BIG APP-LE

These mobile applications put the city in your pocket

LIFE IN New York City? There are apps for that. Many, many apps. A few weeks back, Apple hit a stunning benchmark — its 25 billionth download. Chunli Fu of Qingdao, China, won a $10,000 App Store gift card after downloading “Where’s My Water,” a silly puzzle game by Disney.

You’re probably already taking advantage of mobile banking and playing Angry Birds, but new apps are developed every day that put the Big Apple in the palm of your hand.

When is the next subway coming? Is Red Rooster booked for the night? Have any apartments opened up in your building?

Here are the 10 best apps that solve these urban dilemmas and more.

1

NYC Way (Free) This app, endorsed by Mayor Bloomberg, is the complete package for locals and tourists alike. NYC Way bundles together more than 60 city applications, including Open Table restaurant reservations, free borough-wide events, shopping deals, live traffic cams, job openings, 24-hour pharmacies, post office locations, local libraries — you name it. If you download just one app on this list, this is your pick.

2 Taxonomy Taxi Tracker (Free)

Can’t hack splitting cab fare or have an address but no cross street? This new app pinpoints your final destination, including intersections. Get fare and trip duration estimates before you get in the car. Helps figure tip and best way to split the cost with your friends, who can pay you wirelessly with Venmo instead of everyone scrambling for cash in the backseat.

3

Work+ (Free) If working from home just isn’t working out, this app locates the best nearby venue for getting the job done. Just enter your criteria, like whether you need Wifi access, coffee, or a spot that’s kid- and pet-friendly, and Work+ suggests the locations that fit the bill. It’s also perfect for finding suitable places to meet with clients.

4 Exit Strategy NYC ($3.99)

Sorting through the dozens of available public transit apps can be frustrating. This one is worth the splurge for not only including interactive subway, bus and neighborhood street maps, as well as working underground without an Internet connection; it tells you exactly where to stand on the subway train (third car, second door) so that you’re directly in front of your desired exit upon reaching the station.

5 NYC Condom Finder by NYC Health (Free) Hello lovers: this app has got you covered. Considerate paramours can be prepared for any romantic situation that arises by using their iphone’s GPS to locate walking directions to the nearest five places distributing free NYC condoms.

6 Streeteasy Real Estate (Free)

Scan apartment and housing rentals across the city, northern New Jersey and Long Island, get detailed info and photos about each place, and contact agents directly with this handy house-hunting app. You can also get information about any building by typing in its address to reveal all available listings in the building and market data — such as whether rents have increased or decreased in the past year.

7 Can I Park Here, NYC ($1.99)

Sick of deciphering parking signs? Simply snap a picture of the sign, and this app tells you whether or not you can park. There’s also a timer that warns when your meter is 15 minutes from expiring. It also plots where you’ve parked on a map and gives directions from your current location back to your vehicle.

8 Urbandaddy The Next Move (Free)

Plan the perfect date no matter what company you keep. Select what you want to do and who you’re with (from brunch with mom, to late-night drinks with a booty call) and this app picks the perfect spot — then throws in detailed directions on how to get there.

9

ABCEATS NYC (Free) Does the restaurant you’re sitting in make the grade? Look before you eat! This new app pulls restaurant grades and detailed inspection reports for 24,000 city eateries courtesy of the NYC Health Department. Search by name, neighborhood or current

location.

10 Daily News Mobile (Free) We couldn’t resist tipping our readers off to our free app providing the latest news, sports, gossip and opinion from our award-winning writers, plus eye-catching photo galleries, daily and monthly horoscopes, weather and more.