iPhone Mapping App Recommendations

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mimico_polak

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Any recommendations for an iPhone app for mapping out of a route? The Maps app that comes standard doesn't allow you to map/save a route as far as I know so I'm looking for other options.

I'd be most interested in a map with the following features:
- download routes from Google Maps (or ones provided here by other members of their routes)
- works offline so roaming isn't an issue when I go to the US

I don't need turn by turn but just to have a good idea of where I am as scribbling and marking out routes on a paper map can get pretty messy fast if they overlap and you do many routes and printing them out usually doesn't show the details from google maps/mapquest etc.

Thanks!
 
I think Navigon is one of the better reviewed GPS apps for the iPhone, and the maps get downloaded so roaming is not an issue.

Never used them as I have a GPS on my bike though.
 
I have navigon on my bike/iPhone ... I can't stand it... It's not fast to just browse the map and look for a twisty, it takes 100000 taps to do anything. He poi search sucks. Having company logos on the map is cool but slows down the refresh time.

I've yet to find one that beats a 90 dollar cheapo garmin. Aside from a $100+ garmin

Yet I still use navigon cause I lost my 90 dollar cheap garmin
 
DSevigny said:
Same question for Android.
Click to expand...

Google Maps has a setting under 'labs' that offers pre-caching.
Should work if you load your map.
Otherwise in Chrome or stock browsers you can save for offline viewing (the directions if you wanna)
 
I purchased Tom-Tom iPhone app for my last trip to Florida to compare it / replace my Garmin. It's pretty good although a bit pricey (~$60), but after that trip never went back to Garmin. Learning the interface after Garmin was a bit difficult, but there were also features that I liked.
 
Actually there is a little trick I have used a few times with the stock mapping app. Drop a pin where you want to end up, tap it and then open it up to get to INFO. From there you can save it as a bookmark (bottom right corner). So you could potentially name your bookmark DAY 1-1 for your first stop on day 1, DAY 1-2 for the second and so on. Or pick whatever names you want (Mon 1, Mon 2). Then repeat for each planned stop/day.

When you're ready to go just start typing DAY 1-1 in the END field in the maps app and away you go.

If you happen to want to detour somewhere, go right ahead. Just make sure current location is selected in the START field and it will re-route you.

In fact I did this as a test last year for a day while riding in the US without a data plan. So I essentially followed a blue line on a gray background. I still had my GPS app to reference if I wanted to.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions guys I highly appreciate it! I know there are ways to download the PDFs onto the phone but I'd like to try waypoints as well just in case I end up getting lost somewhere. The cheapo Garmin I have is on it's last legs and I don't expect it to last much longer! LoL
 
You really need to use a computer to map then get it into the iPhone.

ForeverMap from Skobbler is wicked value for money - download the world for $9.99 - that's an in App download from your phone. within GPS Navigation 2 which is .99¢

Not sure how it will handle way point mapping but the voice nav is good for the money.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gps-navigation-2-skobbler/id370144231?mt=8
 
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Jampy00 said:
Looking forward to seeing this one.
Click to expand...

I'm running iOS 6 Beta on an iPhone 4. All I can say is dont get your hopes up. Theres not much other functionality and that I really miss street view. In all, iOS 6 is not very impressive to me.
 
Co-Pilot GPS. Thsi is a free GPS program and has maps for Canada and the USA.

I have it on my iPad, and my GF just installed it on her iPhone. It lets you build routes, works offline and overall is fairly decent. Not nearly as good as a dedicted GPS in my opinion but it works.

..Tom
 
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I know this is not what you are asking, but if you have a GPS you can download routes from gmaps into your GPS.
 
V-tom - I'll def look into that. I'm not looking for full GPS functionality just to make sure I'm on the route I planned for myself. I'm having a hard time finding a paper map with the level of detail I want for Ontario...thinking I may need to split them into Southwest/Central/East as the total Ontario only shows major routes.

Victor - I've tried that a few times but my old *** Garmin won't load routes...only waypoints and if there's a few it takes a hell of a long time to make up a route...I found some software online that loads waypoints faster but still need to be connected manually.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
 
mimico_polak said:
Victor - I've tried that a few times but my old *** Garmin won't load routes...only waypoints and if there's a few it takes a hell of a long time to make up a route...I found some software online that loads waypoints faster but still need to be connected manually.
Click to expand...

I have the same issue on mine. The 1300 series...
 
Been trying a lot apple's gps apps. Thank the hackers for jailbreaking. I would have spent a lot of money if I could't try my these expensive apps.

I tried a bunch of them and Navigon is my favorite with Garmin right behind it. Navigon has very nice routing options and it's quite easy to create routes with multiple waypoints. You can skip/add points as you go through your route. Browsing the map for that one road you know it's somewhere on there kind of sucks. Garmin is much better at that. Browsing through the map is much more detailed. Navigon lacks some POI. For example MEC is missing in Navigon. Garmin has it. I really hated TomTom interface. Haven't really tried it. Sygic was OK but nothing special.
 
mimico_polak said:
V-tom - I'll def look into that. I'm not looking for full GPS functionality just to make sure I'm on the route I planned for myself. I'm having a hard time finding a paper map with the level of detail I want for Ontario...thinking I may need to split them into Southwest/Central/East as the total Ontario only shows major routes.

...
Click to expand...

I have a couple of GPS programs on my iPad, but really use them only as a backup. When riding I always use my Zumo.

..Tom
 
DSevigny said:
Same question for Android.
Click to expand...

I serarched high and low and (unlike on the iPhone where a $0.99 MotionX GPS is a great (cheap) option for even longer daytrips) there is nothing... Sigh

Wound up settling on Sygic, based on cost and availability of a week free trial...

Overall an OK option, took me to West Virginia and back, so it definitely works. Google Maps import function is expected in next release, until then route planning involves strategically placing points along the route to form the desired path...

Combined with a handlebar mount from Ultimate Addons and Powerlet USB power plug my phone is now my full-time GPS.
 
i bought a tom tom 1505 with lifetime map updates for $99 at canadian tire last week...i now can go roaming without worry of getting lost...i don't use it to plan a route, but find out where i am and how to get home if i need to and where the closest gas station/restaurant etc are...i keep it in my saddlebag because i found that on the mount, my eyes kept wanting to go to it and i don't want to be distracted...
 
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