My Experience thus far with Andriod GPS apps

So the WiFi only devices don't have GPS built in? I'd be surprised if you couldn't activate it by jail breaking the device, but maybe its an integrated chip with the 3g?

O Apple, I am so glad I don't own any of your devices. Broken from the factory. Only to be repaired with more money.

This is my understanding- the GPS is integrated with the 3G chipset.

What kind of nonsensical drivel is this? My iPads work as advertised. They were never designed nor sold as navigation devices.

On the topic, there are many Android devices also without GPS but I guess those don't warrant discussion since they're not made by Apple.

So back to the android world- I have a co-worker who will sell me his old droid so I can use that as a GPS- workable?

How say ye?

Sure would be nicer than having to buy a new $400.00 Garmin GPS.

Thanks,

BH

It will. I'm not aware of any Android devices that don't have GPS built in (except for the early Kindle and Nook tablets), but it depends more on what you want to do with it.

The only thing that I can't get an Android device to do is give me good, offline, turn by turn directions of my preplanned route.

Offline maps is easy, using a preplanned route is easy, but the only app I have found that does offline, turn by turn of an uploaded GPX route is OSMand and it does it pretty poorly.

If you don't care about this very specific need then an Android device will work fine.

P.S. not all Garmin devices will do that either.

P.P.S. Once you get the device you can download maps via WiFi either using Google maps, OSMand, Oruxmaps, CoPilot, etc. which are all free.

Trimble outdoors used to be good (their trip planning features are top notch), but now you have to buy the app and then sign up for a subscription service to use their trip planning features separately. That screwed all of us who bought the app previously, bastards.

Crafty's app (Dual Sport Maps) is good with some moto specific features and a decent website interface to plan routes, but I believe its a variant of OSMand so try that first to see if you like it.

You're right on both accounts. The difference being the Android devices are half the price and accomplish the same thing....actually more.

But, what the hell. If you're happy with it, good for you.

It was not my intent to raise the ire of the Apple fanboys in the crowd.

Right. Trolling is fine when you don't get any resistance. I get it now.

This is an Android thread is it not...

LOL! This is so silly. Stating a negative opinion about Apple is now trolling....on a motorcycle website?

Look, I'm sorry I ever said anything bad about Apple and promise to never do it again. Can we move on now?

I just took on some iOS work. The hardware is pretty nice. I prefer writing Android software, but I can't really complain. Are you following my Bluetooth fuse block project? It's both iOS and Android. 8 channel, 100A, digital fusing, and possible constant current.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=827565

Back to the thread...

Since this thread is two years old its time for an update to the original post.

I would like to include Orux, OSMand, CoPilot, DualSportMaps and Waypointer.

Any others anyone can think of?

Also would anyone with experience using Orux or DualSportMaps be willing to provide a review or how to for those?

Thanks in advance.

OMG! That is AWESOME! I had no idea about it, thanks for letting me know.

Are you close to production?

Also, did you ever get your remote for DSM working?

I've had the remote for over a year, but I never did get the price down to a level where I perceived it as a value for others. There are not 1000 DSM users yet so it isn't really a high priority. I love mine though. A inmate built up the enclosure for me and its fricking awesome!

I am about to strat final testing on the single channel power controller, but the 8 channel is still several months out. It's a high ticket item so I need to make sure I get it right. I posted a video last night showing my ipod controlling a constant current source. When thats on my bike people are going to go ape shit I think.

Cool, well I'll be watching your progress for sure.

I found one on the droid store called Maverick or something like that. No idea how good it is.

I'll be watching this intently.

Hmmm, never heard of it, but I'll try anything once!

CoPilot works well. But whenever you start it, it always starts routing to your last destination. I prefer just looking at maps. Annoying, but not a big deal. You can cancel the old route after it starts. It is pretty much stand alone. It isn't practical to get tracks out of it or put any into it. When you do use routing, it gives you lots of options like fastest and shortest, etc.

