Navigation (offline) Apps - Apple vs Android?

[Robmacca]

Guys,
Looking at possibly updating my iPad to a later model but I thought it would also be a good time to see if its worth changing to an Android Tablet for my Navigation requirements. So here's what I currently (or in the future) use my iPad for:


> The general daily emails messaging, social media, music, internet browsing/searching, etc
> Photos (only sometimes)
> On and OFFROAD navigation
> Modern vehicle diagnostics (this is a future requirement)


My "main" use is for offroad navigation and my current iPad doesn't have a built-in GPS, so I need to BT to a GPS receiver to use it as a GPS device for navigation. This works fine most of the time but it's an extra device that I need to have plugged into a USB charger all the time, hence why I'm thinking about upgrading to either an iPad (cellular) with the GPS built-in or go for something totally different and that being an Android Tablet.


Obviously, I'm used to using an iPad and therefore it will take some time to get used to an Android and then there the APPS that I've already paid for on my iPad but I'm not too concern about this as I still have an iPhone where I can still use those APPS.


MY MAIN CONCERN IS WHAT APPS ARE AVAILABLE on the GOOGLE PLAY STORE THAT WILL MEET MY NEEDS??


On my iPad I use the following for navigation and research purposes when touring around Australia (on and offline)


# PocketEarth & Map out (Used for Navigating & for recording where I've been; ability to upload (& download) other peoples' tracklogs that I can then follow; Routing; POI's; Topographic Maps; Compass, Altimeter, etc, etc, Wikipedia Historical Info on various sites)
# WikiCamps & CamperMate (Free/Paid Camping sites around Australia)
# Speedometer (GPS App that gives u your speed and a whole lot of other functions)
# OZTopo (an App that I regret paying $$ for)
# WikiLoc
# Trail Wallet (recording daily expenses while travelling)
# Garmin Apps that I utilise with my Garmin GPS's
# Fueling Apps (Fuelly; PetrolSpy; FuelMap Australia)


There are "other" apps that I occasionally use that I assume can either be found on Google Tore or something similar...




So... knowing more about IOS & what App's are available... What are some APPS within the Google Store that would do the same job?


Note: For Navigating Apps it must be able to record your tracklog (preferable to be able to colour code different tracklogs) and upload/download; have access to "TopoMaps"; Routing; Mark waypoints; built-in compass; POI's that are displayed on the map that u can visually see; NO ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION fee attached;


I know about HEMA; MudMaps; MemoryMaps and currently not really interested in them as what I currently use is more beneficial for me...


Would like to know more about OziExplorer and the ExplorOZ apps though...




Comments....?

[OldGuy]

Hi RobM
I am an android fan and do not know a lot about Apple applications. I think most of the apps you mentioned are available in Android, I use Fuel Map, use the Torque app paired with an OBD in my wife's Prado to check and clear any fault issues (not sure about the Discovery), Google maps works great when paired with my phone (android) was fantastic a couple of years ago when driving around Greece and the UK, I also use OziExplorer there are an enormous amount of maps available. The Android version is/was? about $25US and will meet pretty much all of your plotting and track needs.

Hope this is of some help to you

regards
Geoff

[austastar]

Would like to know more about OziExplorer and the ExplorOZ apps though...


Hi,
Give me a location of an area you know well and I will do some screen shots in Hema, OziExplorer and ExploreOz.

Cheers

[Robmacca]

Hi,
Give me a location of an area you know well and I will do some screen shots in Hema, OziExplorer and ExploreOz.

Cheers



Sundown National Park
Bellthorpe National Park
Wrattens National Park
Madigans Line

[austastar]

Hi,
Will do.
Lat/Long would make the search more specific, some of those parks are big.
Cheers

[Ferret]

My "main" use is for offroad navigation...

If you want to try OruxMaps the website is located here Home (https://www.oruxmaps.com/cs/en/.)

You will have to download an APK file. If you don't know how to install an APK file on your phone / tablet you might have to google and alter some setting on your phone / tablet first. You will also find a OruxMaps manual on the site to down load.

