Hey XDA'ers - I recently drove an awful trip from Connecticut the South Carolina last weekend, and I have to go back tomorrow. What I used on the way down was Google Maps/Navigation on my phone, and Waze on my tablet. My experience:
Google maps didn't route me around a ton of various traffic jams.
Twice it asked if I wanted to select a better route, which I chose, and both times it landed me in very heavy traffic that HAD to be worse than orginal route. It asked me a 3rd time, I declined, and still landed in traffic.
Google maps appears to have no route avoidance - i.e. avoid next 5 miles, or avoid this highway.
I primarily used Waze for traffic and cop notification, Waze seemed to work well for that purpose .I didn't turn on a route in Waze until almost at my destination. I heard it's navigation can take you too much off main roads though.
Google maps did seem to reflect traffic jams in red on the map, but did nothing to get me around them.
I say all this with the understanding that sometimes there are no good alternative routes around traffic, accidents, etc.
I'd be willing to pay good money for a GPS app that works well, and has good route avoidance features. I should note that I've paid for CoPilot which is supposed to do avoidance, and I've had and used for some time, but they updated their interface and I can't figure out how to do route avoidance anymore. Any guidance on CoPilot route avoidance, or another solid GPS app, would be SO very much appreciated.
Thanks a ton in advance for any feedback!!!!
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Can anyone suggest a program which will talk me round a pre-planned route?
I currently do a lot of hiking, and use memory-map to plan out my route before I leave the house, and can compare my location at any time on my phone. I'm now looking to start cycling a bit, and it would be nice to be able to leave my phone in my pocket, and be told left and right etc.
A fair amount of this will be off-road, which rules out all road navigation software.
It doesnt matter if the app supports maps or not, just that it will take a route in some format such as gpx or mmo, and give out verbal instructions which are practically useable.
Thanks in advance.
I've found Run.GPS which seems a very good package, but not very user friendly. I'm going to try the 2 week trial, but would still be interested in hearing other suggestions.
I'm interested in using sat Nav for cyling on road and perhaps a little off road cannals etc.
Any recommendations for good options?
I notice copilot has a cycle mode
other threads
http://forum.xda-developers.com/archive/index.php/t-294512.html
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3710059
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=328736
I'm very pleased with Run.Gps and would definitely recommend it. It allows you to plan a route in advance and they guides you around it with spoken instructions.
I cycle with my bluetooth headphones on listening to music, and it directs you at each junction, as well as giving you any data you want and pre-set intervals.
Its a bit complicated to start with, but it does have a free trial to play around with for a bit.
Igo has cycle and pedestrian modes as well.
I have not used the cycle mode though. I've used tomtom in the past, but I'm liking the Igo alot.
Thanks I'll take a look at both of these options. I know the dedicated Garmin cycle devices are also very good
If you want off-road, I use Memory-Map, which allows you to view OS maps. You can plot your route, if you wish, and then use GPS to track - or just track anywhere! One good thing is that it gives you a profile (heights) of your route - so you know when that uphill stretch is coming! Unlike road navigation software, you don't have to stay on a road and it give you all the OS information too. Best I've seen.
I use BikeDashboard.
It's free and has all the stats, and will link up to a heart rate monitor if you have the necessary connection gubbins.
You can create your own maps in GE and import them so you can have that on display or the stats. It also offers download and upload fatures so you can analyse your performance, and will allow you to race a previous trace.
http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-bikedashboard.html
It does everything I want it to, but I'd imagine all these GPS enabled software will be limited by battery life - mine will give me about a morning's use.
-Jonny- said:
If you want off-road, I use Memory-Map, which allows you to view OS maps. You can plot your route, if you wish, and then use GPS to track - or just track anywhere! One good thing is that it gives you a profile (heights) of your route - so you know when that uphill stretch is coming! Unlike road navigation software, you don't have to stay on a road and it give you all the OS information too. Best I've seen.
