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Map caching is possible but is it possible to have offline routing? (other than preloading route with internet). Whenever I search a location on GMaps without internet it just searches forever and Google Navigation only works when theres internet. I know there are offline GPS options out there but Im just so used to Gmaps. So is it possible to have offline routing? If not, which Offline GPS is closest to GMaps?
Thanks
There's a rumor that Google will offer a true offline mode by the end of this summer. Offline as in it will be able to do offline routing and more/better options for downloading maps.
Just a rumor though.
I heard this rumor too. I don't know where and don't remeber if there was any date but it looks very promising. If it's true, I would throw away that crapy Sygic.
I am planning on using my Prime in the car and would like to know what is the best "offline" alternative to Google Navigation. I have heard about Sygic but do not have personal experience with it.
Any suggestion?
ajamils said:
I am planning on using my Prime in the car and would like to know what is the best "offline" alternative to Google Navigation. I have heard about Sygic but do not have personal experience with it.
Any suggestion?
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You are able to download the Google maps for offline use, have you tried doing that with your tablet? All it should need after download is GPS...
omac_ranger said:
You are able to download the Google maps for offline use, have you tried doing that with your tablet? All it should need after download is GPS...
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Click to collapse
Well, it's not that simple actually. You can't download entire maps. You can pre-cache 10 square mile areas around locations.
Works well if you know where you're going .
omac_ranger said:
You are able to download the Google maps for offline use, have you tried doing that with your tablet? All it should need after download is GPS...
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Click to collapse
Sorry, I wasn't aware of that. How do I do that? All I see is an option to cache map area. How can I cache the whole USA map ?
try Orux maps from the market, its an open source alternative and as far as I am aware you can create maps of any size for offline use. And its free (or donation!).
ajamils said:
I am planning on using my Prime in the car and would like to know what is the best "offline" alternative to Google Navigation. I have heard about Sygic but do not have personal experience with it.
Any suggestion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you looked into the new additions to Google Maps? I think they're increasing the offline capabilities (according to their talk yesterday or the day before).
http://www.androidcentral.com/google-maps-android-getting-offline-access
Although google maps is excellent and the new features are needed, orux maps includes google maps within along with just about every other map source available.
I havent heard of any apps that do offline route planning and navigation though, thats a different story.
Oruxmaps looks good but I don't think it does what I'm looking for. I need complete "turn by turn" navigation offline (just like car navigation ).
seeknom said:
Well, it's not that simple actually. You can't download entire maps. You can pre-cache 10 square mile areas around locations.
Works well if you know where you're going .
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Click to collapse
I was assuming he knew where he was going Haha
Sygic seems to do everything that I want but I would like to get some opinions about it before I spend a good chunk of change on it
Maps Stored on the Phone
to save your data for more important stuff.
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Click to collapse
http://www.sygic.com/en/android
sygic
I bought sygic. There's a free time-limited market d/l and my USA upgrade was $20. I've used it on one trip and it was very a functional turn-by-turn experience. Maps are by Tom-Tom.
i wish you could cache more than 10 square miles in google maps... 10 just never seems like enough!
Downloaded the trial version of Sygic and took it for a spin. Without the GPS dongle I lost GPS connection randomly but with the dongle I was able to complete a 10 mile journey with Voice guidance without any issue.
ajamils said:
I am planning on using my Prime in the car and would like to know what is the best "offline" alternative to Google Navigation. I have heard about Sygic but do not have personal experience with it.
Any suggestion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, SYGIC is great. Me and a collegue both tested NAVIGON and SYGIC and SYGIC is by far the winner!
Google Maps "offline" is not recommendable. You only will download a 10x10 tile. Not more!
Google announced they will be adding full offline support (not just a 10x10 tile), but it's not out yet.
handi1948 said:
Well, SYGIC is great. Me and a collegue both tested NAVIGON and SYGIC and SYGIC is by far the winner!
Google Maps "offline" is not recommendable. You only will download a 10x10 tile. Not more!
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Click to collapse
ZANavi for android.
It's a fork from NAVIT. Free, using free Openstreetmaps, you can download entire countries, or even the whole world lol. There is a possibility to donwload only a limited region on navit's website (google it).
Not as sexy as paid versions but it does the job.
And people speaking about google maps please provide correct info. Offline maps in it is only an anounce, with no ETA.
I use GoPilot Live Pro and like it. I think they have a free version you can try, but eventually, you will want to go to the PRO version. If you find a map error, you can submit a correction to them and they will fix it. In addition to that, I also run WAZE...it's an online map service, but has the best info on Police/traffic congestion/accidents because it's totally based on user reporting. I don't know why, but their routing is attrocious. I use CoPilot for my directions, and check in on Waze to check the road conditions ahead. To use Waze, I just tether my phone to the Prime.
