I've got both of them (I'm a serious map whore) and like them both for different reasons. I run them on ios.
Up until the the last update of Explorer, the 4wd app was much better for going anywhere you didn't have mobile reception. It is just Memory Map with the Hema maps thrown in. I really like the Hema maps. With the topo maps you can buy from Memory Map it becomes a very good remote touring app. The support from Memory Map is excellent too.
I bought Explorer when it came out just because I had to. I have found it good for planning trips, primarily because you can use the satellite images with the maps to get a good idea of the terrain you are planning on travelling through to get ideas for potential camp sites. I rarely used it while actually travelling as you needed to be online to access the best map data (which still wasn't up to topo standard anyway).
The new release of Explorer, version 3.0, is a bit of a game changer. Clearly they are changing their business model (sensibly) to a subscription based service. The cheap version of the Explorer map is ok - in fact its a pretty good map although the changes in resolution seem to be a bit clunky. With the subscription version you get better resolution which makes it much easier to use, although no more information that I've been able to find. What you also get is topographic maps. I don't think there are WA topos available yet but that will change. The explorer map can also be downloaded and used offline so it is now good for touring.
While I still prefer the 4wd app at the moment, I'm really impressed with Explorer now. It is brilliant for planning as you can still use the satellite images as well. I think in time I will get more used to the explorer map format and probably start using it more. What it still needs I think is more of the normal Hema maps but maybe that's just a case of me getting used to the new format.
We have a bit of a trip over to the Flinders and Lake Eyre planned in a few weeks so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up then.
Basically though, I think its a very good app and its only going to get better. I used to be a big fan of Ozi-explorer but since it wasn't available on ios I had to look for an alternative. I think I have used all the apps now available on ios and I think the Hema stuff is the best available. There is nothing now about Ozi that I miss.
The only caveat I would put on all that is I am using it on the east coast. I know very little about what mapping is available in WA and any mapping app is only as good as the maps it uses.
Cheers,
Jon
Bookmarks