Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
Developer

Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

By Brien Posey January 30, 2014, 9:54 AM PST

Image
1
of 30

Surface apps for travel
Surface apps for travel
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Apps on a plane

Apps on a plane

This gallery is also available as a TechRepublic article.

As someone who frequently travels, I spend plenty of time on airplanes. Thankfully, I can use my Microsoft Surface tablet to either get things done while I’m in the air, or I can use it as an entertainment device. This gallery highlights five apps that I like to use when I fly. All of the apps listed here can be found in the Windows Store.

Figure A
Figure A
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

1. Business Trip

1. Business Trip

The Business Trip app is anrnapp that’s designed to help you to stay organized while on business trips. The app lets you define a series of trips, so that you can keep track of which trip is coming up next and where you have been recently. It costs $2.99 (USD), but a free trial isrnavailable for download.

3BusinessTrip2.12814.jpg
3BusinessTrip2.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Business Trip destination details

Business Trip destination details

Business Trip allows you to store information such as flightrnand hotel details for each trip. 

4BusinessTrip3.12814.jpg
4BusinessTrip3.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Business Trip Transportation

Business Trip Transportation

This view shows detailed travel information.

5BusinessTrip4.12814.jpg
5BusinessTrip4.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Business Trip Accommodation

Business Trip Accommodation

You can also add expensesrnsuch as meals and entertainment to a trip. 

6BusinessTrip5.12814.jpg
6BusinessTrip5.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Business Trip Other Expense

Business Trip Other Expense

This view shows all other travel expenses.

Figure B
Figure B
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Business Trip Report

Business Trip Report

When you’re done, the apprncan build an expense report based on the information that you’ve provided. 

8BusinessTrip7.12814.jpg
8BusinessTrip7.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Business Trip report attachment

Business Trip report attachment

There’s even an option tornexport the data to an Excel spreadsheet, and the app keeps the spreadsheetrnassociated with the trip.

9AirHockey1.12814.jpg
9AirHockey1.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

2. AirHockey

2. AirHockey

rn

I actually have several games installed on my Windows 8rnlaptop and on my Surface tablet. The reason why I chose to mention AirHockeyrnis because, unlike my other games, this one allows for two players. I’ve foundrnthat it’s great for those times when I’m flying with my wife and I want tornplay a game, but don’t want to ignore her. AirHockey is set up in a way thatrnallows us to play head-to -head. We are both fiercely competitive and have a lotrnof fun playing air hockey on a long flight.

10AirHockey2.12814.jpg
10AirHockey2.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

AirHockey ranking

AirHockey ranking

AirHockey allows you to rank your gameplay.

11AirHockey3.12814.jpg
11AirHockey3.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

AirHockey Survival mode

AirHockey Survival mode

You can compare your score to other players.

12AirHockey4.12814.jpg
12AirHockey4.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

AirHockey Upgrade

AirHockey Upgrade

AirHockey is free, but like many free games, AirHockey contains ads. However, you can upgrade to an ad-free version.

Figure C
Figure C
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

AirHockey play mode

AirHockey play mode

In case you are wondering,rnAirHockey does offer a single player mode that allows you to play against therncomputer. 

Figure D
Figure D
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

AirHockey in action

AirHockey in action

Here you can see what the gameplay looks like in AirHockey.

15FlightAware1.12814.jpg
15FlightAware1.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

3. FlightAware

3. FlightAware

FlightAware is an app thatrnI find myself using very frequently. The application is designed to let yourntrack flights. 

Figure E
Figure E
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

FlightAware Flight number

FlightAware Flight number

You can look up a flight byrnroute, flight number, tail number, etc. 

17FlightAware3.12814.jpg
17FlightAware3.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

FlightAware Airport

FlightAware Airport

You can search FlightAware by airport.

18FlightAware4.12814.jpg
18FlightAware4.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

FlightAware Arrivals

FlightAware Arrivals

One of the perils of flyingrnis that sometimes flights run late. A delayed flight can be especiallyrnproblematic if you have to catch a connection. 

19FlightAware5.12814.jpg
19FlightAware5.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

FlightAware details

FlightAware details

If I’m on a flight that’s arriving late and I have a connection to catch, then as soon as the plane lands (and it’s safe to use cell service), I’ll use FlightAware to look up my connection. By doing so, I can find out how much time I have to catch the connection, and what gate it is leaving out of. 

