'Not For Tourists' comes to the iPhone with Manhattan City Guide app
I'm not going to lie. I've been waiting to buy an iPhone in hopes that Apple will include other service providers once its contract is over with AT&T. But it's been hard, and I mean hard -- especially when I'm lost in Manhattan wishing I was able to access my trusty Google Maps on my Stone Age cell phone. Do I bend and give in to a two-year AT&T plan? Never. But I questioned my decision after hearing the latest news about a new iPhone app from the creators of the "Not For Tourists."
The Not For Tourists Manhattan City Guide app was released June 4, 2009, and will most likely be making many NFT fans happy. NFT is a series of books which provide basically everything you need to know about select major cities -- whether you're a local or are just visiting. The series provides guides for cities like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Washington D.C., Chicago, and even London, to name a few. The small, but jam-packed books are written and designed by savvy city dwellers, and are easy to understand. You'll definitely find tips and info in here that only locals would know.
The New Yorker described NFT well: "...For people who don't want to be seen carrying a guide book." After moving to Manhattan, I survived solely off of my NFT book. But I do have to admit that carrying it around every day added some weight to my bag. Now that the book has been iPhone-ized, it's one less thing for me to lug around -- assuming I give in and buy an iPhone.
The NFT Manhattan City Guide is $4.99, but a good investment if you don't want to be "That Guy" opening a huge map in the middle of Times Square. With this app, you probably won't even be in the tourist capital of the world with all of the suggestions written by New York City-dwelling editors.
The nice thing about the app is that it works without being connected to the Internet, which means you can use it while sitting on the subway.
Check out the full description from NFT Founder Jane Pirone after the jump.
Not For Tourists (NFT) is a collective of writers who live, work, explore, and play in major U.S. and European cities. We’re constantly on the lookout for the most amazing urban places from mouthwatering restaurants to offbeat landmarks to the coolest indie shops. NFT is like having a best friend in every neighborhood.
NFT’s Manhattan iPhone App will put the most important island in the world in the comfort of your own pocket. Packed with 30 neighborhoods, over 7,000 listings, and beautiful custom interactive maps, you’ll be able to browse by ‘nabe on the subway or find the closest thing you need right now on the streets of Manhattan—whether it’s a hip coffee shop (you’re sleepy), power lunch spot (you’re business savvy), old-school dive bar (you’re thirsty), private library (you’re brainy), farmers market (you’re healthy), or hotel by the hour (you’re…we won’t go there).
But here’s the real deal. NFT isn’t the Yellow Pages, Yelp. We won’t waste your time by serving you five zillion listings just because they’re in our database. NFT will give you places that we actually think are GOOD with punchy, honest descriptions that will make you laugh out loud. NFT also isn’t like other guidebook apps that just regurgitate boring book content and then charge an arm and leg for it. The NFT iPhone app is a totally new concept that locals and travelers will appreciate.
So let’s review: Amazing maps, invaluable listings, neighborhood overviews, entertaining blurbs for each listing, all on your iPhone for only $4.99. Why isn’t it free, you ask? Because: you get what you pay for, dear friends…trust us. We won’t let you down.
Here’s hoping you find what you need...
Jane Pirone Founder Not For Tourists
Manhattan is the only city in which NFT has made an iPhone for so far, but I'm guessing other cities will be coming in the near future. Check out the app here.