We’re proud to announce that Explore Singapore is the third of our award-winning subway maps for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to reach version 6.0

Version 6.0 includes the newly opened Circle Line extension with new stations at Bayfront and Marina Bay.

With version 6.0 we re-wrote the map code from the ground up to be faster. The app now loads quicker, and zooming in and out should be smooth, even on older devices.

The other big new feature is tips. Ever wondered what points of interest are close to a subway stop? Now you can tap on any station, then tap on Tips to see what’s nearby.

Tap the thumbs up button on any tip which you find useful. And if you know a great local restaurant, attraction or a clever shortcut, you can add your own tip:

You can also view a list of the most popular tips for the whole city.

Explore Singapore 6.0 is a free update for existing users. Not got Explore Singapore yet? Download it now from the iTunes App Store.

It’s been a tough few months for commuters in Singapore, with frequent breakdowns plaguing the usually reliable MRT system. Finally there’s some good news for Singaporeans as the long-awaited Circle Line Extension opens! The new link connects the Circle Line with a new station at Bayfront and an interchange with the North South Line at Marina Bay.

We’ve updated our online map with the new stations, an update to our Explore Singapore MRT iPhone app will be available soon.

The Singapore MRT’s Circle Line new extension will open tomorrow, October 8. The new stations extend the line from Marymount to Harbourfront where you can interchange with the North-East Line. There’s another new interchange at Buona Vista with the East-West Line.

An update for our Explore Singapore MRT map is now available on the iTunes App Store. It’s a free update for all users who have purchased the app in the past! Our online map www.exploresg.com has also been updated with the new stations.

Note this is a beta release - we don’t yet have some information for the new stations, such as first/last train times and journey costs. We’ll provide a new update as soon as we get this information added.

• Shanghaiist has a good round-up of news after the crash on Shanghai’s Metro Line 10. Power failure and human error are said to have caused the crash.
• In Beijing, a new interchange passageway has shortened transfer times at the notoriously slow Xizhimen station
• Singapore’s Circle Line will be extended, with the official opening on October 8. We’ll blog about the changes to Explore Singapore later in the week.

• Two roads in downtown Shanghai (Qufu Road and Damuqiao Road) close to make way for Line 12 metro construction
• On October 2 you’ll be able to take free rides on Singapore’s expanded Circle Line. The official opening is October 8.
• Read a review of our iPhone apps on SimonBlog

We’re pleased to announce that version 3.1 of our metro maps for iPhone and iPad, fixing the crashing bug for users with iOS3, is now available on the iTunes App Store. It’s a free update for all users.

Today, we’re launching a major update to our apps! Explore Beijing, Explore Shanghai, Explore Guangzhou, Explore Hong Kong, Explore Taipei and Explore Singapore have all been updated to version 3.0. This includes new native support for iPad and iPad 2!

We’ve taken the best features of the iPhone/iPod touch experience and redesigned them to work on the iPad’s larger screen. Here’s what you’ll see when you start Explore Shanghai.

Of course, the metro map takes centre stage. You can search for a station with the search bar, or tap on any station for timetables and route-planning:

Notice the “flip” button? A great new feature is the ability to “flip” the screen to see a large Google Map of the station and surrounding area:

Other nearby stations are highlighted. You can also tap the “locate” button  to centre the map on your current location.

Because the apps are “Universal” apps, they work both on iPhone/iPod touch (including retina graphics!) and iPad/iPad 2. If you’ve already bought one of our apps for iPhone, you can install it on iPad for free. And of course, updating to version 3.0 is free. Not downloaded yet? Our apps cost just $1.99 on the iTunes App Store: download now!

We’d love to hear your feedback about ways to improve our apps. Do get in touch if you find any bugs or have any suggestions!

Our metro map apps will soon support the iPad! We want to ensure it’s a great experience, so we’ll be optimising the interface to work better on the bigger iPad screen.

Check out the screenshot of the version in development, and look out for an announcement over the next few weeks!

Every app, every city, just $0.99

From now until December 15th you can buy any ExploreMetro iPhone app for just $0.99! That’s 50% off the regular price. Whether you live in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Taipei, Singapore or Hong Kong, or are planning a trip there during 2011, be sure to grab a copy today!

Buy one for you, get one for a friend!

The first 100 people who buy an ExploreMetro app will be eligible for a FREE extra copy to send to a friend! That’s right, just purchase any ExploreMetro iPhone app, and forward your iTunes email receipt to iphone at exploremetro dot com. We’ll send you a promo code which you can give to your friend for a free copy of the same app! Hurry, stocks are limited, we only have 100 free apps to give away!

The small print:

• Promo codes will work in any country, the recipient will require an iTunes account
• Promo code will be for the same app you purchase.
• Limited to one code per person
• Only 100 free apps available, we’ll update this blog post once we’ve sold out

Version 2.7 of Explore Singapore for iPhone is now available in the iTunes App Store! As well as being the latest app to be updated for retina display graphics, we’ve also added support for LRT lines and stations, including the Bukit Panjang LRT, Sengkang LRT and Punggol LRT.

Each LRT station includes the English/Chinese name and street map. We’ll be adding support for the journeyplanner with times and prices in the next update! If you have any other suggestions to improve our LRT support, do get in touch!

Explore Singapore is a free update for our existing users. Download it now!