Figure F
Figure F
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

FlightAware results

FlightAware results

If I’ve already missed a connection, I can use FlightAware to find out what other options exist for getting to my destination.

Figure G
Figure G
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

4. Kindle

4. Kindle

rn

Sometimes, a long flight can be the perfect excuse torncatch up on your reading. Of course, most people probably don’t want to weighrndown their carry on with a stack of books. Thanks to Amazon’s Kindle app, you don’t have to.

Figure H
Figure H
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Kindle book collection

Kindle book collection

A few years back, the Amazon Kindle was arguably therne-reader of choice. Over time, of course, dedicated e-readers have given way tornfull-blown tablets. Not to be outdone, Amazon offers a free Kindle app for allrnthe most popular tablets.  This app makesrnit easy to take your book collection with you when you travel.

23Kindle3.12814.jpg
23Kindle3.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Kindle book view

Kindle book view

Here you can see a book as it appears on the Kindle app.

24Kindle4.12814.jpg
24Kindle4.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Kindle Store

Kindle Store

Here are some offerings from the Kindle Store.

25MetroMediaPlayer1.12814.jpg
25MetroMediaPlayer1.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

5. Metro Media Player

5. Metro Media Player

rn

I have to admit that when I fly, I usually spend most ofrnmy time in the air watching movies on Metro Media Player. I almost never get a chance to watch moviesrnor television at home, so before I travel, I load up my tablet with digitalrncopies of the movies that I want to see.

Figure I
Figure I
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Metro Media Player viewer

Metro Media Player viewer

Metro Media Player playsrnboth music and videos.

Figure J
Figure J
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Metro Media Player Files

Metro Media Player Files

I’ll be the first to admit that Metro Media Playerrnisn’t as feature rich as some of the other media players that are available,rnbut that’s actually what I like about it. The media player is light weight and doesn’t overwhelm you with a bunch of unnecessary features, which is a goodrnthing when all you want to do is to watch a movie on the flight home after arnlong day. 

28MetroMediaPlayer4.12814.jpg
28MetroMediaPlayer4.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Metro Media Player movie

Metro Media Player movie

Watching a movie with Metro Media Player.

29MetroMediaPlayer5.12814.jpg
29MetroMediaPlayer5.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Metro Media Player screen size

Metro Media Player screen size

You can adjust the screen size with Metro Media Player.

30MetroMediaPlayer6.12814.jpg
30MetroMediaPlayer6.12814.jpg
Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

Metro Media Player volume

Metro Media Player volume

You can also adjust the volume with Metro Media Player.

  • Developer
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling

    Your email has been sent

Share: Five Apps: Make the best use of your Microsoft Surface tablet while traveling
Image of Brien Posey
By Brien Posey
* 1988 - Started teaching myself about computers \ * 1992 - Mainframe programmer for an insurance company \ * 1993 - Network Administrator for a different insurance company \ * 1996 - Author for The Cobb Group \ * 1998 - Network Administrator
  • Account Information

    Contact Brien Posey

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Brien's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Employee performance review policy

    PURPOSE The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to provide guidelines for employee performance reviews, which will clearly document accomplishments and areas of opportunity via an encouraging and thought-provoking analysis. This will assist in determining the next steps for employees as well as their future at the organization. This policy can be customized ...

    Published:  March 20, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 21, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Employee time off policy

    PURPOSE The purpose of this policy from TechRepublic Premium is to provide guidelines for requesting, filing and permitting paid/unpaid time off as well as to ensure coverage during holidays, vacation(s) and other absences where staffing levels must be consistent to meet the needs of the business. From the policy: TIME OFF GUIDELINES All time off ...

    Published:  March 20, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 21, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Employee privacy policy

    PURPOSE This policy describes the organization’s employee privacy guidelines and outlines employee privacy expectations. From the policy: POLICY DETAILS The organization’s IT equipment, services and systems are intended for business use only. However, the organization acknowledges that staff, consultants and volunteers occasionally require opportunities to make or receive personal phone calls, access personal email, utilize ...

    Published:  March 19, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 20, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Security response policy

    PURPOSE The purpose of this Security Response Policy from TechRepublic Premium is to outline the security incident response processes which must be followed. This policy will assist to identify and resolve information security incidents quickly and effectively, thus minimizing their business impact and reducing the risk of similar incidents recurring. It includes requirements for both ...

    Downloads
    Published:  March 19, 2023, 12:00 PM EDT Modified:  March 20, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice