The next time you pack for a trip to Europe, leave those hefty guide books at home.
DK Publishing, the company behind the popular Eyewitness Travel Guides, is producing its guides as apps for the iPad. First up, Paris, followed by London, then New York.
The digital Paris guide is organized similarly to its printed counterpart, with categories like Top Attractions, Area by Area and History of Paris. Included are an interactive map of the city and its neighborhoods, detailed drawings of the top sites to visit and illustrated walking tours.
Also included are suggestions for places to eat, drink, shop and sleep. Need to know the difference between a bistro and a brasserie? What kind of wine or water to order? Where smoking is allowed? How to use a payphone? The 236MB app provides useful tips, including terms to know, ratings, pricing, tipping and how to get around by rail, bus, car and foot.
An interactive map pinpoints hotels, restaurants and other Parisian accommodations, which is convenient if you’re staying, for instance, in the Marais and want to find a nearby cafe, bar, post office or Metro stop. A tap on a pinpoint reveals more information, like an address, a telephone number and hours of operation. To help navigate the streets of Paris, the iPad’s GPS chip reveals your location on the map, which can flip over to reveal a color-coded Metro map.
A new feature, Paris in Pictures, includes dozens of color photographs of Parisian attractions to provide inspiration for what to do while you’re there. Still can’t decide? The Paris app has suggestions for exploring, including the must-see churches, museums, parks, gardens and 90-minute walking tours.
The best new feature is a heart button that helps you personalize your trip. Tap on the button, and the app will remember your favorite shops, restaurants and attractions. All you have to do is remember to pack your iPad.
source: gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment