Essential Android Apps

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I also have a copy of the .apk file for the Beta version... this only has the UK/ROI map and the UK Postcode files available for download, but I can guarantee it doesn't have Ads on the Map or Nav screens!! :)

Just a quickie... you are still on Gingerbread like me aren't you?? it's not some weird ICS thing?!?!...
 
I'm on ICS. Just trying it again (maps redownloaded).

How often do these maps update too? The download screen shows July 2011 for the UK maps.
 
You can't search for a street name without the city by the looks of it.

Google maps is still my first choice but Navfree is a decent alternative if I need to navigate somewhere and don't have network coverage.
 
I still can't use the postcode search within the app (the Postcode option button is not there) BUT! Using the Google Search option finds any address with any search criteria, this obviously uses the data connection to search but it works.

To search within the app I need to input a city name first. If I don't then I get...

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I will try a nav session on the way home today in 2 hours but doing the demo route option I notice the map movement is nowhere near as realtime smooth like Google Maps/Nav is, it feels like it's running at 10-15 fps.

It may be useful abroad if I don't have data roaming enabled but I can't see myself using it within the UK over Google Nav!
 
Must be an ICS thing!...

As to Maps - Their blurb say's every 6 months, but as you can see it's been 9 months since the last update, so there should (hopefully) be an update coming soon!!.. plus if you register on Open Map's website you can 'tweak' the maps too for future releases!!.. and add POI's etc..

I still prefer the nice Big Map book in the pocket behind my passenger chair, but this helps when my navigator (the wife, who can actually read maps) looses her way!! :D

This is only a 'Fall Back' for me!!.. I may been a geek, but I don't follow technology blindly like some do (especially with Sat-Navs) :)
 
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mrk said:
I still can't use the postcode search within the app (the Postcode option button is not there) BUT! Using the Google Search option finds any address with any search criteria, this obviously uses the data connection to search but it works.

To search within the app I need to input a city name first. If I don't then I get...


I will try a nav session on the way home today in 2 hours but doing the demo route option I notice the map movement is nowhere near as realtime smooth like Google Maps/Nav is, it feels like it's running at 10-15 fps.

It may be useful abroad if I don't have data roaming enabled but I can't see myself using it within the UK over Google Nav!
Click to expand...

Have you downloaded the UK Postcodes add on from the 'Upgrades' part of the app?

<Edit> And it's nothing to do with ICS because I'm running that </Edit>
 
Just take a picture of all the pages and store it on your phone. Real-time traffic, I guess you could film yourself while driving and then just watch through the screen to see what the traffic is like :D.
 
There's always 'Waze' which is like a Farcebook/*******/Googlemaps mashup!!..

It's not 'offline' but it's got realtime upto date traffic both from the traffic peoples and reports from other 'Waze' users...

Plus it has a nice 'twee' (pink) user interface!! :D

anticonscience said:
Q) Why use alternative navigation when Google Maps has it built in?
Click to expand...

Cos Google maps is 'online' and if you loose your data connection it throws a flid!! :p
 
Also, one thing I do not like about almost all other Nav systems out there is that they do not speak out road/junction/turning names, they merely say "in xxx yards, turn left" or "take the 2nd exit" whereas Google Nav will say "At the Wallington Roundabout, take the 2nd exit" or "At Beresford Road, bear left then continue onto the A216".

Couple that with IVONA TTS and you have an absolutely smashing NAV setup that has human like voice directions.
 
I just installed skype for android, quick "silly" question

If i make a call using wifi to someone with a mobile data plan ,does that take any data off their allowance ? im not quite sure how that works
 
CSA said:
I just installed skype for android, quick "silly" question

If i make a call using wifi to someone with a mobile data plan ,does that take any data off their allowance ? im not quite sure how that works
Click to expand...

Skype uploads your voice and downloads theirs, so if you're using mobile internet yes it will come out of your allowance. Unless you're talking for a long long time it shouldn't really make much of a dent though, the bitrate is quite low.

This is in general, it may differ for some networks.
 
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