Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow

Visit Thailand on the iPad

The first iPad app to be published by the Tourism Authority of Thailand celebrates the stunning beauty of Thailand's cultures, locales and traveling experience through an array of brochures and magazines. The published material contains breathtaking photography and engaging articles perfect for regular and potential travelers planning trips or reminiscing about Thailand's picturesque beauty.

I think there is a difference between the kind of apps that you do for the iPhone and then for the iPad. A good thing about the iPad is that you can use it to flip through picture books. That is one advantage over the Kindle as you can view the pictures in glorious colour. This is basically what the TAT have done with their first of a series of "books" for their VisitThailand app for the iPad. This is basically a library app where you will be able to download various colour brochures about Thailand. The first one available today is "Phuket". The e-magazine is split up into several sections: 12 Beaches & Bays, 15 Major Sights & Attractions,Tours & Cruises, 5 Sporting Opportunities, 6 Special Events and Getting there & Accommodation.

Don't expect too much and then you won't be disappointed. There is a map but neither that nor any of the pages are interactive. There are three videos embedded into the pages though the first two are advertisements for Thailand and only the last focuses on Phuket itself. It is a surprisingly large app at 185 MB. I presume most of that is taken up with the Phuket brochure though I am not sure why. The first page is an empty bookcase with only the Phuket brochure on display. I wonder how big this will get by the time they have finished. I did have a few problems with it to start with as it kept crashing and two of the videos wouldn't play. But, it seems alright now after I have re-booted the iPad. I know it is free, but I am not sure if it is really worth downloading such a large app just for a dozen pages!