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16 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2018 By Steve Benoff This one's for you Gracy and Pam. Each month I end my column with a request for your favorite app. Occasionally I'll get a response. Recently I heard from Gracy Germany and Pam Torkkola. This month they are taking over the column so to speak with their suggested apps. Gracy's favorite apps are GasBuddy and Sigalert. GasBuddy uses your location and tells you gas prices at stations near you. The app gives you quite a bit of control over the information it provides. You choose the order of stations displayed. You can set the order to be by distance away from you or by price. Each station includes its location and distance away. You choose the type of gas (e.g., regular) and you can narrow the search by brand. I selected Arco and was given prices for stations in Beaumont, Banning, Hemet, Calimesa, and Yucaipa. The last station listed didn't have a price. Instead it showed a box labeled "Report Price." In this case it provided a way to report or confirm prices at that station. That's how GasBuddy updates its information. App users report prices at gas stations they use or pass by. In fact, along with brand, prices, type, location, and distance, the app tells you how long ago the price at that particular station was last reported. This app is a keeper for me. I now use it regularly, and since it saves your last parameters, each time I open the app I'm given Arco prices for regular gas near my location. When I was in Palm Desert recently, I found price variances of 12 cents a gallon amongst stations nearby. Gracy's other favorite, Sigalert, is amazing in its capabilities. Of course, it shows freeway traffic in the familiar green-yellow-red format. It shows traffic incidents like Google Maps but importantly it shows when the incident was reported. Many mapping apps show stale information. (Apple Maps, by the way, gives not only start time but also the projected end time for an incident.) Sigalert tells how long ago the report was made. It also shows work zones for freeway work. It shows traffic speeds at each exit and shows camera images from Caltrans cameras along freeways. The main limitation of this app is that it's restricted to freeways. Google and Apple mapping apps give you street traffic. But for freeways, Sigalert is extremely comprehensive. Whether you're walking on a trail or down the aisle of a big box store, Pam has an app for you. Her suggestions are AllTrails and RetailMeNot. Here's what Pam has to say about AllTrails – "Based on one's current location, this app lists trails in the area. Trails are designated easy-moderate-hard so a person knows what they're getting into before hiking unknown terrain. I'll bet those in the 'Take A Hike Club' are familiar with the app." If you want to see a beautifully-designed app, download AllTrails. It's fabulous. Each hike is expertly described including length in miles, elevation gain, whether it's out and back or a loop. It also includes other useful info – e.g., dogs on leash, birding, views, waterfalls, wild flowers, wildlife, and if the hike is on private property. Location information is, of course, provided. This app is a great resource whether you're a serious climber or a casual walker. Here's how Pam uses RetailMeNot: "Instead of keeping track of individual store's specials or coupons, I regularly check for discounts in this app. I can be in Bed Bath & Beyond or Target and open the app to discover last minute savings. I have never had an experience where a retailer does not honor the online savings." We are all looking to save money, but just as important, we don't want to pay more than other shoppers. This app looks like it will satisfy both objectives. Pam also mentioned, "For those new to the area, I have discovered the app 'Palm Springs.'" The app has seven categories – stay, play, nearby, shopping, dining, events, and deals. I've been a regular visitor to Palm Springs for over 65 years and love it. It's close by and undergoing a long-awaited revitalization. Why not check out this app to see what you may be missing? Do you use an app you'd like to share with others? Let me know at steve.benoff@verizon.net. THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT! Gracy & Pam's Faves