So, as I was going through the posts, I saw some Android users claiming that they cannot find any suitable GPS application with offline maps. So, I am here to post the details which might help many to solve this problem of their.
(Note: I'm not advertising but just helping people)
There are many application in the market which have feature for offline maps or cached maps like google map, rmap, oruxmaps, ublox, locus, iGo etc. (these are the maps that i have tested and used by me or some of the other users here)
So, here is the guide.
Method 1.
First of all you need one of the above mentioned software installed on your Android phone (all the above apps are free of cost)
Next you need the offline maps and the guide is as follows:
Step 1. You need to download/create offline map and you will need to download Mobile Atlas Creator (also known as MOBAC and it is a free open source software) tool with SQLite library. Java Runtime Environment should be installed on your computer since this software is based on java. ( To download, click here )
Step 2. Run Mobile Atlas Creator.
Step 3. From the drop-down box in the left upper corner of the screen select map provider.( This step is only for users having MOBAC version 1.8 or below. )
or
Step 3. In the pop up window appearing on first start of the application, select the map format and the respective map file name for it.
Step 4. Using the mouse select the area you want. You can zoom in and out using the scroll button.
Step 5. Choose zoom levels for you offline map. Please note that creating maps of a large area with high resolution will result creating data file several gigabytes in size.
Step 6. Enter a name of your map and click “Add selection” button.
Step 7. Select the desired format from “Atlas settings” drop-box.
Some of the supported applications/formats are given below:
-AFTrack (Symbian)
-AlpineQuest (Android)
-AndNav (Android)
-BackCountry Navigator (Android)
-Big Planet Tracks SQLite format (Android)
-CacheBox (Windows Mobile)
-Cachewolf
-Garmin Custom Map - KMZ (GPS handhelds)
-Glopus (Pocket PC)
-Google Earth
-GPS Sport Tracker
-Magellan RMP (GPS handhelds) & VantagePoint
-Maplorer (Windows CE/Windows Mobile)
-Maverick (Android)
-Mobile Trail Explorer (J2ME) - single tiles and MTECache file
-NaviComputer (Windows Mobile)
-nfComPass (WinCE, WinMobile, WinXP)
-OruxMaps (Android)
-OsmAnd
-Osmdroid (Android)
-OSMtracker (Windows Mobile/Pocket PC)
-OziExplorer (single 24bit PNG image with calibration (MAP) file
-PathAway (Windows Mobile)
-RMaps SQLite (Android)
-[Nokia] Sports Tracker
-Touratech QV (Windows software, commercial)
-TrekBuddy (J2ME, Android)
-TwoNav / CompeGPS
-u-blox
-and others
( Steps 6 and 7 are applicable for users having MOBAC version 1.8 or below )
Step 8. Press “Create atlas” button and the download of the maps will begin and be quite patient because it might take time depending upon your internet download speed.
Hurry you are half way done with the offline maps. ;)
Step 9. Once completed, open the folder with your atlas file. Copy the file on your Android device to /sdcard/"your app folder"/maps folder.
Step 10. Open the android application and press Menu button and goto settings and select the user defined map i.e. the one you placed on your sdcard. :)
Method 2.
How to save Google maps for offline use on android and you can save your bucks ;)
Enable the Google Maps Labs Map Pre-caching:
1. Open Google Maps android app.
2. Press Menu button->More->Labs->Precache map area and enable it.
3. Now when you search for a location, click on the map label that appears.
4. In the location view, press Menu.
5. Press Precache map area.
How to use it :
1. While using pre cache maps there should be no form of internet connection running on your phone. This is done to prevent the pre cached area update its tiles.
2. Open GMaps
3. Hit Menu -> Settings -> Cache Settings -> Pre-cached map areas, then tap on the one that you need to use.
4. Note : While using pre cached maps it isn't possible to get directions or search for places but positioning can be done.
This can be used to view 10 miles around the selected area (offline).
Method 3.
There are many applications which help users download maps from mobile itself, either in setup wizard or in options. Following are the apps that support this features:
1. Mapdroyd
2. Map(-)
3. Google Map
4. Sygic
5. Copilot
6. Wave
7. Locus
8. Maverick
9. Oruxmap
10. MapmyIndia
and there are many more ahead.
Here you go. All is set and you are good to go. (Note: The first start up might take time but the consequence will not)
For speed up satellite fix for GPS on Android, click here
Thanks to Xenova for "speed up satellite fix on GPS for Android" thread.