Bob
I haven't really used it myself for navigation, but Osmand is superb for viewing maps and tracking. It is easy to download vector maps for each country from within the app and there is a wide variety of online maps. The navigation is provided by Cloud made, YOURS, OpenRouteService, or the offline option.
I've tried Navit, and it works, but the UI is disgusting.
yeah try ZANavi. its free, its offline.
and if you find the time help to translate:
https://translations.launchpad.net/zanavi/navit-orig-import/+pots/navit
https://translations.launchpad.net/zanavi/trunk/+pots/zanavi
Hey,
Ive just updated my android to a windows phone 8 Lumia 920 and I used google maps navigation a lot on my old android.
Im trying to use Nokia maps for walking navigation, but it never seems to show what way im pointing, which makes it very hard to understand and use....on more than one occasion ive walked the wrong way before realising im doing so
Does Nokia maps not have a compass feature???? Nokia City lens has it, so they know how to use the feature!! but city lets wont let me do walking navigation between 2 points so its useless to me there
Unfortunately Nokia Maps don't have this feature...
I hope Nokia will implement it soon in the next versions...
The biggest problem is as you said to start to walk in the right direction, sometime it's helpful to look around and read the street names to understand in which direction you should start walking...
If you like Google maps better you can use gMaps from the Microsoft Store...
It also has a compass feature...
Thanks for your reply
Im actually quite amazed that an app which has a major feature such as a 'walking directions' doesnt have a compass. Nokia seems to have it all backwards
Thanks for the gmap tip! Ill try using that for a bit but may end up switching back to my android purely for their Google maps navigation software (as driving includes traffic too, unlike Nokia Drive )
It comes all down to personal preferences i like Nokia drive better than Google Maps navigation... But I don't use ether of them...
For me right now Navigon is the best Navigation Software an Windows Phone...
I like it more than the Android version...
Anyway can you suggest me a full blown navigation software on Android??
I tried Navigon but I'm not really satisfied.. I don't like the UI at all...
I pretty much swear by Google maps navigation on android. Its never done me wrong in terms of driving or walking navigation (and it uses the compass feature!!!)
Additionally it gives you a good traffic overview which is constantly updated.
Only negative is that its pretty much online only, although you can now download small parts of your map for offline navigation (but we are talking up to around 5-10 mile radius)
I like Google maps for walking navigation but i really don't like it for car navigation...
It seems i have to search and test a little bit more...
I agree there are better driving nav systems out there, but the traffic assistance and ability to reroute to absolutely anything in the Google maps system is really useful to me! For free I'm not sure there's anything out there close to it, but if you find something better I'd be very interested to try it out
Ikkari said:
It comes all down to personal preferences i like Nokia drive better than Google Maps navigation... But I don't use ether of them...
For me right now Navigon is the best Navigation Software an Windows Phone...
I like it more than the Android version...
Anyway can you suggest me a full blown navigation software on Android??
I tried Navigon but I'm not really satisfied.. I don't like the UI at all...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought Sygic on Android and it works fine. They update maps often and you get no problem changing device. Speed limits are not correct. for example, all around Geneva it is indicated 120 km/h for highway and it should be 100km/h. Nokia drive is more precise, but their maps are older (more than two years traffic changes not updated near home. I'm sure it will come soon.
I absolutely love, love, love the Google satellite view in the Navigational GPS app. The whole app really is awesome. I'll probably never use my Tomtom again.
BUT! Unlike my Tomtom which can calculate a set of directions locally on the device the S4 appears to have Google do the calculation on their servers and transmit the info via Internet connection. That's a real problem when you're in an area that has poor service. Navigation becomes totally nonfunctional.
The GPS navigation will work through an area of no service if you start in an area with service so the app can download a set of directions. The problems come if you need to start your journey in an area with no service, or do like I did and exit the navigation app to do other things like make a phone call from a backwoods gas station. When I tried to restart the navigation app it kept waiting to download the directions set from google which wasn't going to happen out there. Lucky for me I remembered enough to get me back to an area with 3G where the service restored functionality to the navigation app. Lesson learned.
0reo said:
I absolutely love, love, love the Google satellite view in the Navigational GPS app. The whole app really is awesome. I'll probably never use my Tomtom again.
BUT! Unlike my Tomtom which can calculate a set of directions locally on the device the S4 appears to have Google do the calculation on their servers and transmit the info via Internet connection. That's a real problem when you're in an area that has poor service. Navigation becomes totally nonfunctional.