I use OSMand a lot. They have virtually all of the the OSM street maps ready to download and use offline. I like the feature where you can put in a destination, and it simply puts an arrow on the screen pointing to that destination. You can decide what roads to take to get there, just head towards the direction of the arrow. Or you can use it to route you on the roads. It doesn't route as well and Google or CoPilot, but it works well enough. You can use GPX tracks that you created prior to the trip if you want. It also does a good job of creating tracks of where you have been.

Orux maps I mentioned before. I have loaded it maybe a half dozen times. Then a day or two later I get frustrated and uninstall it. I don't want to devote a couple of weekends to figuring out how to install offline maps. I'm probably just missing something, but I never did get offline maps on it.

DualSportMaps is to much $$ to download as an experiment. Too many questions with no trial version. I don't do enough dual sport type riding.


Oh, and I hate Apple.

I'm looking to use my Nexus 7 as a all in one device while Motorcycle touring.
I'm not sure if it's up to a notebook replacement yet but I'm going to experiment with it anyway.

Has anyone checked out this site for Android software supporting OpenStreetMap for GPS apps?

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Android#Map_display_features

My info is a little dated (1 year old?) and is very specific to offroad (tracks are very important, routing is not). I looked at a whole ton of android GPS apps and none were all that impressive.

It got to the point that I started writing my own. Got pretty far with it (offline maps, import exprt, tracks, waypoints). Then I gave up and bought a Garmin Montana. I would rather ride the effin bike than write a bunch of software. I do that eveyr stinkin day and it gets a little bit too much.

So here is all the crap I have on Android GPS apps:

requirements
log tracks and waypoints
import tracks/waypoints to/from GPX
export tracks/waypoints to/from GPX
donwload WMS aerial photos from CRD
download google terrain
use backroad maps
use garmin IMG maps
toggle between maps
offline maps
zoom in and out
small data size?
shoot picture/video and geotag
ease of use
reliability
　
Design Features
Main map
- sticky to current location
- draw track
- show waypoints
- zoom in/out
- flyout menu for tracks, waypoints, maps, setup
track manager - like garmin
- turn on/off tracks
- record directly as gpx
- different colours
- delete
Waypoint manager
- record waypoint
- delete
Map manager
- select map source (onoline google earthm terrain, map)
- point to WMS server
- download maps for offline use
GPS status





　
　
Reviews
general reviews http://androgeoid.com/2010/08/topo-maps-aka-gaia-gps-onlineoffline-usgs-topo-and-openstreetmap-maps/
　
Questions about Locus 0.9.28
- indicator that its track recording - yes, click on click on title, click on track record
- able to edit waypoint when setting it?
- one button waypoint at current location
- anyway to select which tracks to export?
- anyway to load Garmin IMG files?
　
　
　
Products to try
rmaps
backcountry navigaotr
mapdroid
gaia
iGo
trimble outdoorss
navigon
　
　
Products
　
Locus http://locus.asamm.cz/
PROS
uses mytopo
import/export fine
offline maps, very versatile map download utility
CONS minor
when started alwys have to tell it mytopo


CONS major
CONS showstopper
　
　
OruxMaps http://www.oruxmaps.com/index_en.html
PRO
decent user interface
import export works well with mapsource
can import from any folder
CON minor
have to import/export
CON major
poor topo maps available
CON showstopper
　
　
　
download maps
POOR use IMG maps
POOR offline maps
EXC log tracks and waypoints
GOOD import tracks and waypoints from MapSource - yes, via export
GOOD export tracks and waypoints from MapSource - yes, via import
NO decent maps out of the box - uses canada
download maps
zoom in and out on loaded map
small data size?
YES shoot picture/video and geotag
YES goto - yes easy
easy of use
can use mobile atlas creator (TrekBuddy)
how to createoffline maps: http://www.oruxmaps.com/manual_en.html
　
Backcountry Navigator
PRO
decent maps out of the box NRCAN, Mytopo
offline downloaded maps

