# Palm Springs Modernism Tour — user reviews > 65 indexed App Store user reviews of Palm Springs Modernism Tour by Desert Publications, Inc., rated 2.60/5 from 48 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palm-springs-modernism-tour/id576934996/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palm-springs-modernism-tour/id576934996.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 11 · 4★ 6 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 18 ## What do users think of Palm Springs Modernism Tour? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Great information and content - 👍 Useful for architectural enthusiasts - 👍 Good photos and descriptions - 👍 Handy for finding locations - 👍 Works great now (recent reviews) - 👍 Informative and educational - 👍 Good accompaniment to Palm Springs visit - 👍 Excellent content - 👍 Worth the money (for some) - 👍 Great way to learn architecture - 👍 Visually excellent - 👍 Well organized **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unreliable - 🐛 Navigation issues - 🐛 Map not helpful for newcomers - 🐛 Descriptions cut off - 🐛 Videos refuse to load - 🐛 Navigation doesn't work - 🐛 Addresses need manual copy/paste - 🐛 Houses not pinned correctly - 🐛 Locations change on map - 🐛 Out of date content - 🐛 Gated streets prevent access - 🐛 Inaccurate location data - 🐛 Poor design, not user-friendly - 🐛 Family sharing not functioning - 🐛 Expensive for functionality - 🐛 Audio stops when backgrounded - 🐛 Export to Apple Maps problematic - 🐛 Private roads/driveways - 🐛 Crashes constantly - 🐛 Cannot zoom into pictures - 🐛 Faves feature useless - 🐛 Truncated paragraphs - 🐛 Doesn't load fully - 🐛 Bluetooth pairing issues - 🐛 GPS problems - 🐛 Hard to navigate - 🐛 Map not interactive - 🐛 Doesn't show user location - 🐛 Multiple screens to access details - 🐛 Private roads prevent entry - 🐛 Few movie star properties - 🐛 Limited videos - 🐛 Not enough photos - 🐛 Directions link doesn't work - 🐛 Missing famous residences - 🐛 Cannot select thumbnails in tours - 🐛 Poor usability - 🐛 Huge download size - 🐛 Long download times - 🐛 Inconsistent performance - 🐛 Unstable, crashes frequently - 🐛 Loading page issues - 🐛 Stuck on update screen **Commonly reported bugs** - App doesn't load - No audio - Map doesn't help newcomers - Descriptions cut off mid-sentence - Videos refuse to load - Navigation feature doesn't work - Won't transfer to maps - Addresses need manual copy/paste - Houses not pinned correctly on map - Map locations change - Gated streets prevent access - Numbers don't accurately correspond - Half-way completed updates - Audio stops when backgrounded - Export to Apple Maps problematic - Locations on private roads/driveways - Crashes constantly - Cannot zoom into pictures - Faves feature doesn't work - Truncated paragraphs - Doesn't load fully - Bluetooth pairing issues - GPS problems - Map isn't interactive - Map doesn't show user location - Multiple screens to access details - Thumbnails in tours not selectable - Poor usability - Frequent crashes - Stuck on loading/update screen - Inconsistent performance - Doesn't work as advertised - Family sharing not functioning **Most requested features** - Link to home tours - Better navigation/routing - Ability to zoom into photos - Expandable text descriptions - Improved family sharing - Update content for gated communities - More movie star properties - More videos and photos - Direct link to directions from tour mode - Include more famous residences - Interactive map showing user location - Dark mode option - Offline access to content ## Newest reviews (13 of 65) ### 2/5 — Not greatest helpful map *2025-02-03, version 2.0* Sadly the map will not really help you if you do not know the area. We then went to a visitors center which then sold us a paper map, same info for another $5.50. Even when we showed them we had bought the app. ### 4/5 — Good directions and information *2022-09-12* Good directions and information ### 2/5 — Family sharing not functioning *2022-02-05, version 1.9* Purchased this and looked forward to driving around and looking at architecture with my wife. However although family sharing is set up for our phones, we would have had to pay again for it to be downloaded to my wife’s phone. Therefore called Apple to get refund ### 2/5 — Out of Date *2021-06-03, version 1.9* Goes to many boring condo buildings. Biggest issue is many streets have become security gated, so you can’t get to the sites being described. A waste of money and time. ### 2/5 — Needs Correcting... *2020-10-03, version 1.9* So far I’ve only looked at 10% to 20% of all the sites listed, but I’ve found several errors. The structure of the app and the quality of the photos is very good, but the overall impression due to the errors is not. Errors include mismatches between site names and the associated photos and incorrect naming of an architect. I expected MUCH better. ### 4/5 — Worth the $5 *2020-07-17, version 1.9* I was a little dubious given some of the reviews, and it wasn’t perfectly seamless, but after the