5 Best Mumbai-centric iPhone apps

Beyond mundane maps and digital devotionalism, our local iPhones can be adorned with some nifty apps that improve on-the-go living in Mumbai. Especially the free app that lets you catch cheating cab drivers!

Here are five favorites:

1. The Sealink. Gaming, $0.99

Developed by Mumbai-based Spiel Studios, The Sealink is a game that combines a racing format with a pair of Mumbai icons, the Bandra-Worli Sealink and the autorickshaw.

While players do graduate to actual cars, it's more fun to stick to the autorickshaw level because, face it, it's the only time in your life you'll be able to drive an autorickshaw on the Sealink without tipping over and dying.

Controls are minimal. There's an accelerator pedal, a pedal that does for braking and reverse. Direction is controlled by tilting the phone.

The aim is to get the auto from one end of the Sealink to the other in less than three minutes and 30 seconds (at autorickshaw level).

While there other Indian games are on the market, this first iPhone app for Mumbai is the forerunner of Indian iPhone games because it's an auto on a Sealink -- something you don't see in real life.

2. Meter Down. Travel, free

Given that cab and autorickshaw rates in Mumbai keep bouncing around, the easiest way to keep track is the Meter Down iPhone app, which updates when rates change.

Developed by Siddhartha Bannerjee, Meter Down has gone top of the charts in free iPhone travel apps because it's simple to use and has a clean user interface. You basically see what the meter reads and look it up in the scroll table to know how much you have to pay. Midnight rates are also given.

There are separate applications for taxi and autorickshaw rates.

The autorickshaw version was released on September 2 and the taxi version was last updated on September 10, so the rates are accurate for the latest prices.

3. Tandora Hindi Radio. Bollywood music, free

Tandora, which began as Tamilian internet radio, now has separate Telugu and Hindi applications as well for the latest Bollywood movie soundtracks. Targeted at Indians abroad, it's useful for locals to listen to their favorite local music, as well.

The iOS 4-supported application developed by Karthik Janagiraman can multi-task while music plays in the background.

You can also set a timer for radio play, so you don't end up hitting dead channels, a problem with many Hindi radio apps.

4. Amul Cartoon Ads. Entertainment, free

This app presents itself as "cartoon entertainment" in your hands.

The app features daily loads of ads from yesteryear along with an option to browse iconic Mumbai ads by year -- good for taking little trips down memory lane.

Cartoons available for the iPhone are Shikhari Shambu and Chacha Chaudhari, but the topical nature of the Amul ads along with their entertaining spin of current Mumbai events makes this app worth the download.

5. Live & When. Mumbai events calender, free

Live & When is an application that has listings of live performances, concerts and plays in Mumbai. While the concert feature is a bit buggy, you can choose which genre of concert you want listings for, from devotional to metal.

The plays listings so far feature only NCPA plays and Prithvi theater, but given the sheer volume of the performances at these two major Mumbai venues, the list is pretty heavy.

In each event listing you can link to the event website, and also email event info to a friend with an app connecting to Apple mail. Live & When is handy as is, but as more types of events are added (and bugs get fixed), it should make for a convenient events calender.

All applications are available in iTunes as well as the App Store on the iPhone.