The GPS navigation will work through an area of no service if you start in an area with service so the app can download a set of directions. The problems come if you need to start your journey in an area with no service, or do like I did and exit the navigation app to do other things like make a phone call from a backwoods gas station. When I tried to restart the navigation app it kept waiting to download the directions set from google which wasn't going to happen out there. Lucky for me I remembered enough to get me back to an area with 3G where the service restored functionality to the navigation app. Lesson learned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A preplanned area where you will be navigating can be cached.
It caches the map and directions so you can navigate through an area of no service but it loses the cached data when you exit the app. There is no cached data when starting a trip from an area of no service.
If I'm missing something please do tell. I'd love to know.
0reo said:
It caches the map and directions so you can navigate through an area of no service but it loses the cached data when you exit the app. There is no cached data when starting a trip from an area of no service.
If I'm missing something please do tell. I'd love to know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Maps > Menu Key > Make available offline
Google Maps app =/= Navigation app.
Although you do offer a good way to at least have a map on hand.
This is why I also have CoPilot navigation. Completely offline!
Sent from my Galaxy S4
This behavior is not unique to the Galaxy S4, nor is it new. Google Navigation has always been (and almost certainly will remain) a client-server type app that does the "heavy lifting" back at Google HQ. That's not a design flaw, it's a design choice--this approach perfectly serves the needs of some huge fraction of users some huge percentage of the time, without unduly consuming the resources of the phone.
In today's world, if you're in a car in the US, you're almost always within range of a cell tower with data service. Of course, if you're not within range of a cell tower, you're probably far from civilization and that's when it'd be most helpful to have some navigational assistance...
So there's still a place for the self-contained navigators like a TomTom or similar. That market niche is simply much smaller than it was about 5 years ago before Google Maps / Navigation was ubiquitous.
MysticCobra said:
This behavior is not unique to the Galaxy S4, nor is it new. Google Navigation has always been (and almost certainly will remain) a client-server type app that does the "heavy lifting" back at Google HQ. That's not a design flaw, it's a design choice--this approach perfectly serves the needs of some huge fraction of users some huge percentage of the time, without unduly consuming the resources of the phone.
In today's world, if you're in a car in the US, you're almost always within range of a cell tower with data service. Of course, if you're not within range of a cell tower, you're probably far from civilization and that's when it'd be most helpful to have some navigational assistance...
So there's still a place for the self-contained navigators like a TomTom or similar. That market niche is simply much smaller than it was about 5 years ago before Google Maps / Navigation was ubiquitous.
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Click to collapse
I understand its not unique or new but I certainly hope the route calculation becomes a client side option soon. It made sense to do it server side a couple phone generations ago when device processing power was limited but not so anymore. My S4 will run circles around any tomtom or garmin both in processing power as well as gps accuracy not to mention never having to do manual gps fix updates and map updates. The standalone navigational gps is going to go the way of the point and shoot camera. Its just a matter of time.
What you're calling a design choice may have been choice two years ago. Today it is a horrible flaw. There are vast areas of well traveled road that get no service around here (eg. anywhere in the mountains.) Google needs to pull their head out and recognize (or someone else will do it [be]for[e] them.) Sooner the better for them and us.
0reo said:
I understand its not unique or new but I certainly hope the route calculation becomes a client side option soon. It made sense to do it server side a couple phone generations ago when device processing power was limited but not so anymore. My S4 will run circles around any tomtom or garmin both in processing power as well as gps accuracy not to mention never having to do manual gps fix updates and map updates. The standalone navigational gps is going to go the way of the point and shoot camera. Its just a matter of time.
What you're calling a design choice may have been choice two years ago. Today it is a horrible flaw. There are vast areas of well traveled road that get no service around here (eg. anywhere in the mountains.) Google needs to pull their head out and recognize (or someone else will do it [be]for[e] them.) Sooner the better for them and us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like someone said before, you can download the maps offline for whatever area you need that won't have service.
Google isn't stupid. This is why they introduced this feature. It's not that the phone doesn't have the processing power; having the entire country stored on your phone would take up tons of storage.
There are other GPS applications (in the Play Store) that do this I'm pretty sure, and that is also why standalone GPS units exist. Google doesn't have to worry about losing anything to anyone. For a huge majority of users, Google Maps works perfectly fine.
trebb said:
Like someone said before, you can download the maps offline for whatever area you need that won't have service.
Google isn't stupid. This is why they introduced this feature. It's not that the phone doesn't have the processing power; having the entire country stored on your phone would take up tons of storage.
