Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => GPS => Topic started by: AndyH on 20 December, 2010, 02:46:38 pm
-
I don't like the idea of googlemaps not being stored on the phone, so I am thinking of using Copilot 8 (for in the car) and / or Viewranger for OS maps.
Anyone got any experience of these on an android smartphone ? Or are there any other alternatives ?
-
Alpinequest (http://alpinequest.psyberia.net/english/index) looks interesting.
-
I've used Copilot on iPhone.
It's perfectly adequate. However, being spoiled by being able to plan routes for my Garmin 705 I tend to use that rather than submit myself to the vagaries of Sat Nav direction finding.
-
Co-pilot is excellent and a real bargain.
-
There are quite a few alternatives for downloading and storing maps on Android. Some of these are more GPS than turn by turn Sat Nav but a couple of suggestions. Most have demo/free option so you can try them out.
Locus (http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/travel/locus_hglj.html) is a free app that supports several different map formats including OSM, Bing etc. You can create maps on PC and transfer them, works well with geocaching apps as it supports queries etc.
A hacked version of Google Maps called brut (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=630887) that enables maps to be downloaded offline and used in the app. I know it is highly thought of over on XDA but I have not used this app much.
MM Tracker (http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/travel/mm-tracker_lewf.html) displays Memory Map qct files. There is a free version to check it works on your phone first. I use this with Memory Map for OS maps.
OSM And (http://www.appbrain.com/app/osmand/net.osmand) is an OSM based app that features navigation although I have not used this one.
-
There's a list of OSM based Android software here: Android - OpenStreetMap Wiki (http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Android)
Some of them allow downloading maps to use offline. Though I've not tried any of them.
-
I don't like the idea of googlemaps not being stored on the phone, so I am thinking of using Copilot 8 (for in the car) and / or Viewranger for OS maps.
Anyone got any experience of these on an android smartphone ? Or are there any other alternatives ?
Pretty sure the new Google Maps for Android (V5) is now able to cache maps and directions from navigation on your phone so it will work with no data connection. http://www.techreviews.org/tech-news/google-supports-offline-viewing-in-google-maps-app.html (http://www.techreviews.org/tech-news/google-supports-offline-viewing-in-google-maps-app.html)
Other than that, CoPilot is good but of course very car focussed. There are some decent OSM maps but I've not found one that caches well. Perhaps someone needs to produce an app that parses Garmin IMGs so we could view OSM generated maps...
-
Yes, new google maps is witchy: downloaded maps, 3d, streetview hooked to the compass for faux tourism.
-
Thanks for the links / advice.
I'll play with some of the opensource stuff before buying anything, although it's usually a bit too geeky difficult for me.
-
Try Skobbler too. It's very much a "take me to W1" type navigation (rather than map) app, uses OSM.
-
Try Skobbler too. It's very much a "take me to W1" type navigation (rather than map) app, uses OSM.
Ohhh - Skobbler is shiny :D