The application can be used online and maps can be downloaded for offline use with all main functionality present. When the application is first launched it requires downloading world base map (131MB), a rudimentary world map, and offers downloading a more detailed map per country or region. Great for situations when the signal is unreliable or when abroad, since you can use the app without having to consider roaming charges.
OSM provides a map editable by everyone; just like the web-based encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Using a community edited map allows one to correct isses they encounter. Combined with the monthly turn around, these edits are added for navigation quickly.
Utilizing the community driven OpenStreetMap data has allowed for monthly publishing of new maps that the user can use. Though that doesn't necessarily mean the map data has changed.
The app has a fully-featured free and open-source version, with code available on GitHub. The only benefit to getting the paid version, except for supporting developers and further development of the application, is having access to new features one release sooner than the free version.
This helps in optimizing route calculations based on vehicle's maximum speed or a country's maximum speed limits, typical driving speeds, width and height of the vehicle and so on.
In addition to searching by address and geographical coordinates, the app allows searching by type such as restaurants, hotels and gas stations in your local area or chosen region.
One can also utilize features to contribute back to OSM. This includes reporting a bug or adding a POI. This feature doesn't require an internet connection as the points can be uploaded latter upon request.
Bicyclers and pedestrians can take advantage of foot, hiking, and bike paths, public transport stops, specialized routing and display modes. And since the app can be used offline, it's reliable even in locations without a signal.
Through the use of an additional plugin OsmAnd Maps & Navigation is able to utilize contour lines on its maps which helps view the landscape and terrain.
Sometimes one needs more than just navigation, they have a need to view a map or specify a specific route. OsmAnd provides a very nice, detailed map. This can be good for seeing what is around you or showing a place you are talking about to a friend.
It also provides a means to add waypoints on the map which can be used to dictate a specific route (not simple enough to do routinely).
This is a limitation of OSM's data, but it is unreliable for locating an address while offline. Even with internet it doesn't appear that it can locate most addresses.
Lane guidance can assist in deciding if one should stay in the right or left lanes. OsmAnd provides detailed information on the number of lanes and which are valid for your chosen destination; based on the data available it may show too many or too few lanes.
It can take some time for an area to be rendered. This tends not to be a problem during navigation since only a small area must be rendered as the map moves, and this area isn't immediately needed; though likely a bigger issue with smaller screens.
Due to the slow rendering (already mentioned) it is near impossible to scroll through OsmAnd's maps. You move the map only slightly and it takes ages to redraw all vector layers.
The use of OSM also has the drawback of many places not getting the attention needed for updates. Depending on the geographic location OSM may have the most detailed maps or the most bare/outdated map.
Has train, ferry, bus etc. routes and schedules for many cities. The routes are overlaid on actual maps (spatially correct, vs the typical simplified diagrams of public transport networks) which I find reassuring and useful when exploring new locations. Also shows the schedules for next few services for any given station/stop. I'm not sure how accurate the schedules are though - they were incomplete for the small town where I live, but seemed more complete for major cities.
Many airports and large buildings have an icon on them which, when tapped, opens up a 3D view of the floor plan with labelled locations of services, shops & transport etc. Includes an index for selecting each level of the building.
Excellent companion app allows navigation from your paired Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch. Has clear turn-by-turn instructions, vibration alerts at intersections, and zoomable location map (using rotating bezel). (Smartwatch app works with phone app and is not standalone).
When I first get on a street (or highway), I'd like to know the name of the next street where I will turn (or highway exit), so I can look for it. HERE WeGo announces something like this: "Continue for 1.5 miles, then turn right." It only announces the name of the street onto which I will turn shortly before the turn. In addition to the announcement just before the turn, I would like it to give an announcement earlier: "Continue for 1.5 miles, then turn right on Second Street." (TomTom Go does this; overall, I prefer HERE WeGo.)
Maps and the information tied to them can be quite large, which would stand to reason that users would want to store these large files on their external storage, sadly HERE does not support external storage such as SD cards.
At first, you should download the map of your city. After that, there is no need to have an internet connection while driving.
Full functionality - except traffic updates - when offline. Very useful when driving abroad.
After a Play Store update it is important to run the app once to download all the offline data again, otherwise it will not be usable when no external data is available.
lifetime license for the old sygic radar application mysteriously disappeared! impossible to use it by sygic despite the nullity of their customer service! to flee, the only thing that works is to pay.
