IPhone App Review: Musee Du Louvre App Also Known as the Louvre Museum App

One of the joys of having an iPhone or iTouch is that you can expose yourself to places and experiences that you normally would be unable to see and do. Making music, exploring places you have never been, and getting into shape are just a scant list of the types of apps that are available. You can educate yourself about almost anything through an app for your iPhone.

Viewing art in the Louvre Museum App

If you love art museums, you must visit the Louvre in Paris. Unfortunately, many are unable to make the trip. Therefore, the Louvre Museum App (produced by the Louvre Museum with help from the French government) for your iPhone or iTouch may be just what you are looking for. With this app, you can take a tour of the museum, view artworks there, explore the Palace section of the museum, and obtain visitor information. Each section is presented using Cover Flow, initially offered by Apple for iPod users to view their album covers. With a simple flip to the Tour of the Museum picture, you are just a tap away from viewing the exhibition rooms where the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, The Slaves by Michelangelo, and other coveted art is found.

Along with the artwork on the Louvre Museum app, there is audio educating you about the chosen art. However, a frustrating aspect of the audio is that when selecting the preferred language and pressing "done", one assumes the language selected will remain. Unfortunately, each time you select a screen that has audio, you must tap the language icon and again select your preferred language. Otherwise, the audio is presented in French.

The included search engine allows viewers to type in the name of a beloved work of art located at the Louvre and view it. Also present are information about the work, video and audio related to the work, and where the work is located in the museum. Since all apps do not have a search engine, it is a nice addition to the Louvre Museum app.

Cost of the Louvre Museum App

The price is definitely right-- this app is free.

ITunes Reviews of the Louvre Museum App

Over 900 people have reviewed this app, yielding an average rating at iTunes as just over 3 stars out of 5. One complaint was that the search engine did not work properly. However, this reviewer searched for several items of artwork and experienced no problems with it.

Another drawback, according to some reviewers is that the selection of artwork included in the app is small, comparatively speaking, to the actual size of the inventory of the museum, which numbers over 35,000, according to information provided in the app's description and at the Louvre's website. This complaint does not seem valid; given the art that is shown is done so at no cost to the app user.

Louvre Museum App's Uniqueness

The experience of visiting the Louvre, even in this app, is remarkable. The graphics of the pictured works and exhibition halls come to life on the iPhone. One can imagine herself walking down these esteemed halls, rounding a corner, and then, there it is-the Venus de Milo! Much better than a book, the Louvre Museum app shows brilliantly done videos and still pictures of some of the world's best-loved art pieces.

Bookmarking Your Favorites on the Louvre Museum App

This app allows the viewer to bookmark 9 locations/art to re-visit. With a simple tap on various artworks set up for bookmarking by the app's producers, you can go instantly to your favorite art/exhibition hall. Nice touch.

Artworks section of the Louvre Museum App

This section of the app, when tapped, provides pictures of several works of art, again using Cover Flow. Navigation through this section is simple. Just tap "La Grande Odalisque" by Dominique Ingres, for example. The following selections appear: "About the work," "See more detail," "Technical information," and "Location." Tapping on any one of these choices provides printed information and/or more pictures portraying close-up, specific details of the piece. Because of the incredible resolution on the iPhone, the pictures and video of the art are truly stunning.

Final Words on the Louvre Museum App

For the money, the experience of visiting a world-renowned museum is right at your fingertips. This reviewer cannot think of a more fascinating, culturally rich app to use while waiting in your doctor's office or when bored with the television show selection of your partner. The Louvre Museum app might even peak your child's interest in great art, history and other cultures. This app is a "must have."

Rating

Five out of 5 stars

Sources

http://www.itunes.com

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en