When you first start MotionX GPS up it can be a bit confusing because there are a raft of options. However, hit Menu and Track Recorder and you can quickly get to recording your cycling, running or even driving route. One of the best features of MotionX GPS is that you can choose from a range of maps, including those from Bing and Google.

You can view your movement in real time on the maps, or view the route you took when you've finished. MotionX GPS allows you to download various maps, so you don't always need an internet connection, and you can share your results on Facebook and via email. Every route you record will include data like average speed, time and altitude change, and you can choose which units you prefer. MotionX GPS let you set up over 300 waypoints, and search Wikipedia points of interest and navigate directly to them.

MotionX GPS tells you how strong the GPS signal is, and how accurate too. Generally, results over longer distances are better, as sometimes on very short routes you might see some anomalies in the results. You can access your iPod library from the app too, so you can stay entertained while exercising. MotionX GPS has a high contrast skin for easier sunlight viewing.

MotionX GPS is a great iPhone GPS app, with good recording and map options. It's great for cyclists, hikers and runners alike - just remember your iPhone isn't weather proof!

Download MotionX GPS 16.3 in Softonic

When you first start MotionX GPS up it can be a bit confusing because there are a raft of options. However, hit Menu and Track Recorder and you can quickly get to recording your cycling, running or even driving route. One of the best features of MotionX GPS is that you can choose from a range of maps, including those from Bing and Google.

You can view your movement in real time on the maps, or view the route you took when you've finished. MotionX GPS allows you to download various maps, so you don't always need an internet connection, and you can share your results on Facebook and via email. Every route you record will include data like average speed, time and altitude change, and you can choose which units you prefer.

MotionX GPS tells you how strong the GPS signal is, and how accurate too. Generally, results over longer distances are better, as sometimes on very short routes you might see some anomalies in the results. You can access your iPod library from the app too, so you can stay entertained while exercising.

MotionX GPS is a great iPhone GPS app, with good recording and map options. It's great for cyclists, hikers and runners alike - just remember your iPhone isn't weather proof!

Download MotionX GPS Lite 16.3 in Softonic

In essence, Gowalla uses your GPS location to show where you are, and what's near you. The spots around you are all created by the Gowalla community, and you can also add new spots yourself. So if you visit somewhere interesting, you can share in on Gowalla. Then any Gowalla user will be able to see the place you marked, and visit there too.

You can leave virtual items in your spots for other users to collect when they check in at your spot too! When you visit a spot that's registered at Gowalla, you check in, collect a gift, and can post your location and any comments on Facebook and Twitter.

This community tool allows you to see what and who is around. More and more places with reviews and photos are added every day as the community grows. This makes Gowalla great if you're traveling, or need to coordinate a group of people in a city (as long as they all have iPhones!).

Gowalla's biggest advantage over Foursquare is its interface. It's much more friendly and fun than the conservative-looking Foursquare app, and the interface is easier to navigate. This version is much improved with a smoother design and better usability.

Gowalla is still evolving, and is certainly a fun thing to use when traveling, but it's too early to say how useful it'll be.

Download Gowalla 3.3 in Softonic

Available for more platforms than competitor Gowalla, and having a larger community, Foursquare should be the best of the location based apps. However, when you first install it, it can be hard to see what to do with it. Once you've found or invited some friends, and checked in at a few locations, Foursquare begins to make sense.

Foursquare allows your to post mini reviews of places you've been to, and collect badges - like achievements in video games. You can see where your friends are too, and as checking in to locations gives you points, you can see who's winning. Foursquare is a mix between a social game and useful tool. This type of app only works if you can get enough of your friends to use it. You can find places to go and things to do, read user recommendations and sometimes even get free gifts from places you check in.

The interface is simple to navigate, although it's a bit dry in its design. Competing app Gowalla looks much better. Despite this, as long as Foursquare's community is larger there are more places to find, with more user tips and more incentives to become the mayor of your favorite spots. Competing with your friends can be fun, even if it might feel like you're turning your entire life into an RPG.

As it's community grows, Foursquare is becoming a really useful service, great for finding friends and things to do wherever you are.

Download foursquare 6.1 in Softonic

What does Layar do?

Layar Reality Browser displays real time digital information on top of the real life world as seen through the lens of your phone's camera. The spectacular augmented reality technology in Layar Reality Browser uses the camera, along with GPS and the built-in compass to map the area around you and display geo layers of data over the live image you're seeing on the screen.

For example, Layar Reality Browser could show you where all the nearby cinemas are based on your current location. It will display icons on screen in their real world physical location. You can click on any of these icons to display more information about that cinema in the Layar Reality Browser window. The same principle applies to a whole host of other categories, such as architecture, food and drink, health, nature and parks, transport, and nightlife.

Adding geo layers

Besides these categories, Layar Reality Browser allows you to choose from a multitude of free and paid-for 'layers', covering a range of weird and wonderful information. For instance, you can view photos taken in the area around you by Mobypicture users, see Twitter users near you and post geotagged tweets, access Wikipedia entries about places nearby, and even meet potential dates by adding a Happy Meet layer.

There are so many possibilities with Layar Reality Browser and the app is so customizable that it can be a little daunting to use at first. The interface is quite clearly laid out though, so it won't take you too long to figure out where everything is. Settings in Layar Reality Browser include the ability to switch between miles and kilometers, toggle the grid on and off, and enable/disable automatic launching of actions.

It's hard to find fault with anything in Layar Reality Browser, aside from the fact that some of the distances shown seemed a bit off during our tests.

Augmented reality is a technology that could change the way we live our lives. It's still in its infancy, but Layar Reality Browser is without doubt the best example of this amazing new way of exploring your surroundings

Download Layar Reality Browser 7.0 in Softonic

Whereas Foursquare lets you earn badges and become the mayor of places, Scvngr gives you challenges to complete which earn you points. There are four basic challenges everywhere: Check-in, Social Check-in (a phone-bbump with another user!), Say something and Snap a picture. Once completed, you can also create your own challenge, or complete another user's.

The challenges you create can require a text or image response, although it appears you don't have to validate whether someone's attempt is successful or not. You can connect via a Scvngr account or Facebook Connect, and see what challenges your friends have made or completed.

Scvngr could really come into it's own if enough users join up and get involved. User created challenges are like really fun personalized 'notes' you can leave anywhere. Places you visit all the time could become full of odd things to do, and competitions to have with friends.

Scvngr is a very interesting addition to the world of location based apps, and its gaming focus has the potential to be much more fun than established services.

Download Scvngr 3.5.5 in Softonic

Unlike Google Santa Tracker, NORAD Tracks Santa actually has things for you to do while you wait for Santa to take flight. There are two types of mini games included with the app and they are quite challenging.

There is "Thin Ice," which is a labyrinth type game where you have to guide presents on ice that's filled with holes and logs. There's also Elf Toss where you launch elves and try to dunk presents into Santa's sleigh.

When Christmas Eve does roll around, NORAD Tracks Santa will provide statistics about Santa's journey like how many presents he has delivered and how far he's traveled.

NORAD Tracks Santa is a fun app during Christmas Eve and is useless any other time.

Download NORAD Tracks Santa 1.0.6 in Softonic