iPhone in Paris - question from a novice
Apr 14th, 2012, 04:32 AM
#41
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I think you are thinking of an atlas or book of maps. I'm referring to the tool called Maps on your home screen. When you have wifi access, you download a map using the steps above. The iPad remembers the last things you were doing, unless you close or clear something. I'm talking about one map and it can be large (too large to fit on your screen at one time). So after you've downloaded a map that shows, for example, the route between Florence and Siena, and you hit your home button, the map will be there the next time you go into the Maps app.
Very helpful: get a copy of the iPad users guide - free - bookmark one in Safari and get a PDF in iBooks. You can use the PDF if you don't have Internet access and need to look something up.
Very helpful: get a copy of the iPad users guide - free - bookmark one in Safari and get a PDF in iBooks. You can use the PDF if you don't have Internet access and need to look something up.
Apr 14th, 2012, 05:25 AM
#42
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Oh, I see. I think I understand. Not an app but the maps that come built in with the iPad. The map will be there not because I downloaded it but because the iPad sort of freezes the last page I looked at.
Someone mentioned the 2Go Maps above; are you familiar with that app? It seems to get great reviews on iTunes...and for $1.99, if it gets you maps to al the major cities in Europe, as they claim....
Thank you so much for being so patient with me. I do have the iPad guide; they put it on my bookshelf in the store when I bought the device. (Probably could tell that I would need it!)
Someone mentioned the 2Go Maps above; are you familiar with that app? It seems to get great reviews on iTunes...and for $1.99, if it gets you maps to al the major cities in Europe, as they claim....
Thank you so much for being so patient with me. I do have the iPad guide; they put it on my bookshelf in the store when I bought the device. (Probably could tell that I would need it!)
Apr 14th, 2012, 06:24 AM
#43
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It is an app (a program that is designed for a mobile device). You are downloading it. The iPad remembers last download.
What has been explained to me at Apple is that the ipad, iphone, etc. are mobile devices, not computers. You can access Citibank or Open Table, for example, thru Safari. But one might maneuver better with the Citi or OT app because it is specifically designed for a mobile device. Sometimes I like an app better than the traditional website, sometimes not. They are configured differently.
I got an iMac a year and a half ago. I took 'making the transition from pc to Mac' in One-to-One probably a dozen times! That's where the patience comes from. I still go because I don't always 'get it.'
I am going to buy that app for Paris. It sounds great.
What has been explained to me at Apple is that the ipad, iphone, etc. are mobile devices, not computers. You can access Citibank or Open Table, for example, thru Safari. But one might maneuver better with the Citi or OT app because it is specifically designed for a mobile device. Sometimes I like an app better than the traditional website, sometimes not. They are configured differently.
I got an iMac a year and a half ago. I took 'making the transition from pc to Mac' in One-to-One probably a dozen times! That's where the patience comes from. I still go because I don't always 'get it.'
I am going to buy that app for Paris. It sounds great.
Apr 14th, 2012, 09:42 AM
#44
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<i>The map will be there not because I downloaded it but because the iPad sort of freezes the last page I looked at.</i>
Exactly!
<i>Someone mentioned the 2Go Maps above; are you familiar with that app? It seems to get great reviews on iTunes...and for $1.99, if it gets you maps to al the major cities in Europe, as they claim....</i>
That was me.
There are a few different versions. The CityMaps2Go app gives you the option to download <i>just</i> maps for tons of different cities (US too). The more cities you download, the more space it takes on your device, but they're stored there and ready for you to use whenever you need them - no data required. If your device has a GPS (like the iPhone, and I assume the iPad would work this way), it will automatically locate you on the map if you tap the arrow. (If you have an iPod Touch, it doesn't have a GPS, so you have to find yourself.)
The city-specific versions - Paris2Go, London2Go, etc - have the same maps for that city, but also have metro maps and basic information on museums, churches and other attractions. Again, everything is stored on your phone, so no data is required to access it. I think it's worth the extra $2 to have the metro map stored on my phone - it can save time digging around to find one in my bag, and for Paris I actually found the phone version easier to use than my print version. One added plus of the apps is that everyone on the street is looking on their phones, so if the map is on your phone you don't scream "TOURIST!" quite so loudly.
Exactly!
<i>Someone mentioned the 2Go Maps above; are you familiar with that app? It seems to get great reviews on iTunes...and for $1.99, if it gets you maps to al the major cities in Europe, as they claim....</i>
That was me.
