iPad offline maps? What app should i buy?

[gogo419]

So i am wanting to purchase an ipad app with offline maps for Tokyo, and also some cities in the USA, but i was wanting to get opinions from others on here before i do..

People who have purchased an app with offline maps, have you found it helpful? Would you recommend the app you have purchased? Are there any downfalls with the app?

Advice does not need to specifically be from use of Tokyo or USA maps, just offline maps app's in general..

Thanks in advance for any info!

P.S I will wait till iOS 6 is released to see what apples maps are like? And also the new Google maps, which is meant to have offline capabilities?

gogo

 

[dodgeyhack]

OffMaps2 is good. It uses the Open Street Maps - http://www.openstreetmap.org/
I've only used it on the iPhone, but I'm sure it's equally good on the iPad.
You get a couple of cities for included and can buy more as needed.
It hooks in with wikipedia to show you what's around and also has it's own database of restaurants, amenities, etc.

From what I've seen of the Apple maps, it's way way behind Google maps.

 

[here2go]

Japan is a problem for offline maps due to their complexity. Streets are not numbered like elsewhere, rather a house gets its number from the approval in order of time it was built. So theoretically, house 1 and 2 could be at opposite ends.
This leads me to my question for gogo419 - why do you want offline maps on the iPad? Basic navigation? Driving?
You may find that at least for the US a cheap Nokia WP7 phone may fill the gap with offline maps (not that you can't upgrade to Windows Phone 8). Nokia Maps on WP7 also has destination guides and maps, again mainly in the US.
If you love taking photos, braving the most shocking OS on the market for the market point and shoot leader, Nokia Pureview 808, which beats most point and shoot cameras with its 41MP camera, and happens to have a phone and GPS attached.

 

[gogo419]

Japan is a problem for offline maps due to their complexity. Streets are not numbered like elsewhere, rather a house gets its number from the approval in order of time it was built. So theoretically, house 1 and 2 could be at opposite ends.
This leads me to my question for gogo419 - why do you want offline maps on the iPad? Basic navigation? Driving?
You may find that at least for the US a cheap Nokia WP7 phone may fill the gap with offline maps (not that you can't upgrade to Windows Phone 8). Nokia Maps on WP7 also has destination guides and maps, again mainly in the US.
If you love taking photos, braving the most shocking OS on the market for the market point and shoot leader, Nokia Pureview 808, which beats most point and shoot cameras with its 41MP camera, and happens to have a phone and GPS attached.

Main use i am wanting offline maps for is to have the ability to easily search for POI, mainly tourist spots. We will have all our locations planned out for the day, then i can just refer to the maps for visual guidance on what way to walk from the train station to where we need to get to. It WONT be used for precise directions to a house for example.. I know a lot of the places are well sign posted as i have been to Tokyo several times now. But last year we traveled with a mate who is Japanese and he had a good idea of how to get to some lesser known places, that we would like to see again (He won't be there this time..)

Hope that clears it up a bit here2go

thanks gogo

 

[here2go]

I hope the suggestion of Open Street Maps will help then. When I was in Tokyo in 2008 the old paper worked well, but didn't have the tourist info to the same extent that you would get with an interactive map.

 

[gogo419]

Thanks for that here2go! Yes we have survived on paper maps previously, but i thought i might as well see how well some of the digital ones go! As no doubt it won't be long before everything is on a phone or tablet? I will do some more research into the ones that have been named!

cheers gogo

 

[here2go]

Noting that Navteq (powering 80% of all GPS devicines) is owned by Nokia, and Nokia Maps will be included on all WP8 phones, I've asked Nokia if they will be making maps for WP8. This might be helpful if upgrading phones soon.

 

[LadyC]

City Maps2go is another one - I've downloaded a few for my Europe trip at Christmas. They seem quite detailed from my first look. You do have to pay for them but I got mine free through an Ozbargain deal.

 

[Cynicor]

If you aren't going anywhere off the beaten track in tokyo, I use the tripadvisor cities and the lonely planet maps. These both have points of interest, offline maps and (for lonely planet at least, if not the TA app) GPS interactivity.

The lonely planet app was enough to get me everywhere in tokyo. It doesn't have every street name but it does have the actual streets so it's fine for navigation. IT seems to have every subway/train station too, and I found that the most useful feature. It's very tourist friendly, obviously.

 

[NM]

City Maps2go is another one - I've downloaded a few for my Europe trip at Christmas. They seem quite detailed from my first look. You do have to pay for them but I got mine free through an Ozbargain deal.

I also have CityMaps2Go and find it quite good. I have downloaded Aussie capitals and some other regionals I visit, plus major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Hong Kong and a few USA cities. Thanks for the reminder as I will download San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles for an upcoming trip.

 

[get me outta here]

Bump: Just looking at off line maps now for Ipad mini for Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Would anyone have any recent intel please?

I'd like to walk all around esp around Shibuya and find my way from a train station (may not be Shibuya), to the hotel. Off the beaten track sounds good too.

 

[kpc]

What offline maps for Android devices do AFFers use?

 

[here2go]

I have been looking at AirBNB for Tokyo accom. It would appear many places give you a 4G pocket WiFi for your mobile. No need to stress - live data!

 

[NM]

What offline maps for Android devices do AFFers use?

I use CityMaps2Go.

 

[whatmeworry]

I have an old Nokia E5 with Nokia maps which served me well 2 years walking and Driving around BIH. Still is useful for driving around.
If you can buy a cheap Nokia, as Nokia maps are truly offline maps that don't need the net it might be worthwhile.

 

[here2go]

I have an old Nokia E5 with Nokia maps which served me well 2 years walking and Driving around BIH. Still is useful for driving around.
If you can buy a cheap Nokia, as Nokia maps are truly offline maps that don't need the net it might be worthwhile.

You can get a Nokia Lumia 520 for $179 Prepaid. Windows Phone is a great travellers OS. Really Handy around Europe, much of Asia (forget Japan and Korea), beyond mobile phone reception in the NT, etc. Here Maps, the new brand of Nokia Maps, is powered by Navteq (owned by Nokia), which is used by 85% of GPS devices around the world.

 

[get me outta here]

I did get the Citymaps2go, but the Tokyo one is pretty unimpressive.