Renowned developer Steven Troughton-Smith has released the iPad version of his popular Speed iPhone app. Thanks to the iPad’s larger 9.7-inch display and Retina resolution, Speed for iPad is the perfect GPS for your automobile. Not only does Speed track your location on a map, but the app tells you how fast you’re going and the distance you’ve traveled.
“We set out to completely reinvent Speed for iPad’s form factor, and we think users are going to love it,” said Steven Troughton-Smith, Founder and Lead Developer of High Caffeine Content. “The interface is stunningly simple, with a breakthrough Settings UI that appears as you slide your finger upwards on the display.”
First off, Speed’s design is gorgeously detailed. The app’s icon is beautifully simplistic, and the faux leather dashboard texture is striking on the new iPad’s Retina display. I love the shine of the chrome details and the clean look of the app’s dash.
Pull up with your finger from the bottom of the app to see Speed’s settings. From here you can customize whether you want the compass to point true north or magnetic north. You can also switch between an analog and digital speedometer. The app’s trip meter and odometer can be reset as well. It works in the background to calculate how far you’ve traveled.
Your car (or moped, whatever really) is displayed as the classic blue dot in the Google Maps window. A notifier can be set for your iPad to alert you when you reach a certain speed. The app supports miles, kilometers and knots, making it the perfect companion whether you’re traveling by land, sea, or air.
If you dock your iPad in your car, Speed is the perfect complement to your dashboard. Apps like this hint at the future of automobiles — a world where our smartphones and tablets interface with our vehicles seamlessly. Make sure you have Speed running on an iPad that’s properly mounted in your car if you plan on using it, or maybe have someone in the passenger seat hold it. Otherwise, don’t bother and stay safe. No app is cool enough to risk an accident.
Speed for iPad is available now in the App Store for $2.99.
Update: I forgot an important point in my review: Speed will only work on a GSM/CDMA iPad. WiFi-only iPads need not apply.
