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Free MapQuest 4 Mobile iPhone app has voice navigation
I'm directionally impaired. It might not be a real ailment, but for me it might as well be. Without a map, I couldn't find my way out of a room with one door. So for me, the built-in Google Maps functionality in my iPhone has changed my life.
While I love Google Maps, one thing I don't love about it is the lack of voice directions. While driving, I find that I spend far too much time studying the map in order to try and figure out if it's the next left I want to take, or the one after that? Should I even be turning left? It's hard to tell sometimes with that top-down view.
Well, MapQuest has released an iPhone navigation app called MapQuest 4 Mobile [iTunes link], and while it won't fix my issue with the top-down view, it does add a killer feature: voice directions.
So, how well do they work?
Overall, they're not bad. The voice itself is obviously computer generated, and sometimes it's a bit hard to understand in a noisy, moving car. The app ducks the volume of any music or podcast that you happen to be listening to while it speaks directions to you, which is helpful. However, the quality of the voice is still problematic. It's also a little strange, since MapQuest doesn't attempt to speak street names, but rather just gives generic instructions: "Prepare to turn left," "Get ready to turn left," or "Turn left now." Given MapQuest's limited vocabulary, it would seem like using recordings of a real voice would be easy enough to do, and easier to understand.
Sound quality quibble aside, I'm pretty happy with MapQuest on my iPhone. Once my phone's GPS gets a solid lock, the instructions come with enough warning to allow me to be ready for turns. On the screen, you can see the distance to your destination decreasing in realtime, though it would be nice to also see the ETA.
I've only had a chance to test it on a few routes, and I'd have to say that it chooses conservative routing compared to Google Maps. It will get you there, but you might have been able to get there a couple of minutes quicker with the route Google Maps would have chosen.
At the end of the day, I just don't want to get lost, so losing a few minutes is not a big deal. I'm going to keep using MapQuest, and I have high hopes that updates will improve on an already winning product.
[via Mashable]
Comments
3
Subscribe to commentsBBApr 7th 2010 12:21PM
Can you do a side-by-side review with Waze, as the other free turn-by-turn GPS navigation app?
rtwolfeApr 8th 2010 3:29AM
I briefly tested Mapquest but think it's competitor Waze is better. Differences are clear. It like comparing an Encyclopedia to Wikipedia. One is closed and old business model, the other gets it's content from motivated volunteers, it's fun and great technology. Don't get me wrong, Waze has only been out for about 6 months in US, 2 years of success in Israel. Currently, Waze maps need to catch up to Mapquest maps, because the Waze maps are updated by users like you and me. But it's the other features that get you going, like crowds letting you know where the traffic jams, speed traps, construction zones are 'real time'! Also,it's fun to just see another wazer moving down your street as you pass each other, and yes you can be anonymous if you want to be. Check them both out but I think you'll like Waze better now and love Waze a year from now.
Here's my Compare
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Waze Current weakness
Low Name recognition and financial backing
Inaccurate maps, especially in major metropolitan areas
Poor routings due to poor maps
Does not run on Blackberry
Map Quest Current Strengths
High Name recognition and financial backing (AOL)
Maps are highly accurate, except for construction zones
Create a trip by adding multiple destinations to your route.
MapQuest Place Carousel displays hotels, movie theatres, gas stations, and more with a single tap.
walking directions (Pedestrian mode)
Runs on blackberry and Iphone
Three energy saving modes
==============================
Waze Current Strengths
Application is stable
Area Managers - ability to update maps for changing conditions and most are highly committed
User feedback on map errors go to area managers
Some Incident reporting - Speed traps, Accidents, Road Construction
Runs on Android and Windows Mobile
Global application
Mapquest Current weakness
Does not allow user reporting or capture user speeds to show road delays
Some users report app crashes per iTunes
Some users report app give bad directions / maps out of date on iTunes
Map always pointing North, so it doesn’t rotate the map as you drive along.
Does not run on Android and Windows Mobile
US only application - not global yet
==============================
Waze Future Strengths
Real-time reporting of road conditions if user base is large enough
Maps can become highly accurate, including road construction
Mapquest Future Strengths
??? Not sure what they might add? Area Managers? Ping?
===============================================
Equal - Waze and Mapquest
Low user base
Free GPS navigation with voice prompts
Route calculation. Start driving without ever touching the iPhone again.
Automatic Re-routing if get off course
Save routes
Address Search
Name Search
Peter GensApr 8th 2010 9:49AM
"While I love Google Maps, one thing I don't love about it is the lack of voice directions. "
Obviously the author hasn't used an Android phone. Google Maps has had voice directions on Android OS v1.6+. MapQuest is late to the party, and a comparison with Google Maps on an Android phone would be a better comparison.