HearPlanet: Audio Guide to the World app for iPhone and iPad

4.8 ( 9888 ratings )

Travel Reference Navigation
Developer: HearPlanet

3.99 USD

Current version: 4.5.2, last update: 7 years ago
First release : 26 Mar 2009
App size: 14.56 Mb

The Worlds Largest Audio Guide
As seen in Apples iPhone ads and featured in the NY Times, Washington Post, USA Today, National Geographic, United Airlines, CNET, CNN, Fx Business News, Westways, Salon.com (more at www.HearPlanet.com/news).

HearPlanet 4.x Includes:
- "Universal Application" Full screen on iPad & iPhone
- iPhone 5 screen format
- Receive notifications when featured places are nearby (Go to: More > Settings > Notifications to customize settings.)*
- Plus many more enhancements and updates!

* HearPlanet makes every effort to assure efficient use of your devices power resources. When featured Location notifications are on, we utilize Apples power efficient "Significant-Change Location Service" in the background to notify you of cool places when youre traveling. This said, we are required to make the disclaimer that, "Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life."

Additional HearPlanet (Premium Version) features:
- Save and sort locations, and download content for offline use. (Just tap Action (+) and Save to Collection from any list. You can create Collections of places you want to visit, customize the order to create tours, and download to use offline whenever youre traveling or without a data connection. Even works in Airplane Mode.)
- One tap play/pause (with window-shade audio controls on iPhone).
- Geolocation finds the attractions closest to you.
- Search for places anywhere in the world by searching for What? and/or Where? to find locations you want.
- Filter places and searches by category; including Landmarks, Recreation, Culture and Entertainment, Food and Drink, and more.
- Toggle between text and map views (includes Apples Vector Maps in iOS 6)
- New content and sources added all the time.
- Global coverage with over 300,000 locations
- Share places with friends and family, sending postcards via email, Facebook and SMS.
- Save Favorites for quick access
- Customize what sources are included in your content feed.
- Specify your start mode.
- Turn detail pop-ups on/off.
- Turn Auto Play on/off (plays next item when item before is done).
- Distance in Miles or Kilometers.

Heres what Apples Ads say about HearPlanet:
“Imagine a guidebook that speaks to you. With iPhone as your audio guide you’ll get the scoop on landmarks, historic sites and more – in countless cities worldwide – without taking your eyes off the sights.”

Your iPhone or iPad is now your Audio Guide to the World.

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In the News:
National Geographic Adventure Magazine: "Looking for the coolest attractions nearby? HearPlanet will find them… Like having a tour guide in your pocket…”
United Airlines’ Hemispheres Magazine: "The best kind of travel guide -- one that requires no reading." "an exhaustive audio guidebook...”
Salon.com: “If you like to go sightseeing when you travel, then you’ll love HearPlanet.”

Users Reviews:
“This is a great app! …found interesting facts about places nearby. Excellent stuff.” D.T. – UK
“Very very impressive app indeed! Will be using this extensively!” Brunott – South Africa
“I learnt more about the place I’ve lived for 20 years than I ever knew.” M.S. – UK
“I use this all the time while traveling now. Great way to learn about a location.” Sivmica – US

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You’ll be amazed how easy it is to access all the landmarks, historic sites, cultural spots, nature areas, famous buildings, sports venues, recreation areas and more, in a way that really speaks to you. It’s like having a professional tour guide always by your side!

Use HearPlanet to learn all about the places you go, as well as what’s around you every day. It’s a great way to learn about your surroundings and you’ll be amazed at what you find.

We appreciate your feedback and were working hard to deliver the features you request. Send feedback directly to appfeedback@hearplanet.com. We’d love to hear what you think and what you’d like to see next.

Pros and cons of HearPlanet: Audio Guide to the World app for iPhone and iPad

HearPlanet: Audio Guide to the World app good for

This app is fantastic for anyone who transports passengers. Just plug it in to your vehicles stereo system and they can select what they want to hear about.

Such a great app! I drive all over and this app always helps me locate new and interesting sites. I also often discover something new about a location in my own back yard. Thanks to this app I often find myself knowing more about a particular location that the people who live there! The updated voice is superb; less robotic than the previous. Not much more to say, its a great app!

I have been learning about places near and far (not even traveling). I cant wait to take this on vacation and learn as I am standing in the area. Wish they used wikipedia for more of the history. Many local doctors and livery services pop up which I have no interest in.

Much better than the previous version. Packed with good information.

Fun facts about everywhere we visit. Keeps me informed and us fun for the kids.

I drive about twenty thousand miles a year for pleasure. A few moments of study each evening and I am rewarded with finding the jewels of new neighborhoods. A great travel companion.

Some bad moments

This program is quite poor for overseas travelling, where you might not have a cellular data connection at all times. The program wont even open if you dont have internet access. It would be ideal to be able to download the info (even just the text and pictures) while at the hotel using wifi, then listen to it while touring around the city. Once realizing this, instant buyers regret. Also, the mapping function is pretty much as basic as it gets.

This app sounded like a fantastic idea, but when I actually tried it, I was disappointed. It has a clumsy user interface with many shortfalls and is not what I have come to expect from a good iPhone application. For example, hitting the locate button brings you back to the list page instead of staying in the map page. The selection of points of interest are very limited. The only things available around my area were some voice synthesized wiki articles, many of which were not too useful, e.g. one entry reads out the list of stores at a nearby mall and their floor areas. Still, if you want an automated, location aware wiki reader, this could actually provide some some utility for you. It was not what I had in mind though as I was looking for something that would work well as a travel guide.

Wiki2Go works just as well except it doesnt read out the article in a synthesized computer voice like HearPlanet. I cant believe this costs $4.99, thanks goodness I got it during the free promotion.

Good idea, but a virtual test run indicates that instead of drawing my attention to the French restaurant a few kilometers from my home, the app indicates the nearest one is 751 miles from here. Conclusion? Unreliable and invalid information generated when using the search feature.

The app is only a computer voice teasing off Wikipedia about sites you are near. Dont waste your money

Havent used this app in a while but now find I must login via FB (no access to content without it). Whats with this??

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