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I agree that memory-map is very good for walking and hiking, but haven't found it much use for cycling other than using the pc part for planning routes and reviewing afterwards.
It is also very expensive, and we're not allowed to recommend looking for warez.
What's the best app for finding and navigating hiking trails?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Search the market for everytrail. A lot of trails posted but of course could always depend on your area. Its pretty nice because it can just pull your location and show the nearest hikes to you.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
You might also look into mapping programs that will let you load arbitrary maps into the phone, such as scanned trail maps or topo maps. None of the options are particularly quick to set up, as you'll have to get maps into them.
If OSM has good enough maps, you could use something that'll cache offline maps of it. Often there are decent trail maps there, although I honestly don't see how people have the time to create them given the tools OSM gives.... Anywho.
Backcountry Navigator, Maverick and Orux are a few I found googling.
BackCountry Navigator is damn nice, I've been playing with it all day.. You can pre-cache maps from a bunch of different sources and it has a specific offline mode to use the maps later, all very easy to do. I have a question out to them about calibrating and importing a custom map, something that I'm not seeing in the program but maybe I'm overlooking it.. Like there's an area where I mountain bike and the topo maps are REALLY hard to read the trails as they seem to blend right in with the contour lines, but I have several great high level trail maps that I'd love to be able to use.
OruxMaps is the most useful up to date. The essential feature is offline navigation, i.e. maps can be seen when there is no cell tower in sight. It is essential in the mountains (too high) in the forest (too far) and in high sea. Additionally one can switch the cell receiver completely off that gives more juice to GPS and actual navigation without recharge.
The tracks can be uploaded to pop track sites including google maps. The only deficiencies I know of: UI requires some learning, stats charts can't be exported (particularly important for high profiles)
I'm using Google Maps to see traffic during my commute, NYC Metro area. Anyone compare traffic with Inrix, Waze or one of the other apps? I searched google and found information on the apps, but nothing that compared them for accuracy or timeliness. Even the TomTom or Navigon don't seem to have any comparisons on traffic. I'm looking for an app that provide up to date information, not historical.
I find Google could be hit or miss sometimes. Its a lot better than in past years.
Hi, for all my movements I'm using Waze - honestly I'm very pleased with it regarding updates on traffic, deadlines etc
I paid the $10 for CoPilot. Almost no data usage since the maps are on the device.
nice man, ty!
Google Maps will not allow me to download a large enough area to be useful. It's something like 10 miles across. In places like southern Oregon, your nearest neighbor may be more than 10 miles away, and cell towers are often nonexistent.
How can I download a larger map area under Android?
I'm currently frustrated because under iOS, xGPS allowed me to easily download any size area I wanted from Google Maps. I could even use my desktop to download and transfer the map to my phone via WiFi.
Is there any option to do this under Android? What about another mapping platform?
Note, I don't need offline routing or anything. Just a clear, high resolution map, preferably with terrain features, and a GPS dot for where I am.
blueandwhiteg3 said:
Google Maps will not allow me to download a large enough area to be useful. It's something like 10 miles across. In places like southern Oregon, your nearest neighbor may be more than 10 miles away, and cell towers are often nonexistent.
How can I download a larger map area under Android?
I'm currently frustrated because under iOS, xGPS allowed me to easily download any size area I wanted from Google Maps. I could even use my desktop to download and transfer the map to my phone via WiFi.
Is there any option to do this under Android? What about another mapping platform?
Note, I don't need offline routing or anything. Just a clear, high resolution map, preferably with terrain features, and a GPS dot for where I am.
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Check Maps With Me app
IF I HELPED YOU PRESS THE THANKS BYTTON
I've downloaded maps with me. It looks good for some things. Will be testing it out more on my weekend trip through southern Oregon.
Any thoughts on topo maps to go? That was another feature I really liked about xGPS but can't seem to replicate.
Google maps is pretty useless except for getting the most direct route
I Personaly Like Waze Social GPS Maps & Traffic or Scout GPS Navigation & Traffic