Once OruxMaps is installed. Open this site in your phone / tablet's browser.

Australia, New Zealand, Oceania Cycle and Hiking maps download for Android (https://www.openandromaps.org/en/downloads/australia-newzealand-oceania)

This will list maps for all Aus states. Select the state you want and click on the "+" symbol beside each state to reveal a drop down menu which will show you an option to install the selected map into OruxMaps. Once you get the map files also download the 'POI' files.

You will also need to install a 'RenderTheme' for these maps before you can use them in Orux. You will find the 'Install Render Theme' download button on this page also. Click on it, it will take you to a page where you can select to install the rendertheme directly into Orux. You should get 2 renderthemes - 'Elevate' and 'Elements'. A third render theme called 'Tiramasu' is also available here (https://tartamillo.wordpress.com/tiramisu/) if you want it. Render themes alter the way these maps look - colours, shading, details etc.

Orux has some many options and features it will take you some time to come to gripes with it all. Orux also supports many different map formats provided they are unencrypted. If you can get the Hema maps in ozf2 format (look around [wink11]) Orux will happily use them. It will also use the Aus geoscience topographic maps also though I find them pretty ugly to look at.

If you don't like it at least it has been all for free.

[austastar]

Hi,
I miss read the required comparison of OziExplorer and ExploreOz to being Hema and ExploreOz.

OziExplorer does not come with maps, they are bought seperately and you only need to buy what you can use.
The only map I have of the Sundown National Park is at 1:1,000,000 scale

https://i.imgur.com/3crUKbx.jpg
Not very exciting at this scale, but that is the limitation of the map, not the program. All my detailed maps are of Tasmania.

Not to worry, we can compare the Hema with ExploreOz at the Sundown National Park. For those not familiar with the area, it is on Google maps (https://goo.gl/maps/CoXoGjtR1TzVYTFdA)

https://i.imgur.com/eEqYxZX.jpg
Hema, at the closest off line scale.

https://i.imgur.com/SUnEONS.jpg
ExploreOz at the closest off line scale.

With subscriptions, other maps are available on line, and can be downloaded along proposed routes.
Below is Hema's example, right up to the State Toppo maps and a satellite image.

https://i.imgur.com/OOBQviT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9FBkQ25.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bHSD6MR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xywors7.jpg

Below is the ExploreOz examples.

https://i.imgur.com/jOqrvxv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qUPPkmx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jsCVtqt.jpg

Of the three applications, I find I can do more with OziExplorer in the way of tracks and waypoints, but I am getting more familiar with Hema now and can get it to do most of what I want. ExploreOz is still a learning curve for me, but in some remote areas it offered more details on the map than I could see on the ground.

Cheers

[Robmacca]

Thanks for that...

The Garmin Topo maps I use on my GPS are very good and comparing those with Hema _ prefer Garmin but the Exploroz maps I'm liking more and more...
I guess it will have to be a bit of trial and error to see which way to go...




Hi,
I miss read the required comparison of OziExplorer and ExploreOz to being Hema and ExploreOz.

OziExplorer does not come with maps, they are bought seperately and you only need to buy what you can use.
The only map I have of the Sundown National Park is at 1:1,000,000 scale

With subscriptions, other maps are available on line, and can be downloaded along proposed routes.
Below is Hema's example, right up to the State Toppo maps and a satellite image.

https://i.imgur.com/OOBQviT.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/9FBkQ25.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bHSD6MR.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xywors7.jpg

Below is the ExploreOz examples.

https://i.imgur.com/jOqrvxv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qUPPkmx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jsCVtqt.jpg

Of the three applications, I find I can do more with OziExplorer in the way of tracks and waypoints, but I am getting more familiar with Hema now and can get it to do most of what I want. ExploreOz is still a learning curve for me, but in some remote areas it offered more details on the map than I could see on the ground.

Cheers

[loanrangie]

The detail will come down to the maps being used.