There are a few different versions. The CityMaps2Go app gives you the option to download <i>just</i> maps for tons of different cities (US too). The more cities you download, the more space it takes on your device, but they're stored there and ready for you to use whenever you need them - no data required. If your device has a GPS (like the iPhone, and I assume the iPad would work this way), it will automatically locate you on the map if you tap the arrow. (If you have an iPod Touch, it doesn't have a GPS, so you have to find yourself.)The city-specific versions - Paris2Go, London2Go, etc - have the same maps for that city, but also have metro maps and basic information on museums, churches and other attractions. Again, everything is stored on your phone, so no data is required to access it. I think it's worth the extra $2 to have the metro map stored on my phone - it can save time digging around to find one in my bag, and for Paris I actually found the phone version easier to use than my print version. One added plus of the apps is that everyone on the street is looking on their phones, so if the map is on your phone you don't scream "TOURIST!" quite so loudly.
Apr 14th, 2012, 11:08 AM
#45
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The Maps.app that comes with iPhone and iPad streams maps as needed. That is, as you move around or search for something in a different city, it will download the maps and display it.
It caches or stores a certain amount of map data. But if you move out of the area represented by the cached maps, then it would need to download the map data covering your current location.
That is why it needs a data connection of some kind, either Wifi or 3G/4G.
But there are apps. which will pre download the maps for certain areas. Only downside is the cost and it uses up a lot of the storage on your iPhone or iPad. The CityMaps2Go apps seem to be tourist/pedestrian oriented maps and you can see on the iTunes page how much data they are though as you download more apps. they use more storage on your device.
Another kind of mapping applications are the turn-by-turn apps. like Navigon which are for giving your driving directions (it will speak directions on when to turn and so on). These typically are 1 GB or so, or about 7-8% of the storage on a 16 GB iPhone.
My recommendation is also to check out Metr0 (zero at the end), which lets you download maps of metro systems all over the world. I haven't tried it in Paris but have used it in Madrid. You enter your beginning station and ending station and it will tell you which lines to take and when the next train will be, where to switch, etc. It's free and you download the metro systems you're interested in.
It caches or stores a certain amount of map data. But if you move out of the area represented by the cached maps, then it would need to download the map data covering your current location.
That is why it needs a data connection of some kind, either Wifi or 3G/4G.
But there are apps. which will pre download the maps for certain areas. Only downside is the cost and it uses up a lot of the storage on your iPhone or iPad. The CityMaps2Go apps seem to be tourist/pedestrian oriented maps and you can see on the iTunes page how much data they are though as you download more apps. they use more storage on your device.
Another kind of mapping applications are the turn-by-turn apps. like Navigon which are for giving your driving directions (it will speak directions on when to turn and so on). These typically are 1 GB or so, or about 7-8% of the storage on a 16 GB iPhone.
My recommendation is also to check out Metr0 (zero at the end), which lets you download maps of metro systems all over the world. I haven't tried it in Paris but have used it in Madrid. You enter your beginning station and ending station and it will tell you which lines to take and when the next train will be, where to switch, etc. It's free and you download the metro systems you're interested in.
Apr 15th, 2012, 05:15 AM
#46
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Ok, next question. How are you managing the Notes? Are you writing your own notes on the Note app, and is there a way to send links to one,s Notes?
I want to begin saving Notes for upcoming trips. Thanks!
I want to begin saving Notes for upcoming trips. Thanks!
Apr 15th, 2012, 07:28 AM
#47
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You use Notes as you would use paper and pen. The first line of Notes becomes the title so create a note with that in mind - Paris 2012, Dinner Res, etc. You can prepare many useful notes before you leave home - hotel contacts including phone #s, airline info, etc.
When you're out on the road, you can jot down anything - meal details, name of a shop you just discovered, etc. You can email a Note which is very helpful. After your trip, you can copy and paste it from the email while on your computer right into Word to have a 'real' document.
I was on an overnight trip with a friend recently. We each paid for different things and wanted to settle up at the end. i kept a Note of what she spent on cabs, etc. I never would have remembered. The uses are endless.
Emailing important notes to yourself is a safety thing imo.
When you're out on the road, you can jot down anything - meal details, name of a shop you just discovered, etc. You can email a Note which is very helpful. After your trip, you can copy and paste it from the email while on your computer right into Word to have a 'real' document.
I was on an overnight trip with a friend recently. We each paid for different things and wanted to settle up at the end. i kept a Note of what she spent on cabs, etc. I never would have remembered. The uses are endless.
Emailing important notes to yourself is a safety thing imo.
Apr 15th, 2012, 07:54 AM
#48
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Ok, so you mean that you are actually typing in the info on notes, not pasting links or cutting and pasting restaurants reviews, for example (??)
