Need GPS and Translation apps. Ideas please?

You may get more replies if you included which region for GPS, which languages for translation as well as the type of device for which you need the apps.

Edited by: ksagnew

You've provided limited info.

For translation, Google translate works but I think that might need a 3G connection. I use DioDict on my Android, some versions require a few bucks to buy it thou ... works offline, you can throw in a word and it translate but it might not have all the words if you know what I mean - slang, company brand names, technical names, city names. It also does camera mode that is it can scan words and translate. I had an app on my old Nokia that spoke to you but I think maybe you need to keep hunting or go with the Google with a online connection.

Also known as QTranslator.

For GPS. The best I think is Google. Needs a online connection but means you can get satellite view, street view as you are walking down, can google search for stuff not on the database and then go back to the GPS program. And it syncs with all the other devices running Google. You just log on.

If you want something without a data connection. I like "mapswithme" b/c the free version allows you to download entire country maps, easy, no mucking around. If you pay a few bucks you can get the premium version which allow you to search for some POIs and save your own ones too but this app won't guide you there, it won't say go left or right or straight ahead or that you will reach your destination in 20 minutes.

You might want to have a look at Sygic if you want all the features and it works offline not all countries are provided of course.

http://www.sygic.com/en

PS - the Google maps does work offline if you save areas or multiple areas so you can follow the blue arrow of your position and make your way to the place you want to get to on the map but without a live connection you cannot search for POIs like your hotel or bus stop or that tourist attraction.

Orux is another free one haven't used it much yet might need a bit more work to get it working thou, you might get it to link with Google Maps if you use Google often. But the maps isn't as simply as downloading a country map on the phone itself and 20sec presto. It also doesn't guide you there ....

For GPS the device IS VERY IMPORTANT. Android provides developers with a far richer API for getting details from the GPS device, whereas iOS apps are far far more limited.

With Android, which phone you have impacts how well any aGPS works (at least the automated download of the assistance data).

Also, what are you looking to to do with your GPS. A basic GPS gives you your Lat, Long, altitude and time (plus most will then calculate speed, direction and a few other calculated parameters). When most people talk about using a GPS they might want mapping (e.g. hiking) or navigation (e.g. driving). Some people want to record their track as a record of where they have been (and to find an emergency route back out/home). Lots of uses for knowing your position and just saying GPS gives little info about what sort of apps you might be looking for.

Also, what country. Some apps using GPS are better suited to different countries. e.g. hiking in US you want an app that uses the free US Topo maps (which are available only for US and Canada?). different countries different apps use different maps (some pay-for ones, others free e.g. Open Street Map, Open Cycle Map, Bing, OS StreetView) so a lot depends on what you want to do and where you want to do it.

OK thanks. Good basic information.

For GPS I am mostly an urban trekker. Say I am visiting Munich. I need help to find my way around.

Thanks

Urban travel - pick up a simcard and use Google Maps, you too can do Facebook, Twitter, email etc etc .. :)

You can also search for places to see and eat and then get there ...

Not getting a simcard? Then, I suggest mapswithme, the prem version for a few bucks allow you to search some POIs and the others you can add your own by scrolling thru the map. The free version might not even allow you to add points, it just allow you to see yourself moving along the map. At least that's when I tried it, I clicked the bookmarks pin icon and it says not allowed.

Need all the features, get Sygic for voice guidance. For Germany if you have a Nokia that works too but the newer Nokia's only work in car mode, the older Nokia's based on Symbian works in walk mode too. This is free voice guidance offline. The new Nokia's based on Windows Phone the walk mode is on diff software hence ... Only car mode for newer ones, but you can improvise it ...

Edited by: Rayonline

I just came back from a trip didn't have time to learn Orux. From that point of view, if you want something very easy mapswithme is it. You can just download the app, from the menu choose Europe and download the entire Germany map and 20sec presto. You don't have to highlight certain area maps to cache/download. If you pay four bucks or so USD you can have a wee database of POIs as well, those not on there you can add yourself by tapping on the map and pinning it.

I just had a play with Orux. Yeah a bummer you cannot just download entire country maps. In terms of downloading points of Google Earth. What you do is go to the left panel under "My Places" right click and save as KMZ file type. Either email yourself to the phone or connect USB or other ways and copy to a folder in the phone. The map app doesn't have a import function, instead open up file manager on the phone and tap the KMZ file it will ask you what app you wanna open with, for me it list Mapswithme or Orux. Hit either one and it will automatically import them. Painless. The good thing with Orux is the maps are more detailed like satellite images. Not so much with small buildings look at the same haha, but things like large skyscrapes, parks, sport stadiums, temples you see it. Pretty good eh ... Despite Orux's lengthy user manual.

All in all if you must have the easiest way, mapswithme it is - download country map and 20sec way you go out the door. If you want maybe more detailed maps - Orux. There might be another challenge to learn how to stick the maps together or just save many diff maps eg if you plan to see many diff cities by taking another flight or a long distance train like I did with the bullet trains. The bummer is that each area is limited to 512MB which doesn't cover Tokyo CBD in 20 depth detail. Does provide detail but it needs more work or multi maps. Question is does everyone need all the detail or would be a street mode map quality do.

Mapswithme has a database - the prem version. Depending on the individual it can be quite useful knowing when you can search for the closest train station, post or police station, ATM, petrol station etc. Orux won't have that thru a searcher.

Edited by: Rayonline

Edited by: Rayonline

Orux works fine for that. You just choose your map source - Google maps, Google earth, open street map,as you wish - the area and zoom level and download the map to your device.
Ready for offline use.

Alrighty. I had a go with Orux now. Learnt how to import export Google Earth points over. Learnt how to save certain areas. Orux has a lot of potential esp high end users and those wanting sat images. I've just taken a small area close to where I live and chose layers 15 - 20 and downloaded those. Takes quite a while to save.

The main issue for me is it's quite time consuming, maybe ok if you just plan to stay in a certain area for a holiday but if you are doing travelling to other places then you may end up saving diff maps. Mine says each up to 512MB but the Orux manual online says 1GB dunno what the story with that is.

With Japan, Mapswithme takes up 414MB and that is the whole country in one single download. Not to the same detail as Orux thou. But it is a map.