LollyMap just submitted to Apple Store...

[LollyMap]

A little story about LollyMap

Let me explain how this application was born. Two years ago I was in the beautiful Swiss city of Basel, after a job meeting I have had time to turn the city as a tourist. I saw beautiful churches and beautiful landscapes are often entered into monuments. Unfortunately I did not know German, and had no time to find a tourist office, to collect material in English, since it usually italian, my language, is difficult to find (later I realized that also in Basel some information papers are in Italian, though not complete).
Well, after that afternoon, I began to think that it would be very useful to have on hand an audio guide, maybe in my own language, which could explain the beauties of the city that I was seeing. Even fantasized about the possibility of knowing where I was, with a GPS, and what points of interest were around me, and detailed information on these points.
Thus were born the first LollyMap, audio guide recorded on regular CD, in MP3 format, which everyone could carry around and use, as appropriate, with one of the appliances that usually all have in the pocket, a normal mobile-phone.
The audio guides were made in Italian and English, and the first concerned the most visited cities in Europe such as Paris, Barcelona, London, Prague ...
Unlike many (I think all) other audio guides, the LollyMap have always used a reading by the computer, with software increasingly powerful and complex, but never a human voice.
This choice, which certainly did not bring a top quality audio, but voices a bit metal, allowed to preceed with the project on a tight budget.
Many lenders, business angels, respondents have not believed in this project, probably not even have understood its significance. In any case there was no possibility of charges for professional studio recordings that should have been remaking the time.
The idea behind LollyMap, in fact, is the dynamism. Not a static description, always the same, but updates and insights related to time. Exhibitions, events and occasions, but also restaurants, hotels, meeting places.
Well something really useful and modern, not a dusty driving range on audio.

Finally, what has allowed the completion of the project, without whom I would not have entered the path that led me to what I think is a very useful tool.
The beautiful iPhone, which has allowed, thanks to the fantastic Alex who knows all the secrets, to have the ideal tool for full use of LollyMap.
The system, leaving the Apple Store November 9, 2009, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and therefore ideal of cultural barriers, social policies in Europe, lets you know where you are and what points of interest around us . A moment later, allows you to hear a voice guide that explains details and particularity.
The system is structured to be updated constantly, not from the iPhone application, which always remains the same, but through the web, where the same appl is to retrieve information and points of interest.
This allows staff to LollyMap, especially if there is, I hope, a strong interest from the public, to add a variable number every day, imagine at least 50 points of interest in Europe.
In this way a few weeks will be completed the first phase, without any change to the user, which will bloom every time some interesting points.
The texts are read in LollyMap are taken from online content, audited, but not Copyright ed. Often used as a reliable source is Wikipedia, but also many sites of tourist information. Of course we also hope that users want to contribute with their own texts, especially if they relate to points of interest are not yet present.
As always, the LollyMap been done with digital voice. It 'possible that there are some imperfections, and we hope that the same users to give us the opportunity to review and place.
LollyMap will be a completely free application, initially will include audio guides in English. Some small banner ads in it, when clicked, will earn a few cents to cover the expenses, in the absence of other sponsors.
Any suggestions or even criticism, especially if constructive, will be much appreciated. The email address is info@lollymap.com.

Fabrizio M.A. Lolli
Lolli CH - LollyMap CEO

P.S. The LollyMap Appl. was submitted to Apple Store, I hope will be availlable from 9th November 2009, a great European anniversaire....

[kobeshaneisback!]

cool
will it work on ipod touch

[LollyMap]

Sure, I forgot, but I also tested on iPod touch. It works !
You can hear all about a city just on your linving room, or in hotel when outside.

Thanks for your reply, hope you'll make me a little advertise elsewhere... !

Fab

[kobeshaneisback!]

awesome,if I ever get to Europe (im a croatian-German-American)and i only went when i was 0ne so ya... cool cant wait to get it when it comes out