This is more like it. Visual IT has done a deal with the Geographers A-Z Map Company to produce a licensed copy of the Mini London A-Z for iPhone.
Yes, iPhones come with the Google Maps app, but this is a very different thing, for two reasons.
The first is that the maps and associated data are stored on the phone (the App Store says you’ll need about 50MB to store it all, not very much), so there’s no waiting for stuff to download.
The second reason is much more important, and it’s this: the A-Z occupies a special place in the hearts of Londoners. Like the offical Tube map, the A-Z is more than just a map. It’s a symbol of London’s Londonness.
The original A-Z was created by Phyllis Pearsall in the 1930s. She walked 3,000 miles, painstakingly recording and indexing as she went. The map she created has become an indispensable guide to the city for visitors and residents alike. For 10 bucks (six quid) it looks like a bargain, although as I write this there are no reviews on the App Store. Let’s hope, for Phyllis’ sake, that it lives up to its printed namesake.
Giles Turnbull is a freelance writer in England. He also writes for the Press Association and The Morning News. You can find out more at his website, and follow him on Twitter @gilest.
