From Sat-Nav to Hot-Rod

AA PARKING

New from the AA is an app which may cure many an urban driver's headache. Simply enter a location and get a map showing where you'll find parking bays, both free and charge-paying.

And to save you wasting time with a full car park, the app will, where the facility allows, tell you how many spaces are available for you to use.

An interactive facility also allows the user to update app information as you park.

Early feedback suggests the app is also relevant to users based outside of the major urban centres.

AA Parking is cheap to download at £1.79.

OVI MAPS

Recently voted 'Best Buy' amongst sat-nav Apps, Nokia takes the prize with this free sat-nav software. Factors contributing to the win included the program's ease of use, as well as quick guidance and rerouting facilities. Great phone functionality also keeps the map running when the driver switches to loudspeaker.

Routes around town also boast 3D images. For a free to download feature this is a broad and flexible application.

DYNOLICIOUS

Raved about by Max Power and Top Gear, this app could be curio or serious dynamics tool depending on your sensibility. At less than a tenner you can afford to take the plunge if you ever drive your car athletically.

Classic hot-rod measurements such as the timed quarter mile and 0-60 timings are available, as well as more imaginative facilities, like the ability to gauge the lateral G-forces you are generating. This tool works with the dynamics equipment built in to your IPhone or IPodTouch, sensing the motion of your vehicle.

The data is sampled as many as one hundred times per second to develop a detailed picture of the car's acceleration and movement. Due to the hardware integrated into the iPhone, this can all be done with no setup, wires, or extra equipment.

TRAPSTER

Trapster displays your location on a map using your mobile's WiFi location capabilities. All speed traps reported to the Trapster network database pop up as you cover your route.

Trapster's settings allow users to setup their phones to give voice alerts of approaching speed traps. The dynamic radar feature compensates for a driver's speed and direction to relay accurate warnings directly.

The application is free and relies on Trapster subscribers to flag up new hazards and verify information put forward by other users. With the assortment of 'trap types' available to input, from active speed traps to narrow bridges, Trapster could provide a decent matrix of road features in your area.

As such this is an interactive tool which relies on community users to keep the application fresh. Trapster has nearly 350'000 user worldwide, so the data is going to be pretty accurate.