Magic Earth sat nav app (Android and iOS)

[Canalsman]

I recently saw this mentioned elsewhere as another sat nav app that allows vehicle dimensions to be entered and used to determine safe route planning.

I've used this for a drive today and I'm quite impressed. It uses OpenStreetMap mapping, which can be downloaded for use offline, traffic information, and can control the rear camera for use as a dashcam if the phone or tablet is positioned suitably. Furthermore the camera can be used to warn you if you're too close to the vehicle in front or if you're straying out of your lane. Apparently it can read speed limit signs too...

The interface is fresh and very professional and has a feature I've not seen elsewhere. Optionally you can choose to have the elevation profile displayed for your route. A marker moves along the profile as you drive showing the current altitude.

It's a very strong competitor for the likes of TomTom etc I would say. I don't believe you can add your own POIs in case you're wondering.

The current speed limit is shown in most instances, very reliably in town but less so outside of town. The mapping didn't include several mini roundabouts on my route today but that must be because OSM isn't quite up-to-date.

Waypoints on a route can be added easily though there's no option to show an ETA other than for the destination.

You don't need to save a pre-planned route explicitly. Every route that's planned gets added to a route history so you can go back and reload it if you wish.

Well worth trying it out I would say.

And it's FREE and there are no adverts. (Though a donation can be made if you find it useful.)

 

[jagmanx]

Thanks .. ok here in Thailand. I really like the elevation profile

 

[trevskoda]

Went to the site, it says your activity may no longer be private, in other words spyware.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Interesting, can you input coords etc?

 

[Canalsman]

Interesting, can you input coords etc?

Yes.

There are extensive search options as well that rely on all the data items recorded on OSM.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I set it up for the vans dims and picked truck amd tried it this morning, not impressed, it is leaving navigation voice guidance to the very last second so it got turned off very quickly and back to G maps.

 

[barryd]

Sounds good. Downloading it now. Google maps is driving me nuts. I've never found anything more reliable or better than my TomTom Start and it's about 12 years old so I need to really. I'll probably just buy a new Tomtom but I've not heard good things about them either. Will see how I get on with Magic Earth. Cheers

 

[stevelee10]

Sounds useful - thanks for the info. A couple of quick queries, if I may, please? Can you input the destination desired as a Post Code (plus street number, if needed) ? And the same question for a "What3Words" address? Thanks.

 

[vindiboy]

Sounds good. Downloading it now. Google maps is driving me nuts. I've never found anything more reliable or better than my TomTom Start and it's about 12 years old so I need to really. I'll probably just buy a new Tomtom but I've not heard good things about them either. Will see how I get on with Magic Earth. Cheers

Another vote for Tom Tom works fine for me all over Europe etc , can't put van dimensions in mine but who needs that anyway , I was at a boot sale last Sunday and saw a Tom Tom for sale so bought it very expensive I thought , it was 50 pence , hee hee lady said she just bought a new car which came with built in sat nav so just wanted rid of it, it is a great bit of kit full Europe maps on it it is a Tom Tom Start , can input POIs etc record routes , shows speed limits , speed cameras , arrival time at destination , and automatically changes from miles to Kilometers MPH to KMPH Too as needed for different countries also has Janes voice option love that Girl we have driven thousands of miles together and she has NEVER been cross with me if I ignore her instructions and go wrong, she just recomputes the route and gets me back where I should be,, etc same as my other 2 TOMS , love the boot sales , and TOM TOM .

 

[mark61]

Worked fairly ok for me. Voice guidance at 300 yards. If next instruction was fairly close, gave it at 50 yards, and if less, gave a turn immediately instruction.
Would have taken me down a no entry (been a no entry for at least 5 years) and down two school roads during a closed period, DumbTom does that too, Waze doesn't.
Nicer graphics than Waze, but as far as up to date info Waze still has it.

 

[trevskoda]

Try petal maps on s phone.

 

[barryd]

So I downloaded Magic Earth. First impression is it looks ok. Seems easy to set up. However what I can't seem to figure out is how to get satellite view. I get the detailed map and despite turning on terrain in settings and mobile data I cant for the life of me find how to switch to satellite view which is pretty important and street view would be good also. Anyone know how?

 

[mark61]

So I downloaded Magic Earth. First impression is it looks ok. Seems easy to set up. However what I can't seem to figure out is how to get satellite view. I get the detailed map and despite turning on terrain in settings and mobile data I cant for the life of me find how to switch to satellite view which is pretty important and street view would be good also. Anyone know how?

Go to map styles and choose from online options.

 

[barryd]

Go to map styles and choose from online options.

Yep. Found it cheers but you have to download the map styles of which there are many and then you can choose them. Its very blurry though the satellite view but it could be because Im downloading the entire UK map right now which is 2.6gb. Could be a contender this but it will depend how it works as an actual sat nav. Ill try it on Thursday. Good that it allows you to select a truck route as well. Definitely the best one Ive seen so far.

 

[mark61]

Yep. Found it cheers but you have to download the map styles of which there are many and then you can choose them. Its very blurry though the satellite view but it could be because Im downloading the entire UK map right now which is 2.6gb. Could be a contender this but it will depend how it works as an actual sat nav. Ill try it on Thursday. Good that it allows you to select a truck route as well. Definitely the best one Ive seen so far.

I think it's just blurry.

I don't think you can beat google for sat and street view. OSM is better than google on a few things though.

 

[barryd]

I think it's just blurry.

I don't think you can beat google for sat and street view. OSM is better than google on a few things though.

Yep. It never got any sharper. Shame but it still looks promising as a sat nav.

 

[guerdeval]

I cann’t seem to get the voice guidance to work

 

[alcam]

I cann’t seem to get the voice guidance to work

Always switch voice off , thought everyone did .

 

[Canalsman]

Sounds useful - thanks for the info. A couple of quick queries, if I may, please? Can you input the destination desired as a Post Code (plus street number, if needed) ? And the same question for a "What3Words" address? Thanks.

Sorry but I don't know...

Download it, it's free, and try.

 

[Canalsman]

So I downloaded Magic Earth. First impression is it looks ok. Seems easy to set up. However what I can't seem to figure out is how to get satellite view. I get the detailed map and despite turning on terrain in settings and mobile data I cant for the life of me find how to switch to satellite view which is pretty important and street view would be good also. Anyone know how?

There are various map style options which I think you'll need to experiment with...