Appletell reviews G Maps GPS app for iPhone

Provides: Real-time GPS directions
Developer: XROAD Inc.
Minimum System Requirements: iPhone 3G (GPS needed)
Price: $19.99
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 1.2

Ever since the iPhone 3G was released, we’ve all wondered why Apple is so uptight about turn-by-turn directions on the iPhone. We thought a real GPS navigation app was coming to the App Store several months ago, but that didn’t pan out. And to this day, many users don’t realize that the iPhone doesn’t support voice prompted GPS directions until after they buy it. What’s the big deal really? Are they really that worried about getting sued? I’m not sure.

So, if you’re looking for turn by turn, voice prompted, GPS directions on your iPhone, you won’t find it here. You will find real time tracking, continuously updated directions, points of interest, route optimization, location based route recalculation, Navteq maps etc. Simply put, G Maps is as close as it’s going to get until Apple loosens the App Store restrictions.

When you launch G Maps, you immediately get the feeling that a GPS navigation system has invaded your iPhone. There is, of course, the obligatory “I agree to…” well, I’m not sure really, but I know you have to touch I agree. Does anyone read this? Anyway, the menus are very consistent with what you would find on any GPS unit. You can search for where you want to go, just view the map, the route, or options.

Under the “Where to?” menu item you’ll find all of the standards, like favorites, recently found, address, POI, even phone numbers, which is strangely not tied to your contacts. You can even just search for anything that’s close to your current location. Keyword searches can be done at any level, but it’s generally best to drill down a few menus first. I found there to be more than enough POI, so you’ll find just about anything you’re looking for without having to know the address ahead of time (and without the need for WiFi, 3G or EDGE).

After you’ve picked your destination, hit GO! and we’re ready to start disobeying whatever we agreed to before. I’m just kidding, by the way. As counterintuitive as this sounds, don’t use this while you’re driving. The app quickly calculates your route, and displays the map with your current location centered. The map orients itself based on the direction you’re moving, just like you’d expect it to. The frame rate is pretty choppy, maybe 2 frames a second? It’s definitely not winning any smoothness awards, but this is still standard in the world of GPS units.

While you’re moving (but not driving, right?), you’ll be able to see upcoming directions and the route you are supposed to take. There are large icons for which way to turn, current distances away from next turn, your speed and an estimate of how long it will take for your to get to your destination. Plus, there’s a button to demo the route before you take it. So, if you’re a little scared of not knowing how to get somewhere, just have the app drive through it at an accelerated speed once or twice.

Now, I’d like to discuss how silly it is that Apple hasn’t allowed any turn-by-turn GPS apps on the App Store. It’s great that they let this one through, because it really is a stellar product, but this is far more dangerous than it has to be. If it had voice prompts, you wouldn’t have to look at it. Looking at it is pretty similar to texting while you are driving, perhaps marginally better. I don’t want anyone else on the road doing that. It’s really dangerous. So come on, Apple, get with the program!

Basically, I love almost everything about this app. There are some flaws worth mentioning, though. There’s no integration with your contacts on your iPhone, which seems kind of silly. You can’t smoothly pan or “flick” the map around like you can in Maps. I know this is standard for GPS units, but this is an iPhone, and we want everything to be smooth and seamless. I’d also like to see the frame rate improved. Again, GPS units may not have the processing power to handle it, but this is an iPhone, and I’m sure it can handle it just fine.

A few more things. There needs to be an option to keep your iPhone from locking. They suggest you just set this in the System Settings, but I’ve seen other apps that have an option for this. I’d also like to see landscape mode enabled. I can’t imagine this would be too hard. And one last thing. There are two apps, since the maps data takes up so much space on your iPhone (around 1GB). Sadly, this divides the US into East and West. What if you live on the border of the dividing line? I’d really like to see an option to just load the states that you need at any one time, perhaps over WiFi, with a single app. I’d even be willing to pay a premium for this.

Other than those things, this app is awesome. Voice prompts would make this a must buy, but this one is Apple’s fault, not G Maps’. Because of the terms of the App Store, they aren’t allowed to include turn-by-turn voice directions, so this is as good as it can “legally” get, for now. If Apple loosens up, I imagine this sort of functionality will be added.

I don’t think you’ll currently find a better GPS-like experience on the iPhone. This app is the perfect tool for a back seat driver; someone who can keep their eyes on the map and not worry about actually driving. Then, you become the missing voice prompts. And for $20, you can’t go wrong. It’s way cheaper than a GPS, and nearly as good.

Appletell Rating:

Buy [G-Maps East or G-Maps West]