April 07, 2008

New Museum's cell-phone tour: can you hear me now?

A number of museums have added free cell-phone audio tours to some of their exhibits, but a visit to the New Museum's "Unmonumental" exhibition this past weekend revealed it's not always glitch free.

First problem with the New Museum's cell-phone audio tours: the New Museum's no cell phone policy.

So after the museum staffer lectures you for using your cell phone, (and then backs off when you point to the museum's audio tours guide,) you can start guessing which language you're hearing. First it's all Mandarin. Call back to the same number, then it's English, but then inexplicably the next item in the show is explained in Spanish, then Mandarin, then Spanish, and so on.

However, the museum also makes the commentary available for free download -- and has a few iPods for loan from its information desk.

"Unmonumental" has been extended at the New Museum until April 9.

Other NYC museums offering free podcasts and downloadable guides include the Met, MoMA and the Guggenheim.

Picture credit: "Hell, No" stencil on the base of the light fixture across the street from the New Museum's 'Hell, Yes" logo. Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.

Earlier: New York City's best podcasts

April 7, 2008 11:32 AM in Cheap Stuff, Downtown, Museums, Techology

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