A couple of years ago, an adventurous expedition to an unknown location could lead to a dead end. It would be a wasted effort and spoil the mood of many. Cut to today: exploration trips can be much more fun with information about where every road leads to. Hang on, we are not talking about those big sheets containing the maze-like information about places. We are alluding to the technology you carry in your pocket, your beloved smartphone.
You might have underestimated your phone's capacity to do something like this, but most smartphones are GPS-enabled and with the right mapping software can not only be used for tracking your current position but also guide you to a desired destination. GPS alone can't work. It works in combination with navigation software that comes with detailed information about cities, roads and various points of interest. Here we look at the highs and lows of the few free and paid maps, and of a few others that you might be tempted to get irrespective of the one installed on your smartphone.
TAKE A TURN HEREGoogle Maps Google Maps is the most commonly used free mapping across operating systems, including BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Phone, Android and iOS. The interface of Google Maps makes it easy to use. You can search for any location in the world. Icons guide you to finding places like restaurants, ATMs, etc. A second gives you layers such as traffic, terrain, transit lines, latitude, and so on, while a third icon updates your current location. To use routing, you select a mode of transport (car, bus, walk) and enter the destination and starting point. Google Maps does not offer voice navigation in India. It also does not recalculate the route automatically if a wrong turns is taken. Google Maps can be used to determine directions without GPS as well- it uses network towers to show locations within 1000 metres.
Verdict: Worth having on your phone, even if you don't use it.
Price: Free.
Nokia MapsNokia Maps are come installed on most high-end Nokia phones. In GPS-enabled phones, these maps use satellite to locate positions and give turn-by-turn voice directions. In the offline mode, a few features don't work (satellite maps, terrain maps, weather forecasts). However, on basic Series 40 phones without GPS, it switches to network-based positioning. The interface of the Nokia Maps is simple. You can type in the current location and then select Drive or Walk option. You can access other services linked to Ovi Maps such as Check In in Nokia Ovi. When in online mode you can also get weather updates and use linked apps such as tripadvisor. Satellite connection is mostly not a problem and in case of wrong turns, it quickly recalculates new routes. Nokia Maps cover over 400 cities in India with over 50 million points of interest.
Verdict: Nokia Maps are equally good and efficient.
Price: Free
Satguide Waze SatGuide has introduced this free navigation software for Indian roads. Compatible with all major operating systems including iOS, Android, BlackBerry and even Symbian, it can be downloaded on most smartphones. Unlike Google, it offers turn-by-turn voice directions. The biggest attraction is current live traffic updates. Users can choose from the existing groups, say Delhi Roads, or create a group. While routing, it sources information from various Waze users. Waze offers simple graphics and easy to use interface. Within a few seconds, it locks the location with the help of GPS Satellites and network. 'Drive to' selects destination. It chooses a route and offers alternatives too. The map can be viewed in 2D or 3D mode and changes colour between day and night. It allows for a lot of personalisation, including auto learn route to frequent destinations.
Verdict: A must have for your smartphone!
Price: Free.
Mapmyindia Sygic MapmyIndia specialises in maps of Indian cities. Its Sygic for mobile phones covers 1,027 cities with over 3.95 million points of interest like ATMs, petrol pumps, restaurants, hospitals, etc. Once activated, it shows current location with the help of GPS signals. It has a lot of options-navigate to, settings, route, SMS share, GPS, Manage POI, etc. In 'Navigate to' option, you can key in the address or postal code. The Sygic Mobile is amazingly quick in calculating directions between two locations and recalculating new routes. There are settings for 2D/3D view, volume, keyboard, voice options, language, etc. The biggest plus point of Sygic is that it can be used in offline mode as well. It is available for download on all mobile platforms. However, the user might not be entitled to free upgrades of the maps.
Verdict: Awesome mapping solution but loses out to other players due to the price it comes for.
Price: Rs 2,499.
