148 apps is calling for nominations for the fourth edition of the annual Best App Ever Awards and we need your help to nominate Localscope.

The Best App Ever Awards were created to celebrate the best mobile apps and games available, not just the best-selling ones. In its fourth year they are including Android applications and games in the mix and there will be winners in iOS (both iPhone and iPad combined) and Android divisions.

App Store just named Localscope the best app of the iPhone Navigation category in App Store Rewind 2011 in the US. But, the biggest pro about the Best App Ever awards is that You, the users of applications get to choose which app gets nominated for the final awards.

You have overwhelmed us with your heart warming feedback, your delightful stories of how Localscope helped save your day, highly rated us in the App Store and strongly recommended us to your friends and family. You have gotten us this far and we will always be very thankful for all your love. Now we need your support a little more to spread Localscope even further. Vote for Localscope and help your favorite local discovery app win!

Nominate Localscope for Most Innovative App

Voting for nominations will be accepted till the 31st December 2011 and the finalists will be announced on the 1st January 2012. Click on the link above to vote for us in the Most Innovative App category. You can nominate us in multiple categories, so if you'd think Localscope applies to other categories, do cast your vote. Some other categories we think you might to nominate us are - Most Useful App, Best Visual Design, Best Location-Based App, Best Augmented Reality App, Best Navigation App, Best Travel App or Best App for Locals.

And once you've cast your vote, do get the word out to your friends by sharing it over your favorite social networks, twitter, email, phone, message, word of mouth, or anything else that is your favorite way to communicate with them. More the number of votes, more the chances of getting your favorite app to win!

Apple has announced the much awaited Rewind 2011, considered to be the Oscars for the Appstore, presenting the best Music, Books and Apps of the year. We are honored and ecstatic to be chosen by Apple as the #1 App in the navigation category in the US Appstore and in the top 5 Navigation Apps in most other countries. Check it out here.

While we feel a great sense of accomplishment and consider this accolade to be one of the greatest honors given to us by Apple, we strongly believe that this is just the begenning. As we gear up to release what we believe to be our greatest creation ever in the upcoming weeks, we are even more excited to envision its impact on our users. Localscope 2.0 will change the way you see your world around you. It will let you look at your vicinity in ways that was never possible before. It is going to be awesome!

Navigation apps like TomTom, Navigon Mobile Navigator, provide advanced features for intuitive turn by turn navigation and directions. These apps on the iPhone have been steadily replacing the usage of dedicated in-dash GPS devices, as they are more cost effective, easier to update and ofcourse, integrate with Localscope! While most turn by turn navigation apps provide precise maps and directions, capabilities for searching for or discovering places range from being limited to nonexistent in these apps. Localscope, on the other hand, provides unmatched search and discovery capabilities; with a few swipes and flicks, you can tap into the collective knowledge from various search engines and social networks. Combining the power of Localscope with the accuracy of turn by turn navigation apps makes your iPhone a much more powerful and relevant GPS device than any dedicated GPS device in the market today.

Integrating with navigation apps has been one of the most asked for feature requests by our users. Further, since Localscope is a global app, we have received large number of requests for integrations with regional navigation apps, from users worldwide.

With this latest release, we are adding integrations with 4 more navigation apps - Magellan Roadmate, Navmii / Navfree, Sygic Navigation and MotionX GPS Drive HD (for the iPad) - totaling to support 11 navigation apps. Other integrations include: the built-in Maps app, Navigon Mobile Navigator, TomTom, MotionX GPS Drive, MetroView for Australia and NewZealand and Waze Social GPS app.

Localscope integrates with all the regional versions of the integrated apps. No matter which part of the world you live in, you can use Localscope in combination with any of the 11 navigation apps specific to your region.

Localscope automatically detects the supported navigation apps installed on your iPhone or iOS device and presents a list to choose from. With a single tap, you can jump right into one of your favorite apps from within Localscope to get turn by turn directions to your discovered place of interest.

The new and updated version of Localscope is now globally available on the Apple AppStore, for US$1.99 (or the equivalent in other currencies).

Millions of people use Foursquare every day to share their newly found locations, work place venue and more with their friends via checkins. The Foursquare search source in Localscope is a great way for users to discover new places and information about a location from the crowd sourced data. The information discovered via Foursquare is often unique while at times it solidifies your findings in the other sources. The newest update of Localscope, enriches the Foursquare source, to make discovery of locations even better.

