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Daily iPad App: Edmunds for the iPhone delivers car buying information
I reviewed Edmunds for the iPhone a few months ago and found it quite useful. Anyone who's car-shopping will find it provides all the information you need. Edmunds has now brought that experience to the iPad. The device's large screen and improvements in the app make it the best version of Edmunds for iOS yet. The app provides comprehensive information like safety data, pricing, reviews from both Edmunds and consumers, thousands of photos (interior and exterior) and other details on more than 24,000 models. The app also includes helpful videos for some vehicles and searches are saved for easy reference in the future. You can browse a local dealer's inventory as well as pricing information for the car you currently own, should you want to sell it outright. Edmunds is free and ad supported. Fortunately the ads weren't distracting. I have some nits to pick, however, and they are similar to my comments on the iPhone version. First, a search function would let me pull up information without swiping through screen after screen. I can see all the brand names on one page, but if I select a type of car or some other parameter the list gets very long. By the time you get to Volvo or Volkswagen, you are going to have very tired fingers. I'd also like to be able to enter a search term like 'Navigation Systems' and get reviews sorted by brand of car. A split screen function would also be useful, so I could compare data side-by-side. That should be possible on the iPad's big screen. Having said that, I think Edmunds has produced the best iOS app for car buying and selling. All the information is there for the browsing, and the app is easy to navigate. I'd love to see the features I've described in future versions, but I think the Edmunds app should be your first choice for reliable, unbiased car information and reviews. The app is a 9.1 MB download and requires iOS5 or greater. I've grabbed some screen shots so you can see the app before you download it. %Gallery-148542%
If a car purchase is looming, check the Edmunds iPhone app
Many people will buy a new or used car at some point, and that process has been enhanced immensely by the latest version of the free iPhone app from Edmunds. The app, simply called "Edmunds," offers new and used car pricing and appraisals, plus the thorough reviews that Edmunds is famous for. The app draws from the vast Edmunds archive of about 24,000 cars and trucks, and contains about a quarter of a million photos. The app also contains owner reviews, which can be just as enlightening as the pro reviews. Edmunds for iPhone was recently updated to include NHTSA and IIHS crash test results and safety ratings, as well as predicted price trends for new vehicles. You can get the same information from the regular Edmunds website, but the iPhone app is easier to use. The app also includes links to your nearest dealers, and of course, complete features, specs and estimated pricing of add-ons. You will see ads, but they're largely unobtrusive. There isn't much to dislike about this app, but I have a few small complaints. First, you must scroll down a long list of names to find a make of car. A search field would speed up that process. Also, the 'share' button scrolls off the screen. It'd be more useful if it stayed put. For example, if you're in the middle of a long review and want to send it to yourself of someone else, you must scroll back to the top to find the share button. Wrapping up my complaints, I'll note that the app description says it includes videos, but I couldn't find a single one. The developer says that this is likely due to a tagging issue which will be fixed with an update. Finally, Edmunds for iPhone app is not universal, so it will run on an iPad but not at the proper resolution. Those issues aside, I think this app represents the very best way to research a new or used car purchase. Edmunds has an enviable reputation for objectivity and opinions untainted by car manufacturers. This latest update adds welcome new information, in particular the crash tests results. If you are looking for a new or used car, this app should be your first stop, and it probably will be the only stop many people need. It gets a very high recommendation. Check the gallery for some screen shots. %Gallery-140835%
