Embark and HopStop are both Parse-powered apps, which allows them to focus on providing a great UX and not have to worry about servers.

Disclaimer: I work on the Parse team.

Come to Parse Developer Day: http://www.parsedeveloperday.com/

I'm sure Parse has a great team at it's disposal, but once they were purchased by Facebook I wrote them off completely. Absolute last company I want to trust with the system critical infrastructure for my apps is Facebook.

Facebook infrastructure and systems teams are the best I've ever seen, assembled from some of the other best teams I've ever seen.

Or perhaps you're concerned about Facebook changing the business of Parse or shutting it down? They went out of their way to disclaim that when they did the MA, so I would worry about your own business long before I worried about Parse being the reason you win or fail.

Who wants to bet that next year they'll shut down Parse?

What are some good alternatives to Parse then?

Check out FatFractal (http://fatfractal.com). Disclaimer: I'm on the FatFractal team.

I've dabbled with Buddy before. http://www.buddy.com/ I'd recommend them.

If you like transit apps and detailed UX take a look at iPhone/android apps of www.citymapper.com

So far they only launched for NYC and London but they are truly amazing.

They are pretty much the only thing that makes London public transit bearable.

Their mission is: "to save Londoners from London!"

Disclaimer: I know the founders from London quite well.

Looks good. The only app I miss from my iPhone, after moving to Android, is the Transit app: http://thetransitapp.com/

They have an Android app.

Oh nice, looks like they just launched in July!

I've been using the version for London since not long after its launch and I have to say that it is the best app of its type. The update notes on iOS are works of comedic art too. I've used the android version as well, which is also excellent.