Amazing Thailand Experience Plus (free, for iPad only) – a curious first cousin also created by the TAT, the app starts as a platform for delivering information. The ten books currently available are more than just e-books – with embedded videos and animations, they’re as fun to actually read as they are simply to page through.
Getting them on your device has similar difficulties as the previous app – the same ‘one file at a time’ rule applies, and some of these ‘books’ are huge. “Experience Plus #2″ on “Amazing Thai Festivals” weighs in at a monumental 302 MB, thanks primarily to embedded videos. Not all are that big, of course, but you’ll definitely want to load them up before leaving the comfort of your home internet connection. Another book on “Going Green” adds on some sounds that load up with each loaded page (which annoyingly play even with the device on mute), and it’s clear some time and design has gone into making these.
It’s unclear if there’s more to be added beyond the ten already present, but I do like their style. I just wish there was some substance to it – directions are patently lacking, for example, and there’s very little on the practicalities or specifics of how to enjoy the various things. The longest piece of text in the “Going Green” book? Dedicated to educating the reader on the Thailand Tourism Awards. Pick this up if you’d rather be fascinated by the possibilities than intrigued by how to make these things come together.