There are other GPS applications (in the Play Store) that do this I'm pretty sure, and that is also why standalone GPS units exist. Google doesn't have to worry about losing anything to anyone. For a huge majority of users, Google Maps works perfectly fine.
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Click to collapse
On my tomtom the map of the entire US (just roads, not sat images) is about one GB. Not prohibitive by any stretch.
And unless I'm still missing something you can't save maps in Navigation app. Only in Google Maps app which is different and not nearly as good for use while driving.
0reo said:
On my tomtom the map of the entire US (just roads, not sat images) is about one GB. Not prohibitive by any stretch.
And unless I'm still missing something you can't save maps in Navigation app. Only in Google Maps app which is different and not nearly as good for use while driving.
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I'm almost 100% positive that the Navigation app and Google Maps are the same application. Just like the other app whose name I can't recall that helps you find restaurants, etc. It's all run through Google Maps. The initial interface may be different, but they're the same thing.
I always just search my destination in Maps, then hit navigate. That takes you to the same exact thing the Navigation shortcut will eventually bring you to. I have never really used the offline feature nor do I use the Navigation shortcut, so I can't really instruct you on how to do it through either method. I remember reading the reviews when Google introduced the feature, though, so it definitely works.
Sent from my Verizon Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4.
Next time, just leave Navigation running in the background while you make your call. When you hang up, pull down the status bar and tap the Navigation icon & continue on your way.
0reo said:
Google Maps app =/= Navigation app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except they are. Exact same apk file. Uninstall maps... Navigation disappears.
The navigation icon is basically a maps shortcut.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Whatever is happening in the back end, I just don't see the functionality in the front end. I'll play with it more today and see if I'm missing a way.
Surprised no one mentioned the Sygic app in this thread yet -- I tried it a while back and it was pretty decent for a standalone navigation app that you can download maps to your SD card and have the app use those. It is relatively expensive since I last looked though.
I used to have a Garmin Navigation app on my Blackberry Storm. It looked and worked just like my actual Garmin GPS. All map and routing data was on the phone (<2GB) and it worked even with no cell or data signal at all.
I don't know why they don't offer the same thing as an Android app. The full City Navigator North America database is less than 2GB.
stuartv said:
I used to have a Garmin Navigation app on my Blackberry Storm. It looked and worked just like my actual Garmin GPS. All map and routing data was on the phone (<2GB) and it worked even with no cell or data signal at all.
I don't know why they don't offer the same thing as an Android app. The full City Navigator North America database is less than 2GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think they decided to not kill their company. They are trying to stay out of the race to zero. Google could kill off every other navigation company in one swoop if they wanted to by offering a free full blown offline maps for android and ios...I think they just don't want the regulatory scrutiny. And they wouldn't be able to collect data on your habits as easily, lol. NSA might get pissed.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
SuzakuTheKnight said:
Google Maps > Menu Key > Make available offline
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Click to collapse
Does anyone know of a way to make the caching of maps cache a much bigger area than it currently does?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
i understand the op's concern. the main issue being when there is no connection to the internet you cannot get directions. even if you cache a map offline the navigation still won't provide you directions, you can only browse the map area and see where you currently are on that cached map. the reason it works this way is because when you choose directions or navigation in maps google calculates the directions from your location to the point selected. it's not something done within the application, but dynamically via google's servers.
this is almost never an issue for me, except in the rare occasion when i've been traveling and in a tunnel or some remote location where internet connection isn't available. in those cases your best bet is to calculate your directions ahead of time and email them to yourself. you can also cache a map of that area so you can at least browse it offline.
if google ever offers offline navigation/directions then every other mapping service can kiss their company goodbye.
Google built the best. I'd pay for the ability to calculate a route offline.
I've had this question for some days now...
If I have wifi off and mobile data off if I use GPS will it "eat" money??
I can't find an exact answer to this answer
Your question is not clear
GPS : it's always free. With that you can acess a position by using satellites
To be used with a car for example, you must have a software like TOMTOM, MAPS, NAVIGATOR, etc ...
With such sofware you will see all roads aroud you BUT the sofware must use the map of the country where you are. 2 possibilities :
- the map is in your phone. In this case, you don't need to have a DATA access has the map will be read locally in your phone
(It's the case with TOMTOM for example)
- the map cannot be recorded in your phone and must be downloaded in real time. Its the case (partially) with Google Maps
In this case you must have a DATA access and this will not be free depending of your phone operator
It exist several GPS application so try to find one which use OpenStreet maps as it's completly free
Hope that will help you