Paris iPad Apps

I’m neither a technie nor an Apple acolyte, but I love my iPad. It’s perfect for traveling and for tourism. Wireless access is improving in Paris all the time so you really don’t have to spring for a data plan. Since I don't have a data plan on my iPad, I especially appreciate apps that function off-line as well. Below are my picks for French language and Paris-specific iPad apps.

Le Français – Langue et Culture

*** 1) Larousse French-English dictionary ($5.99)

This replaces my Dictionnaire Hachette-Oxford CD-ROM which has no equivalent in the iPad app world and is not compatible with my new computer. (I tried the on-line subscription, but it is inaccessible off line and with the annual subscription fee of about $70, simply not worth it.)The Larousse dictionary works off line and has a voice function for pronunciation. It offers a fairly broad range of options for each entry and pretty much replicates the Hachette-Oxford experience. Now I just need to find a laptop version.

 

** 2) Google Translate (free)

This is a great online app. The translations aren't always perfect, but you can type in a word or sentence and have the translation read to you. You can make a list of frequently needed expressions, but unfortunately you do need to have a network connection in order for it to work.

*** 3) France Culture (free)

France Culture is part of the French state radio system. The app has a radio icon that you press and then select from six national radio stations on a round dial. France Info has round the clock news, sports and weather bulletins every fifteen minutes. Because of the repetition, it's a great resource for French language learners. France Bleu (regional radio), France Inter (general public radio), France Musique (classical music and discussion) and fip (jazz) are also options.

** 4) RFI & MCD (free)

Radio France Internationale airs in ten languages, including French, English and Arabic. The app provides access to live programming on RFI Monde (World) and RFI Afrique, music and the Journal en Français Facile/New in Easy French. “Easy” means that delivery is fractionally slower, the presenters enunciate clearly, there is greater repetition and perhaps more thought given to vocabulary choice, although the overall impression is not one of a learner’s version of the news. The web site provides a very helpful transcript of each newscast, unfortunately inaccessible from the iPad app. I give the app two stars because it doesn’t rotate, which shouldn’t matter since this is RADIO and I’m not looking at the screen, but still.

* 5) France 24 (free)

France24 is the French equivalent of CNN and broadcasts on TV and online in French, English and Arabic. I have problems viewing the video content, but the programming is good so I’m hoping that a future update will fix the bug so I’m not deleting it just yet.

6) Francetv info (free)

It appears that Yahoo news stories were the inspiration for this app. Today’s “top selections” are fascinating titles such as “Pourquoi le nouveau “Dallas” risque de faire un bide.”/“Why the new Dallas may be a flop ?”. Not worth the icon screen space. Delete.

Practical Paris – Daily Life and Tourism

* 1) RATP (free)

The RATP is the Paris transportation system for the métro, bus, RER and Tram lines. The maps can be consulted offline, which is useful. Route planning is possible although somewhat awkward and connectivity is required for most of the tasks.

The itinerary planner is not as effective on the app as on the ratp.fr site. Searches by name rather than address can be difficult. If you attempt to request an itinerary from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, typing Louvre in the 'place' space, one of the options is the Collège Les Louvrais, a middle school in the Paris suburb of Pontoise. "Musée du Louvre" is the sixth suggestion.
Since you need to be connected for all but the most basic tasks, and the random mixing of French and English is not particularly helpful, it may be more helpful to go directly to the www.ratp.fr site, which has an English site button.

** 2) J'aime Paris ♥ "Free Paris" ($2.99)

Free and Frugal paris - Sutro Media

Free and Frugal Paris is written by Christopher Pitts, an American writer living in Paris. A dial in the upper left corner lets you filter for topics such as “Practical” “Picnics” and “Architecture” and very importantly “Wi-Fi Hotspots” which explains in detail how to connect to the free city wireless hotspots. 

The site offers a nice selection of low cost and free things to do and see in Paris off the beaten track. Each entry has a photo (or two or more), a description with address and telephone, and a map. If you touch the photo for an entry, a slideshow will start with multiple photos for that entry.

I don't care for his breakdown of Paris neighborhoods, although I see the reasoning. It would be useful to add the arrondissement number to each of the neighborhoods, for example, his section on the Louvre, located in the 1st, includes entries in the 1st, 2nd and 4th, well out of the neighborhood traditionally associated with the Louvre. There is a nice, detailed city street map and the app functions well off-line.

A very nice and friendly touch, one I haven’t seen on an app, is the space for comments and suggestions from users.

** 3) Fotopedia Paris (free)

This is great armchair travel. The photos are gorgeous and it’s enjoyable to just flip through them. Choose from a selection of 36 themed ‘stories’ from the ubiquitous ‘Paris with Kids’ (but with interesting entries such as the Bercy Kitchen Garden) to more unusual ‘Ceilings’ and ‘French Words’ (one of my favorites). Photos and interesting entries can be saved under “My trips”. After each mini slide show, you’ll be subjected to images from other Fotopedia publications, but they are so beautiful you find yourself dreaming of the next vacation rather being than annoyed by the intrusion.

*** 4) mPassport Paris ($0.99) – Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacies

This is an amazing app and one that travelers should have on hand. The drug glossary alone is worth the download. Drugs are listed with the generic and commercial names in the US and in Paris as well as the preparation types available. Emergency numbers are listed, along with Emergency Rooms and hospitals. A localization function tells you the address of the closest doctor, dentist, hospital or pharmacy. The doctor profiles list their training, languages spoken and you can even request an appointment online. The medical phrases and terms translator is very useful and there is a voice function, although mine doesn’t function and updating the application did not fix the problem.