Android for Dummies: AutoMapa 3.0 for Android – whether it’s still the best …

AutoMapa is one of the most popular in our country programs for car navigation. The creators of this acclaimed by the masses of users of the product are not resting on his laurels and constantly modernizing the application. The good news for owners of mobile equipment operating on Android is that it has just published the third generation of AutoMapa on the Android platform. The creators of the official press release accompanying this event notify dozens of new improvements, new navigation engine, improving the speed, liquidity, operational effectiveness. We could not leave it without response, the sooner we installed the latest AutoMapa 3.0 for Android and looked at closer novelties in the application.

The previous version of AutoMapa was outstanding. This was reflected also in our test, in which we choose the best navigation on Android – AutoMapa proved to be the best application among all paid navigation, which we tested. Does AutoMapa 3.0 is just as good? Or maybe it is even better than its previous edition?

New, third-generation AutoMapa for Android debuted in the Google Play store shortly before the last weekend (18 June). It is easy to notice that the creators of the most popular navigation Polish strove to catch before the holidays – make it succeeded, but the rush doubt whether accompanying this project (anyway – rush accompanies all major projects ;-)) did not affect the functionality and quality of the software? At the outset, we can definitely deny it. During the weekend of intensive testing, we find that the advantages of the newest AutoMapa holders should appreciate especially the better-equipped smartphones with Android.

With the market launch of the third generation of AutoMapa for Android has not changed way of distributing the program. The user can freely download the main program AutoMapa (ie. The starter AutoMapa) from the Google Play Store or directly from the manufacturer belonging to the program website. This second variant is designed mainly for those users who do not have a Google Account (and therefore can not benefit from the Google Play store), or those who purchase a license to use the navigation system want to receive Polish invoice (in the case made an online purchase from Google Play only receive e-mail confirmation of the order with a summary of payments).

After launching the application available as a free download maps and use all the navigation function for seven days. Of course, this is only possible when you first start AutoMapa. If you have previously been used in this trial period, even after reinstalling you will need to purchase a license on the map.

Better, smoother graphics

The application interface in 3D mode in the latest version of AutoMapa noticeably accelerated.

The novelty introduced by collaborating on software application Aqurat sp. z oo and Geosystems sp. z o.o It includes OpenGL support, used to plot generated in real-time animation roadmaps.

Also, when using the 2D view, move the map and its move is much smoother than in the previous version of the program.

coincidence that at the outset we draw attention to the innovation of the “Runner” AutoMapa version. The use of OpenGL and can be seen immediately after the first run the latest navigation application. Well, maybe not immediately, because immediately after installing the software you still need to devote a moment to download and install maps and navigation voices. As for the maps, basically we have a choice of two variants: Polish map (volume 221 MB) and a map of Europe (3.1 GB). In turn, the Polish-we have five votes navigation, including voice Krzysztof Holowczyc. Of course, the map accompanying the latest generation of AutoMapa 3.0 for Android has been updated not only for traffic information, but also adapted to the new graphics features of the new program.

Improved LiveDrive!

The accompanying AutoMapa service LiveDrive! , which is running online and requires an active internet connection mechanism for automatic updates about the current traffic situation (traffic jams, delays, road works, roadblocks and other type of traffic congestion) is not new, but in the latest edition of the application this function has been significantly upgraded – both visually and functionally.

The LiveDrive! It is normally activated immediately after starting AutoMapa. Of course continuous updating of data on the current traffic situation requires an internet connection on your smartphone, so before long trips should purchase a packet data transmission (unless of course we want to use the information provided by LiveDrive!).

This version AutoMapa is possible to visualize the current traffic even when using the impressive 3D view mode. New algorithms also take into account the choice of routes, improved handling of locks taken by a mechanism LiveDrive! The advantage for frequent travelers is also the advent of route planning with regard to toll roads or only those which we can move for free. Additionally, you can choose whether navigation should lead driver of a passenger car or goods vehicle.

Not only for cars

New in the Android AutoMapa route calculation function pedestrians. This in previous releases of Google’s mobile platform was not, and taking into account the trend for traffic and attention to health, certainly many drivers sometimes will change from four wheels on my feet.

Map in pedestrian mode

With the new AutoMapa users will also be able to plan hiking trails, taking into account available only for pedestrian traffic. New features for walkers include not only the setting of a walking route, but also information about points along the route on the segment of pedestrians, or signaling navigation messages in the form of vibration. The latter makes sense to the extent that the car we usually have a smartphone screen before his eyes all the time. On the walk, or a long journey for obvious reasons, it would be inconvenient and uneconomical (a little tough smartphone battery to a longer, trekking tours with constantly switched on the screen). Thanks to the vibration alarm, smartphone and operating in the newest AutoMapa discreetly remind the user about an important turn or fork tracks.

The wealth of information

AutoMapa has always been a program that presented during navigation drivers a huge amount of information.

The latest version, apart from the obvious data, such as eg. a trace route, your current speed, distance to the next maneuver and distance to the destination or indirect, to keep you informed The current speed limit, the presence of a built up area or beyond, the estimated travel time and time achieve the objective, or the intermediate point and much, much more. Using the controls on the scale displayed along the right edge of the map, you can conveniently and seamlessly change the map display scale.

In the options settings for the route, apart from the obvious parameters such as the choice of starting point (the default is He determined based on location data retrieved from GPS module installed on the smartphone that is running AutoMapa), intermediate or destination, you can specify at which the road is to be groomed as route (useful when you do not want to travel toll roads) and select the main criterion for wytyczającego route algorithm. You can select the fastest route, the easiest (the same curves to the right? ;-)), Safe, or off-road.

Option rather inaccessible to other known navigation programs is the ability to send SMS messages directly from the navigation program according to preset conditions (for example, the recipient of, say, someone in the family, to whom exactly going , it can automatically receive an SMS message that we are only 10 minutes away from his house).

The debut of the newest AutoMapa version does not cause any changes in the current pricing policy publisher software described herein. For seven days after the first run on a device we can use all functions free of charge. After the trial period the price we pay for a license on the map (the program itself, as already mentioned, is available for download free of charge) depends firstly on the selected area (the choice is a map of Polish or map of Europe – the latter, of course, contains a map of our country), and second of time for which you want to use the maps.

The creators of AutoMapa offer 4 variants subscription: 7 days, 90 days, one year and two years. If you select a map Polish prices are as follows: 9,99 zł, zł 36.99, 89.99, and 149.99 zł zł, while those choosing the map of Europe will pay respectively zł 16.99, 59.99 zł, 149.99 zł and 249.99 zł. For users who intend to use navigation software only during such. Two-week vacation we advise you to buy a seven-day license and then possibly extend it for another seven days – it would still be cheaper than another variant, the 90-day period. Longer subscription periods longer a solution for people whose jobs require frequent moves from place to place.

In summary, the changes and innovations in the latest AutoMapa it definitely return in the right direction. The use of well-known OpenGL on the one hand allowed for better and noticeably smoother graphics application activity, on the other hand does not adversely affect the stability of the program – during tests AutoMapa never once refused to obey, the program worked extremely stable. Taking into account all the changes and improvements, we decided to grant the application described in our awards. AutoMapa 3.0 is still one of the best navigation applications – especially for Polish users – to the Android platform.

VoD Onet - award Softonet