In any unfamiliar city, a person will need a navigator or at least a map, since not all are specialists in the field of orienteering. And in an unfamiliar city, finding the right street or the right house is not so simple. The situation is complicated even if it is a different country. There is a wonderful Navitel navigator. But it is very expensive. Therefore, an alternative was invented - the MAPS.ME application. How to use the program and why is it needed at all? We’ll talk about this.
What is MAPS.ME?
So, MAPS.ME is an application for viewing maps offline and plotting a route through unfamiliar terrain. There are special versions for devices based on the Android OS and iOS. The main "trick" of the application is that the program can show maps and plot routes offline. But this is only under the condition that the necessary maps were previously downloaded and saved on the device. Only then the application will be able to show the desired card. But even this is an achievement, since the lion's share of such “pseudo-navigators” from other developers require the availability of Internet access. But not MAPS.ME. How to use this program? We will talk about this a bit later. First, consider the main features of the application and describe its functionality.
Functionality and features
MAPS.ME application has quite rich functionality. Even despite the fact that it takes up very little space in the smartphone’s memory (of course, without downloaded maps). This is the main feature of MAPS.ME. How to use this utility? We will talk about this a bit later. In the meantime, consider the main features of the application.
- Demonstration of maps offline. The program has a huge database of maps. Before sending on a trip, the user can download the necessary maps from the servers and then use them without the need to connect to the Internet.
- Location determination. The application can determine the user's location with an accuracy of several meters. And an internet connection is not needed. The navigation capabilities of the GPS module integrated in the smartphone are used.
- Routing. The utility easily copes with laying routes in unfamiliar cities in order to get from point A to point B. Moreover, it does it no worse than the much-praised Navitel. And again, the Internet is not needed in this case.
- Search for everything that tourists need. MAPS.ME can look for hotels, vehicles, attractions, cafes and other things that are vital for travelers. Very convenient. It is worth noting that not a single similar application can do this.
- Bookmarks User can save favorite objects and their coordinates to bookmarks. For a second visit, it will be enough to open a bookmark and get directions. Very convenient for a second visit to the sights.
These are the features of a small application called MAPS.ME. The developers managed to create a truly unique product. Now consider the question of how to use the MAPS.ME application.
Download and Install
You can download the application on devices with the Android OS on board from the well-known Market. It is absolutely free. On iPhones, downloads are made from the AppStore. Also completely free. We will also talk about how to use MAPS.ME on the phone. But first about the installation. Let us examine an example with devices on the Android OS.
- Open the "Play Market" using the icon on the device’s desktop.
- In the search bar, type "maps.me" and click on the search icon.
- In the list of results, select the desired application and click on it.
- Click the "Install" button.
- We agree with all installation conditions.
- We are waiting for the completion of the process.
Now MAPS.ME is installed on the smartphone. You can find it by the icon on the desktop. It's time to go to work with the application. No special skills are required here either. Moreover, the program has a fully Russified interface.
First start
So, let's get to the answer to the question of how to use the MAPS.ME application. First of all, you need to start the program using the corresponding icon on the desktop of the smartphone. During the first launch, the application will ask for permission to automatically determine the location of the user and device, access to personal data, and more. It is necessary to agree with all points. Then the program will determine the approximate coordinates of the device and offer to download maps for a given area. There are two download options: just maps with terrain infrastructure objects or maps with already laid routes (also with infrastructure objects). It’s best to choose the second option. If we are talking about a map of Russia, then it is divided into several parts (since the vastness of the country), and the application will download exactly the part that is relevant at the moment. After that, you can already begin to fully use the application.
It is worth noting that the download speed (and indeed the data transfer) is much higher than in the same Google Maps. In just a few minutes, the user receives a fully working MAPS.ME application. How to use the application offline? This will be discussed further.
Beginning of work
Suppose that the application is already running and all the necessary components have been downloaded. What to do now? But nothing. The program will automatically determine your location and issue the appropriate coordinates. You can view the exact information by enlarging the map with the user's coordinate label. So you can understand exactly which street you are currently on and which houses surround you. If you start moving, the coordinates will change in real time. The label denoting the user will also move. This is how they use this application. This is one of the answers to the question of how to use MAPS.ME on an iPhone. The versions for Android and iOS are absolutely identical. So there is no difference.
Paving the route
In addition to determining the user's current location, the application can plot the most convenient routes from point A to point B. To do this, select the "Get directions" option in the main window. Then you need to mark the coordinates of the user on the map with a marker. The next step is to label the destination. Now it remains only to click on the image of the car. In a few minutes, the program will provide a possible (and very convenient) route to your destination. Pads sometimes happen, but they are very rare. And this is another answer to the question of how to use MAPS.ME cards.
Infrastructure facilities
MAPS.ME cards include special infrastructure objects: shops, bars, cafes, clubs, hotels, hotels, hostels, gas stations, supermarkets and more. But that is not all. Maps also provide the coordinates of attractions: temples, monuments, interesting ruins and more. That is why MAPS.ME is a great application for tourists. With its help, you can not only find an overnight stay or have a delicious breakfast, but also decide what sights of a particular city are worth visiting. This is not found in any well-known application of the same plan.
Reviews of MAPS.ME
So, how to use MAPS.ME without the Internet, we have already discussed. Now it's worth parsing user reviews. They can give an accurate picture of the health of the application in certain conditions. It should be noted right away that almost all comments are exclusively positive. So, users note that the program works quickly and clearly (provided that the necessary maps have been downloaded in advance). MAPS.ME very quickly determines the user's location with an accuracy of a couple of meters. Also, many users liked the possibility of laying the shortest routes. But the users of the whole world were especially delighted by the extensive list of attractions and infrastructure. The MAPS.ME app makes life easier for tourists. And this is an indisputable fact. Everyone who likes to travel must have such a program on their mobile device. This is a general verdict of those users who have already managed to install this application.
Conclusion
So, we looked at a great navigation app and figured out how to use MAPS.ME on your phone. The general opinion about the software product is as follows: it is a high-quality product with rich functionality that will help a person out in an unfamiliar city. The application works perfectly in all conditions and can be used both for navigation and for planning routes for the day. An excellent free program that can move giants such as Navitel and Google Maps. All in all, the app is definitely worth it.