Waze Social GPS Maps & Traffic
Waze is a free Navigation app that relies on its community for its traffic information, so it's just as well that it's one of the most popular apps of its kind on the Play Store. As a member of the Waze community, you can report accidents, police traps and road closures, which then get cross-referenced with other users' input and broadcast for other users. It also has a very nice interface and a few other nifty features, such as showing you the cheapest gas stations en route, and a points-based system, where being an active member of the community sees you climb the Waze ranks.
CoPilot GPS
CoPilot GPS offers offline maps for pretty much the entire planet. Cleverly, CoPilot can sync with social network accounts like Facebook and Twitter, and set turn-by-turn directions to events you're scheduled to attend. The first map is free (you can choose from a specialized list), and then CoPilot functions in license form. If you buy the premium version, you get 12 months traffic information for free, too.
MapFactor: GPS Navigation
MapFactor uses OpenStreetMaps (OSM) map data, which gets installed on your device so you don't need an internet connection when using it. MapFactor offers all the usual bells and whistles of SatNav, with turn-by-turn directions, voice navigation in several languages, and the option to change your route depending on whether you're driving a car, a truck, or just walking. It also includes audible noise warnings when you approach speed cameras – not that you would ever dream of breaking the speed limit, would you now?
OsmAnd Maps and Navigation
This free version of OsmAnd offers everything you need for easy offline navigation. The app uses OSM data, and is updated regularly to take into account new roads, traffic lights, and so on. The paid version (US$5.99) provides information from Wikipedia to show you points of interest along your route (great for freewheeling road trips). It's a great app for hikers and cyclists too, with a special display mode showing bike routes, walking paths, and contours to indicate steepness.
TomTom
The physical SatNav is all but dead, but the legendary TomTom lives on in Android form. The maps are updated for a lifetime, there are also multiple navigation options, all of which are available offline. A new version recently came out to make it better suited to Android Lollipop, and it offers real-time traffic information, 3D landmarks and buildings, and camera alerts. The paid versions are quite expensive, but offer detailed maps for all the regions in question. if you bought the old TomTom app, you can update it to the new one by following the instructions on TomTom's support page.
Have we missed anything? Let us know in the comments if you know of a better GPS or navigation app.
No comments:
Post a Comment