BlackBerry Apps

Rather than printing hotel directions and frantically searching for a confirmation number at check-in, simplify travel planning and sign up for a TripIt account. This website and mobile app pulls all travel plans into one easy-to-use itinerary. Forward the confirmation emails from any travel website to your TripIt account, and the service will automatically create one trip itinerary to access on the website or mobile device.

Each master itinerary includes maps, directions, and destination weather and provides the option to book restaurant reservations or other activities directly from the itinerary. No more wasted time searching for local hot spots and directions on your own.

The basic TripIt service is free with added features like automatic mobile alerts available for premium and business subscriptions priced at $50 per year and $30 per month, respectively. The mobile app is available for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone devices.

If you're an avid text messager, you've probably learned that texting internationally can add up . . . fast. Most providers charge for both sending and receiving international texts, which you may not even realize until the bill shows up. For example, AT&T charges $.25 to send an international text and $.20 to receive one. And given that the typical text message conversation can easily last 10 messages to figure out something as simple as where to meet for dinner, the charges can pile up exponentially in a month.

Enter WhatsApp, a text messaging app for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Nokia phones that allows you to message contacts on any device, completely free of charge. Well, free of charge after paying the $1 to download the app, which will pay for itself in approximately one conversation. Even Savvy approves! Learn more about WhatsApp after the jump.

Like any corporation-proximate, Starbucks, the one near Sugar HQ, is always buzzing during prime pre-office time. Luckily, the store always seems to have the right number of baristas (with amazingly acute memories) to help quickly move the line along.

Now the company's system is getting more streamlined with the new Starbucks mobile payment app, for your iPhone, iPod Touch, or BlackBerry. The app links to your credit card so that baristas can quickly scan the barcode you pull up on your phone rather than wait for you to fumble for your credit card or cash. It also allows you to check your balance and transaction history and reload with PayPal.

The barcode scanning program was expanded from the initial pilot test locations to all US stores today (Yum already tried it and found it to be quick and convenient). Wondering where your phone-paying app is, Android users? No word yet on the date, but the company says that an Android app is coming soon.

Popular location-based app Gowalla released today its most significant update to date. The biggest addition: the integration of other location-based services via a "combined activity tab" that merges your Gowalla check-ins with Facebook Places and Foursquare check-ins, and it enables sharing via Twitter and Tumblr. In addition, you can see friends' Foursquare and Facebook check-ins directly in your Gowalla news feed, without hitting up any other service.

The new Gowalla is also sporting a new, smarter check-in system that "guesses" where you may be based on your current location and check-in history, similar to Foursquare's "My Favorites" location suggestions. And that's not all! For more of what's new, keep reading.

Whether you have an Android device or are rocking an iPhone in your pocket, loading it up with apps is the key to making your smartphone work for you. Although I already have pages and pages of apps (despite iOS 4's new folder feature), I keep finding new and fun apps to download and use. Not to leave out my Android- or BlackBerry-toting friends, I found a few apps that you'll love as well. Discover them all for yourself below!

• Chrome to Phone (Free) — The just-released app from Google makes it easy to save and send links from your desktop Chrome browser to your Android 2.2-running device.
• MoMA for iPhone (Free) — Use the new MoMA app to search current and past exhibits, artist bios, a dictionary for art terms, calendar information, film screenings and more. Download it before you head out for a culture-filled day!

Learn about the rest of the apps after the break.