first view sites we got into a rhythm of toggling back and forth between mapping and sites. When tour buses are safe again, that may be a better option, as we couldn’t see over some gates from our car. But $5 was a great price for a 90-minute, air conditioned, family activity with art, history, culture, geology, and navigation. And that was only one tour, there’s still two more we can do! ### 4/5 — Very Helpful *2020-02-21, version 1.9* My family just used this - it downloaded in a few seconds - there’s tons of information. It’s great. No technical difficulties whatsoever. We drove around and used the audio function so it was like we were at a museum. Highly recommend for a day trip. Only problem is that many of the most famous houses are hidden. If the app could link to tours of homes that might be helpful. ### 2/5 — It could have been so much better! *2019-02-05, version 1.8* I bought this to take a self-guided tour of modernist homes in Palm Springs. The information, photos, and recorded narratives were great. Unfortunately, there are some serious shortcomings that made the app difficult to use for navigation. The driving directions, when used through the app, cause the GPS sound not to work, so it requires a person to navigate in addition to the driver. I set up a Favorites Tour, which seemed like a great idea, but although the app asked for location tracking, it didn’t use that information to put the tour in a sequence that made sense for my current location. As far as apps go, this one was expensive and I expected better performance. ### 2/5 — It's good... conceptually. *2018-11-18, version 1.8* I was really excited when I picked up the brochure for this tour and saw there was an app -- it seemed the app would provide a tour of these amazing buildings, but in reality, it just shows the locations and detail. There is no route, it's up to you to connect the dots. Each stop is numbered, and each features a great write-up with a recorded description (loved that part), but the audio stops when it's backgrounded! My wife was navigating and had to continuously copy the address into Google maps because this app only supports exporting each address into Apple Maps, which for whatever reason was not providing turn-by-turn directions. One other gripe is that a couple of the locations are on private roads / driveways. While it would be great to see them, I'm not up for trespassing. Overall, this app has great potential, but it seems half-baked, and if it weren't for the decent photos and audio, I wouldn't say it was worth the $5 ($7CAD). Either way, I'm sure the developers can find a way to trim it down from the 1GB size. ### 1/5 — Crashes non Stop *2018-09-29, version 1.6* Not only does the app not use your GPS to “guide” you, it crashes constantly when you click on the images. You have to click the images since most of the houses have walls or gates so you cant even see them. Go to youtube and view the houses from your house to see them better. ### 2/5 — Nice try, but... *2018-08-30, version 1.6* So much great information, but poorly executed. Can not zoom into pics, ⭐️’g faves neither makes them present differently on the map nor filters out others on the tour. In other words. - what’s the point of the useless code? Also, truncated paragraphs with no way to expand them. Grrr. All the trappings of a FREE app, not a $5 one. 👎🏽 ### 3/5 — Doesn't work as advertised. *2018-02-03, version 1.6* This app doesn't seem to load fully. My phone had 40Gb free but it had only partial descriptions when looking at the home descriptions. It would not pair properly with Bluetooth, so it didn't narrate through the car and caused problems with the GPS on the car. I had to switch between the audio being played on the phone and then stop it to use the GPS. I would have liked to hear the audio on the way to the house, but this didn't work as advertised. One of the house's audio description did play through the Bluetooth but I have no clue as to why that one worked and none of the others did before and after that one. Interesting app but very frustrating. Overpriced for all the technical problems that kept it from working as advertised. ### 4/5 — I love this app and hope it is upgraded *2017-04-17, version 1.2* I downloaded this app several years ago and have gotten a great deal of enjoyment from it both during yearly Palm Springs stays and at home. It offers a wealth of information, great photos, maps, and videos. Apple recently sent me a message informing me that it may not be comparable on future operating systems. I hope the developers prepare the app for future upgrades. