Phone and Tablet Navigation Aids

Greggd · 05-09-2011, 07:35 PM

In my well meaning family's QUEST to bring me into the 21st century they gifted me a new I Phone and an I Pad 3G for my birthday in March. I have been looking for apps to make these devices more interesting for me and came across a couple that seem to be very useful for travels the first one being http://www.topomapsapp.com and http://www.allstays.com I purchased both of these and have been pleased with their utility . I thought that it might be and interesting ongoing topic as we all have similar travel tastes . I thought that if any of you have found applications that appealed to you , you might like to share them so that I am able to continue to spend more money in the guise of necessity (SportsMobile) .
greggd

EMrider · 05-09-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greggd

In my well meaning family's QUEST to bring me into the 21st century they gifted me a new I Phone and an I Pad 3G for my birthday in March. I have been looking for apps to make these devices more interesting for me and came across a couple that seem to be very useful for travels the first one being http://www.topomapsapp.com and http://www.allstays.com I purchased both of these and have been pleased with their utility . I thought that it might be and interesting ongoing topic as we all have similar travel tastes . I thought that if any of you have found applications that appealed to you , you might like to share them so that I am able to continue to spend more money in the guise of necessity (SportsMobile) .
greggd

Have not tried it out yet, but that topo map app was highly recommended to me by a friend. That is Philip Endecott's topo app, but there are others available.

My most useful map related app thus far has been GPS Drive Motion X HD. It turns the Ipad into a full function GPS navigation tool with turn by turn directions. I use it often.
Rob

Zeta · 05-09-2011, 08:05 PM

I'm thrilled with the iHike app for the pad. Works with the GPS in your 3G pad. You have to download the USGS or forest service maps ahead of time--unless you have cell reception or wireless in the middle of nowhere then you can download them anytime.

http://www.ihikegps.com/

You can download up to 200 of the free maps. They look terrific when zoomed in too.

Z

Greggd · 05-09-2011, 09:46 PM

Rob and Zeta ,
Thank you for your quick replies , I have the Motion X on my new I Phone but have not used it yet , my plan is to use it when I am traveling out of the state on business and don't have access to Hertz and their Never Lost GPS systems in their cars . Zeta I just purchased the I hike and installed it on my I PAD , I really like the idea of preloading Topo Maps that are accessible as downloads and not requiring the use of a GPS ! This is the reason that I purchased the previously mentioned Topomaps ap . I have always been a map and compass person but with all of this great information available I can see my waterproofing and folding skills going away . I am absolutely amazed at the number of applications available ! While researching I found out that a number of the upper end mapping companies are gearing up for these type of applications ,one particular to watch for is Benchmark out of Oregon , that produce some of the finest upto date maps of the West available .
Thank you both for feeding my insanity !
Greggd

Zeta · 05-09-2011, 11:03 PM

I'll be interested in the Benchmark topos. There are so many topo maps that it would be nice just to have them all installed--or at least better than having to download them one at a time.

BTW, iHike will move between maps when you drive off of them which is a nice feature.

Z

Greggd · 05-10-2011, 08:36 AM

Zeta ,
The Topomapsapp I believe has this feature as well . I have been retracing many of our old trip
logs and found everything not only greatly expanded but much simpler to navigate . I even laid out a couple of new destinations that we had not been to in a number of years for the near future . It really is nice to plan this way with waypoints and all the needed coordinates in place . I am excited to see any additional Apps that other Forum members have found .
Greggd

Bigredinvail · 05-13-2011, 08:38 AM

Star walk is a great app for the iPad. It's ok for the iPhone but amazing for the iPad. It gps locates what the star look like at your location.

Greggd · 05-13-2011, 05:49 PM

Bigredinvail ,
Thanks I just purchased the application , looks very interesting and I am sure that my Grandsons will give it a good workout ! I previously purchased GoSkyWatch at http://www.gosoftworks.com and have had much enjoyment with this App .We need to get Daveb to critique these applications to see if they are worth their salt .
One of the features that this application is the the ability to reference the the shuttle when in orbit , you have to purchase it but looks to be interesting , at least to my Grandsons and Daughter .
Greggd

Carl · 05-14-2011, 07:16 AM

great info! Curious if you were to get one device to travel with (iphone, ipad, laptop) which would you purchase for the ultimate navigation aid? also advantages over kenwood/garmin unit already in vehicle?

thanks

Greggd · 05-14-2011, 08:31 AM

As of this moment I would probably opt for the I Pad because of it's intermediate size and ease of use .
I do not plan on it as a main stream travel aid as much a resource base for any and all things that might be needed while on my way . The mapping applications that I have purchased look like they will be able to provide a storage base for additional information that would not be available by using my Kenwood/Garmin system that is hard wired to my vehicle as well as the wealth of information only available from using a computer type platform . I really cannot give any real good advice yet because of the short time that I have owned these new devices but so far so good and I am one of those people that is technologically challenged !!! A wise man once said that you will never be lost , if you do not care where you are .
Greggd