Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 15:37:40 -0400
Reply-To: turbowesty <turbowesty@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: turbowesty <turbowesty@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Free Topo Map Sources
In-Reply-To: <BANLkTi=TJXGVq2aYpq3a013E0m6zq6NZrw@mail.gmail.com>
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Since it's Frydae, I'll pick up on the app thread... and wish everyone a happy Friday the 13th of course!
Jim;
I assume you're using the "lite" and free versions of MotionX and Cyclemeter? I see MotionX has 2 other versions available for $0.99 ea:
the "full" version, on sale now until May 15 and the "Drive" version, which has mixed reviews (one comment implies it doesn't have good maps for Canada)
As for Cyclemeter, I've downloaded the free version however the one you've described sounds more like the full version which is now $4.99. I have used iMapMyRide, which isn't bad. They have good apps for cycling, hiking, etc.
In looking around, I see there is also a "GeoGuide 3D" app (and a free Lite version). I'll give that a test run too...
And I have a Garmin Nuvi 1350 for the camper as well an Edge 705 for my bikes. I like being able to upload and share the maps/routes via the connect.garmin.com site...
here a some sample:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/80245038
Regards, Peter Kraiker
nextchapter.kraikerphoto.com
Toronto, ON, Canada
'82 L Westfalia 1.9 TD 5 Spd (Babe)
On 2011-05-12, at 9:33 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
> I use these apps for my job as executive director of the Alabama Scenic
> River Trail almost daily. At least weekly.
>
> I use MotionX GPS. Kind of a goofy game-type interface with goofy sounds,
> but once you get past that, the functionality is superb. There is a learning
> curve of a couple of days with it, but it is a really great GPS. If you are
> going somewhere that won't have wireless or cell phone service, you can
> download maps for the place in advance. And what a choice of maps you have.
> You won't be disappointed in that.
>
> I am told that GPS kit is a better GPS app, said to be the best, but a) I
> can't figure out how to use it prperly I guess, b) it has a difficult user
> interface and poor documentation (what they say doesn't match what you'll
> find when you try to use it and c) when you drop a waypoint, you can't see
> anything but the pin. You have to go to a table to find the name of the
> waypoint. I like to see the waypoint names on the map.
>
> If you are into trails, there is cyclemeter for iPhone and backcountry
> navigator for droid. Both are great. They will show you everywhere you went,
> and will drip a mile marker at every mile of your travel on a route. When
> you are doing maps for others to follow, it doesn't get any better than
> this.
>
> If you want turn-by-turn directions for your iPhone (and I presume droid)
> you can't be the FREE mapquest app. You can pay a lot more, but you won't
> get better maps. I have had both my iPhone and TomTom stuck on the
> windshield, navigating together, and really can't see any difference except
> that the tomtom is much louder (you can hear it in a diesel westy without
> earphones or without running it through the van's audio) but the mapquest
> app has much better maps. And the updates are free, of course. Both seem to
> find the same amenities nearby. They navigate together when they work like
> you want them to, and they fail equally when they don't know some backwoods
> destination.
>
> The other thing I highly recommend is making use of the iPhone 4 (the droid
> probably does it too) geotagging. In your photo app where you view your
> pictures, you can tap Places and see a pushpin everywhere on the map you
> have taken a picture. Tapping the pin shows you the picture taken at that
> place.
>
> I trued to use topopoint for a while. It's a good competent backcountry
> guide, but if I had to pick one GPS right now it would be MotionX GPS.
>
> On ebay, for three or four bucks you can get a really nice windshield mount
> for the iPhone. You can use your phone through the headset earbuds with
> build in mike (where it's legal) and listen to music or radio or listen to
> the navigation commands. When a call comes in, the phone hands the call to
> you, then when the other person hands up it hands the navigation back to
> you. Nice. I'm not trying to sell iPhone but that is what I know about.
>
> Everything I have mentioned here is under five bucks if I recall correctly.
> The one thing I am certain of is that the mapquest navigation app, which I
> use the most and which has replaced my tomtom, is free.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 11:19 PM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 7:58 PM, James Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Get over garmin and their ilk. They have cut out universal protocol like
>>> NMEA. They charge outrageous prices for second-rate maps. Get an iPhone or
>>> droid and get a better GPS with much better functionality and much better
>>> maps for free, and let the GPS corporations die the death they deserve.
>>>
>>
>> Jim, you seem to have found something that has eluded me, a good FREE GPS
>> map base and routing app for Smart Phones. The only ones I've found so far
>> are mediocre or you have to pay a monthly fee to use the full featured
>> version. Please point me to what you have found.
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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