
 

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Max

I'm a huge fan of KickMap in NYC. It's not much more than a map, but boy is it a beautiful one.

July 19 2009 at 7:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Max

I was just in NYC and I was complaining about how there were apps (maps for example) to get me from where I am to where I'm going, but that I wanted an app that just used my GPS location to find the nearest station on a particular line (1 in this case, near Columbuia). Imagine my excitement when I saw this new app you posted! Then, imagine my disappointment when I saw it was only for 3GS and my 3G would be left out.

Does anyone know of an app that does the same thing as this one, but that works for the 3G? Although their site makes it out to be a bad thing, I don't mind a simple 2-D map showing my blue dot and a dot for all the stations in a particular line.

July 17 2009 at 9:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Max's comment
ill trooper

Hands-down essential NYC subway app is 'City Transit'...

Loads quickly, looks great, has the 'locate me and show me the nearest subway on the map' feature you want. I've used it on all three generations of iPhone, so it'll definitely work on your 3G.

July 17 2009 at 1:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jupo

Also check out Tube Exits for the London Underground. Came out about a month ago and it is great. http://www.tubeexits.co.uk/

July 17 2009 at 6:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
robogobo

This thread is awesome. I'm bookmarking it so I have the latest on Pizza places in NYC. Keep em coming, piz.

July 17 2009 at 6:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
badtzmaru

i live in DC and as far as i know there is no app for the metro!

July 16 2009 at 9:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to badtzmaru's comment
Tony G.

There are a few DC metro apps, but nothing as polished or useful as Exit Strategy. A couple are mentioned at http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/artsfun/afterhours/11221.html

This one looks like it has bus schedules:
http://appshopper.com/navigation/itransitbuddy-dc-metro

July 17 2009 at 6:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Truck

Thanks for the heads up, I live off the R in sunset park too, so i'll hold off a little bit.

July 16 2009 at 7:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Truck's comment
Michael Rose

The fact that so many of TUAW's readers live in my 'hood is, I must admit, freaking me out a little bit.

July 16 2009 at 8:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kirby

Are you guys kidding me? The best pizza in New York isn't in the city. Umberto's on Jericho Tpke in New Hyde Park. Try the sicilian. You'll be making the trip out to New Hyde Park again and again.

July 16 2009 at 7:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron Ardiri

>> It's awaiting approval, as noted in the post.

that could take a while :) i've got two apps waiting 2+ weeks so far.

// Aaron Ardiri
Mobile 1UP
http://www.mobile1up.com/

July 16 2009 at 5:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephen

"If you've got preferred apps for navigating public transit in your city, pipe up in the comments."

I am moving to D.C. in a few weeks. Anyone have a favorite Metro app?

July 16 2009 at 4:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben Lawson

Speaking as a repeat tourist visitor to Grimaldi's... they're coasting on their rep now, but Brooklyn Heights and the waterfront hold a special place in my heart. But I like the other options mentioned here!

Oh yeah, something on-topic: This app looks good, I'd love to see it for other systems, such as my own Toronto Transit Commission's subways.

July 16 2009 at 4:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ben Lawson's comment
gorfgorf

As I said somewhere else, eating there is rarely worth it... People start lining up by 4 or something ridiculous. You can always order a pie and pick it up instead, as long as you live close by/have a friend in the neighborhood/can find a good place to eat it.

July 17 2009 at 6:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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