Armchair Travel: Tour Wrist iPhone App

Sometimes I marvel at how innovative iPhone and iPad apps can be. While there are many travel apps, the ones that get my attention are those that tap into gorgeous photography of places around the world.

I recently downloaded the free Tour Wrist app for my iPhone 4G and boy was I impressed! Using the gyroscope in iPhone's the app allows the user to view 360 degree panorama images. Standing in one spot, with the iPhone at eye level you can turn around and see the view from different angles, just as if you were there and turning around in one spot.

Want to check out a hotel or resort you are thinking of staying at? Or a landmark you want to visit? Or perhaps you are just curious to see if a restaurant looks like the luxurious five-stars it claims to be? This is the app for you.

Turnip Rock in Port Austin, Michigan. Looks like a cool spot to visit. This is the view of this tour looking at eye level.

This is the view of the same location when I pointed my iPhone down.

This app can be handy for businesses as well - Tour Wrist offers hosting for tours, developed by a professional photographer for hire, starting at USD $3.99 a month. You can also embed a tour in your own website or market it through the Tour Wrist website.