Localscope now seamlessly integrates with the new APIv2 of the popular social network Foursquare. The new API enables us to present users with richer location results while searching in the Foursquare source in Localscope. Foursquare locations now come with phone numbers for locations - swipe any result from the list to quickly call the place or add them to your Address Book from the detail view.

In addition, Localscope now integrates with the Foursquare app for the iPhone. Users can quickly switch from the details of a location in Localscope to the details in the Foursquare app. Once in the Foursquare app, users can get access to insider information about a location from their network of friends or the Foursquare community - check out tips, recommendations, mayorships and deals at the location or simply check-in to the venue.

Another new feature is the in-app browser. This has been a highly requested feature by our users and it truly is a great way to explore detailed information from the web about a search location found in Localscope without the hassle of switching between Safari and Localscope. The new version of Localscope implements this with the ‘View more details’ button in the detail view of any search result from any of the search sources. Tapping the button launches the in-app browser with the web view for a result displaying details like reviews, photos and more.

Localscope is designed to be a global app. For the world that speaks local languages, we are enabling support for 6 new languages in Localscope including - Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, Greek, Russian and Swedish. With the new additions to the localizations, Localscope now totals to supporting 14 major languages covering the Americas and major parts of Europe and Asia. We are working on including more languages in future releases, if you would like to use Localscope in your language, drop us a note.

Visit the AppStore to get your update now. If you don’t use Localscope yet, it is globally available on the Apple AppStore, for US$1.99 (or the equivalent in other currencies).

Don't forget to rate and leave your feedback as a review it in the AppStore :)

Its time for another awesome version update for Localscope! V1.5 makes Localscope your Go To application to browse your vicinity and navigate to a point of interest. With this release, we extend the power of choice to our users - not only can you decide the search engines you want to use to discover new places or view your vicinity in List, Map or Augmented Reality view, but also choose your favorite navigation app to get you there, in your preferred language.

A quick rundown of the new features in version 1.5:

• Now auto detects and integrates with MotionX GPS Drive, Waze Social GPS navigation and MetroView Australia & New Zealand GPS Navigation apps
• Now available in 4 new languages including German, French, Italian and Spanish
• Improved Facebook sharing. A thumbnail image of the map point is shared along with the link to the location giving your friends a quick glimpse of the point on the map
• Scroll to the top of any list by simply tapping on the device status bar

Ideal Find and Drive Companion

Localscope is a mashup of social and local services enabling users to discover geo specific content and evolving the way way people discover their vicinity. While we aim to increase the choice of location search services and social networks integrated with Localscope, we realize that enabling users to do more with the results is equally important. This idea motivated us to do the first integrations with TomTom and Navigon MobileNavigator. From the feedback we received, our users really love the combination of searching for destinations in Localscope then navigating to them using one of the turn-by-turn navigation apps. Here's some of the heartfelt feedback left by our users:

While these two integrations proved to be very useful for our users, we also heard that many of you like to use different apps for navigation due to the various benefits they offer. A large number of users use MotionX - the top grossing app in the Navigation category - with turn by turn directions and an appealing price ($0.99) MotionX GPS Drive is hands down the best and the most used navigation app. Others prefer using the free and community based real time crowd sourced traffic information app, Waze. MetroView a highly popular navigation app in Australia and New Zealand provides detail local maps and voice guided turn by turn directions, all in an unmistakeable Australian accent is a clear choice for the users down under. And some simply find Navigon MobileNavigator and TomTom too expensive. So we decided to increase our family of integrated applications to include these three popular applications as well.

If you already have any one of these applications installed - MotionX GPS Drive, Waze, MetroView Australia, MetroView New Zealand, TomTom or Navigon MobileNavigator, Localscope will smartly detect them & enable you to launch one of them to navigate to a location. For the rest, the integration with the default Maps App can help you find directions to your destination.

Users can launch these navigation apps from inside Localscope in two ways:

• Tapping the "Open Map" button from the detail view of a destination
• Swipe a destination in the search results list, tap on the "Open Map" icon

Both these actions, slide up the options to start navigation to a destination using either the Maps App, MotionX GPS Drive, Waze, etc.. Tap on the navigation app of your choice to immediately initiate a turn-by-turn voice based (except Maps app) navigation to your place of interest.

Localscope speaks German, French, Italian and Spanish

Localscope has been designed to work globally. You can travel to any part of the world and be rest assured that Localscope will help you find places of interest around you. But the global world speaks many local languages. Many of our users from around the world too have requested for Localscope in their native languages. One of our users from France writes:

We have been listening and with Localscope v1.5, we begin our journey of enabling users worldwide to use their favorite GPS app in their native language. Localscope's search terms are now optimized for German, French, Italian and Spanish so you can search and find destinations around you in your language, enabling a seamless experience.