CON minor
poor user interface
have to import/export
CON major
NRCAN topo aspoect is weird (but can use mytopo which is the same)
GPX files cant be read in mapsource, will probably have to convert
CON showstopper
hangs when downloading maps
hangs when downloading gps track
　
　
download maps
use IMG maps
offline maps
GOOD log tracks and waypoints
GOOD import tracks and waypoints from MapSource
OK export tracks and waypoints to MapSource (have to export, loads in earth, but not in mapsource)
YES decent maps out of the box - uses canada
YES zoom in and out on loaded map
small data size?
shoot picture/video and geotag
POOR easy of use - a little difficult
YES can use mobile atlas creator (TrekBuddy)
　
Maverick http://help.codesector.com/Maverick
PROS
easy user interface
waypoints with pictures
tracks are saved as GPX
CONS major
saves tracks and waypoints seperately
import of tracks and waypoints are separate - PIA
cannot orient to landscape?
CONS showstopper
　
　
　
　
　
download maps
use IMG maps
offline maps
GOOD log tracks and waypoints
OK import tracks and waypoints from MapSource (requires waypoints to be in separate file - grrr)
OK export tracks and waypoints from MapSource (saves track directly as GPX, Waypoints seperately as KML)
NO decent maps out of the box?
zoom in and out on loaded map
small data size?
YES shoot picture/video and geotag
easy of use
can use mobile atlas creator (TrekBuddy)
　
cannot orient to landscape?
POOR tracks and waypoints saved seperately.
　
GAIA http://www.gaiagps.com/
PROS
pretty good topo maps out of the box

CONS showstopper
NO DOWNLOAD OF TRACKS
HAVE TO IMPORT BY SENDING AN EMAIL
CONS major
　
CONS
does not use full screen
does not save maps to SD Card?
　
　
　
　
　
Alpinequest GPS Hiking http://alpinequest.psyberia.net/english/index
download maps
use IMG maps
offline maps
log tracks and waypoints
import tracks and waypoints from MapSource (requires waypoints to be in separate file - grrr)
export tracks and waypoints from MapSource (saves track directly as GPX, Waypoints seperately as KML)
decent maps out of the box?
zoom in and out on loaded map
small data size?
shoot picture/video and geotag
easy of use
can use mobile atlas creator (TrekBuddy)
Ozi Explorer Android http://www.oziexplorer3.com/android/oziexplorer_android.html

　
Backpaker GPS Trails (Trimble) http://www.backpacker.com/android-app/destinations/14052
does not use full screen

　
Rmaps
Russian, little to read http://robertdeveloper.blogspot.com/search/label/rmaps.release
　
　
MapDroyd http://www.mapdroyd.com/
No waypoint save
No Search
　
Navitel GPS for android $28 http://www.navitel.md/en-navitel-price.html
Possible, but russian...
　
　
　
Garmap http://www.garmap.co.za/
These are just maps for garmin
　
MyTracks google product, might require connection, not sure if I can load maps
　
　
　
　
Garmin maps on Android: http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/53217-garmin-topo-maps-android.html
http://mrfloris.com/blogs/garmin-topographic-maps-for-android-phone/
　

I use OruxMaps. Maybe there's a learning curve, and maybe I am a bit of a power user, but its really not that difficult.

I've enjoyed importing USFS georeferenced JPEGS with OruxMaps Desktop software (creates the formats for the Android App, including zoom levels), and I have even orthorectified NPS images in ArcMap, exporting GeoTIFFs for the Orux Desktop conversion. In both cases, one easy and the other requiring some GIS abilities/software, I have a very nice, easily read off the beaten track map.

I've also used the app on WiFi to save online maps for offline use. That is very easy, all done on the phone. What I haven't done is create routes and used them to navigate back to a starting point, but I have made KML route maps in Google Maps and imported them into Orux so I have routes to follow, overlain on the online maps saved for offline, or imported geo-images. Very useful for navigating the remote places.

Recommended if you don't mind figuring some stuff out. If you do, I recommend a Garmin device.