For rapid GPS lock or GPS issues, click here
Thanks to crypted for rapid "GPS lock/GPS issue" thread.
(Note: I'm not advertising but just helping people)
There are many application in the market which have feature for offline maps or cached maps like google map, rmap, oruxmaps, ublox, locus, iGo etc. (these are the maps that i have tested and used by me or some of the other users here)
So, here is the guide.
Method 1.
First of all you need one of the above mentioned software installed on your Android phone (all the above apps are free of cost)
Next you need the offline maps and the guide is as follows:
Step 1. You need to download/create offline map and you will need to download Mobile Atlas Creator (also known as MOBAC and it is a free open source software) tool with SQLite library. Java Runtime Environment should be installed on your computer since this software is based on java. ( To download, click here )
Step 2. Run Mobile Atlas Creator.
Step 3. From the drop-down box in the left upper corner of the screen select map provider.( This step is only for users having MOBAC version 1.8 or below. )
or
Step 3. In the pop up window appearing on first start of the application, select the map format and the respective map file name for it.
Step 4. Using the mouse select the area you want. You can zoom in and out using the scroll button.
Step 5. Choose zoom levels for you offline map. Please note that creating maps of a large area with high resolution will result creating data file several gigabytes in size.
Step 6. Enter a name of your map and click “Add selection” button.
Step 7. Select the desired format from “Atlas settings” drop-box.
Some of the supported applications/formats are given below:
-AFTrack (Symbian)
-AlpineQuest (Android)
-AndNav (Android)
-BackCountry Navigator (Android)
-Big Planet Tracks SQLite format (Android)
-CacheBox (Windows Mobile)
-Cachewolf
-Garmin Custom Map - KMZ (GPS handhelds)
-Glopus (Pocket PC)
-Google Earth
-GPS Sport Tracker
-Magellan RMP (GPS handhelds) & VantagePoint
-Maplorer (Windows CE/Windows Mobile)
-Maverick (Android)
-Mobile Trail Explorer (J2ME) - single tiles and MTECache file
-NaviComputer (Windows Mobile)
-nfComPass (WinCE, WinMobile, WinXP)
-OruxMaps (Android)
-OsmAnd
-Osmdroid (Android)
-OSMtracker (Windows Mobile/Pocket PC)
-OziExplorer (single 24bit PNG image with calibration (MAP) file
-PathAway (Windows Mobile)
-RMaps SQLite (Android)
-[Nokia] Sports Tracker
-Touratech QV (Windows software, commercial)
-TrekBuddy (J2ME, Android)
-TwoNav / CompeGPS
-u-blox
-and others
( Steps 6 and 7 are applicable for users having MOBAC version 1.8 or below )
Step 8. Press “Create atlas” button and the download of the maps will begin and be quite patient because it might take time depending upon your internet download speed.
Hurry you are half way done with the offline maps. ;)
Step 9. Once completed, open the folder with your atlas file. Copy the file on your Android device to /sdcard/"your app folder"/maps folder.
Step 10. Open the android application and press Menu button and goto settings and select the user defined map i.e. the one you placed on your sdcard. :)
Method 2.
How to save Google maps for offline use on android and you can save your bucks ;)
Enable the Google Maps Labs Map Pre-caching:
1. Open Google Maps android app.
2. Press Menu button->More->Labs->Precache map area and enable it.
3. Now when you search for a location, click on the map label that appears.
4. In the location view, press Menu.
5. Press Precache map area.
How to use it :
1. While using pre cache maps there should be no form of internet connection running on your phone. This is done to prevent the pre cached area update its tiles.
2. Open GMaps
3. Hit Menu -> Settings -> Cache Settings -> Pre-cached map areas, then tap on the one that you need to use.
4. Note : While using pre cached maps it isn't possible to get directions or search for places but positioning can be done.
This can be used to view 10 miles around the selected area (offline).
Method 3.
There are many applications which help users download maps from mobile itself, either in setup wizard or in options. Following are the apps that support this features:
1. Mapdroyd
2. Map(-)
3. Google Map
4. Sygic
5. Copilot
6. Wave
7. Locus
8. Maverick
9. Oruxmap
10. MapmyIndia
and there are many more ahead.
Here you go. All is set and you are good to go. (Note: The first start up might take time but the consequence will not)
For speed up satellite fix for GPS on Android, click here
Thanks to Xenova for "speed up satellite fix on GPS for Android" thread.
For rapid GPS lock or GPS issues, click here
Thanks to crypted for rapid "GPS lock/GPS issue" thread.
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