Utilizes commercial data for its maps. While not strictly better it can have more up-to-date map data than OSM with better coverage. This is also the reason for the the good address data.
Sygic's interface is tailored to navigation. While viewing maps in 2D is possible, it populates the map with a bunch of POI icons which detract from street names. The biggest issue is how easy it is to select something or start navigation when zooming in/out.
Each waze user has the ability to report traffic and road information changes as well as accidents, road closures, police locations and other alerts in real-time. This information is then displayed on the map to benefit other drivers and used to recalculate optimal route.
The advertisements usually shown when the vehicle is at rest, and they cover the entire screen. There is no way to get rid of them, it's strictly a free ad supported app.
If you only need to go to one place at a time then Waze is nice. Need to make multiple stops in a row with little time to add next destination? Look elsewhere.
It's quite common while navigation to miss the turn. In such a case, Waze tries to re-route. If there is no signal in the area, after trying a few seconds, Waze gives up with message saying "could not connect to routing server" and exits navigation mode, without providing an easy way to retry.
Waze sometimes doesn't pick up subtle things about roads, like which ones are one way only. Traffic density is also sometimes miscalculated, leading users to areas with more traffic than they initially had to deal with.
TomTom are nortoriously slow on the development of the app, seemingly not interested in staying ahead of it's competition. As a result, there has been very little in the way of improvements with the exception of map updates.
From the app's settings at the bottom of the screen there's a section that allows downloading new and deleting no longer necessary maps. You can choose between free Open Street Maps or slightly more accurate and feature-rich TomTom maps. Downloading maps locally isgreat for situations when the signal is unreliable or when abroad, since you can use the app without having to consider roaming charges.
In addition to installing the app on the device's internal memory, MapFactor can also be installed on an external memory storage device such as an SD card.
In truck mode, that requires paid TomTom maps, if you input vehicle's properties such as max speed, height, length, weight, weight per axle, etc, it will take those restrictions into consideration when planning a route.
Users without a data connection can still use the app for turn by turn directions, which is great for those that travel or use a device that does not have a cellular data connection.
MAPS.ME uses data from OpenStreetMap, meaning the data retrieved from that service is a community-based map. Anyone can freely edit and contribute to the map, a map concept that is similar to Wikipedia.
Nearby my house, there is major road construction in progress. Apple maps didn’t show this at all, but google maps did. There was also a new, small road that was finished around 3 days ago. Google maps shows this road. Apple maps still hasn’t shown the major construction.
Two negatives about this feature is you have to be online to be able to save a place, but it is stored off line once google map gets on the net and syncs. The other negative is there is no visible label for saved places, you have to click on stars to see the label for them.
Asides from the stock Apple Maps app, Google Maps is the most commonly supported 3rd party map. 3rd party apps often have links for directions, Google Maps is usually an option whereas other 3rd party GPS apps are not.
Recent updates have made it so you can label a place instead of being stuck with some address or GPS coordinate and forgetting what it represents. Saved places show as stars and are all on one layer as long as you're logged in. There is also the ability to create maps (parallel to groups) for things you might not want to see or have show up all the time whenever you're using google maps from day to day.
This feature is highly helpful for planning, even if you're a person who likes to wing it.
Google Maps can now search for and add a route for a second location on the way to the primary location that you are going to and have already routed. Note that it cannot do a third or true multi routing like the desktop webapp can.
Night mode cannot be disabled. This would be especially useful if the phone is in "automatic brightness adjustment" mode. When switched to the night theme, the screen becomes absolutely not readable.
When routing you can see the next speed limit traffic sign displayed, so you can better estimate when to release the right pedal to drive more efficiently.
Users can download map packs for different regions along with points of interest to allow for easy navigation when in an area without data or using a device that does not have a cellular data connection such as a tablet.
It has a very convenient turn by turn voice guidance so you can keep your hands on the wheel and be stress-free while you're driving. If you just plan on walking or commuting, then you'll be able to know every step or transfer that you need to take and when.
Needless to say that these features will give you better and more up to date feedback when you're online, but you can still use it on offline mode. You can think about alternative routes or which public transport would be best for you to use, so you'll always have choices.
Another good thing about this app is that you can download a map of an entire country of just a specific region, such as a province or state. So if you won't be needing a complete map, this will save you a lot of storage space. But you should check the file size when you're planning to download several regions because you may end up with a bigger file compared to just downloading the map of the entire country.