Filed under: Software, Features, Internet Tools, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Five Apps for leaf-peepers
It's autumn here in the northern hemisphere, and where I live, in New England (and elsewhere around the US too), that brings leaf-peepers. What's a leaf-peeper? It's a tourist, typically from New York or New Jersey, who visits rural New England to observe the beautiful autumn leaves. It's a big deal for us. Each year we New Englanders take a break from eating cranberries, disavowing the Red Sox and pahkig the cah in Harvard yahd to view nightly news reports on peak leaf-viewing projections, which states are changing first and at what rate, etc.Fortunately, there's an app for that. Five, in fact, and here they are.
Rest Area
If you're traveling from out-of-state, you could encounter unfamiliar highways ... not good when you got to go, if you know what I mean. Is the next rest area 5 miles away or 35? Rest Area [iTunes link] knows the answer. It displays the nearest pit stops as well as what facilities each one has, like bathrooms, vending machines, restaurants, etc. Rest Area costs $0.99US.
Gallery: Autumn Apps
Park Maps
To maximize your viewing pleasure, you'll want to visit a rural area. Some of the best scenery can be found in our National Parks, and Park Maps [iTunes link] will aid your navigation. It downloads GPS-enabled maps so you needn't be connected to use them (though you'll need an iPhone 3G or 3GS for GPS navigation). With more than 250 maps available, chances are you'll find what you're after. Park Maps costs $0.99US.
Tree ID
Know what you're looking at! Tree ID [iTunes link] is a database of thousands of images, illustrations and notations to help you identify any tree in the USA. It was developed with Jason Siniscalchi, a PhD in Forest Resource Science, so you know it's reliable. Also, the App Store page notes that a full list of fall trees will appear in a future update. Tree ID costs $3.99US.
Locavore
It's harvest time and the farmers markets are bursting with fruit and produce. Locavore [iTunes link] can detect what US state you're in and provide you with a list of what's in season as well as where you can buy it. Conversely, you can enter the food you're interested in and Locavore will tell you where it's ready to eat. Locavore costs $2.99US.
Autumn
Finally, Autumn [iTunes link] is for those of you who don't get to experience the change in person. Much like Koi Pond [iTunes link], Autumn presents a tranquil scene for you to manipulate. Swirl brightly-colored leaves through the air or just let them fall over one of several backgrounds or one from your photo library. Customize the number of leaves and their size. Autumn costs $0.99US (there's also a free, ad-supported version).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SuperNumberOne Podcast said 4:38PM on 10-01-2009
I just moved to the NE, and can't get over the "leaf-peeping" term. Going to looking at fall colors? That makes sense. Otherwise it just sounds pervy.
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willie said 7:38PM on 10-01-2009
Fascinating. Does it count as leaf-peeping if one lives in New England but actually goes outside (perish the thought) to see these leaves?
Oh, and I assume you meant to say “Hahvad,” you mistakenly wrote “Harvard.” Just so you know.
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iron9iant said 6:19PM on 10-01-2009
Anyone know if there is an app that does the following.
I want to upload photos (of a tree changing leaves and a particular street) from my iphone to a google map and is automatically geotagged. And This map would have multiple photos and not just one. I can embed this map on my website or blog.
Thanks.
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BJ Nemeth said 7:10PM on 10-01-2009
Oh, how I wish I knew about "Park Maps" when I drove cross-country in August, especially when I was in Yellowstone National Park w/ no cell signal for very long periods of time.
The resolution doesn't look like it's that great, but it still would have been *extremely* useful to me. (If they improve the map resolution, it'll be that much better.)
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Wheels said 11:45PM on 10-01-2009
Leaf-Peeper=FLATLANDER!
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SIP said 6:29AM on 10-02-2009
Are the leafs different from one year to the next? Do they change shape every year? Is this some sort of cultish ritual?
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Jason Siniscalchi said 10:42PM on 10-03-2009
TreeID is adding an entirely new section for autumn foliage-check it out!
See medlmobile.com
Jason Siniscalchi (TreeId guy)
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Shannonb said 4:02PM on 10-05-2009
I just got back from visiting a friend in Santa Cruz and one of the days we spent looking up the trees we saw on TreeID. It was really cool to be able to put a name to the face so to speak.
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