Entertainment mapping tool uses compass and GPSarticle

Lastminute.com's nru phone application is designed to give users of the Android-powered T-Mobile G1 a narrowly focused and compass aided view of things to do around them.

NEWS

Entertainment mapping tool uses compass and GPS

Lastminute.com's nru—short for "near you"—is designed to give users of the Android-powered T-Mobile G1 a narrowly focused and continuously updated view of things to do around them, from bars and restaurants to cinemas and cafés. Users begin by downloading the application from the Android Marketplace—currently, it's available only to UK consumers. 

They can then launch it on their G1 anytime they're looking for something to do, and the technology will show them what almost looks like a radar map indicating entertainment venues nearby. Closer establishments are shown in the centre of the map's field, while those further away are indicated along the outside. A combination of GPS, compass and accelerometers creates an entirely physical interface, so as the user moves and points the phone around in different directions, they see different information. 

The application gets much of its data from Qype, and for each restaurant, users can even see the deals currently on offer and book a table through Lastminute.com's fonefood service. A video demo illustrates how nru works.