Looking for a navigation app that works in real life

By Parham Doustdar, 22 November, 2021

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi all,

I've tried Google Maps, Apple Maps, and WeWalk so far, and from my testing, WeWalk seems to be the best app for a couple of reasons:

  • It can navigate me to bus stops, which Google and Apple don't do
  • It gives me clockface directions (like turn to 2 o-clock) which helps me double check that I'm heading in the right direction, and when I'm in round squares, helps me orient correctly

I'm considering paying for a yearly subscription or getting the smart stick, and I thought I'd check with the community if there are better options before I do so. They both are a significant investment for a new app, and I haven't heard about WeWalk much, so I'm on the fence.

Thanks,

Parham

Options

Comments

By Kelly Pierce on Monday, November 22, 2021 - 18:51

Blind Square offers clockface directions and runs at the same time with Google Maps and Apple Maps so someone can get the real time directions from both. It does not identify bus stops though. Besides not having clockface orientation and bus stops, what are your issues with the maps from Google and Apple? I like the transit directions a lot.

By Parham Doustdar on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 - 11:14

I do use BlindSquare for exploring, but the clockface "tracking" isn't really useful for me. For example, it doesn't matter that a destination is on my 4 o'clock when I'm 5 blocks away from it. All I care about at that point of my journey is, should I go straight? Should I turn right? And so on.

My problem with Google Maps is when I encounter a square, or when a street turns. For example, in my street, there's a T-shape, and all of it has the same name. So, I go straight, then I cross the street and encounter the sidewalk, and I could go either left or right, and it's all my street. In such a case, WeWalk first sayas "continue on 12 o-clock" as I'm crossing the street, and then it updates to say "continue on 3 o'clock" to say that I should go right, not left.

In such a case, Google Maps would just say "Continue on Clara Visser street", rather than telling me to "turn right after crossing the Clara Visser street".

I hope this all makes sense?

By yorkshire-drew on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 - 13:16

I tend to alternate between Blind Square and Microsoft Soundscapes. Blind Square can get rather verbose and distracting, especially if you have the setting enabled that announces stuff each time the phone is shaken. Microsoft Soundscape is quieter and announces bus stops. Don't think it does the clock face thing though.

By Parham Doustdar on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 - 16:05

I can't find it in the Netherlands appstore, so I'm guessing it's not available here.

By yorkshire-drew on Thursday, November 25, 2021 - 09:01

According to Microsoft, at initial launch, Soundscape was available for download only in the UK and US
and has since been released in Australia, Canada, Sweden, France and Brazil;
however, if you are traveling to other countries Soundscape will continue to work,
but please be aware of carrier charges if not on Wi-Fi.

They say they're looking to open in other countries, too, so maybe Parham should contact them to ask about plans for The Netherlands.

By PinkCupcake5 on Monday, November 29, 2021 - 01:07

Thanks for letting me know about WeWalk. I've been looking for an app that can give me turn by turn navigations to bus stops and this is the first I've heard of (soundscape doesn't give directions). Also, one issue I have with apple maps is that when I first start directions, it doesn't always tell me whether to keep walking strait, go left or right, which is confusing.