Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
If you've been using Google Maps for the last few years, giving up on the app and switching to an alternative might feel like a major pain in the neck.
The number of Google Maps competitors has increased significantly lately, with some apps focusing on certain capabilities to conquer the market.
MAPS.ME is living proof, as the application offers top-notch offline maps and features like navigation, bookmarks, POI integration, hotel bookings, cycling, and walking modes.
OpenStreetMap powers the application, so in theory, the maps should be as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
Starting with the latest update (version 15 on iOS), MAPS.ME also offers traffic alerts on road events.
The navigation space has evolved significantly in this direction, getting traffic alerts (crowdsourced or based on official sources, such as government agencies) to make every journey more predictable. Waze is the leader of this category, as it offers a crowdsourcing engine that allows users to report traffic incidents and generate warnings for the other motorists using the app.
MAPS.ME promises up-to-date alerts, though I rarely received such a notification in my time with the latest version of the app. I believe the feature works mostly in the United States, so if you live in Europe, especially in a less crowded region, you're less likely to receive a traffic alert.
The developing team has also tried to make MAPS.ME easier to use and more straightforward, so the application now sports brand-new Bookmarks and Search section designs. The interface is now cleaner, so searching for a new destination seems much faster now (I guess the company has also implemented under-the-hood refinements to the search feature, as everything feels more responsive after installing the update).
The parent company says it also updated the Object card design with the ability to add your review while also offering travel guides with the best routes for most locations across the world.
MAPS.ME is a rapidly-evolving app, and every update brings important refinements that improve its navigation engine. The offline maps are still the app's main selling point, allowing you to navigate without an Internet connection anywhere in the world.
I like how the application offers to download the maps for your current location after launching it for the first time. This time, you can navigate the area freely in offline mode and still find points of interest, landmarks, and restaurants. The feature is helpful particularly when traveling abroad, as you can launch the app from your hotel, let it determine your location, and then download the offline maps for the neighborhood using the local Wi-Fi network. Additionally, you can download offline maps for nearby locations, eventually being able to navigate freely without worrying about losing map support.
MAPS.ME is living proof, as the application offers top-notch offline maps and features like navigation, bookmarks, POI integration, hotel bookings, cycling, and walking modes.
OpenStreetMap powers the application, so in theory, the maps should be as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
Starting with the latest update (version 15 on iOS), MAPS.ME also offers traffic alerts on road events.
The navigation space has evolved significantly in this direction, getting traffic alerts (crowdsourced or based on official sources, such as government agencies) to make every journey more predictable. Waze is the leader of this category, as it offers a crowdsourcing engine that allows users to report traffic incidents and generate warnings for the other motorists using the app.
MAPS.ME promises up-to-date alerts, though I rarely received such a notification in my time with the latest version of the app. I believe the feature works mostly in the United States, so if you live in Europe, especially in a less crowded region, you're less likely to receive a traffic alert.
The developing team has also tried to make MAPS.ME easier to use and more straightforward, so the application now sports brand-new Bookmarks and Search section designs. The interface is now cleaner, so searching for a new destination seems much faster now (I guess the company has also implemented under-the-hood refinements to the search feature, as everything feels more responsive after installing the update).
The parent company says it also updated the Object card design with the ability to add your review while also offering travel guides with the best routes for most locations across the world.
MAPS.ME is a rapidly-evolving app, and every update brings important refinements that improve its navigation engine. The offline maps are still the app's main selling point, allowing you to navigate without an Internet connection anywhere in the world.
I like how the application offers to download the maps for your current location after launching it for the first time. This time, you can navigate the area freely in offline mode and still find points of interest, landmarks, and restaurants. The feature is helpful particularly when traveling abroad, as you can launch the app from your hotel, let it determine your location, and then download the offline maps for the neighborhood using the local Wi-Fi network. Additionally, you can download offline maps for nearby locations, eventually being able to navigate freely without worrying about losing map support.
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