Magic Earth sat nav app (Android and iOS)

[Canalsman]

I have used Magic Earth 'in anger' for the first time today on a long drive south from Wissant to Gaillon south east of Rouen.

It offered two much improved route options compared with CoPilot. There's a much easier route avoiding the area just east of Boulogne when you may well leave the autoroute to head south if you are avoiding tolls. And a better route avoiding the low emission zone in Rouen travelling via Les Andelys.

Very good performance today with accurate travel times too. Definitely a thumbs up and a keeper. Bye CoPilot!

 

[Canalsman]

Yesterday the route was modified to avoid a 2.9m clearance bridge. Another tick...

 

[11ALB]

I just can’t find out how to avoid the low emission zones. Can you please help?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Not found anything for that either so far, looking out for the signs seesm to be it.

 

[Canalsman]

I just can’t find out how to avoid the low emission zones. Can you please help?

It isn't an option unfortunately.

 

[Owlsnest56]

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.)

Just downloaded it, looks great, thanks

 

[Canalsman]

Two observations from use over the past few days:

1. If you haven't downloaded maps for offline use Magic Earth will still work if you have an internet connection. It seems to download map data 'on the fly' which looks a bit peculiar on screen but the navigation instructions work correctly.

I discovered this by accident when I crossed from Spain into Portugal yesterday.

2. If you are offered an alternative route whilst navigating, possibly due to traffic delays, a large 'Continue' button appears in the top right corner with a countdown bar. If you do not press continue a circular button appears with the potential time saving shown as a negative number, e.g. -10. I imagine that if you press this button the alternative route will be selected.

A more general observation from 7 weeks of driving in Europe relates to speed limits. These are pretty comprehensive in the UK. Not nearly as good in France, Spain and Portugal. The OpenStreetMap data is clearly incomplete.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

As regards speed limits, is there any accurate app at all out there, I've not found one that works everywhere we've been yet.

 

[mark61]

As regards speed limits, is there any accurate app at all out there, I've not found one that works everywhere we've been yet.

Doubt any of them are 100% accurate, but Waze is probably the one of the most accurate.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Doubt any of them are 100% accurate, but Waze is probably the one of the most accurate.

Whos, data does it use MArk, it's part of Google so if it's theirs I can't trust it either, I don't use Waze though, not keen on the GUI.

 

[mark61]

Whos, data does it use MArk, it's part of Google so if it's theirs I can't trust it either, I don't use Waze though, not keen on the GUI.

I wouldn't be trusting any of them 100%.
I don't particularly like the interface either.

 

[TJBi]

I would assume that OSM (used by Magic Earth) relies on users to input data, whereas others probably obtain data from highway authorities and it is then a matter of how frequently (and efficiently) those authorities pass on updates and how often mapping data is updated by those providing navigation services.

 

[GeoffL]

I wouldn't be trusting any of them 100%.
I don't particularly like the interface either.

Thanks to probably the worst UI change in history courtesy of CoPilot, I'm now using both Waze and Magic Earth. IME, both seem positionally accurate (as you would expect since both were created by people wandering around with GPS. For me, Magic Earth has the better UI, but it has issues in that it has tried to send me down roads too narrow for my van (and along routes that might be shorter in distance but take twice as long in time) and also down one-way streets the wrong way, into pedestrian precincts, and on once occasion through a farmer's field (there was a public footpath). I've updated the OSM map but my corrections don't seem to have made it to the updated maps I downloaded yesterday, so I suspect that ME developers might not be using the latest version of OSM mapping. Needless to say, I use both with caution and (only on one occasion this far) have even had to resort to Google Maps on Jan's phone for directions!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I would assume that OSM (used by Magic Earth) relies on users to input data, whereas others probably obtain data from highway authorities and it is then a matter of how frequently (and efficiently) those authorities pass on updates and how often mapping data is updated by those providing navigation services.

It does rely on user data but how would they put in speed limits? the would have to more or less survey the start and end of each one to be accurate, and even then it's open to abuse so would have to be verified.

 

[GeoffL]

I would assume that OSM (used by Magic Earth) relies on users to input data, whereas others probably obtain data from highway authorities and it is then a matter of how frequently (and efficiently) those authorities pass on updates and how often mapping data is updated by those providing navigation services.

Both Waze and Magic Earth rely on user input. Waze relies on its own road-user input while OSM has been around a long time and relies on much more than just road users (FWIW, I've had an OSM editing account for well over a decade -- since I started geocaching). However, I've found Waze to be more up-to-date in general than Magic Earth and so suspect that it updates from user input almost in real time while ME 'waits' for the next formal OSM update?

