I can hardly believe I’m writing this. Rome For Foodies, my first native app for iPhone, iPad, and Android smart phones, has just been released and is now available on iTunes and the Android Market (feedback appreciated!!!). The process was hellish, with more delays, sleepless nights and panicked Skype chats with my developers than I wish to remember, but it’s done and I predict the best night’s sleep ever tonight.
It feels really good and completely terrifying to release something that has consumed more than a year of my life. But I’m really confident that the content (135 personally and recently vetted venues) will lead visitors and locals alike to Rome’s most important destinations for exceptional food and drink. Here’s what else to expect:
Key features:
-Browse venues by keywords and categories
-GPS: Find nearby venues automatically
-Content and maps available offline
-Advanced search: filter by category, neighborhood, and budget range
-Share venues with friends via email, sms, Facebook, and Twitter
-Top Picks list
-Suggested itineraries and tips
-Call venues or visit websites directly from venue page
There may still be a bug or two to work out and if at first the thumbnails seem to be loading slowly, bear with me. The next version is already in the works that will correct that bug. It will also download to your device automatically for free:)
Thanks to everyone who made this app possible. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without your help, support, and tireless editing. Mamma Parla, Michael, John, Gina, Irene, Jack, Petulia, Rob, Hande and Jessica, I owe you all a meal at a Rome for Foodies-approved venue of your choice and so much more!
Irene
January 5th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Hurray hurray! Congrats, Katie. I’m already in love with the app.
Bonnie
January 5th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Downloaded. Making my list of favorites for upcoming trip. Thanks.
Heidi
January 5th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
OMG! Katie, I’ve been lost in your new app for an hour now. It’s great! My new iPad now has it’s first app. Your wonderful map with all those little red pins I’ve been looking at on your blog site is perfetto. It will get worn out during my stay in Rome this Spring… Yes, there are a few little glitches/oddities, but they are not curbing my enthusiasm for your Rome for Foodies app
Good work! Grazie!
Heidi
Lucinda Keller
January 5th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Yay! I am soooo getting it! I am hoping to go to rome in the fall/late fall.
BTW … if you know of any dirt cheap places to stay that aren’t scary, I’m all ears!
Happy New Year to you!
Felice 2012!
Midwest Reader
January 6th, 2012 at 1:41 am
Just bought it in preparation of a trip in March. Hope I have many good meals and you enjoy much success with it.
jenny@atsteoftravel
January 6th, 2012 at 9:26 am
Congratulations. Can’t wait to try it
Sylvia Eken
January 6th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Thanks, this is a great asset!
freddie
January 6th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Too much 3 Euro for android. Try some ads in and sell for free.
Katie
January 6th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
@Irene glad to hear it!
@bonnie great, bonnie! hope you find some fun new places
@heidi yes enjoy it! having the developers work on those glitches as we speak!! version 2 will be submitted to the app store soon and once it is approved you it will automatically synch for free!
@lucinda happy new year! there are some great budget accommodations in rome like casa di amy, the beehive and hotel paba. they aren’t dirt cheap in real life, more like in rome accommodation terms.
@midwest reader i hope the same for you!
@jenny grazie! let me know what you think!
@sylvia would love to know how you like it after you take it for a spin
@freddie i would love to give android and iphone away for free (without ads!) but unfortunately the app universe is unkind to individuals and in order to recover my investment i must charge. the android and iphone prices are the same ($3.99 or €2.90) and if that is too much then don’t buy it. if you do buy it, let me know if you think it is worth it!
Mart
January 6th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Well have I ever….. congrats Katie. Will check it out even if I’m nowhere near Roma snifsnif.
Katie
January 6th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
@mart torna presto!!
Mart
January 6th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Spero di si…..
s
January 6th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
many congrats, m’dear! x s
ciaochowlinda
January 7th, 2012 at 6:34 am
Congrats to you Katie, to mom Parla and everyone else involved in this. I hope to get a chance to try some of your recommendations later this year.
Justine
January 7th, 2012 at 10:46 am
$3.00 is a bargain!! Compared to the heavy guidebooks sold in bookshops, I’m happy to fork out $3.00 for info from someone who knows what they’re talking about! Can you say, SOLD?!
So excited for you Katie!!! And I’ll be even more excited when I make my way back to Rome to try out these R4F approved venues- lets hope they stay loyal and local! CONGRATS!!!
Beth Anderson
January 8th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I am so thrilled for you! Who did the software work? What a satisying project this must have been for you…
Tamar Jacobs
January 10th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
So happy you released it right before our trip on 1/25. Is the way to view the restaurants and maps “off-line” by saving them in advance of our trip?
Sarah May
January 11th, 2012 at 12:29 am
DAMN!! Some asshole stole my new Itouch. Maybe I need to steal an Iphone so I can download this!!
Katie
January 16th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
@s grazie carissima!
@ciaochowlinda me too! keep me posted on your future italy travels and please come to the launch party next saturday at clydz!
@justine thank you SO much! appreciate your kind words. btw, trimani was in the guide until the last minute. i had dinner there with my mom in early december and they served me a cartoccio di frutti di mare in a frecking scorched plastic bag. i almost fell out of my chair.
@beth thanks! i hired a company i found on elance to do the work.
@tamara version 2 should be out this week so be sure you get the update before you take off. all the data is available offline. you can also “save” favorites to the saved folder as you browse. but in terms of viewing venue data, maps, itineraries, my top picks, that is all available offline so you won’t have to pay roaming charges abroad! i hope the app serves you well and please let me know what you think. buon viaggio:)
@sarah may oh no! how did that happen? awful! so sorry
CoffeeSaturday Falls Back in Love With the Cappuccino
January 18th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
[...] was a “friendly” pop-up I organised to celebrate the release of Katie Parla’s Rome For Foodies Dining App and welcome back an old and much maligned favourite from Italy: the traditional [...]
Sarah May
January 20th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
YAY! If some A-hole hadn’t stolent my Itouch I could download this. I get a phone upgrade in a month so i will buy this app.
CheezyK
January 25th, 2012 at 5:14 am
Oh wow, I wish this was in place when we were in Rome last year. It was so different being on the ground over there than it had been sitting here making plans that half the stuff I’d read here and other places went straight out of my head! I have passed your details on to my little bro’ though as he will be there later this year and he and his friends really enjoy good food. I suppose I’ll just have to make plans for a “foodie” specific trip to Rome one day
Turkey's For Life
January 31st, 2012 at 12:50 pm
How bizarre?! I’ve just done a Google search on places to eat in Kadıköy in Istanbul and found your blog. (Will make a note of the places you mentioned). The bizarre thing is, I was looking for places to eat because we’ll be staying there for one night in April, prior to a flight to Rome of all places!
Going to add your app to my tablet now so we can check out some Rome eateries. Good luck with it!
Julia