iPhone Apps

05/20/2012 12:40

Since we all use iPhones, I thought that I’d pass along some Kraków-related apps that might come in handy. I have these loaded on my phone and use them almost everyday. Many of the apps related to Kraków in the App Store are free. Do some searching for “Poland” and/or “Krakow” and see if anything interests you. Here are some of the ones that I use below.

Collins Polish Dictionary

This one is definitely not a freebie. It costs $14.99, but it’s a really handy app to have if you’re serious about the language, mainly because it goes both ways. Mary, that doesn’t mean what you’re thinking. It means that it translates not only from Polish to English, but also English to Polish.  Actually, the one below that I’ve listed after this one might be sufficient if you think you’d want to have a dictionary handy, but don’t want to shell out fifteen bucks. Anyway, here’s a link to the more expensive one:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/collins-polish-dictionary/id320743577?mt=8

BitKnights Polish English Dictionary and Translator:

This one costs $3.99, and it also goes both ways, just that it doesn’t have as large a vocabulary as the bigger one. It might be worth downloading, just in case you found yourself somewhere and, for example, see a sign and have no idea what it means. It’s an easy app to use once you learn how to input the Polish letters (very easy).

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/polish-english-dictionary/id322969233?mt=8

Currency Converter

This one is a freebie, and I use it every day to keep track of the Dollar and Zloty. In all probability, the Dollar/Zloty ratio won’t change much when we’re there, but the app is very convenient to have anyway.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/currency/id284220417?mt=8

Krakow Map

If you go to the app store on your iPhone, you can find numerous maps and guides to Krakow. I have a couple on my phone, all of which are okay but not great. Actually, as I’m writing this I just downloaded one called “Krakow Map and Walking Tours.” It seems okay, and the lite version is free. Here’s a link for more information:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/krakow-map-and-walking-tours/id358102525?mt=8

Note: The key thing about any map app, if you decide to download is that it should be an actual download onto your phone, i.e., not something that you need Internet connectivity to receive. That way, when it’s already in your phone memory, you can view it anywhere you are and don’t need to have online access.

Polish Radio

There are numerous ways to listen to Polish radio via different apps. The one that I’m currently using, though, contains some talk-oriented radio that I can’t find on other apps. It also, however, lets you pick from several hundred stations and set up favorites. It costs .99 but is fun to listen to from time to time. Here’s the announcer: “Polish word Polish word Polish word Polish word ZZ TOP!!! Polish word Polish word Polish word.” Check out the station called “Krakow.” It’s fun to hear the mixture of things Poles listen to on their stations.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sloochaj!/id350353249?mt=8