Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/OsmAnd
OsmAnd was, is, and will undoubtedly continue to be a top alternative to Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze, enticing users with an amazing feature package and an open-source license.
Thanks to the latest update on iOS, the application has one more thing to throw into the battle: support for the CarPlay Dashboard.
Like the Android Auto Coolwalk interface, the CarPlay Dashboard allows multiple apps to run on the same screen simultaneously. It does it with a card-based layout, assigning a card to a specific app category. The navigation app is typically displayed in the largest card closest to the driver, while the rest of the interface is used by media apps and phone calls.
The primary benefit is that users don't need to keep apps in full-screen mode, as they can obtain essential information by just glancing at the screen. However, before they run on the Dashboard, applications must be updated with support for this interface, as they can't display the full UI.
OsmAnd landed on the CarPlay Dashboard with version 4.6, using an approach that may look familiar for those who rely on this look for other navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze. OsmAnd uses the navigation card on the Dashboard to highlight the route, while the next-turn information is displayed in the top right card (only when navigation is enabled).
The application displays only essential information, such as the ETA and the time left to the destination. You don't see a speedometer or anything else that would make the UI more cluttered, though it might be a little difficult to observe the street names, given the choice of fonts.
The update also includes a 3D button for the CarPlay experience, so you can switch from the 2D mode for a more realistic interface. You can find the new button when using the app in the full-screen mode – tap the screen, and you should see a toggle to switch between 2D and 3D.
Users who run OsmAnd on their iPhones are also getting another important update. The developing team has added a night mode for all OsmAnd screens. The new mode can also be enabled automatically, as you can allow the app to align with the operating system configuration and switch to dark when iOS uses the same mode.
There's more to explore in the latest update, including a new help screen, support for more external sensors, and a screen orientation option. Update the app to version 4.6 to get all of them on your iPhone. OsmAnd supports any iPhone running at least iOS 15, so if you're already on the latest iOS version, you should be good to go.
If you enabled automatic updates on the smartphone, the chances are that the new version is already on the device, considering it started shipping earlier this week.
Like the Android Auto Coolwalk interface, the CarPlay Dashboard allows multiple apps to run on the same screen simultaneously. It does it with a card-based layout, assigning a card to a specific app category. The navigation app is typically displayed in the largest card closest to the driver, while the rest of the interface is used by media apps and phone calls.
The primary benefit is that users don't need to keep apps in full-screen mode, as they can obtain essential information by just glancing at the screen. However, before they run on the Dashboard, applications must be updated with support for this interface, as they can't display the full UI.
OsmAnd landed on the CarPlay Dashboard with version 4.6, using an approach that may look familiar for those who rely on this look for other navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze. OsmAnd uses the navigation card on the Dashboard to highlight the route, while the next-turn information is displayed in the top right card (only when navigation is enabled).
The application displays only essential information, such as the ETA and the time left to the destination. You don't see a speedometer or anything else that would make the UI more cluttered, though it might be a little difficult to observe the street names, given the choice of fonts.
The update also includes a 3D button for the CarPlay experience, so you can switch from the 2D mode for a more realistic interface. You can find the new button when using the app in the full-screen mode – tap the screen, and you should see a toggle to switch between 2D and 3D.
Users who run OsmAnd on their iPhones are also getting another important update. The developing team has added a night mode for all OsmAnd screens. The new mode can also be enabled automatically, as you can allow the app to align with the operating system configuration and switch to dark when iOS uses the same mode.
There's more to explore in the latest update, including a new help screen, support for more external sensors, and a screen orientation option. Update the app to version 4.6 to get all of them on your iPhone. OsmAnd supports any iPhone running at least iOS 15, so if you're already on the latest iOS version, you should be good to go.
If you enabled automatic updates on the smartphone, the chances are that the new version is already on the device, considering it started shipping earlier this week.
Google News