The other day I was driving down ECR with the family, looking for Alamparai Fort. I’d read about the heritage site on a friend’s blog and was keen to go see the ruins standing on the shore, for myself. With gentle waves lapping the shore and the blue ocean stretching for as far as the eye could see, Alamparai seemed like a good idea for a day trip.
Except, we had no idea how to get there. To the rescue came trusted old Google Maps. And after a couple of turns along a dusty, rocky path, we were finally at our destination. It was only on our way back that we realised there was a much easier route from the highway, but Maps being Maps pointed us towards the shortest route.
That said, navigation apps are a boon. And here are a few you might want to check out for yourself.
Google Maps
When it comes to navigation apps, Google Maps is everyone’s first choice. The app helps make navigating faster and easier, whether you’re driving, walking, taking a cab or the metro. It helps you discover places around you and along the route as well, including pointing you in the direction of ATMs and petrol pumps. The app offers users real-time updates and also gives you a low-down on the traffic conditions along your chosen route. And if you’ve booked flight tickets that have come to your gmail, the app will very helpfully remind you about the upcoming.
It also lets you save offline directions for those patchy network areas. Of course, Google Maps also has its one fatal flaw (well, I exaggerate of course) – it points you to the shortest route to your destination, which may not always be the ideal. But hey, who doesn’t enjoy a wild ride every now and then?
MapFactor
MapFactor Navigator is a free navigation app for Android with postcodes and maps from OpenStreetMaps. This one is very useful for those with limited or no internet connection, since it installs the maps and postcodes on your device. Perfect for when you are travelling.
The app also offers users voice guidance and door-to-door route planning, and also cross-border routing without you needing to switch between countries. Start planning that road trip already.
Waze
Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app, where drivers and commuters can share real-time traffic and road information. So whether it’s bumper-to-bumper traffic due to a protest or an accident, or traffic diversions due to road works, it can all be updated live on the app by users.
Like other navigation apps, Waze also offers voice-guided navigations and lets you send your ETA and drive updates to someone you might be meeting.
Talk and Drive
Everybody who drives will know just how challenging it can sometimes get to use a navigation app while on the road. Here’s where Talk and Drive steps in to make things a little easier. The app lets you operate your map applications by talking to your device. Simply launch the app and say your destination out loud. The app will sync with your navigation application and help you find your way. It will also store your favourites and history for future use.