Is there a way to paste links into the Notes? Like maybe an online review about a restaurant?
Is there a way to paste links into the Notes? Like maybe an online review about a restaurant?
Apr 15th, 2012, 08:35 AM
#49
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Yes.
Press your finger on the web address that you want to save (twice I think). When you release your finger, there will be a choice. Select 'copy.'
Go to Notes (either new or existing note)
Press your finger where you want the link.
When you release, there will be a choice.
Select 'paste.' And there it is.
At another time, when you tap on the link in Notes, you will go directly to that site thru Safari.
You can also copy and paste text in a similar way.
Press your finger on the web address that you want to save (twice I think). When you release your finger, there will be a choice. Select 'copy.'
Go to Notes (either new or existing note)
Press your finger where you want the link.
When you release, there will be a choice.
Select 'paste.' And there it is.
At another time, when you tap on the link in Notes, you will go directly to that site thru Safari.
You can also copy and paste text in a similar way.
Apr 15th, 2012, 09:28 AM
#51
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For general notes, I would recommend Evernote, which you can use on multiple iPhones, iPads or whatever and on the Mac too.
You can upload pictures or screenshots and it will index it. For instance, take a pic of a menu and upload it. Later, you can search for some dish that you had and it will find that picture you took, if the menu had the name of the dish you searched on it.
You can copy links to it and if you install Evernote on a Mac (don't know about Windows but probably the same applies), you can select a link and send to Evernote and it will create a new Note with that link in there.
I use Evernote to collect info about all kinds of things, including travel preparation.
However, be aware that you're uploading the notes to a server and their indexing service "sees" everything. So I wouldn't scan your tax returns or bank statements and put them up on Evernote but for just about everything else, it's very useful. Maybe they try to figure out what kind of things you like and what you buy from the notes that you put up there.
It's a completely free service.
I also use Evernote Food which is a specialized app. that lets you remember your meals. I just take photos of the dishes and sometimes put captions on them. It uses the GPS to record where you took those photos and sometimes can find your restaurant based on GPS info. For instance, I had breakfast at this little tapas bar in Sevilla back in February and it found it so I didn't have to enter the name of the place or the address.
Main thing about Evernote is that it syncs the notes you collect across all the computers and devices you may have. With iCloud, the Notes app. can do the same thing. But I don't think its search capabilities, especially with pictures and photos, are as good.
You can upload pictures or screenshots and it will index it. For instance, take a pic of a menu and upload it. Later, you can search for some dish that you had and it will find that picture you took, if the menu had the name of the dish you searched on it.
You can copy links to it and if you install Evernote on a Mac (don't know about Windows but probably the same applies), you can select a link and send to Evernote and it will create a new Note with that link in there.
I use Evernote to collect info about all kinds of things, including travel preparation.
However, be aware that you're uploading the notes to a server and their indexing service "sees" everything. So I wouldn't scan your tax returns or bank statements and put them up on Evernote but for just about everything else, it's very useful. Maybe they try to figure out what kind of things you like and what you buy from the notes that you put up there.
It's a completely free service.
I also use Evernote Food which is a specialized app. that lets you remember your meals. I just take photos of the dishes and sometimes put captions on them. It uses the GPS to record where you took those photos and sometimes can find your restaurant based on GPS info. For instance, I had breakfast at this little tapas bar in Sevilla back in February and it found it so I didn't have to enter the name of the place or the address.
Main thing about Evernote is that it syncs the notes you collect across all the computers and devices you may have. With iCloud, the Notes app. can do the same thing. But I don't think its search capabilities, especially with pictures and photos, are as good.
Apr 15th, 2012, 09:35 AM
#52
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For trip preparation, I use TripIt, another free app and service (though they repeatedly pester you to upgrade to their premium service).
I use it mainly for building itineraries that I print out and take with me. I can log into the web site and upload screenshots (like maps of the areas I will be staying in and visiting) as well as notes from forums like Fodors about restaurants, travel tips, etc.
It will embed Google Maps of the hotels along with weather info automatically. But I don't' use those, just delete them, because I end up printing the itineraries out and you lose the interactive features of the embedded Maps. So I take screenshots of the Maps showing exactly the things I want (from custom Google Maps with pinpoints on the places I'm interested in) and I upload those to TripIt and embed those in my itinerary.
When you get emails of your flight and hotel reservations, you forward them to TripIt and those details will automatically get entered into your itinerary, so you don't have to enter the dates, the prices paid, etc.
You can view the itineraries on your iPhone/iPad but if you've updated your itinerary, you have to have a Wifi or 3G connection in order to download the latest itinerary that you saved (same thing with Evernote).