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2025-03-28, version 2.0* I tried loading the twice, nothing happens. No audio ### 1/5 — Not worth it *2024-12-31, version 2.0* Do not download, not worth it. Buggy app. ### 1/5 — Very sloppy app *2023-08-23, version 2.0* Most of the written descriptions are cut off in mid-sentence, proving that nobody bothered to read the text. Several of the videos refused to load, and they mostly repeat the same descriptions that appear as text. Very disappointing! ### 1/5 — Waste of 4.99 *2023-05-28, version 2.0* Navigation feature doesn’t work in app and won’t transfer to maps. You have to copy and paste each individual address. Basically I bought this so I wouldn’t have to build a custom route…. And I ended up doing it anyway. This app led to more fights and close call traffic accidents then it’s worth. Also SUPER irritated that on several of the houses the info cuts off mid sentence, what’s up with that? It is also supposed to tell you the best way to see the houses, this is especially important for the ones up the canyon. But all you see is driveways, fences or gates. Why are those houses included? ### 1/5 — Avoid it ! *2023-03-26* The house are not AT ALL pin at the good place on the map… and each time you open or close the app, they are at a different place. I bought this app to get directions for my bike tour and it didn’t help at all. Keep your 6$ ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2022-03-30, version 1.9* Poor design, not user friendly. Always an advertisement when using even though it’s a pay app. Needs professional help. ### 1/5 — Worthless *2021-05-10, version 1.9* Don't buy this. This App is worthless because the numbers don't accurately correspond. Seems like an update was made but only half-way completed. The information on the locations is good - but the problem is you get the wrong information when you arrive to a location. A complete waste. ### 1/5 — Just use Google *2020-10-25, version 1.9* You could easily google/wiki “modern sites in Palm Springs” and find the places listed here plus more info about all of them. I thought more houses would be included but it’s lots of airport/city hall/library type buildings and several of the houses were just barely viewable from the street. ### 1/5 — Does not download *2019-03-28, version 1.8* As other reviewers said, just doesn’t work! Don’t do it! ### 1/5 — Won’t download. Apple will not refund. *2019-02-21, version 1.8* Do not purchase! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works Great! *2025-06-19, version 2.1* This app from the Palm Springs Modern Committee is a great way to learn about Mid-Centry Modern Architects and Architecture. It's a great day out activity as well to drive around and see the residences and buildings in person. I heard the app had some issues when it first launched but it works great now! ### 5/5 — Simple yet helpful *2023-06-15, version 2.0* A simple app but handy in finding exact locations of architecturally significant buildings. ### 5/5 — Palm Springs Modern Tour *2020-05-07, version 1.9* Latest version is fast, stable and works great. Early issues have long been resolved. ### 5/5 — Packed with Info! *2020-05-01, version 1.9* As a Coachella Valley resident and avid historian, I have found the information in this app extremely useful. The factual addresses, photos and details about significant modern architecture in Palm Springs is invaluable. Many thanks to Palm Springs Modern Committee for this educational and fun app. ### 5/5 — Excellent and informative *2020-04-27, version 1.9* This app is great Do much fun and do much great information I would highly recommend for all Architectural enthusiasts and anyone just curious about Palm Springs !! ### 5/5 — Great accompaniment to Palm Springs *2020-02-27, version 1.9* Palm Springs is the Mecca for mid century modernism and this app is a great accompaniment to your tour of Palm Springs. Use it as a reference when you’re driving/cycling/walking about town or just to plan your visit in advance. There’s an architectural gem around every corner and this will help you identify their provenance and story. Please remember that many of these historic homes are owned privately and respect their privacy. Admire from a distance but don’t peer in windows. ### 5/5 — New Version Coming... *2017-08-02, version 1.2* A new verions will ebbe released by Aug 17th 2018 for the new IOS ver 11 release - will be compatible for all IOS version, including older. ### 5/5 — Amazing App *2014-06-21, version 1.2* This app is amazing. Worth the money. Download was easy, no problem. Very informative. ### 5/5 — Don't hesitate, get this. *2014-02-22, version 1.2* Just returned from our first trip to Palm Springs and this app proved invaluable. We loved using it in the car and in preparation before we ventured out for neighborhood walks. It's easy to navigate and go about finding a home or business from many routes: the architect, the area, names of building, etc. The map feature is fantastic. We went from place to place and never felt frustrated. I love the old and new photos, as well as the commentary and fun facts about each project. I don't usually purchase too many apps, but this enhanced our visit so much. I wouldn't hesitate. ### 5/5 — Great app *2013-12-20, version 1.1* A lot of thought has gone in to the creation of this app. A great way to learn more about the architecture of Palm Springs. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*