If you like to keep an eye on development in the realm of tech, it’ll come as no surprise the bods at our favorite technology companies are hard at work on brand new technological playthings.

We are always on the lookout for something fresh, something exciting and innovative to play with. We want a whole host of new distractions. Fortunately, companies like Google and Apple are always happy to indulge us. For those looking for big 2014 trends, it’s best to look at recent releases. These are the apps that are just appearing on the radar, the apps that are bound to make waves next year. When it comes to driving and using a mobile device if you’re not sure what is and isn’t okay to check with your insurance company. According to Direct Asia you are four times more likely to crash if you are using a mobile phone. So always be safe, and concentrate on the road.

Here’s a guide to the top driving apps for 2014.

iOnRoad Augmented Driving

The rather amazing possibilities presented by augmented reality apps means that this technology is making waves. Industry experts believe that it won’t be long before we’re all using this kind of technology, before automotive manufacturers are installing this kind of technology in their brand new vehicles. It’s certainly true that high-profile manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz are climbing over one another to be the first to develop augmented windshield technology. The iOnRoad app sits on a windshield and scans your driving environment. It takes about a minute to process the surroundings, before providing a driver with a whole range of details – their speed, the speed of other drivers, the correct lanes to move into and the proximity of nearby vehicles.

PlugShare Charging Map

At the moment, the public infrastructure for electric vehicle charging is a bit of a mess. Whilst some stations are completely free, there are lots of stations that require payment. In some cases, you have to be preregistered with a charging station network. In other cases, you can just rock right up and fill your boots. If you consider the fact that the government is so keen for us all to start driving hybrids, it is rather odd that it hasn’t made using those hybrids very easy at all. The PlugShare app is designed to help the owners of hybrid vehicles identify the charging stations located throughout the country. It is bound to be an invaluable app for motorists, as it will inform drivers of all the information that pertains to their use of a particular charging station.

Waze GPS Navigation

There aren’t many people who have heard of Waze, but that is set to change. In June, Google shelled out more than a billion dollars to buy the software. Waze is a navigation app, but it is so much more than that at the same time. It is the very first system that integrates GPS navigation with up to date social media notifications. The Waze app uses community driven user data to deliver a service that can help drivers avoid traffic jams, road accidents, speed traps, dangerous conditions, and even the most expensive gas prices. Generally speaking, it does everything that Google Maps can do but it does it better – we have seen time and time again that community driven platforms always work successfully. Google is planning to merge the Waze software with its own technology, so this app could become the one to watch in 2014.