No good maps
I wanted a road atlas that did not require me to be on a network to use. This product promiced that but it's not entirely true. You have to go to the web page and buy maps. Fine, but the maps that are compatable with this app are topagrafacal not road atlas AND the maps are $25 and up each. IF they had high detailed road maps this app would be great, but I don't realy care about the topagraphical servay maps.
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Great promise but needs some work
[Updated to 1.2.1] I use Atlas mostly to plot my position on UK Ordnance survey maps while I walk for fun/fitness. So far I have found it to be extremely accurate and useful. On balance, though, Atlas seems to be a work in progress. Given that the RouteBuddy just updated Atlas, making it faster, it seems that the company is working hard to improve the app.
Pro's:
• Accurate, which surprised me given that the iPhone is not a dedicated GPS device.
• Access to UK Ordnance Survey maps that have much more detail than Google maps.
• Ease of use (after maps have been imported).
Con's (mostly features I'd like to see added):
• Importing the purchased maps into Atlas takes some effort.
• Recording tracks is great a feature, but it chews up the battery in about 2-2.5 hours on my 3GS (as does any GPS app on the iPhone).
• There appears to be no option to display saved tracks (or delete them) from within Atlas.
• Tracks do not display distance travelled, time travelled, average speed or estimated calories burned.
If maps could be purchased and loaded directly into Atlas; tracking information was annotated along the lines mentioned above; and saved tracks could be displayed and deleted; then I'd give Atlas 5 stars. Right now if I want accuracy or detailed maps I use Atlas, and if I want detailed information on saved GPS tracks, I use Trails.
Pro's:
• Accurate, which surprised me given that the iPhone is not a dedicated GPS device.
• Access to UK Ordnance Survey maps that have much more detail than Google maps.
• Ease of use (after maps have been imported).
Con's (mostly features I'd like to see added):
• Importing the purchased maps into Atlas takes some effort.
• Recording tracks is great a feature, but it chews up the battery in about 2-2.5 hours on my 3GS (as does any GPS app on the iPhone).
• There appears to be no option to display saved tracks (or delete them) from within Atlas.
• Tracks do not display distance travelled, time travelled, average speed or estimated calories burned.
If maps could be purchased and loaded directly into Atlas; tracking information was annotated along the lines mentioned above; and saved tracks could be displayed and deleted; then I'd give Atlas 5 stars. Right now if I want accuracy or detailed maps I use Atlas, and if I want detailed information on saved GPS tracks, I use Trails.
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aka Crashbuddy Atlas
I tried this on a 3G and a 3GS. It's one of the worst CLC (crashes like crazy) apps I've ever tried. Don't waste your time with this one.
Nearly 5 stars but need to be able to add specific waypoints
I've recently purchased my first Ordnance Survey map for the iPhone and I'm really impressed with it - the level of detail is superior to using the corresponding paper map in my opinion.
I also use the geocaching app for the iPhone and it would be brilliant if the waypoints could be viewed on my atlas app. The geocaching app does already provide the opportunity for viewing on a few other external maps but not routebuddy atlas. I'm not sure how difficult this would be, as I understand that you are two separate companies but it would be wonderful for the end user.
Failing that I would welcome the opportunity to add waypoints (in longtitude and latitude) whilst out and about (rather than by importing them from a computer). This would mean that I could check out nearby caches in the geocaching app and then enter the waypoints in to routebuddy atlas (as the superior map for walkers). Currently I can add a waypoint but I can't specify its exact location. Is there any possibility of looking at this for future upgrades?
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Simply a map viewer with a blue dot!
Update:
Recently purchased the whole of the UK in the larger scale for £7.99 and very pleased with this and some other enhancments made to the app. Still needs work to be a serious navigation app but hopefully getting there??
I bought the New Forest maps to try the application out. I have had a couple of days playing about but still could only award 2 stars at this stage due to the many missing features and limited fuctionality. This has potential but to describe it as a replacement for Memory Map or Satmap is laughable!
current features missing;
No OS grid location
No orientation of map/track up using in built compass meaning I have to rotate the iPhone. This won't be any good on a bike!
No current display on mapping screen and currently have to go out of map, click GPS, then select map from list again. Position format is lat and long not UK grid
Limited mapping functionality. This really need some kind of 'goto' feature. At least with a paper map I can use a compass to follow a bearing.
Without these features the app is simply a map veiwer with a blue dot showing your postion! Useful to use locally as a detailed map but lacking the essentials to use a proper navigation tool.
As to the price of maps, well I knew that before I purchased (although the price should show VAT from the off!)
Recently purchased the whole of the UK in the larger scale for £7.99 and very pleased with this and some other enhancments made to the app. Still needs work to be a serious navigation app but hopefully getting there??
I bought the New Forest maps to try the application out. I have had a couple of days playing about but still could only award 2 stars at this stage due to the many missing features and limited fuctionality. This has potential but to describe it as a replacement for Memory Map or Satmap is laughable!
current features missing;
No OS grid location
No orientation of map/track up using in built compass meaning I have to rotate the iPhone. This won't be any good on a bike!
No current display on mapping screen and currently have to go out of map, click GPS, then select map from list again. Position format is lat and long not UK grid
Limited mapping functionality. This really need some kind of 'goto' feature. At least with a paper map I can use a compass to follow a bearing.
Without these features the app is simply a map veiwer with a blue dot showing your postion! Useful to use locally as a detailed map but lacking the essentials to use a proper navigation tool.
As to the price of maps, well I knew that before I purchased (although the price should show VAT from the off!)
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not all features are Aus-compatible
Downloadable maps on this app are a) US only and b) not free!
None the less other features of this app have potential, such as online access to OpenStreetMap and OpenCycleMap which do feature Australian content (and members of those online mapping communities can edit / update those maps). In the early days of testing this app, I've had a few server stability issues but that could be at my end, not theirs.
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No maps available
There are no maps available for New Zealand when searching the online store. The program comes with two obscure American maps and invites you to purchase more using their store link. You are then warned that using the store is not supported from an iPhone!? It looks promising, but don't waste your time.
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Its a decent route tracker
I loaded this application up and went for my nightly walk around the neighborhood. Afterwards, it had my distance travelled and seemed accurate. I switched to the map view, hoping to see the route but instead I pressed the 'start tracking' so I thought my track was lost. I was ready to be disappointed but decided I would check the onboard web server. So I turned on the server, went to my PC and browsed to the URL shown. My route was there, so I copied it off the iPhone and uploaded it to one of those websites that shows GPX files on Google maps. The route was pretty accurate and had my path perfectly mapped out.
So overall its a pretty good route tracker.
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ExPalmNewton
A good map viewer. The included map sets look great.
Lame
As a GPS user and geocacher I would expect more from a company that specializes in maps and topos. The application is unwieldy and doesn't function well. The lame demo maps take up space - seriously who lives there? They don't even have the app set up to directly sell maps from the iPhone. Get with it folks!!
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