So when traveling overseas, I just print the itineraries out. The printed ones are better than scrolling through the details on an iPhone screen anyways.
I use it mainly for building itineraries that I print out and take with me. I can log into the web site and upload screenshots (like maps of the areas I will be staying in and visiting) as well as notes from forums like Fodors about restaurants, travel tips, etc.
It will embed Google Maps of the hotels along with weather info automatically. But I don't' use those, just delete them, because I end up printing the itineraries out and you lose the interactive features of the embedded Maps. So I take screenshots of the Maps showing exactly the things I want (from custom Google Maps with pinpoints on the places I'm interested in) and I upload those to TripIt and embed those in my itinerary.
When you get emails of your flight and hotel reservations, you forward them to TripIt and those details will automatically get entered into your itinerary, so you don't have to enter the dates, the prices paid, etc.
You can view the itineraries on your iPhone/iPad but if you've updated your itinerary, you have to have a Wifi or 3G connection in order to download the latest itinerary that you saved (same thing with Evernote).
So when traveling overseas, I just print the itineraries out. The printed ones are better than scrolling through the details on an iPhone screen anyways.
Apr 15th, 2012, 09:42 AM
#53
scrb11 - Evernote Food!! How did I miss that?? Thanks so much!
OP - be sure to download the Paris Metro app (which works offline meaning you don't need to be connected to either wifi or cell networks) - it makes using the Metro so easy (and the bus too I think but we didn't take buses)
http://www.metroparisiphone.com/index_en.html
OP - be sure to download the Paris Metro app (which works offline meaning you don't need to be connected to either wifi or cell networks) - it makes using the Metro so easy (and the bus too I think but we didn't take buses)
http://www.metroparisiphone.com/index_en.html
Apr 15th, 2012, 12:00 PM
#54
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eks - not at all. You probably will have more questions - just ask!
btw - you should put a security code on your ipad (Settings). Remember, your email is open and should you lose your device, anyone can get into your email without your password unless you use a security code. When I'm home, I turn it off, but when I'm out, I set it to 5 minutes. Use it on my phone too. It can be annoying, but the day I'm too lazy to turn it on will surely be the day that I leave it in a cab!
scrb11 - thanks for that suggestion. I will look into it. Lots of capabilities.
Elizabeth_S I just downloaded that app. It looks amazing. I have seen the future!
btw - you should put a security code on your ipad (Settings). Remember, your email is open and should you lose your device, anyone can get into your email without your password unless you use a security code. When I'm home, I turn it off, but when I'm out, I set it to 5 minutes. Use it on my phone too. It can be annoying, but the day I'm too lazy to turn it on will surely be the day that I leave it in a cab!
scrb11 - thanks for that suggestion. I will look into it. Lots of capabilities.
Elizabeth_S I just downloaded that app. It looks amazing. I have seen the future!
Apr 15th, 2012, 05:04 PM
#56
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What if you don't realize it's gone for a few hours? I don't want anyone rummaging through my email.
scrb11 - MetrO app is not a zero; it's an O. I just downloaded it. Thank you for the recommendation. I can't wait to use it.
Bottom line: Just spoke to my source at Apple. As many of you have said, wifi is wifi and you can use it for internet access without 3G. It does NOT matter whether your 3G is VW or ATT when using wifi. Thanks for everyone's help.
scrb11 - MetrO app is not a zero; it's an O. I just downloaded it. Thank you for the recommendation. I can't wait to use it.
Bottom line: Just spoke to my source at Apple. As many of you have said, wifi is wifi and you can use it for internet access without 3G. It does NOT matter whether your 3G is VW or ATT when using wifi. Thanks for everyone's help.
Apr 15th, 2012, 05:11 PM
#57
CPG - a lot of the applications on the Metro App home page require a 3G connection (or maybe wifi) but the really useful one is the trip planner - you plug in the station you are starting from and where you want to end up and it tells you the best route. You don't need to be on either 3G or wifi for that - the information has been downloaded to the handset. It was invaluable trying to navigate the spaghetti metro maps!
Apr 15th, 2012, 05:15 PM
#58
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Elizabeth - I think I read somewhere that it works while in the metro. If that is true, that will be amazing. Here in NY, we don't have that option while in the subways - at least not yet.
Apr 15th, 2012, 10:33 PM
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Apr 16th, 2012, 03:56 AM
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And about texting: iMessage works on wifi, but it is only for apple to apple. Regular texting requires 3G. So with wifi, I will be able to text to other iPhone users while in France. Good to know.