 

[mark61]

Both Waze and Magic Earth rely on user input. Waze relies on its own road-user input while OSM has been around a long time and relies on much more than just road users (FWIW, I've had an OSM editing account for well over a decade -- since I started geocaching). However, I've found Waze to be more up-to-date in general than Magic Earth and so suspect that it updates from user input almost in real time while ME 'waits' for the next formal OSM update?

User reports are pretty much instant. I've had warnings of broken down vehicles on hard shoulder for example. Most common reports would mean a few clicks on the screen. I guess that does encourage use of the device while driving.
Reports from new users, or someone making their first report will take longer to show, people who make false reports will have the ability to report removed, so the reports are monitored, not just by other drivers I imagine.

 

[Canalsman]

It does rely on user data but how would they put in speed limits? the would have to more or less survey the start and end of each one to be accurate, and even then it's open to abuse so would have to be verified.

OSM has speed limits associated with road sections and those who edit the data can make adjustments based on personal experience.

I have been doing this in the UK because there are very few instances of errors and it's feasible for me to jot down these errors in a notebook when I get held up in traffic. I correct the errors when I'm parked up.

As you say for more comprehensive input a survey is needed. Dashcam footage would achieve that because it shows the GPS location on the recording. However it would mean playing the footage back in real time to note the corrections that are required.

I don't have the time to do that so I'm not making speed limit corrections as I travel round Spain, Portugal and France.

There is no audit done on any OSM corrections; it relies on individual's best endeavours and honesty. There is an audit trail recorded so it is possible to identify who did what and when.

 

[Canalsman]

Thanks to probably the worst UI change in history courtesy of CoPilot, I'm now using both Waze and Magic Earth. IME, both seem positionally accurate (as you would expect since both were created by people wandering around with GPS. For me, Magic Earth has the better UI, but it has issues in that it has tried to send me down roads too narrow for my van (and along routes that might be shorter in distance but take twice as long in time) and also down one-way streets the wrong way, into pedestrian precincts, and on once occasion through a farmer's field (there was a public footpath). I've updated the OSM map but my corrections don't seem to have made it to the updated maps I downloaded yesterday, so I suspect that ME developers might not be using the latest version of OSM mapping. Needless to say, I use both with caution and (only on one occasion this far) have even had to resort to Google Maps on Jan's phone for directions!

I have identified errors in junction priorities, one way streets, inaccessible roads, and incorrect road classifications during my current European trip.

Unlike speed limit errors which are too numerous to correct I am correcting the above mentioned errors as I encounter them.

I don't know how frequently Magic Earth update their maps. I note that there is an update awaiting application to my app at the moment but it will have to await my return to the UK because I don't wish to use the data required.

OsmAnd might be a better option if you need the latest mapping because if you subscribe to the Pro edition you can choose to download the latest OSM maps as frequently as you wish.

I do subscribe to this so I can check that all my updates have been applied correctly. I don't use it for navigation because I like the Magic Earth interface.

 

[GeoffL]

User reports are pretty much instant. I've had warnings of broken down vehicles on hard shoulder for example. Most common reports would mean a few clicks on the screen. I guess that does encourage use of the device while driving.
Reports from new users, or someone making their first report will take longer to show, people who make false reports will have the ability to report removed, so the reports are monitored, not just by other drivers I imagine.

That's also my experience with Waze as I've had a warning about roadworks on an outward journey, clicked the button to say "no longer here" and the warning had gone by the time I returned several hours later.
I've never tried to directly update Magic Earth (I don't even know whether that's possible), but I have posted corrections on the OpenStreetMap site. I've been using OSM for a long time and made several edits, so hopefully my input is as good as any other long-time user's? I checked the OSM site and my latest edits are incorporated, but Magic Earth still insists on trying to send me up a single-track road with a 7' width limit even though noting that restriction was one of my edits, I always use the "Truck" profile and have set this to 2.7yd (2.55m) wide i.e. over a foot wider than the limit for that road.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I have identified errors in junction priorities, one way streets, inaccessible roads, and incorrect road classifications during my current European trip.

Unlike speed limit errors which are too numerous to correct I am correcting the above mentioned errors as I encounter them.

I don't know how frequently Magic Earth update their maps. I note that there is an update awaiting application to my app at the moment but it will have to await my return to the UK because I don't wish to use the data required.

OsmAnd might be a better option if you need the latest mapping because if you subscribe to the Pro edition you can choose to download the latest OSM maps as frequently as you wish.

I do subscribe to this so I can check that all my updates have been applied correctly. I don't use it for navigation because I like the Magic Earth interface.

You could go to a McDonalds or somewhere and do it on their wifi.