MOBILE PHONE TRAVEL APP

First Mobile Phone Travel App for Long Island

(Long Island, N.Y.) It's official: I will never be able to tell my kids, "there's nothing to do today!" That's because the first mobile phone travel app to cover Long Island has just been released (Sutro Media) and the days I don't have the slightest idea what to do/where to go with the kids--are long gone. (It's a good thing!) And, considering the fact that I can get lost in my own t-shirt, technology has once again come to my rescue. Here's why.

The Essential Long Island Guide, by award-winning writer Iyna Bort Caruso, is now available through the Apple app store. The fast-browsing guide features more than 125 attractions, must-do activities and hidden gems and 750 pictures. It’s full of insider tips for locals, day trippers and first-time visitors. (Costs $2.99 and includes free updates)

Engaging and easy-to-navigate features include:

• Photo slideshows for each entry, so users know what to expect before they go.
• Concise, original text by a Long Island native.
• Entries sortable by categories like Hidden Gems, Historical, Long Island Originals, Outdoors, Family Friendly, Dining, Shopping, Great Strolls and more.
• Entries sorted by name, distance, price and neighborhood.
• One-click website and phone interface to buy tickets, peruse menus and more.
• Google maps and driving directions for each entry.
• Over 100MB of offline content that can be accessed anytime without an internet connection.
• Neighborhood overviews to help visitors decide how and where to spend their time.

I recently caught up with Iyna Bort Caruso, a Rockville Centre-based freelance writer, author and New York Emmy Award-winning promotional writer, who says when she decided to take this project on, she was surprised there wasn't already a Long Island iPhone travel app.

"With all the incredible things to do, historical sites and gorgeous towns, how was that possible? I loved taking on the role of tour guide. But I also wrote the app for Long Islanders, too. I designed it to be a resource they can refer to again and again--to remind them of all the great treasures in their own backyard and introduce them to attractions they never knew existed."

Her goal at the onset, she says, was to provide a thorough and lively representation of a very large region. She really worked hard to make sure users would get a lot of value out of it, no matter what their interests or budgets.

"It would have been easy to concentrate only on the most popular areas such as the Hamptons, the Gold Coast and the wine region--and I do have a lot of listings for these areas--but I also want people to discover lots of great new places."

To get this useful app, visit http://sutromedia.com/apps/Essential_Long_Island

Janene Mascarella

May 27, 2010 9:10 AM Eastern

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