Mapping with i pad / phone

We have the Hema Maps and LOVE IT, we got it for our big trip last year to the outback including across the Simpson and it was great have also used it a few times around our local tracks.

Hi Digger

I have been chasing navigation mapping apps for some time. I have tried Navfree, Off Map, Memory Map, Aus Map and Maps.

I recently found City Maps 2Go. I bought the $2.99 version. It allows you to download any or all of its 7800 current maps. The maps are provided by Open Street Maps and are listed by Country, State, City or region etc. They have the POI details as well as Wikipedia articles about sites. I just used it in NZ. Downloaded a map (North Island) and could use it to navigate to a location with no phone or wifi. Does not use turn by turn guidance but has all the streets and features.

Once the required maps are downloaded they are all accessible offline.

They are not suitable to replace Hema or Ozexplorer but are the best App I have bought.

In addition to this I will have a dashboard GPS which has Windows CE and Ozexplorer installed as I already had the Australian Topo maps.

Cheers Stretchlizard

Have a look at Mud Maps. I have used them for trips around Qld, off road, etc. works well off line. They have recently added camping sites to the map but without any information. This is coming. They are a young company I think.

I've got the Hema app and think its great, had it since it came out maybe a year ago?
not sure about the other ones but the Hema is really easy to use. Its great that you only pay for the app once but can use it on both iPhone and iPad. If you shop around you can often find the iTunes gift cards discounted i.e. buy 2 x $20 cards and you get $50 instead of just $40- might save you some $$ off the purchase price of the maps app.
Not 100% sure but I think mud maps uses VMS mapping so that should be good also.

Hey guys.....

This post has been interesting reading on what's out there to use......Just curious though, these Memory Maps / Mud Maps / Hema apps are they only good for mainly outback and not able to be used for "both" outback and around town navigation??

A good friend of mine introduced me to benefits GPS's and he taught me use Garmin GPS's and that's really all I've used and love using. I've got both a PC program along with the normal GPS both with the usual Topo and city maps and find they work great. You can zoom into any level w/o any pix-elation and have the one tracklog w/o having to save it when changing between navigating systems (like the Hema HNI6 which uses Ozi & the I-GO)..... but I'm also wanting to branch out and learn more about the Ozi mapping that the majority of people seem to use.... I assume that Ozi / Hema / Memory Map / Mud Map / VMS products all operate similarly ???
The flexibility of using Tablets/Ipads, etc has got me interested in wanting to learn more about them and what's out there..... What are people's experiences, etc ??

cheers....
rob

I use a Tom Tom for around town, turn by turn Navigation and Hema on the I-Pad for outback stuff.

Maps are great, tracking software is a good record of where you have been but it does not do turn by turn navigation (well if it does I haven't worked out how to use it yet).

It's the complete package for me, mobile internet (when available), Music stored and connected to my Prado's sound system, Foxtel Go app to watch the news and footy (when internet is available), stores my photo's and doesn't take up much room.

Only downside is when using all of the above, even with the car power plug in I need to run my little inverter every night off the second battery to charge it up...the tracking software is the power hungry part!!

Mud maps is VMS, I imagine it's almost the same as Hema......$150 on I-Tunes but as someone else has stated you can get discounts on I-Tunes cards and bring that back to about $120...and for every map they have (topo as well) and to be able to see exactly where you are on that map through GPS is nothing less than supurb.

I bought the I-Pad instead of the Hema Navigator, and so pleased I did!!

I already had the Hema Maps on disc. These can be used by Bit Map. I purchased the VMS app. It was subsequently renamed MudMap. If you are happy with just the 1:250 000 scale then Memory-Map is a cheap option. I also use OzRunways which includes the WAC charts.
I think you find that if you buy any of the above you can use it on several devices which is handy.
Whatever app you choose you can't go wrong with the devices you mention. I also run OziExplorer on a Nexus 7. It takes ages to boot and is much harder to use.

Bob