Three free iphone apps for travel in Italy
Sorry Blackberry users, but iphones these days are so popular, even the cat has one. If you’re traveling in Italy with your iphone you can take advantage of these three FREE apps to help you on your way.
1) Pronto Treno: Trenitalia’s iphone app is the best way to access train timetables while on the fly. During the #ashcloud crisis it also proved to be the only way to buy tickets (and it works on all smartphones). It’s free. Internet connection required.
2) WorldNomads.com Italian-English translator. Italians LOVE it when you try to order your pizza or simply say thank you (grazie) in their language. When they switch to English immediately it’s not because of your awful accent but because most of them also like practising their English. This app is tried and true (it’s been out since 2006) but it’s free and reasonably reliable. It does not require internet connection.
3) Uffizi Gallery iphone app. Free until May 3d 2010. If you want more information on the paintings you see in the museum, but you don’t want to buy the inane audioguide, this is the app for you. It starts with a map, you click the room you’re in and then it gives you a list of the major works with a photo; click this for more textual information. Not all works are described in detail though there is a basic list. This is based on the database developed by Parallelo for the Uffizi website and it is not a very good app because it’s not in any way interactive or innovative, but at least you don’t have to wade through a heavy guidebook or carry geeky audioguide to get some basic information. And best of all, no internet connection required.
Don’t forget: MAPS is a super useful application when traveling – I couldn’t have found my way to all the conference locations in Venice without it. The compass in the 3G means not only did it find where I was, but it told me in what direction I was pointing. This has come in handy many times since.
Finally, remember… Arttrav uses a wordpress plugin that makes it compatible with all smart phones, so you can use it on the fly without waiting ages for everything to load.