This is just a small start and more language support is planned for the future. Watch this space to know when Localscope starts speaking your language.

Other new changes

With Localscope v1.5, we have also improved sharing with Facebook. A thumbnail image of the map point is automatically attached and shared with the link to the location that you share with your friends on Facebook, giving them a quick glimpse of the point on the map. Also newly enabled is the shortcut to go to the top of any list within Localscope - simply tap on the device status bar and you will be taken back up to the top of the screen.

The new and updated version of Localscope is now globally available on the Apple AppStore, for US$1.99 (or the equivalent in other currencies). Visit the AppStore to get your copy now. With this new release, we’re confident that we’ve added something special to the navigation apps you already use.

Enjoy the new Localscope 1.5!

The past two weeks have been nothing shy of amazing for us over here at Cynapse. We’re incredibly excited about the reception Localscope has received in the App Store, and the news just keeps getting better. Localscope is now the “App Of The Week” in Australia and New Zealand, and it’s in the “New And Noteworthy” category in 40 different countries.

As you can imagine, it’s been pretty busy over here. We just want to pause, take a deep breath, and thank you all for your enthusiastic support. We’re thrilled that so many of you are as excited as we are about the possibilities Localscope brings to the table. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be here announcing this news. You make it all possible.

Here are some of the heartwarming things you have been saying about Localscope:

The positive reviews have been flowing in, both from down under and other corners of the globe. We want to thank Caleb MacGregor from NZiPhone.com for writing about using Localscope to find a coffee (and other things) nearby. He says the app “trumps all others in its class.” Ellis Hamburger from Business Insider loves the ability to visualize tweets and Foursquare checkins (we do too), and Derek Walter from TheAppPlanet says Localscope is “an excellent companion for going out, especially if visiting an unfamiliar city.” Thanks again for your reviews and your support.

We’re headlong into developing the next release of Localscope, and it’s going to have more of the features you love. We’re currently working on the following:

• More navigation app integrations We know you love to use Localscope with TomTom and Navigon MobileNavigator, so we’re fast at work getting Localscope to work with other apps.
• Local language support Localscope will soon recognize the dominant language in your area and structure its searches with it.

Stay tuned on our Facebook fan page to learn more about new features and future updates.

And if you haven’t used Localscope yet, we think you’re going to love it. Here is a video review to get a quick idea of its functionality:

Head on over to the App Store to check it out. We’re in the Navigation, On the Grid, New and Noteworthy, and College Bound sections.

Its been a month since we first released Localscope on the AppStore and it has been an exhilarating experience.  We've customer reviews from across the world - they've been positive and very encouraging, blog mentions and Apple love - yes, we got featured in the "New and Noteworthy" section through Christmas and New Year!

David Chartier over at MacWorld thinks "Localscope puts local services at your fingertips by offering a choice in the services you search and wrapping everything up with a thick coat of style". Christine Chan at AppAdvice recommends picking up Localscope, If you don’t have an app to help you find stuff nearby. Appolicious finds the user experience 'Tasty' saying the UI is slick and friendly, with a smart use of pulling and swiping. TheNextWeb and MakeUseOf loved the app and promoted it with a Giveaway each. And Spanish site MacVisions, calls Localscope a Google Places competitor :)

All the attention and good reviews have kept the excitement levels at Cynapse soaring high. But we aren't just sitting back and enjoying all of it, instead we've been working on bigger plans and ideating on taking Localscope to the next level. Localscope is a mashup of social and local services enabling users to discover places around a location. While we aim to increase the choice of location search services and social networks integrated with Localscope, we realize that enabling users to do more with the results is equally important. Our customers too have been requesting for features on these lines.

With this new release, Localscope seamlessly integrates with the multi award winning Navigon MobileNavigator GPS app for the iPhone. This means that users can find destinations with Localscope and be guided there using the amazing 3D panorama maps of Navigon MobileNavigator with voice guided turn by turn directions. Together, Navigon MobileNavigator and Localscope make the best location app combo out in the AppStore.

Also new in this version, Localscope sets the default distance units as US or Metric automatically based on the user's locale set on their iPhones, iPods or iPads.

The new and updated version of Localscope is now globally available on the Apple AppStore, for US$2.99 (or the equivalent in other currencies). Visit the AppStore to get your copy now.

If you like Localscope, don't forget to rate and review it in the AppStore :)